Shifting Of Regent Screen

Chronicle (Levin), 19 May 1949, Page 4

Shifting Of Regent Screen

A. A.

SAVELL.

C. M.

HEWITT.

(To'the Editor) - Sir,— May I correct a statement published in the report of the Levin Borough Council's discussion. upon the letting of the Iheatre (attriouted to Mr. Garrett) that a representative of the Palmerston North Liitle Theatre Society stated from the phtfbrm prior to the performance that the theatre ; company aad refused the society permission to shift the screen back. No annouricement of any ,kind was made before 'ihe rise of the curtain. Mr. Harold Rees, president of the Palmerston North Little rhpatrp Rnf.iptv when exnressing1

his thariks at the conelusion of the performance said he regretted ihat che stage was too shallow to allow the play to be presented in itr proper setting, but made no refersnce at all to shifting the screen. He thanked the • management of the Regent Theatre for the generous assistance given, and expressed the hQpe that Jiis society would be ahe to bring down futur'e production. Putting up a set on a shallow stage directly in front of the screen creates a far greater potential danger to the screen iiself, especially if there is a change between acts, than arises from pushing the screen back out of the danger zone, as is so easily done for instance in the Otaki civic ITheatre. Yhurs. etc...

Levin, May 18.

Sir, — I was very interested to read the article in your paper concerning the Regent Theatre. Now wi-1 any one of last year's councillors deny the fact that ai a meeting of the Levin Borough, Council last November,- Mr. Garrett gave the council his honoured promise that the screen wou.d be moved back for all flesh and blood shows if required, on the condition mat it was moved by some of the staff of the borough council, and that an application be made to the borough council for such purpose? It was through my efforts that this request was made to Mr. Garrevt. Anyone knPWing anything of stage production wi.i reaJse that 16 feet of stage is useless to proauce a show of any consequence. Anyway why should the people oi Levin be denied the use of the wonderful stage, we, the people of Levin, built with our ratepayers' money? Furuhermore, why is it only in recent years that -all this nonsense has gone on over the moving of the screen? A few years back we could move the screen at any time, and with no re-adjustments needed when put back in p.ace. It is a great pity that the theatre lessee cou.d not co-operate with his Levin patrons in the same manner as the Otaki Theatre. I have been given to understand that during the rehearsals of "Grumpy," staged by the Otaki Amateur Operatic Society, they had the^use of the stage for weekly rehearlals and on aL occasions moved the screen. If the Otaki screen can be wheeled back any time ai all, what is wrong with Levin's screen? If what I read in last night's "Chronicle" is correct, then I think the council have certainly made a proper job of ironing out the use of our marvellous stage for the public of Levin. What a tragic mistake the council has made when leasing the theatre for seven years by not safe-guarding the full use of the stage for our local arts and talents. I am, etc.,

Levin, May 19.