Peeps Behind The Scenes At Daly’s

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 21 (Supplement)

Peeps Behind The Scenes At Daly’s

Leading Ladies and Free Fights SPARRING STARS Have you ever known an actress who didn’t think she ought to top the hill; — Never. Have you ever known an actress icho didn’t try to get to the top of the bill? — Never. More about the ways of leading ladies especially behind the scenes —was told in the London courts recently by Mr. Cecil Paget , the general manager of Daly’s Theatre, who made the replies quoted above.

He was giving evidence in the action in the King’s Bench Division, in which Fay Marbe, an American musical comedy actress, was suing Daly’s for breach of contract and defamation.

The dispute arose out of a new edition of the musical comedy “Yvonne,” in which Miss Marbe claimed that she had been engaged to play the part of Lolotte.

Mr. Paget said that after one rehearsal Mr. Leslie, the stage director, told him and Mr. James White that as Miss Marbe was then going on it would be absolutely impossible to allow her to play the part. THEATRICAL QUARRELS

While the case was proceeding Mr. Justice Horridge remarked: “I am not going to have theatrical quarrels thrashed out here unless they are something to do with the case that is being tried.” Mr. Neilson (for Daly’s): Observations have been made in opening of a very gross character against Mr. White and his staff.

Mr. Paget denied that the dancing of Miss Marbe interfered with Miss Tresmand. who in the previous version of “Yvonne” had been the only dancer.

Referring to a passage in a letter in which Mr. Paget referred to the fact that such well-known people as Miss Jose Collins had gone on tour, Sir Patrick asked, “Do you mean to tell the jury that you would go to Miss Jose Collins and say that as she was not fit to play in a London play she was to go on tour?”

Mr. Paget: I know Miss Jose Collins well. I think I would.

The Judge: Do you think there would be any chance of her accepting your proposal?—l do not know.

Sir Patrick: Do you think it would have been an insult to her?—Miss Collins is entirely different.

Mr. James White, the chairman of Daly’s, said the rehearsal was not a “try-out” for Miss Marbe alone, but for three people. FREE FIGHT One of them was Mr. Gregory Stroud, who was to sing with Miss Ivy Tresmand. He had a very loud voice. Sir Patrick Hastings (cross-examin-ing): Was Miss Ivy Tresmand’s fear that if Mr. Gregory Stroud sang with her the audience might not notice that it was a duer? (Laughte ) —No. Mr. White was asked if it were not

usual for a leading lady like Miss Ivy Tresmand to greet a newcomer, particularly when she was a stranger, to this company. He replied that it was. Sir Patrick: Then why did not Miss Tresmand greet Miss Marbe? Mr. White (warmly): I cannot make them do it; you ought to come and see what they do. There are some of them down there having a free fight every night. Sir Patrick: But you control Daly’s Theatre and you are not influenced by Miss Ivy Tresmand. Mr. White: My dear Sir Patrick, nobody has any influence with me, not even you, if you were working for me. Sir Patrick (quietly): Mr. White, please do not be so affectionate.

This remark was greeted with loud laughter, in which the judge joined.

John Golden, known in New York as “the producer of clean plays,” has arranged to stage a comedy by Lawrence Grattan called “The Gossipy Sex.” Lynn Overman will be starred in it. It is a tale of American life, although the sex that figures in the play gossips in all parts of the world. It caused a smile along Broadway the other day when a statement was printed in the newspapers to the effect that Paul Slayer, representing the Apollo Burlesque Theatre, had said he was going to Albany to urge the Legislature to pass a bill providing censorship for the stage.

Frank Neil and his company of comedians are preparing for "Getting Gertie’s Garter,” in Sydney. This new farce comedy had a great run in New York and the success will be repeated in Sydney, judging by the energy all the artists are putting into the rehearsals. Everyone remembers Field Fisher as the waiter in “The Girl in the Taxi.” He plays waiter in this piece also, but has far more opportunity to shine. A company which played “Getting Gertie’s Garter” in California was arrested.

Max Pemberton, journalist and novelist, make an eloquent appeal in the London press for a revival of some of the old-time opera bouffe pieces, and, incidentally, mentions such delightful favourites as “Falka,” "Kip Van Winkle,” "Les Cloches de Corneville” and “La Poupee.” “With the books to some extent rewritten, there is nothing to prevent these lovely works from delighting the present generation.”

Mabel Gower, the energetic and temperamental Laura Bartlett in “Fair and Warmer,” had several years’ experience in London with Diana Wilson in

“Lightnin’ ” and with George Grossmith and Oscar Asche at the Haymarket. On the Australian stage, playing in Lawrence Grossmith’s company, again with Diana Wilson, she made an astound! - In the striking part of Pinsent, the maid in “Quarantine.”