“BOWERY TOUGHS!"

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 1

“BOWERY TOUGHS !"

OSCAR ASCHE ATTACKS U.S. THEATRICALS MAKE HIS BLOOD BOIL (United Service) Reed. 1.45 p.m. LONDON, Monday. Oscar Asche, the Australian actormanager, is on the warpath against American theatrical producers in England. “I want to shout that they are nothing but Bowery toughs,” he told “The Star.” “They have not brought a single beautiful production here, and have never staged anything in England comparable to ‘Cbu Chin Chow’ or ‘Kismet.’ “They bring vulgarities, indecencies and noise to the stage. Their manners and dreadful language off stage are as bad as their characters on it. If they could see themselves eating, they might get material for a real comedy. “They made their financial position secure by entering the war late, and then stabilised it by coming here- and insulting English actors.” Mr. Asche has written to the "Daily Mail” demanding joint action to prevent some American producers from insulting the language in the theatres. He told the “Star” that his blood boiled w-hen he heard and saw American producers. They had no idea of music, except the “pep” stuff, of which everyone was utterly sick. “They demand large salaries, which are paid, goodness knows why. They stop at the best hotels, smoke big cigars, and talk with horrible raucous voices.”

It was all bluff to cover incompetence. All their work that he had seen was childish rubbish. Many were stone deaf. They thought that if they could make the American actor drop slang his English was suitable for an English play. Asked when he contemplated going to America, Mr. Asche exclaimed: “Never. I was there 27 years ago, but there has been no gentleman among their producers since Charles Frohmann.”