London, Jan. 17.
The East is evidently expecting a rise in the rates charged for its theatrical fare and it will not be disappointed although there is no intention to kill the goose which lays the golden eggs. At the same time it is understood in London that there has already been a rise in the price of seats, though these are, of course, largely dependent on the rate of exchange.
The task of a theatrical outfitter for the regions cast of Suez is a hard job nowadays. Salaries in. the first place have waltzed very high though may be not so much~#& in Great Britain. The star artistes naturally expect more. while some idea of the prices may be gathered from the fact that the chorus girl, once paid two pounds a week and her hotel expenses, now receives just twice as much. This might not be so bad, but the cost of hotel life has also ascended and any cava. pany is therefore fortune if the outlay on each such artiste is not more than "ten of the best"? each week. Then travelling is so very much dearer than it used to be and the sums for freight have equally increased. It is true that the outlook in this respect is rather better, but for the present the management has to recoup itself generously somewhere for all the money it must sink in preliminary expenses, Puenty or Tauesr.
Perhaps the one hopeful sign is that there is never any shortage of artistes. Just now there is a very heavy run on the "outfit agents" dye to the fact that many in the theatrical business are a little de yessed at the outlook here and their nerves are getting a little on edge. They want to get away where mundane troubles do not attend them so regularly, though at times some back out at the last moment when contracts are offered, owing to the representa tions of their friends—the majority ave only too pleased to go. The openings are, however, not numerous since those who have been out almost invariably return to seek new engagements after a brief stay at ome. And this is so even though the theatres are doing well—as now.
Finally it must be remembered that though "East of Suez' likes comedies, it prefers musical comedies and the like and these require heavy costs. Hence it might be supposed there may be "cuts" on this type of expensive amusement. Not so. All understudies must, however, be provided from the. chorus or secured locally—as is sometimes possible.
Economy counts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.