HIS PROPS?

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 6

HIS PROPS?

Ex-Comedian in the

Misery Scene

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auck-

land Rep.)

Lester Sinclair! — -the name sounds familiart and possibly

Auckland can remember it having

figured on many theatrical posters. I ESTER is well acquainted with the *** footlights, his versatility giving him no mean space on the bills as a comedian. Although it is some months since Lester' bowed to an audience, he is a man well and securely grafted to the mummery profession, and having set aside the grease-paint, he now follows the less ambitious employment of advertising manager for the Regent Theatre, Queen Street, Auckland.

For all that, the name of Lester Sinclair has not passed into total eclipse from public notice, and recently it was the spot-light of the Auckland Magistrate's Court that gave Lester his cue to enter as defendant when John Preston Stevenson wanted a little judicial adjustment to a claim of £9 ss.

Lester is an enterprising young man and has placed his knowledge and experience of stagedom behind a number of entertainment projects. Possibly that is how he came to meet John Stevenson, a gentleman possessed of beneficent propensities. ENTER FROM WINGS Just when and how it came about, is not quite clear, and in any case the public does not expect to know what takes place "behind the scenes" — but Sinclair became responsible for some "properties" belonging to Stevenson, and failing to account for them, it was said, the matter was brought before the court la,st January when Sinclair arranged to pay 5/- a week in liquidation of the total value of the goods' — £10. Evidently, the ex-comedian's advertising work became too absorbent to allow of such little matters as a dollar a week to cross his stage in life, with the consequence that Lawyer Thomas, on behalf of Stevenson, asked Magistrate Hunt for an encore of attention. The amount having been reduced only to £9 6s. ! Lester did not strut the boards to hear counsel tell the S.M. that there was "an element of fraud" about the whole business, but he no doubt has been informed ere this that if he does not pay the amount claimed within fourteen days, he will find himself cast to a humble role in gloomy scenery, that may not altogether appeal to his artistic taste, to wit — nine days at Mt. Eden gaol.