THE “CHEAPER SEAT” CLAUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1489, 7 November 1918, Page 33

THE “CHEAPER SEAT” CLAUSE.

MR. JOHN FARRELL AND THE HASTINGS EMBARGO.

Mr. John Farrell, J. C. Williamson’s well-known manager, speaks out in an interview in the “Tribune” concerning the “cheaper seat” clause included in the conditions under which the Municipal Theatre, Hastings, is let. This “very objectionable” clause insists that theatrical companies must keep five rows of stalls for the second priced seats. On the majority of occasions that J. C. Williamson, .Ltd., attractions visit Hastings patrons of the second priced seats may select positions in ten rows in the stalls, but, of course, when a pantomime or a big musical attraction happens along the booking may be so heavy that before the doors are opened there may be only three or four rows available for patrons of the back stalls, but this rarely happens. “Surely,” says Mr. Farrell, “if there are no seats available in the front rows playgoers should not be debarred by the council from securing positions in the five back rows, should they wish to do so. It is really the principal of facilitating matters for our patrons that we, are endeavouring to protect. The conditions under which all other theatres are let do not include a like clause to that which we refer, and we regret that we cannot present any of our attractions at Hastings until the clause is rescinded from the Hastings by-laws.” HUGE TRANSIT EXPENSES; Mr. Farrell also throws interesting light on the transit of big theatrical

companies and increased expenses arising from the war. “There is no part of New Zealand which is enjoyed by members of theatrical companies so much as Hawke’s Bay, and Napier and Hastings must be numbered with the best show towns in the Dominion, that is so far as theatre lovers are concerned. Unfortunately, however, their geographical position makes both of them bad propositions from a financial point of view. This may sound strange to those who are not acquainted with the huge expenses incurred in bringing a big spectacular pantomime to these parts. To convey a pantomime company from Wellington means an outlay of close on £2OO for fares, another £25 has to be paid out for freight, the salaries of the company amount to £2OO per night, to which has to be added high royalties on the pieces, the rent of the theatre, advertising and sundry other expenses. Roughly it costs £9OO to play two nights at Napier and one night at Hastings, and it is quite impossible for the takings to reach anything like this amount. One will ask: Why do big companies visit Hawke’s Bay if it is a certainty they must lose money and the answer is a certain amount of time has to be devoted to New Zealand tours, and the money lost in the provincial towns is invariably made up in the larger centres, where longer seasons can be played. I would like to impress upon the public that while the expenses of theatrical companies have increased by close on 100 per cent., the charges for theatrical entertainments under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., manage-

ment have not been increased since the war, consequently most of the companies sent to New Zealand during the past four years by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management have proved losers. Ship freights have increased by close on 100 per cent., railway and boat fares have been considerably raised, the cost to produce the plays has risen in every department, and the artists’ salaries have also been greatly increased owing to the high cost of living, and also to the fact that there is at present a shortage of performers because of the very large number of actors who are on active servicei,”