The Washington herald., 1909-02-17
For Theater Patrons.

No end OF comment was caused a. one
OF our theaters last week by the follow
ing printed announcement: During
this engagement the curtain rises at
s O'Clock sharp. and no one win be seated
during the action OF the play"
This notice faced one in the lobby, was
printed on slips which were distributed
with each sale Of tickets. and was a part
Of the theater's newspaper advertise
ments. And yet-the rule being strictly
enforced-between thirty and fifty people
were seen standing in the foyer during
the first act OF each performance
some years ago when another rule was
generally enforced for the convenience
Of theater patrons as a whole-the edict
against ladies' wearing their towering
hats during a performance-what q storm
of protest and indignation vas raised by
the offending ones. And yet to-day a
greater hue and CRY would ensue If this
rule was rescinded-
An artistic performance with a some
what vague opening act. and consequent
" depending largely for its correct IN
depreciation on a word bit Of panto-
mime. an intonation Of the voice. OF a
fleeing facial expression. IS often abso-
lUtely lost 20 the already seated auditor
by the busting interruption OF the late
Corners This is particularly aggravaung
20 those VINO seek the theater as a place
Of Intellectual diversion. and these were
highly Eratifed last week on account OF
the seating rule being rigidly adhered 10.
Because far beyond the irritation caused
the players are the late corners a nui-
sance 10 the audience. one couple COM
ing down the aisle distracts attention
from the stage. Getting 20 their row.
the tardy couple stand until a whole row
OF people pick up their belongings and
stand Up. they in turn being obliged 10
block the view Of all behind them and
still further annos the whole audience.
Multiply this occurrence by a score for
the first half hour Of the performance
and one has some idea OF the necessity
for such a rule being enforced at all
times
One realizes that it is almost impos-
sibie 10 enforce a rule Ike this in New
York CITY, as the majority Of people
there dine in cafes and restaurants. but
in a home city like Washington. where
dinner is served with almost automatic
regularity. it should be an easy matter
for an audience 10 assemble at a des!g-
mated hour without Inconvenience
IN a small city Ike Memphis. Tenn. il
has been a rule for the past seven years
4 10 seat no one after the curtain rises. and
It is a JOY 20 the serious-minded actor 70
find his audience already seated in its
entirety on the rise OF the curtain. Like
wise does this pleasure extend 10 the
audience. for it is not annoyed with
having TO rise TO its feet dozens Of times
all over the house to allow inconsideratA
tenants Of seats TO squeeze by and into
the middle Of long row Of seats. with
rustling gowns and cracking programmes
which utterly destroys the mimic scene
before their neighbors. 10 whom the
thread OF the story may be absolutely
lost
One class Of patron-bless her heart
who knows no hardness IS our dear. de-
lightful, f1uffy-rufied seminary maid
who would not miss word for the
world, and whose mother chaperon is
bringing her Up in the way she should
go May she never forget the lesson!