KEEPING SLIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 586, 12 February 1929, Page 1

KEEPING SLIM

Stella Wilson Gives Her Recipe

Players in “Vagabond King” Take a flat. Do your own house-work. Take plenty of exercise. Eat what you like. Ladies, that is Strella Wilson’s recipe for reducing. She has proved its excellence because this morning on the Manama she displayed a slim figure and confided to a Pressman that she had lost pounds and pounds in weight. Miss Wilson, who will play lead in “The Vagabond King” this evening, is an Australian-born girl. Her voice came under the notice of Dame Nellie Melba and the successful career predicted by the famous prima donna has been fulfilled. Aucklanders will remember Miss Wilson in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas which she played for two seasons throughout Xew Zealand and Australia, and established her reputation as one of the most delightful singers on this side of the globe. Her first success (and her first appearance on the stage) was as Leonora in “II Trovatore.” When she hears grand opera she still longs to return to it, but good comic opera and musical plays are now her preference. Miss Wilson spent four years in the United States, where her voice attracted the attention of the critics. A little later' she toured Canada with a grand opera company. After returning to Australia Miss Wilson was engaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and has remained with them ever since. She has played the lead in “Merrie England,” “The Chocolate Soldier,” and quite recently in a revival of “Lilac Time,” as well as the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. During her stay in Xew York Miss Wilson saw “The Vagabond King,” so her part was not entirely new when she was chosen to play in the Australian production. JAMES LIDDY’S ROMANCE Elinor Glyn, the authoress, and James Liddy, male lead in “The Vagabond King,” have something in comMiss Glyn wrote “Three Weeks”; Mr. Liddy married his wife three weeks after their meeting in Sydney. At the wedding breakfast Irene Homer,-who plays lead in ‘The Patsy,” sent the following cable to Miss Glyn,

“You wrote ‘Three Weeks’; James Liddy has just done it.” Mr. Liddy’s recent marriage was the culmination of a romance which really began in New Orleans. America, six years ago. He was touring with “The Merry Widow,” and in the Southern town he met Miss Esther Gagnet..

They met, admired each other and parted. Occasionally they corresponded, but only in a platonic kind of way.

Some months ago Miss Gagnet arrived in Sydney on her fifth tour of the world. That tour has yet to be finished. She discovered to her surprise that Mr. Liddy was playing in Sydney. The old friendship was renewed and the confetti was thrown in packets three weeks- later. Mr. Liddy was last here with “The Student Prince.”