"REMOVE LADY DENMAN."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 289, 29 April 1913, Page 6

"REMOVE LADY DENMAN."

A THEATRE BY-LAW. GALLANT FRENCHMAN ABJECTS. Melbourne, April 13. M. Napoleon Boffard managed the representation of Bernard Shaw's "Getting Married" at the Melbourne Repertory Theatre last night. After the crowded audience had been seated, and half of the first act was over, two officers of the Board of Health saw him, and the following interview took place:— Officer: In the Vice-Regal party the chairs of the Governor-General and the one of Lady Denman are too near each other. They must be moved, to leave a passage of about 6ft.

M. Boffard: But I cannot remove his Excellency or her ladyship. Officer: You must. The chair of Lady Denman is on the passage, and she must be removed.-

M. Boffard: But would you that I take the risk to ask her Excellency to move? I, a poor Frenchman, asking the representative of his Majesty the King of England in Australia to have her consort removed from where she is ? No. Officer: You will have to do so, or you Will be reported and fined. It may cost you £1 to £5. That is all.

M. Boffard: In that case, sir, I will have to go to gaol, as my firm do not pay the flue of its representative. They take risks, and as I do not possess a .fiver- in the/hank/, I am'ready.to take, ibir Ladya'hip/; : ' ■,;.; .'.. Office*: Who is 'tlife usherin charge of that portion of the house? M. Boffard'.This young man. Officer: Young man, during the interval remove her Ladyship. M. Boffard (out of patience): Stop. If this ridiculous thing has to be done it must be done by me. I will see the aide-de-camp during the interval about it. Officer: See that it is done.

So M. Napoleon Boffard went in the .interval and interviewed Sir Walter Barttelot, and explained matters to him and Lady Denman, and the seat was removed.