THEATRE OVERCROWDING.

Hastings Standard, Issue 143, 12 October 1896, Page 4

THEATRE OVERCROWDING.

[To tiik Editor.] Sir., —It does seem disgraceful to me that whoever is responsible for .such a state of things should allow our theatre to he packed to the dangerous extent that it has during the past season of the Pollard Company. At times the passages were blocked, and each evening the pit contained fully 100 more than there was seating accommodation for. I should very much like to know if such a state of things is allowed by the law of this country ? In Victoria and New South Wales a manager is held responsible for every person he admits into the building who cannot find a seat, and this has been the means of affording everyone who pays for admission an opportunity of seeing the performance, as the police insist- upon the audience keeping their seats. The management of this company have a good reputation, and why more considerat'on was not extended to visitors during the late season I cannot understand, for at times it was really disgraceful the number of people who had paid for a seat who were compelled to stand, to the annoyance and vexation of others ; and this, too, in the presence of the management. Tin* blocking of passages and crowding in of the very last shilling is a very danirerous practice, and, in case of a panic, would most likely cause the loss of valuable life. This question naturallv suggests itself, who would be responsible.—Yours, &c., 1 Pit.

[To THE EIUTOB.j

! Sm, —C roil it- is due to Mr Ellis for i the improvement he has made in tho I comfort and appearance of the Princess

Theatre, bat there i? still an alteration liiat is mo.: i urgently needed. V. hat would hawen were a paiiie caure-.l in a crowded house, such a; l" c t night, 0:10 hardly carus to even thmk about. Jt would inevitably ba most. appalling. \Yit'n an orderly crowd leaving the building without the least has'o the crush at the lobbies is considerable. Were there a panic in less than a minute the lobbies would be choked, many people trodden down, and the audience would have to find their way out at the lower door. I venture to say that the large Australian theatres could be emptied in a quarter the time it would take the small Hastings building. But there the bye-laws are most stringent—large escape doors are provided (which must open outawards and always be unlocked during a performance)—overcrowding is not allowed, and the management are compelled to keep all corridors, passages, and the aisles clear. These bye-laws are applied to churches, as well as theatres and halls, and both theatrical managers and church committee men have been prosecuted for non-compliance with them. The local authorities if they have not already any existing bve-law to remedy this evil should make one without delay. It is no use to lock the stable door when the horse is stolen. —I am, &c., Caution. Hastings, October 10th, 189(5.