STAGE GLAMOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

STAGE GLAMOUR.

YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY.

INTERVIEW WITH MISS BAYLIS,

"Character, in the sense of personality, does count, and it will probably help a girl to get to the top more quickly than mere talent," eaid Miss Baylis, speaking to an English journalist. "Personality is a rarer gift than technique, and, to tho casual observer, who forms tho bulk of the audience, it is infinitely more attractive. Beauty is not important. Several very famous actresses are not, in the strict sense of tho word, beautiful women; but a good figure and a good carriage and beautiful movements are

important." Lilian Baylis is the rare type of woman who will face difficulty after difficulty without being discouraged. She has enormous faith in tho soundness of her ideals, and perhaps still more faith in the people who work for her. She believes, too, in the value of public opinion. Tho public knows what it wants, and if this can be oil'ered them inexpensively, so much the better. The average public taste is not low, as some people seem to imagine. Because it is actually very high, some of the bestknown actors in England began their West End triumphs after being put through their paces at the Old Vic.

Miss Lilian Baylis possesses a most compelling personality, states the writer. The first time that I ever saw her was many years ago, when I was still young enough to regard every famous person with breathless interest. I would look at them very hard, and wonder how they achieved such renown. I wanted —but felt too shy —to ask them about all ■those steps they had taken on the ladder towards success. So when I saw Miss Baylis addressing the audience during an interval at tho Old Vic, my ears were wide open, and my eyes were glued to her face. She struck me then as a woman of ■ compelling and vital personality, of immense character, unconquerable enthusiasm, and almost tireless energy. Miss Baylis is just the same to-day, only more so.

It is 51 years ago since Miss Baylis' aunt, Emma Cons, took the Old Vic over and started to produce opera at popular prices. Miss Baylis was in the theatre on the opening night. "I can just remember," she told me, "being held up in my aunt's box to see the people come into the auditorium." She smiled at that. long-ago memory. Much has happened since that night! Just before the Boer War, Miss Baylis, who was in Africa teaching music (she is a brilliant musician, and that is why she has always been so keen about opera), came home for a few months on holiday. When she arrived, she found that her aunt's health was breaking down, so she took charge for a year. Then the Boer War broke out, and Miss Baylis became so interested in her work that she stayed on with Miss Cons. Between that time and 1914, aunt and niece kept the theatre packed with lectures, ballad concerts and operas. They began a Shakespeare season in April, 1914, and were making plans for the autumn when the Great War was declared. But they carried on through the war, and by the time peace was signed the Old Vic was more popular than it had ever been before. But although music means so much to Miss Baylis, ehe is a Shakespeare lover, too, and up to date she has arranged 19 successful Shakespeare seasons. Many of the great actors and actresses who have made their names in Shakespearean roles remember her with affection and gratitude. The walls of her office are covered with their signed photographs.