40 YEARS OF THE STAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 10

40 YEARS OF THE STAGE

MR. WESTMACOTT RETIRES "THE FIRM'S" GENERAL MANAGER Mr. C- B. Westmacott resigned from the position of general manger of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., recently and was succeeded by Mr. H. A. Bowdcn, formerly London and Now York representative of the company. For more than 40 years Mr. Wcstmacott has. been associated, with the theatrical life' of Australia, observing the growth of a stage, consciousness and culture. For half that time he has stood in the centre of the eddy of temperament, drama, and comedy of a thousand artists, ever calm and patient, in a scurry of emotions. Thus, he had become part of the theatrical life of Sydney, known "> to all, knowing' all. No man has had closer associations with the artistic great who have" visited Australia. No man knows better their greatnesses and their weaknesses. Their names fall from his lips, forming pictures of idols of other days. "There was Sarah Bernhardt, for instance, a great and gracious lady, he said. "I met her through Sir Bertram Mackennal for whom she predicted tho success ho afterwards attained. She was so astonished to learn I was paying to sec her plays that she placed two stalls at my disposal for every performance. She showed me wonderful kindness and off the stage was a perfect hostess. Like all groat artists, she was simple-hearted and completely charming." • Mrs. Brown Potter was another happy recollection, of Mr. Wcstmacott's. A famous society, leader in.New^York, Mrs. Brown Potter visited London, where the late King Edward' became interested in her theatrical aspirations, and helped to launch her upon her stage career. On her visit to "Australia she was accompanied by Kyrle Bellow, of whom Mr. Wcstmacott remarked, "Ho was undoubtedly the finest romantic, actor I have ever seen.'" Mr. Wcstmacott had a long association, as manager, with Nellie Stewart, who, with Maggie Moore, he classes as the most popular woman on the Australian stage. "Both these ladies," ho saidj ''were of extraordinary retiring dispositions, aparr from their theatrical lives. Today, our artists mix more- with their public, and arc more familiar'to them." H. B. Irving and his brother, Lawrence, who perished in the Titanic, were close associates with Mr. AVestmacott, who managed. H. B.s tour in. Australia, when he played "Hamlet" and others of his father's parts. Dion Boucicault, Bland Holt, Chaliapin, Padorewski, Pavlova, and Galli-Curci he numbered among his friends, and the names of a hundred others who have each set si- jewel in the- sceptre of Australian theatrical art, are but. the labels of happy hours' he has spent with them. Asked to compare the present-day standard of stage art with that of earlier days, Mr. Westmacott said that while just after the war there was a lack of material, today the deficiency had disappeared, and although, perhaps, tho vogue had changed, the standard had not fallen. "Rose .Marie," "Sally," and "The Maid of the Mountains-" had touched a standard for authorship and histrionic art high as any ho had known. Discussing Australian talent, Mr. Wcstmacott said that Australian choruses and ballets were the best in tho world, either for voices or figures. Outside this department there were constantly arising young men and women of outstanding talent. Unfortunately, they went abroad, and became lost to ns. Nellie Stewart, Florence •Young, Gladys Moncrieff, Vera Pearce, and Maggie Moore were all Australians of outstanding, ability. Mr. Wcstmacott camo to Australia 50 years ago and -after a period "jackerooing" on the Lachlan and Bogan Eivers, he went on the s\age with George Bignold in 1887 at Her Majesty's Theatre, six weeks after it opened. Tho play was "Held by the Enemy." He remained.with Riguold for two years and then linked up with Williamson, Garner, and Musgrovc, tho first big firm of theatrical producers and entrepreneurs in Sydney. Garner brought out a London comedy company which revolutionised tho methods of the .seventies. Musgrovo made musical comedy his speciality and brought forward Nellie Stewart in "The Tambour Major"; and Williamson and Maggie Moore had made their success. The three of/them formed "The Firm," as it has been known ever since. Mr. Westmaeott recalled tho amalgamation with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., of Clarke and Meynall, who brought out Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton in Shakespearean plays about 1909. About 12 years ago J. and N. Tait, who had been successful with ventures with Guy Bates Post and Emilio Pollini, formed another amalgamation with "The Firm." . During the war Mr. Westmncott interested himself in Eed Cross work, and in 1917 was awarded the 0.8.T3., being ono of the first recipients of that honour. . Mr. Bowden has been for a number of years the New York and London representative of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and has seen every now show of con-, sequence in recent years and overy notable artist. A collision between a car .find a lorry occurred at tho corner of Ballance and Stout Streets at 10 a.m. today. The lorry was upset. No one waa hurt and the lorry was soon righted. _ __