THE ENGLISH STAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2369, 9 December 1908, Page 6

THE ENGLISH STAGE.

A CHAT WITH MISS ROSEMARY REES.

■Miss Rosen* try Rees, who has come homo to Gisborne on a visit to her parents after a sojourn of about eight year, in London, where she has done well on the dramatic stage, lias many interesting things to say of plays and plnyer.s in’ London and the provinces. •‘Tlio profession at Home is greatly overcrowded.” said Miss Rees'.to a “Times” reporter yesterday, “but I have had no reason to complain of want of engagements. All the managers I have been with offered me reengagements, and Mrs. Brown-Potter, with whom I was appearing in “Lady Frederick,” before . I left London, asked me to remain to finish out the season; but I wanted to come home. I did not not find it hard to get on in London. My first engagement was with Miss Fanny Brough, and after that I did well. I toured with /Mrs. Lewis Waller, and with Mr. Van Biene, who was in New Zealand about four years ago, playing ‘The Broken Melody.’ New Zealanders and Australians seem to generally do well in London, and the people seem to take an interest in them—perhaps it is because they come from this part of the ■world,” said Miss Rees, smiling.' “It is strange, though, bow small the world really Is. I toured with Miss Florence Lloyd in England, and we had many chlits about New Zealand, and about Gisborne. Two Australians that are on the top of the theatrical iladder in London are Mr. Oscar Asche, a Melbourne boy, and Miss Alice Crawford, who, though still very young, is right in the front /rank of the profession. Miss Crawford is very clever, and has the advantage of being considered good looking. I played at the Haymarket in a piece written by Mr. Augustus Barrett; but I /rather preferred playing in the provinces, because there ■are better chances to learn with a touring company.” “As soon as you apply for an engagement in, London,” said Miss Rees, in explanation, “you are asked whit experience you have had, and the only way to get experience is to ,go on tour. “I have written a number of comedies /and a drama,” said Miss Rees, with pardonable pride, “and I have had the -pleasure of seeing a number of my one-act comedies staged as cur-tain-raisers, and my drama, ‘A Desperate Marriage,’ was produced at Brighton, whilo I was plaync at.another theatre in tlmt city with Miss Florence Lloyd. ‘Her Dearest Friend,’ a one-act comedy from my /pen ,was* sold to Mr. Percy Hutchinson, stage manager for Sir Charles

Wyndham, .and was used as a curtamn user to ‘Peter’s Mother..’ I have also written a number of short stoneo for London magazines. “I would like to play a short season in New Zealand before I return to London,” said Miss llees, in conclusion, “and it is probable that I wiF. join a leading , comp my in ,Australia for about eight months. If I could get the support of some good amateurs I would produce three, comedies from my pen in Gisborne, hut I have not had time to make any arrangements so far. Unless I decide to take up my profession for ta few months at this end of the world I expect to leave Gisborne for England in March next. ‘