WHY THEY LAUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 708, 6 July 1929, Page 8

WHY THEY LAUGH

Leslie Henson Talks of British Humour TEN YEARS IN ONE THEATRE For 10 years Leslie Henson, the London comedian, has been playing at the Winter Garden Theatre. In the following article he tells what he has learned of the British taste in humour. It has been said that English humour dates from the time that the first man tripped on a banana. Certainly there is a laugh in such a disaster, but I would maintain that the man who trips must be cheerful about it to be really funny. Physical- humour should surround a cheerful person. Get hit in the nose with a slamming door and you may raise a laugh. Get hit in the nose with a slamming door when you are having a night out, and you are rather merry about everything, and you will stir up a storm of laughter. A cheerful mail in difficulties* Let's all run up and laugh at himr 1 . . . But I am afraid I am letting everyone know why I am more and more inclined to be the cheerful idiot, the hilarious blunderer. The Best Barometer I have learned much more than that about audiences in my ten years’ association with this theatre. It has been said that the stage is the best barometer of national prosperity and adversity. And so are the faces and lungs of theatre audiences. I would know by one look at the stalls if in-come-tax had been halved. I would not have to read it in a newspaper. Believe me, I learn more about them than they can learn about me,

LESLIE HENSON i although they are all looking at me. They just see a funny man, and they laugh. They do not see the management part of me behind the comedian i>art of me. They do not hear my hollow groan as I notice the forest of timber struts holding the scenery together and the thought flashes through my mind that timber prices have gone up to absurd heights. “How Can They Know?” They hear my song, but they do not realise what I think of music. How can they know that I happen to be thinking that Daly’s orchestra costs as much as the whole cost of the “Merry Widow”? I raise my eyes and they laugh, little knowing that I may be looking round to see if there are any empty seats, a serious matter in these days when you must fill to capacity to pay. No; there are more real difficulties that they do not see than stage difficulties which they do see. I wonder if they would laugh all the heartier if they knew my real wor- j ries ? I don't think they would. As I say, ! you have to be cheerful about your j little worries to amuse a British j audience. Mr. Henson opened at the Winter Garden with “Kissing Time,” and re- ! mained throughout the runs of “A j Night Gut,” “Sally,” “Cabaret Girl,” j “Primrose,” “Tell Me More,” and “Kid Boots,” both producing and having a financial interest in the predecessor of "Vnnny Face”—“So This I Is Love.” j