THE AFTERMATH OF THE GAÎTÉ INCIDENT
Talks interrupted

The incident at the Théâtre de la Gaité had an epilogue. Hopefully this will be an epilogue and not a prologue.
Sunday's performance, as we announced, ended without anything disturbing the show. The only fact worth noting is that we gained a quarter of an hour on the other days.
But, as the volunteer stagehands left the theater and separated to return to their respective homes, they were followed by "reds", who were driving these. “yellows” were outraged.
One of them was attacked on rue Saint-Martin, thrown to the ground and beaten. He was able to escape, returned to the theater and informed the director. Mr. Bravard called the police and they were fortunate enough to apprehend one of the attackers.
He was taken to the police station, from where he was sent to the Depot on charges of obstructing freedom of work and assault and battery. He is a stagehand and carpenter at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Mr. Bravard, who told us the story of this adventure, added:.
During this arrest, insults were uttered, both at me and at my colleagues. I was even threatened with death. I don't care much about it, but it nonetheless remains true that I currently find myself under violent threats.
“Under these conditions, when the union delegates presented themselves in my office, my first word was to tell them that due to the events of the night, I could not initiate talks.
“The delegates, whose change of attitude I must point out, declared to me that they completely dissociated themselves from the comrades who had engaged, of their own initiative, in assault on a non-union member.
“Returning to the incident on Saturday evening, they wanted to convince me that there was a misunderstanding at the root of the whole affair: I refused to discuss because of the upcoming meeting of the Directors' Association.
“I believe, in fact, that this is no longer a question which concerns Mr. Bravard and La Gaîté, but a question of a general nature which interests all theater directors. No agreement can therefore be made before Friday, the response having to be a response from association to union, not a response from director to union.
“I have therefore given an appointment to the delegates for next Friday. I would add that, to show their good will, they offered to put at my disposal, until Friday, the old team that I had canceled, without this having to commit me in any way for the future . I refused. »
Are we going to revisit the epic struggles that shook the Theater in 1919 and 1920? The demands lists were signed by two directors of subsidized theaters or rather by a director and a chief stagehand.
Regardless of any electoral or political question, it does not seem that trade union action finds, at present, in theater circles, support or at least interest. caring. Peace has reigned for two years, if not harmony, and people seem to find that the system of mutual concessions, which was established after the last entertainment strikes, is the most favorable to all.
We will know on Friday whether we can hope for the maintenance of this peace or whether we should fear conflict.

André Rigaud

P. S. At the Cora-Laparcerie Theater, Mr. Jacques Richepin has decided to make up his team of stagehands exclusively from non-union members, because, he says, he believes that a stagehand should not be paid more than an actor. We can play without a stagehand, we cannot play without an actor. We will give the union's opinion tomorrow. Comœdia owes its tradition of impartiality to making all voices heard.

A. R.