FAY COMPTON ARRIVES AT MELBOURNE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 11

FAY COMPTON ARRIVES AT MELBOURNE

Eager to make her first appearance in' "Victoria Regina," Fay Compton, the English actress, has arrived in Mel-S bourne. Miss Compton- admits her likeness to Elizabeth Bergner. She has similar ascetic features^ a similar figure and many eimilar mannerisms. Aske why she had come to Australia when plenty. of work was offering in England, she replied: "Because I wanted to." "I was approached while in the throes of a long season of 'Call It a Day. ' "When we had finished the tour, 1 Yvette Anning and Hayley Bell and I wero staying at my country house in Kent. 'Let's go somewhere,' was the signal of the day. "Australia was suggestedj and then it was 'When can we starfj' " Miss Compton had been to the United States, had seen enough of London for a while, and wanted to try something new. In Miss Compton -'s company, which arrived by the Oronsay, are three English actresses seeing Australia for the first time, and an Australian girl revisiting her homeland after nine years'

stage experience in England. AU'are ; looking forward eagcrly to the tour. Anne Codrington, whose curly grey hair enhances a clear English complexion, is in private life Mrs. Stafford Hilliard; wife of a member of the company, and the mother of a 21-yeafs-old daughter, Patricia Hilliard. Miss. Hilliard has been in Miss Compton 's, company in.:England and is now appearing' in a new Priestly play. Hayley Belle, juvenile lead, was formerly an English international lacrosse player. Yvette Anning is seeretary to Miss Compton, (.as well as a member of the company. • The Australian member, Mary Charles,vbegan her dramatie work, with the Allan'Wilkie company in Brisbane.