GALA SPIRIT ALIVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 399, 6 July 1928, Page 5

GALA SPIRIT ALIVE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC HOUSE BRILLIANCE AND COMFORT GLIMPSES of blue heavens . . . demurely draped statuary, bathed in the crimson glow of countless Moorish lamps . . . lights, colour and gaiety . . . and 2,069 people all arriving at once. These were the first impressions gained at the gala performance at St. James Theatre last evening. If spontaneous enthusiasm counts for anything, it was a great success.

Gala nights there often are, but gala nights that serve to open a theatre of the magnitude of St. James come but rarely. This, the audience that packed the theatre last evening seemed to realise. For once an Auckland audience was seated before the curtain rose. When Frank Crowther raised his baton the “house” was hushed in anticipation. It was comprised for the most part of “first-nighters”—real “first-nighters” this time —and the “house” had that dressed look about it as befitted the occasion. The show went with a swing, as only a show can when an audience is obviously simmering with excitement —a state of affairs that quickly made itself apparent to the -company, which responded by entering fully into the spirit of the occasion. BLAZE of colour It was a blaze of colour. There was the deep blue of the atmospheric ceiling, through which one could almost imagine the stars shining through; the rich orange and crimson glow of countless house lights; and the stage was a veritable riot of colour. New standards were set last evening, and old habits cast aside. Following the lead given by the management in establishing a magnificently furnished foj’-er, the womenfolk no longer felt it necessary to remain in their seats during the interval. It was crowded with patrons of both sexes . . . li chattering, happy throng, and for the first time cigarette smoke clouded the atmosphere of the foyer of an Auckland theatre. This perhaps was the happiest innovation of all. Now this much is possible, perhaps further attempts will be made to break down the cold aloofness for which New Zealand audiences are notorious, and which almost every visiting artist immediately notices. The part it played in making a “live house” last evening was considerable.

For Mr. John Fuller it was a big night. As he explained to the audience at # the conclusion of the performance it was in Auckland 32 years ago that the Fuller family started its first enterprise in the old City Hall at the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets, and

sentiment, he said, played a big part in deciding their latest enterprise. Referring to the first Fuller enterprise Mr. Fuller said he was actively interested in it himself. He used to distribute *the bills. Judging by the way the city had grown, he was very glad he was not doing it now. Mr. Fuller also apologised for the absence of his brother. Sir Benjamin, who, naturally, was also very proud of the great advances made by the firm since those early days. It had been I Sir Benjamin’s wish to be present that

evening. Mr. Fuller remarked, but at present he was too busy building theatres in Australia. The firm intended the St. James to be a home for good entertainments. After the present season concluded it would be occupied by the Gonsalez Grand Opera Company, which he assured them was one of the best organisations the firm had handled, and which he was confident, would prove an agreeable surprise to Aucklanders. Mr. Fuller also stated that in conjunction with Mr. Henry Hayward the firm would present as Fuller-Hayward pictures some of their big feature pictures. Special facilities for screening; pictures had been provided on a scale existing in the finest theatres in New York, such as the Roxy and Paramount. In concluding Mr. Fuller referred to the presence in the audience that evening of a number of artists who had been on the Fuller paysheet in the early days of its existence. He thought it very appropriate that they should be there that evening, and was also pleased to see so many of the friends that the firm had made. Klsie Prince, the winsome little lead in “Archie,” was then prevailed upon to say a few words. Almost weighted down with masses of flowers Miss Prince informed the audience that that was the second occasion on which she had played lead at the opening of a new theatre. The last time, she said, was at St. James in Sydney. Then she thought that nothing better in theatres could be achieved, but when she stepped into St James at Auckland she thought it was even better. Miss Prince took the opportunity of thanking Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller for the pleasant associations she had always had with the firm, and also the audience for the very appreciative manner in which they had received the performance that evening. MR. GODDEN HONOURED With becoming modesty Mr. James Godden thanked the Firm for the great honour it had paid him. He said that the new theatre could very easily have been named the “Sir Benjamin” c- the “Mr. John/' but instead the directors had decided to name it after him — the only saintly person in the company. (Laughter.) Mr. Charlton Morton also said a few words, informing the audience of the rather obvious fact that theirs was a very happy family, referring to the splendid spirit of co-operation that existed between Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller and their artists. This the company endorsed by singing “For They are Jolly Good Fellows.” in which it was joined by the audience. Cheers were then given for the two governing directors, the spontaneous enthusiasm with which they were given, bringing to a fitting conclusion a remarkable and very successful gal** night.