Leon M. Lion

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 241, 31 December 1927, Page 18

Leon M. Lion

A 100 per center in the Theatre BIG LIST OF SUCCESSES Leon M. Lion, the English theatre manager and producer, comes within an ace of being an almoet complete repertoire rather than a person. If he could paint scenery—and it is quite possible that he can—he could aptly be called a 100 per center in the theatre, perhaps the only one. Mr. Lion, who went to America recently to produce “The Fanatics,” produced and directed “The Fanatics” in London, where it is still playing. He also produced and staged and doubled in two parts in the British production of “Escape.” In association with H. M. Harwood, the playwright. Mr. Lion controls the Ambassadors* Theatre in London, and in association with Edith Evans he is lessee of Wyndham’s. At the time of his sailing for America he had three plays on the boards in England—“ The Fanatics,” at the Ambassadors'; “The One-Eyed Herring,” at the Strand, and “The Lady-in-Law,” at Wyndham’s. Producer of “Ghosts” Lion is a theatre manager, producer, director, playwright, play doctor, actor and stalker of histrionic talent. He is a native Londoner, born, as ho says, within earshot of Bow Bells, a circumstance of nativity that seems to have become a kind of legendary guarantee of authenticity in the British Empire. Unless one hears Bow Bells in one’s cradle, one might just as well be a colonial. Having thus satisfied the first requisite of the London tradition, Mr. Lion confirmed it by being educated at Hampstead. He went on the stage at 15. when less fortunate men are preparing Oxford. He played with Tree, Hawtrey, Fred Terry and, lest this history seem to austere, with George Edwardes in musical comedy. Mr. Lion claims to have won more moral and aesthetic victories over the British censor than any manager who has ever bearded that gentleman. Be made the first English production 01 “Ghosts” and “Monna Vanna” when those innocent compositions were con* sidered heretic by English officialdom. Mr. Lion wrote his first play * or Arthur Bourehier ’way back in At the same time George Arliss wrote his first * play. Mr. Lion’s was callW “The Man Who Stole the Castle.” Arliss’s was entitled “There Back.” They have, in retrospect, tB« mellow distinction of having floppy* together. Making Stars With Rafael Sabatini Mr. Lion wrote “The Snare,” which he staged and dueed. With Horace Annesley Vaefcej* a play called “Blinkers.” f° r L Gerald Du Maurier, the successful Jarvis.” He is the author of “Jack-' Jingles,” produced at the New and in collaboration with Bower of “The Chinese Puzzle,” wn ran 13 months in London. He is also the author of about - one-act plays, published by French. He also staged and “Number 17,” by Jefferson FarF° grandson of Joseph Jefferson- . w He rescued Isobel Elsom, who K _ playing in “The Mulberry' Bush. musical comedy and made her tional actress in “The Outsider. « saw Edna Best in a oneline P arl made her a star. He was spon* Edith Evans in “Tiger Cats. ’ Tearle in “The Faithful Sybil Thorndyke in “The Cn Puzzle.”