New-York tribune., 1922-04-23
''Zero,'' 90 Society
Play, Halted by
Frozen Credit
No Pay or Promise of ANY in
Sight, Scene Sl1ifiers at
44th ST, Theater Refuse
to Proceed With Matinee
Volunteers Help at Night
Strike Rehind Stage Climax
of Gloomy Week Planned
TO Aid Ex-Service Men

Zero, the musical production that
was written, costumed. rehearsed and
produced by society amateurs. encoun-
tered the problems of professionals yes
terday. There was no matinee ner-
formsnce at the Forty-fourth Street
Iheater because there was no money
TO pay the stage hands, and the night
performance was an improvised affair
participated in by Vale students and
all others who could be induced to help.
Zero" opened last Monday night
to slim business. The business grew
simmer as the week grew older, and
the producers, players, authors and
stage hands seemed to be aware of the
TACT. Tho production was staged for
charity, but the stage hands. after five
strenuous nights Of association with an
amateur affair. decided yesterday
morning that charity could be carried
TOO far. They made known their atti-
tude-therc would have to be some as
surance of then pay or no scenes
would be shifted for the matinee This
assurance was nov forthcoming. and
the Fortyfourth Street Theater re-
NAMED dark and empty for the after
noon.
Expense Forgotten in Staging
It was a lavish thing. this Zero"
1t was staged with an eve for detail
and without particular thought, it
seems, as 10 financial perils Of Broad
way theatrical ventures. The produc-
tion was widely advertised, and as it was
being put on for the benefit of two
disabled soldier organizations. the Dug
Out and the Veterans Mountain Camp.
il carried the good wishes Of many
others besides society folk But it
failed TO draw at the start. and the
audiences grew smaller, if anything, as
the nights went by.
The stage hands, familiar with this
sort OF thing as a result of personal
experience, made inquiries. it is said,
as to whether their money would be
Forthcoming, and when every one APP
pealed to seemed to have some doubts
on that score, the scene shifters, with
emphasis, made it clear Just what their
action would be unless they were prop
erly cared for.
Several persons connected with the
production, including n. Hamilton Dal
ton and Mrs. Dalton, learned Of the ulti-
matum, and were not present yesterday
at the time for the players to report
tor the matinee pert OrmenCe They did
not appear during the afternoon. The
fact that the absence Of Mr. and Mrs
Dalton meant also the absence of cos
tunes and the music added to the diff
flculties Of the distressed amateurs,
and threw the Forty-fourth Street thea
ter at matinee hour into turmoil. That
was all back stage, however. The house
itself had not been lighted and the
doors had not been opened Those who
had tickets for the performance were
confronted by closed doors upon their
arrival,
Some members OF the cast, desiring
to give some sort of performance even
without scenery and scene shifters,
would have gone on. but when they
learned that there could be no cos
tunes and no music as we'll as no seen
cry they gave the situation up as hope
less. The orchestra leader had fol-
lowed the score Of Zero" all week and
he steadfastly put his foot down on
taking a score ever for charity's sake
At night some of those associated
with the production made brave at
tempt TO give a small audience its
moneys worth. But what was given
lcnnfingad ueSt naua)