THEATRE’S BEST SUPPORTERS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 3

THEATRE’S BEST SUPPORTERS.

. “Taking the serious theatre as a whole, it is really an institution supported almost entirely by women, and only to a very small extent by men. Therefore, the influence of women on theatrical matters must be extremely important.”

That is the view of Mr Frederick Whelen. -who is an authority on dramatic affairs, and one of the apostles of the Repertory Theatre movement in England.

One need not be an extraordinarily keen observer of the play going habit to note that women are tire real enthusiasts, (says a London writer) and that women practically predominate at every theatrical performance of any recollection. More especially are they to the fore when the plays are those dealing with the humanities and the realities of life. Women, in short, go to the theatre to think, to weep, maybe, and to be touched- men go to be amused. Therefore they prefer a musical comedy and something “leggy” to a play that makes any demand upon his intelligence.

Mr J. T. Grein, the well-known author, critic and a pioneer of the intellectual drama, strongly supported Mr Whelen’s contention.

Mr Grein, who more than twenty years ago founded in London the Independent Theatre —which was the means of introducing Ibsen to playgoers’ attention and of popularising Bernard Shaw when “G. 8.5.” was as yet caviare to the public—who established the German Theatre, and has twice been president of the Playgoers’ Club, told the “Daily Sketch” that women have all along been warm supporters of the serious drama, and have done very good work in its exploitation.

“Women.” said Mr Grein with conviction. “display more acumen than men in the selection of the plays which they want, to see.

“We men are apt to go into details too much, whereas women go straight to the point. Women are more ardent playgoers. and go to the theatre more for the sake of the play itself. Men look on the theatre mainly as an amusement pure and simple, and they don’t enjoy serious plays. But that, mind you. is only so‘ in England. “The movement in support of the serious drama has found its support distinctly among the -women, and I would add that the best supporters of the theatre in this country are women and Israelites.”