New Britain herald., 1926-03-26
DEFENDS ENGLISH
 STAGE PROFESSION
Is Serious Career. r..ChOrineS Ob-
 feet to Criticisms

London, Mnrch go V1--WHen Jonn Beckett Laborite Member of Com mons. referred to the hejewelled peeresses at the opening of Parlia- ment as n vulgar. garish mob of un- derdressed women. and compared them 10 chorus girls, he started | something in the theatrical world. | These days one may say almost | snythng he likes about the nobility | and escape unscathed. but the land | of stage. or course, MT. Beckett who l has achieved fame by wearing a | huge sombero which has perhaps the | widest hrim in the country. vas not | attacking the stage. He was after the nobilty. But indirectly he hit | the stage hard enough 10 get sharp l reaction. Tt seems an amazing thing, and a wicked thing, that frequently when people have something particularly nasty 10 say about somebody they compare their victim to theatrical people," declares Miss Fay Compton, "1n this country tho stage Is a seri- bus profession, and our choruses arc filled with well-bred. highly educated girls who are working hard and houestly to make C. reers."
 Miss Compton Is one Of the lead Ing actresses In England and is one of the most eautiful women on the stage today. She is best known for her work in S;hakcspearean roles and other Straight drama"
 Miss Compton also has served her time In musical comedy. and there is not much she does not know about chorus girls.
 "Garish and vulgar!' repeated Miss Compton. "Why, our chorus girls haven't the money to be garish snd vulgar even if they were in elintd that way, which they aren't. They are hardworliins girls with small pay and most Of them cant Afford 10 dress better than am dressed now"
 Miss Compton glanced down do precatingly at an exceedingly mod. tst outfit Of very ordinary material which she was wearing She vas eos. tumed for the iMncrsonation Of Elrl Ot the East End.
 'rhe great ma ajority Of our chorUt girls have no inclination 10 yulgarity for thn simple reason that they com from good families and are well bred" continued Miss Compton. We take thc stage vory seriously. Ambitious girls mako inc chorus merely q means 10 the end. They .l,.,, nT. sion. and the chrous is the logical place for those intending to act h, musical plays. Tho majority of r'.' girls have no lime 10 think ahou' fine clotuo. Thoy have no time |" display them even N.th1y had them They york from morning unul mid night. When they arc not on 'h' sta2 they a,e rchearSing and taking lessons in siuY;iNE Hnd dancing. They aro a very "Erne&t lot.
 'So far as our chorusos hnin~ vnl- ear and narish on the stage. that js equally untrue. Reputable produ"trs Gon't stogr vulgar and GariSh scHnft ln rhts conNtry.'
 tpropos of rlo Gorcral diacps- siou Miss Cou1don r"frrred 10 th' uly@k Of thc stage, alhoH~h Mr trrI>nu lad mace no reference it tho moral aspect,
 "Tulncr Iitv is no more prNYalnn rn 'i.o eA. 'h@N it is in any other s,c.ion "f ,h" romuuity,' sho d"cl0r' tl. ami aGIod Mitn a littl" smil>.
 "I hclioyc you r"for 10 il as mora tlru;tujc in ANerira."
 "f vou wish to InnrN just hn" I:gn wndnl and straight ou rAolna girls aYo ,-or should visit Tin har~trn Girls club N hj"h n'y moth" rru@ in Soho" Miss Compton said tMr~. rI"ard Cor;rton. 'hc mother sl>o haa boon H noted ""tr"ss. "rhsro gro hnn1rr1s of rhnr'Is girl tr"""--,noat of lhom "rl-hr"d. an all If ,hrw upright: ha"jwor}in girls who arc n'.,n~ on tiny incomes Ard nnr>r q complaint h"cauaN 'ho '.t~ obliged by the vulcs 10 T." i 9 eleven o'"lorf cv ny night. or a soon after tl1t os their rhcatri"a eng: G"u"nts pcruoio Wh" anTho ll ir".' of all Labor l""d'r sNoul r"f,r 70 rhom in disn1rq"iDg form ie )rr"nJ coupr, hoU",on.'
 A'i+s Cnmy.on is at Nr"~cN. play iae thr tulr ro'" in !. V. Nnri" Niry To&r at th> Htym"r),"t. E' frt, ' e,to're eho is acting for th Gqumont Film romnany, but sn Gocs nnt like appearing oN fh" film
 Sho prnfors tho "i"Eitiw2i"' S'r" anI her Gudifno".