The Theatre

I no longer go to the theatre since I have become so deaf. Is it me or does everybody mumble these days? In the 60s a regular afternoon treat was to go to the Leas Pavilion Theatre in Folkestone. This repertory theatre was started by Arthur Brough in 1927. He was later to find fame in the TV series "Are you being served?"
My mother and I went to matinees. In the interval trays of tea were brought round. The second act started to chatter and the rattle of teacups. Rather disconcerting for the actors. On one occasion the leading man stepped forward and shouted "Shut up!". There was instant silence and he walked back and went on with his speech.
Being a repertory theatre the same actors appeared each week in different roles. One old lady, a regular in the front row, said to the actress who was playing the maid and had just answered the telephone at the side of the stage "Not a very big part this week, dear." Once during a thriller the heroine shot the villain who fell theatrically to the floor and, in his death throes, rolled right off the stage into the audience. He then had to pick himself up and get back on the stage and lie down dead. There was some excitement in going to the play in those days. You never knew what might happen. At the end of that particular performance the manager came out to announce next week's play and said "I can't guarantee anybody falling off the apron."