Mexican Theatres

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 March 1917, Page 3

Mexican Theatres

1 SEATS FOR MOURNERS. (Sydney Sun.)

After all, it seems, Mexico is not a, country where they ha.ve revolutions three' times a day before meals. Mr. Carlos Valenzuela, manager for that agile wire artist, Rodiriquez, at the National Theatre, claims that Mexico City has the third largest and most beautiful theatre in the world. It is run by the Government, 'and plays nothing but grand opera. There are also some swell vaudeville houses, but the cheapest vaudeville you can buy in Carranza's home country is at the rate or two shilling a seat, with boxes rising to 15 dollars. A curious Mexican theatre rule is to have boxes built on the stag© side of the footlights, which are kept specially for people in mourning who desire to see the show but do not desire to can b'e seen by the rest of the audience. Rodiriquez was born at Durango. Most Australians have never heard of it, but for all that it is about twice the size of Brisbane. Both Mr. Rodiriquez and Mr Valenzuela frankly confess that there are a great number of people in Durango who have never heard of Brisbane. There is no Mexican language. Valenzuela is said to speak the purest Spanish, and'reckons that Mexico gave him an education that Uncle Sam couldn't afford. He comes of one of the oldest families in Chihuhaua, the State from which General Villa has just been clia6ed, and where school attendance is compulsory from the age of seven to sixteen. Rodiriquez has a high regard for the show morals of Mexico. When the 'big circuses go down that .way, [ they have to sub-edit all their lithograph advertisements, deleting all the pictures that represent feats not actually performed inside the tent. Mexico is evidently no place for the proprietor of a flea ciroua.