Oct, 90, With one amateur dramatic club having safely delivered itself of its first production of the season and two others having! reached the seat-booking phase for theirs, it is permissible perhaps to turn for a moment from the clash of contending nations: and struggling currencies ponder over the prospects of the Jocal stage this winter. Although the amateur actor—let the term cover both sexes—sutfers heavily from the lofty criticism of superior folk who would choose better plays, select a more appropriate cast or insist. on longer Tehearsals,-he—or she—gets a good deal of fun out of the strain and stress of the emotions of mumming. They do not grumble because to them the! critics invariably attempt to apply standards which are mercifully relaxed when, for example, the efforts of gentlemen riders, amateur billiard players, amateur "soccer" players are under review. They cannot 80 complaisantly accept the bouquets of their friends, who insist that the professional stage is longing for them. That was only possible in the days when the cinema did not exist to keep vividly in the mind of the pla goer the technique and craft manship of the leaders of the profession. They.are content to rely on the satisfaction derived from a performance executed to the best of their ability. They enjoy the comradeship of the rehearsal, the revelation of the} marvellous idiosyncrasies of human temperaments and the resourcefulness of their fellows in. maintaining, unbroken the tradition that "it will be all right on the night."
'This season Shanghai has reason to give amateur acting' special attention. 'The new Lyceum Theatre, for the first time, will be the temple of all the amateurs. And it is proper' that Shanghai should give this -slocal dramatic effort full support. Touring companies must be less frequent in their appearance here, partly owing to the domination by the Ginema of most available stages and partly owing to the com-self. It would be regrettable if, for lack of box office encourage-keep the flag of the legitimate flesh and blood stage flying. There is no fear of this. The standard in Shanghai is high—far higher than Shanghai itself always realises. The Lyceum 'Theatre has, so it is stated, been deprived of its refrigerators and it should increasingly attract. the, devotion of playgoers. Perhaps, another season, the Bunicipal Orchestra may be able use the Lyceum for its Sunday' concerts, thus crowning the new temple's dedication to local arti tie effort. Given a fair deal, the amateur will render a good account of himself. He may even be persuaded to tackle what is generally recognised is the chief defect of his craft in Shanghai—the failure to give to his production the requisite number rehearsals. This defect has already been present this season may be said to have explained the amazingly diverse opinions held by the first-night and last-night audiences regarding the merits of "Is Zat So Amateurs here can cou Jadequate publicity. Pul cannot do everything. Its technique is apt to get stale; its stereotyping is difficult to avoid. Let it be put to the playgoer that not even the best "first roleo cinemas are consistently good their programmes. It is sometimes astonishing how meekly] the cinema audience will gularly pay for the thinnest of thin fare. Especially to those hho are personally unacquainted with the amateurs. in real life, most of the productions here give far more value for money than, perhaps, seven out of ten cinema programmes. This is said with the reservation that possibly the business managements might consider the superior drawing power of prices; less ambitiously fixed. A fat rate of $3 through the "house might make all the difference in ensuring crowded booking plan: It is inevitable that some shows should draw less than their merits warrant. That is an accident liable to happen at any' time, if only to provide the exception to the rule that box offices are the best critics, A notable example occurred last week. The display of amateur dancing at the Lyceum deserved a packed house on Saturday night. Itdid not get it. 'The loss—artistically—was theirs who did not go. Shanghai reason to be proud of its dancing talent and it was a thousand pities that the efforts of the very' young and young performers were so little appreciated. The point might be noted for the future. It would probably be asking too much to suggest that the Lyceum management should try and impose a certain standard. If, however, a tradition could be gently encouraged, the mere appearance of amateurs on the Lyceum stage might of itself carry an assurance that a definite degree of proficiency had been reached. The excellent schools of dancing fulfil most useful functions in ministering to the cultural needs of Shanghai. Their art should be able to command support as generous as that given to its dramatic sister. But there is no need to be apologetic for Shanghai amateurs. They are ready to put up the curtain. May they have a splendid season!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.