Evening star., 1924-11-28
CROSS WORDS PLAY
HAVOC IN THEATERS
Audience Indifferent to
Stage, While Actors Need
F.. Spur to Answer Cues.
tsy Consolidated Press.

BY Consolidated Press.
NEW YORK. November 2s.-Cross
words on the ,chorines dressing table.
cross words in the bosoms of the
stars, cross words tucked betweeu
pages of the theater programs to be
worked upon between acts and helped
by words that chance In actors
speeches-these are some of the
things theatrical managers are en-
count ering when they try to run a
show on Broadway.
Cross words and ruin-synonomous.
according to the bosses. Since the
little checker boards, whose every
square has n '1etter-meaning all Its
own" entered the theater havoc has
been played Four big theatrical
managers walled a chorus about 1t
Wednesday.
The crossword puzzle has invaded
the footlighted stage with a ven-
geance. In the past three weeks,
they moaned, not one performance has
been called without q battle being
previously waged to get the gents
and ladies" of the ensemble out on
time. There has been a word escap-
ing them that just had to be found
before the audiences could be faced.
On the other hand, people don't like
the theater any more, they say. They
can't keep up an interest in the va
rious acts and numbers There is just
the possible chance that some actor
will let fall the hidden word that
missed them when they worked the
puzzle back at home to whet the inter-
est in the passing entertainment.
Anxious for determinations.
There is a certain almost feverish
unrest among the audiences until the
intermission breaks and furnishes an
opportunity to furrow up the brow
and puzzle in the bright electric
lights. A tour Of midtown theaters
revealed innumeraole groups gathered
in Hobbies in between the acts about
tiny checkered pieces of paper where
smokers were before.
Although the theatrical bosses seem
70 be wearing crouch over this
still the thing to do. People don't
mind waiting for tardy chorus girls
and actors when they have cross
word puzzles tucked into their
pockets to while away the time.
But the managers, the producers
the stage hands! 1t causes them to
gnash their teeth. What can you
signals for the appearance of the
actors in one Of the leading musical
comedies playing in Broadway. 81
fash the lights, I buzz the button
urging them to hurry And nothing
happens. l have to go to rout each
of them out before the show can be-
gin, and l do it all over again be
tween their various appearances"
Plan Special Play.
And tLen there Is the actors side
One star, whose name blazes ir
bright lights over the door of one OF
the city's chief show houses, display
ed marked despair Wednesday. "wha,
is the use of going on the stage
he asked, when the audience Is sc
busy thinking of something else tha,
1t falls to get half our wise cracks
We. might as well be late ourselves
We might as well. even, not appear
at all-if we would stand behind the
scenes and yell meaningless words
from the other side of the curtain >
The rumor was current in Broad
way that a play will be put on be-
fore too many months have passed
featuring the crossword puzzle, with
an idea of satisfying all parties con-
cerned. A big playwright has the
contract and the theme, 1t Is honestly
said. will be a parallel to the story
of the golf widow" Of whom the
country heard SO much year or sc
ago.