Our London correspondent gives an interesting account to-day of the enormous rise in popularity of the cinema at the expense of orthodox. And he speaks of actors and actresses meeting every week to discuss means of obtaining a minimum wage. Of course the stage is proverbially the worst paid and least, certain profession. But a note in a Home paper throws a different light on the whole question. It is authoritatively stated, one reads, that well-Known performers of the class which formerly managed on £40 or £80 a week now require from £200 to £200 to meet the higher standard of living. Some day producers will begin to wonder whether they are worth the money. Meanwhile it is set down as an average salary for "stars" of magnitude. The cost of production has reached such a pitch that a musical play re: quires a capital outlay of £10.00. These figures are in themselves a sufficient explanation of the anemic condition of the drama, deplored by all who desire a little more intelligent amusement. Be cause expenses have increased, prices will probably increase, also. Fourteen or more of the theatres are supporting a scheme to add a shilling or two to the cost of stalls and other of the more cxpensive portions of the house.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.