New Faces

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 20

New Faces

English Company Reaches Melbourne for “The Wrecker” E. J. CARROLL ENTERPRISE Several English actors and actresses, new to Australian audiences, are appearing in the latest thriller, “The Wrecker,” in Melbourne. This is an E. J. Carroll enterprise. The play is by Arthur Ridley, author of “The Ghost Train,” produced here last year. Josephine Wilson, the leading lady, has had only about seven years' experience, but she has made her mark on the London stage. This young actress ran away from home to join a Shakespearean company. She had been given an audition at Leeds and told she could join in a short while. So instead of returning to school after the vacation, Miss Wilson entrained for another centre, where she was turned into an understudy and soon given parts. Miss Wilson’s mother made a journey to bring the girl home, but was persuaded to let her go on for a few weeks. The mother decided to act as chaperone for three months, thinking that at the end of that term her daughter would be pleased, to give up the stage. But before that period had expired the mother was proud of her daughter’s ability, and encouraged her to go ahead. Clayton Greene, the producer and leading man, has an impressive personality. This actor has a long record of successes in England and America.

Noelle Sonning was leading lady to Arthur Bourchier during the South African tour, which terminated in his death, and has since appeared with Owen Nares in Lo”ndon in “Two White Arms.”

A London character actor is Frank Morrison. For a year he played the role of Harvey Lennox in the London production of “Meet the Wife,” a comedy which has been seen at the Athenaeum.

Other new players Include Guy Routh, a comedy actor who played Major Bone in “A Cuckoo in the Nest” no fewer than 400 times; Ivy Sparrow, who has her original London role in “The Wrecker”; Helen Saintsbury, Arthur Young, Charles Stone and Reginald Collins, who has returned from London to act as stage director of the Carroll production. George Willoughby and Victor Fitzherbert are among the few Australian actors who will support the new combination.

Margery Jacoby has been given a big opportunity by the J. C. Williamson firm. She was selected to play the part of Rose Marie with a company the firm sent on tour at Christmas time. Miss Jacoby is very young, and has been on the stage only two years. She gained her first : tage experience in the chorus. Then she drifted into drama, and, although omparatively a novice, was cast for quite a good part in the “Ghost Train.” Her ambition was to appear in the musical side of the theatrical business. With this ject in view she has taken lessons in dancing from Minnie Everett, and studied singing with Sydney Mannering for the past three years. She is the second juvenile whom Williamsons have elevated to stardom during the year.