COMEDIAN FINED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 7

COMEDIAN FINED

Lin?s the Censor Had Not Heard "SMACKING" ON THE STAGE Because a compdian chased a girl across a etaga and smacked her— and said "lines" which had not been before tha censor— thp comedian, the thpatre manager, and Si? Oswald Stoll, iwerp summoned at West London Pplice ICourt. The comedian was Ereddie Porbes, |the sketch " Jest for JPun," the theatre, jShepherd's Bush Empire. Ereddie Eorbes was fined ^20, with 110 guineas costs; Mr, J. H. Christre, manager, 210 with 10 guineas costs; and jthe summons against Sir Oswald, as jlicensee, was dismissed undei' the Probation of Oifenders Acfc on payment of !10 guineas costs, Albert Titman, assistant secretary in the Lord Chamberlain 's office, said he went to the first house at the theatre and notieed that in "Jest in Fnn" the licensed seript was not elosely adhered !to. Ha took objection to three passages. In a bedroom scene, a line was in^erted which was not in the script, ' Another instqnce complained ori oocurred when Porbes chased a girl across the stage on to a bed and smacked her with his hand. Mr. John Maude (for Sir Oswald and Mr. Christie); He was cbastising her, wasu't he. It was not a gexy act? : Magistrate: I am not sitting here as i& cengor, thauk goodness. Mr. Maude: "IsnJt one allowed -to smack a iady in tho rear on the gtagel" Mr, Laiirenca Vine (for Mr, Porbes) eaid the comedian had been on the stage musiC'hall for over 25 years. Mr. Titman agreed that a complaint had been received from Birmingbam, where the show had been appearing tho previous week. Mr. Forbes said that Birmingham was "a very drastie place" for comedians. "I am a spontaneous comedian, and it would be impossible for me to carry on if I had to adhere to every line in tho script." The Magistrate said he was satisfied that Sir Oswald had always taken all steps to soe that the law was eomplied ith.