To the Editor of the "Normi-Ciawa Darcy News"
Sm—Belore I start to give a few apparently much needed facts 10 Shanghai "playgoers" regarding the performance, the casting and the producing of A.D.C. shows, let me, as (ne who has experience of professional theatres, express my highest [respect and admiration for the AD.C., which one I consider the very best of its Kind in the world.
In London, as well as in most other large cities, there are dozens of theatres, where different types play are running at the same time, Individual taste can therefore be Satisfied by choosing the playhouse specialising in tragedy, comedy, farce, musical-comedy, t-opera, or grand-opera, as the case may be. 'The ADE'S programme has always been arranged with such variety, that at least once year individ'! requirements in this respect may be satisfied, with the exception of grand-opera, which, technically would be impossible 10 stage at, present. Iccally.
After having chosen the play comes ually the most dificult part with amateur organizations. Namely, 10 et a cast together. Professionally this is the easiest part, for in London or any other large city you will by the dozen, first-class talented actors who are' only too glad to get Job and to appear again before the Public in order not to be forgotten, With amateurs It is different.. One has to find the type and the talent, And only too frequently you find the type without the talent, oF vice versa Even when you have found someone who seems suitable a refusal 1s more frequent than an acceptance. When the east by hook or by crock has been brought together the rehearsals start, After a week, one of the cast inevitably has to go on a business trip to Hankow, or to bed with Infuenza. A new performer has to be found and the work started from the beginning again. For in amateur jcireles you cannot expect to find If some of these critical and rather unfair "playgoers", who compare the coal amateurs with frst-class London Jactors, had but some stage experience, they would certainly better appreciate the hard work of amateurs, who work and worry all day, and rehearse with enthusiastic energy from 6 p.m. [sometimes until as late as midnight. Regarding scenery and costuming the ADE. has always given the very teest "to the Shanghai public, sur passing sometimes in this line per= formances in famous capitals, "Autumn Crocus"). This is very Jotten achieved only with the greatest difficulty, owing to the tack of perfect technical stage-equipment, and Jespecially a revolving stage. "Playjacer", does not like to walt long for change of scene. Despite the deficiencies just referred to, the scene Was changed in % of a' minute in "At Mrs. Beam's", "and that is. the Feason why some of the setting had to be placed at a certain distance from the footlights, so that another set could be rapidly pushed in front fof it. This, of course, was no doubt appreciated by anyone with theatrical nally 1 would ask those who to A.D.C. shows only to pull them to Pieces to step forward. themselves Jand act vor produce. always welcomes new and keen members, who would certainly have their chance to improve upon our past efforts. I should like to add however that I have frequently found the Jmost destructive criticism are those who would not be capable of even crossing an empty stage.
At "Playgoer" would ike to have Jmore information regarding amateur performances, or "the many. Mops, which professional theatres have had the last few years in London and in New-York, I shall gladly supply It Producer of "At Mrs. Bear's" Shanghai, May 4.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.