REVIVAL OF THE STAGE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 10

REVIVAL OF THE STAGE

VIEWS OF ENGLISH COMEDIAN NEW MOVEMENT BEGUN OVERSEAS "The policy of important theatre organisations in England, America, and Canada is now towards giving stage performances in conjunction with films, and this has given a big stimulus to the work of the legitimate stage," said Mr Harry Thurston. the English character comedian, in an interview last evening. Mr Thurston, who was the original stage creator of Captain Bruce Bairnsfather's famous cartoon character "Ole Bill" is visiting New Zealand under contract to the Broadcasting Board, and arrived yesterday from Wellington. Discussing the impetus which the employment of "flesh-and-blood" actors had given to the industry, Mr Thurston said that one of the larger groups of Australian picture theatres was arranging to add such turns to all its future programmes, and he had no doubt th -t the practice would spread also -o New Zealand in the near future.

Provided that the quality of the entertainment was good enough, and with an eye to meeting the demands of the public, which was showing in no uncertain fashion that it appreciated legitimate stagework, managers of theatres overseas were now always willing to find room on their programmes for good actors from the legitimate stage.

Mr Thurston, who last visited New Zealand 12 years ago, said that he had had experience in stage, screen, and broadcasting work, and he said that there was no doubt which of the three was the most difficult. Any mistake on a stage could be covered by a spontaneous joke or reference, and any error in a film could easilv be remedied, by cutting or re-taking the scene. But the microphone was unforgiving, and no mistake could be rectified. A radio audience, too, the minute that it became bored could simply switch off the set, although fortunately the performer could not know of this. Every broadcasting control board in the world was subject to criticism, said Mr Thurston, and it was impossible to satisfy every member of a radio audience. He wrote all his own broadcasts, and tried to place himself while he wrote in the position of a listener rather than a performer. Long Association With Stage Mr Thurston, who said that he had been associated with the stage in England for more years than he now cared to remember, remarked that the industry was booming in England now. and there was as

good a demand for first-class shows as ever there had been. Despite the popularity of films, the public had a definite leaning toward the stage, and the development, of which he had previously spoken, of combining screen and stage in the one entertainment had proved immensely popular. Mr Thurston said that in the three cities he had visited, Auckland, Wellington, and Clvristchurch. he had noticed- great changes since his last visit 12 years ago. principal emotion at revisiting the Dominion, however, was pleasure at being able to come acrain to a country of such wonderful hospitality.

Before coming to Now Zealand Mr Thurston made a tour of Australia, his ninth since he began his stage career. In New Zealand Mr Thurston will give broadcasts from each of the four YA stations, and last week he was heard from Auckland and Wellington. H" is staving at the New City Hotel.