Are Christchurch Folk Shy?

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 37, 24 February 1939, Page 12

Are Christchurch Folk Shy?

ISITING stage companies find Christchurch audiences a little frigid on opening nights, and occasionally become apprehensive. But they generally discover that once the people of the city get warmed up, ‘their enthusiasm knows 1210 bounds. This city trait of shyness was mentioned the other night when members of the local publicity committee of the National Physical Welfare Campaign expressed doubt whether theatre audiences would even hum a tune relevant to. the fitness week during the intermissions. Mrs. G. G. Lockwood, wife of a well-known Christchurch sportsman and athlete, put forwariythe idea that a song shouldsPbe screened. : The chairman, Mr. A. C. Maxwell, however, said flatly, "They won't do it.’ Somebody else remarked that the New Zealand troops at the Great War had been known as the "silent troops" and had been very Fe luctant to sing. Mrs. Lockwood held to her point, and declared that when folk-danc ing was staged in Cranmer Square, 7000 people attended and quite a few entered into the spirit of the occasion, As Christchurch holds something of a record for its community sing: ing activities in aid of distress, there is little reason to suppose citizens will go all dumb during the welfare campaign. At anyrate, theatre managers" are to be asked for their views on the shyness or otherwise of their patrons, en masse.