Carrying On The Good Work

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 2

Carrying On The Good Work

Illusion m the theatre has become well-nigh perfect. Stars may fall out of their heavenly places, gods may err, saints may sin, but a theatrical performance must never deviate out of its appointed course. t '_• '■ '. ,■■.■--

MANY players have gone through experiences -m which they have been obliged to sacrifice all consideration of self to this fetish that must always be served. W. Cronin Wilson, who was leading man with' Lady Forbes Robertson during the early part of her Australasian season, . suffered from a throat affection. Night after night he went, on. He was m acute pain at each performance, but it was not until Just ] prior to his retirement from the company that audiences knew anything of the trouble. ' When J.C.W.'s "Peep Show" company was playing m Wellington, N.Z., Comedian Jack Cannot was struck on the head by a piece of falling scenery during, a performance. Cannot suffered frightful pain while going through with his part, but he stuck to it and went on to the end. He was. unable to respond to any cur- [ tain call, for the doctor claimed him ias soon as the show was over. In Adelaide a few years ago, "Jack" Apdale, well-kho'wn American vaudeville performer, was attacked by a bear during his turn: The animal Inflicted a terrible, wound m the trainer's fore arm.

The unwitting audience applauded Apdale's efforts to stave the bear off, thinking that the struggle was merely a piece of regular "business"; but the ghastly Irony of the situation moved his colleagues, who were watching from the /yy-ihgs, almost to tears. Apdale persisted and finished his act. The "Captain Kidd of Vaudeville," "Dick" Burton, while m. New Zealand on; a Fuller tour, was struck m the eye with p. .fish-hook. For many weeks he suffered intense agony, but when the number of his. turn. went up each night Burton was ready to take the stage. He later underwent an operation and the eye was removed. Hilda Spong, when she was playing lead m "Every woman." has good reason to remember Christchurch, New Zealand. The company showed m the city during midwinter, and "Everywoman" was the type of play . that called for' costumes which were mostly out of sight. There, was no heating m the Theatre Royal, and the. people were nearly "frozen stiff m their dressing-rooms before the curtain went up. Before the first act was over the players' teeth were chattering •' so much that they lost control of their speech. Ah, yes. The play's the thing..