Unexpected Curtain

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 1

Unexpected Curtain

Vaudeville Company’s 111-Luck

Embassy Contract Terminated

BILL posters of “Tlie Merry Mascots” still adorned the portals of the Embassy Theatre this morning. Rather ironically the entrance was hung with black cats, swastikas and other emblems of good luck, but there will be no performance of this company this evening. . . . Yesterday the management controlling the destinies of this theatre decided to go into voluntary liquidation. To a number of artists under contract to the company this has entailed serious hardship. From their hands fluttered no streamers, nor did they share in the gaiety of their fellow artists with the “Mercenary Mary” Company, when the Ulimaroa swung out from the Central Wharf this morning.

At the Embassy last evening very few in the house realised that they were witnessing a final performance, but to the members of various vaudeville companies it was indeed a tragic farewell.

This morning the artists were astir at an unusually early hour, and gathered in small groups in front cn the theatre as they discussed the situation. It was explained to a Sun representative that with the act of going into voluntary liquidation their contracts would be cancelled. One artist, a member of “The Eleven Rascals Company,” stated that they had opened at the Embassy on July 13, and had played a season lasting till Thursday, July 26, then going on tour under the direction of the Embassy Theatre to several of the “smalls.” They had just been recalled to Auckland, and to their consternation had learned of the situation that had arisen.

with practically the same position. They commenced their season on Friday, July 26, and still have a further term to run. It is understood that they will not show this evening. A Sun representative was informed by Mr. J. Fletcher, a member of the directorate, that

Business in the show world had not been too good in Australia, he said, and many of the company were relying on the present contract to improve their circumstances. On their recent tour boarding expenses had eaten largely into their salaries, and quite a number, like himself, were practically penniless when they returned to Auckland and were confronted with the present position. They were informed that their travelling and show expenses for the tour would be paid and also their fares to Australia. “This is a lot of use to me,” volunteered another artist. “I have no fixed home, and I might as well be broke in Auckland as in Australia.” However, it was decided to accept tho offer, and a number of the artists in this company left the theatre shortly before eleven o’clock and boarded the vessel, the remainder of the company making arrangements to leave by a later boat. Prior to embarking, several of chi? artists referred in bitter terms to the position in which they had been placed by the failure of the management to carry out its undertaking.

“We came over in good faith, aid practically find ourselves stranded,” said one man. “If we had thought for a moment that the management was

not in a position to carry the undertaking through, we would never have left.” In addition to the “Eleven Rascals” Company, Mr. George Storey’s Company, “The Merry Mascots,” is faced

the Embassy Theatres, Limited, although having no legal obligation to do so, advanced “The Rascals” over £4OO to pay their steamer fares and general expenses. It is the intention of the company to make certain necessary alterations to keep the theatre open for pictures and vaudeville. In connection with the Embassy Theatre, it was rumoured that this was to be taken over by the Regent Theatre, but this wa.s contradicted by the management this morning, who stated that they had no connection with the Embassy, and were acting pureji’ in an advisory capacity. A programme of pictures and vaudeville turns will be presented this evening provided arrangements can be made. The Embassy Theatre which was opened on May 25 was for-

merly the National Picture Theatre, this building being renovated and adapted to the performance of vaudeville. A company was formed to run the enterprise, and Mr. Edwin R. Greenfield, who was formerly manager of the Regent Thea-

tre, was appointed manager of the company.