THE LONDON STAGE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 302, 5 December 1936, Page 7

THE LONDON STAGE.

ft RECORD SEASON. < - , -t HUGE TAKINGS AT SHOWS. J Wui I ■■ I. LONDON, October 15. London's record autumn theatrical season, although atlll In Its first phase, Is already producing golden results at the box-offices. Seldorrt before have new musical shows brought so ready a response from the public. Managers and theatrical ticket agency chiefs estimated yesterday that some £20,000 a week Is being taken by these musical productions alone, with the volume of advance booking running into several thousands of pounds daily. “ Careless Rapture,” the new Ivor Novello show at Drury Lane, will have taken well over £5OOO during the first full week of its run, and £5OO a day is being taken at the box-office in advance booking, apart from the seats taken by the agencies.

A Rush to Book. 1 The new Leslie Henson production, “Swing Along,” has settled down to % steady average of £3400 a week at the Gaiety, with a daily advance booking of nearly £3OO. 1 Jack Buchanan's latest production, “ This’ll Make You Whistle,” has begun so well at the Palace that it is confidently expected that the boxoffice will be taking nearly £4OOO a week. Playgoers are not even waiting fcr the first nights before booking for new shows. Directly next Thursday's Coliseum revival of “ The Desert Song," with Edith Day and Harry Welchman again heading the company, was announced there began a steady rush to book seats —and a week before production nearly £lOOO worth of tickets has been sold. Similarly the George Robey—Renee Houston musical comedy which opened at the Hippodrome last night has already taken a large amount in advance sales of seats; while for four musical shows still to be presented in London—“ Over She Goes," the Laddie Cliff-Stanley Lupino piece at the Saville, “ Let’s Raise the Curtain ” at. the Victoria Palace, “ Transatlantic Rhythm ” at the Adelphi, and “ Going Places,” with Arthur Rlscoe and June Knight, at the Savoy —many hundreds of pounds' worth of seats has been taken. A Tale of Prosperity. This tale of prosperity extends to many longer established productions. In Shaftesbury Avenue alone an average of £15,000 a week is being taken • —contributors to this total including the new Cochran production, " Laughter In Court," at the Shaftesbury; the Marion Lorne-Walter Hackett comedydrama at the Apollo, “ The Fugitives”; “ The Frog," the Edgar Wallace melodrama at the Princes, which has already netted £65,000, and “ Call It a Day,” at the Globe, which is approaching its first anniversary. Playing to Full Houses. Other musical productions which are playing to full houses are “ Blackbirds of 1936 ” at the Lyceum, “ The Two Bouquets ” at the Ambassadors, and “ Spread It Abroad,” which trans • fers from the Saville to the Comedy next week. Among straight plays, “ Aren’t Men Beasts!” at the Strand, and “Pride and Prejudice,” at the St. James’, are outstanding successes.