When theatre people get together.............

in 1960, after arriving here in WA, on my own. I walked down King street & the stage dock door were open of the Maj theatre. I stopped and & had a word with a bloke called Robert Sherman. Then a semi trailer pulled up & I got a job doing the Bump In for a show. when I mentioned to wally Wombat one of the Mechanist while having a smokeo That I had been a Ralph Reader Gangster in the UK & worked, as a kid, at a lot of theatres & Variety Halls in various City's. Bobby Sherman over hearing this, said they were doing the first Gang show in Perth shortly. So I performed in the first Gang Show at the south Perth civic centre. the next years Gang show was put on at the Capitol Theatre. they lost money on the first show, so it was shelved for a while. Anyhow then I met the next significant character, Coleen Clifford of the Guild theatre. I think she was going on for over 60 years old at that time. No matter what type of Musical, was being performed in Perth be it Opera or any thing else, at the Maj or the Playhouse. The Directors &/or Producers would call on her to put the cast thru their paces, for the Dress Rehearsals. So she could tighten up all the nuts & bolts of the show & those involved in it. She stood less than about 4' tall & yet could shake the timbers of the biggest person on or off the stage, from the rear of the Stalls. On Opening Nights at the Maj especially, she would ride her bicycle up to the front gates of the entrance of the theatre, While in full evening gown. Usually a pink silk dress, wearing a tiara & dressed up to the nines. Park her bike against the front gate railings & chain it up. Put her gloves on & limp straight up the red carpet to the foyer. {she had a gympy left leg, she sustained as young musical performer on the West End stage.} She would give all the royal waves to those whom she knew & those she didn't. No matter who they were or thought they would like to be. She would be treated like Royalty by all the Front of House staff. Invariably all this time she had forgotten to take her dress out of her bloomers, which she tucked up there while riding her bike. She would not normally take her dress out of her Pink bloomers [always colour coordinated] until she actually took her seat. First standing & looking around smiling to everyone. With her butterfly style bright red lipstick on, In full view from the Dress Circle or one of the Pigeon Holes [Boxes].

TOI TOI TOI CHOOKAS

[May you always play to a full house] Hear the lights & see the sounds.