DRURY LANE SCENE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18552, 30 November 1925, Page 7

DRURY LANE SCENE.

RIVAL CURTSIES. Trouble behind the scenes at Drury Lane Theatre was described at Bow street Police Court, London, last month, when Miss Mira Nirska, one of the principal performers in "Rose Marie," summoned Mr Lee Ephriam, described as a prominent official of the Daniel Mayer. Co., the producers of the play, for using threats towards her. Mr Edmond O'Cocner, soliciter for the complainant, said both the parties were wellknown theatrical people. Miss ,Niiska, who was an American citizen, had been appearing iu "Rose Marie" s,ince it was first produced at Drury Lane. In September there was some trouble, which might account for what took place subsequently. At each performance Miss Nirsdca was in the habit of taking two curtains with a Miss Hardwicke, but the latter was away recently owing to illness, and her place was taken by an understudy, a Miss Nicholls. Part of the complainant's perrformance in taking her curtains consisted of a rather attractive curtsey, and ehe had reason to complain to Mr Abingdon, the stage director, that Miss Nicholls was copying this speciality of hers. Mr Abingdon refused to interfere, and Miss Nirska then spoke to Miss Nicholls, who at once expressed her regret, and promised not to do it again. This seemed to have irritated the management, because on Saturday the complaintant was informed that Miss Nicholls was to continue doing the curtsey. The result was that, rightly or wrongly, Miss Nirska failed to appear to take her curtains at the performances on Saturday. On Monday Miss Hardwicke returned to the cast, and she and Miss Nirska took their calls as usual, but after the performance the defendant, accompanied by Mr Abingdon, went to the complainant's dressing-room. Ho was, said Mr O'Connor, livid with rage, and behaved like a perfect savage. After ordering the dreßser out of the room ho said to this defenceless lady, "By , you will suffer for the trick you did me on Saturday. You get right out now, and I won't pay your way home. The whole bunch of you can _get out. 'Rose Marie' can run without any of you." Miss Nirska tried to explain what her contention was, whereupon the defendant raised his walking-stick and said, "If you open your mouth I will Iknock you down and throw you out of the theatre." The complainant collapsed in a chair, and defendant then left the room, saying he would write to Mr Oscar Hammerstein and the Actors' Association.

A Lifted Cane. Mis 3 Nirska, giving evidence in support of this statement, declared that the defendant lifted his cane over her head, after which she collapsed completely. Mr O'Connor: In view of what'happened are you afraid of this man? Witness: I am very much afraid. Cross-examined by Mr Charles L. Nordon, who defended, complainant said her real name was Mrs Grace Schwartz. She denied that she wad jealous of Miss Nicholls; she was only protecting her material, because the curtsey was an individual little, trick. Witness's salary was £42 a week. She did not intend to disobey instructions on Saturday night, but she was in a nervouß state and became unwell towards the end of the performance. She agreed that the general atmosphere at Drury Lane was that of a happy family party. Mr Gordon: Then what do you suggest Mr Ephriam meant by saying the whole bunch of you could go? Witness: "Rose Marie" is a huge success and they don't care who they throw out, because they think it will run without anybody. Do you seriously ask the Magistrate to believe such an improbable story?— Yes. That is what he said in his temper. Out of Pique. Mr Xordon contended that the proceedings arose out of pique and spite on the part of a lady who wished to get the whole of the applause due to three performers, and wha had made a wicked accusation against a gentleman of the highest standing in his profession, whose only interest Was to secure for the public a satisfactory performance. Defendant, who described himself as a theatrical producer, said he went to Misß Nirska's dressing-room with Mr Abingdon to complain of the breach of discipline of which she had been guilty in not taking her calls on Saturday. He told her be thought her action was contemptible, and that he proposed to send her a registered letter informing her that if she did not comply with the rules of the theatre she would be dismissed. He denied that he raised his hand or threatened violence of any kind, and although he was verv much annoyed he was quit© calm and did not rage or storm In cross-examination, witness admitted that he used the expression, "A ible, low-down, dirty trick," but he not Miss Xirska that she should suffer for it. He was carrying an umbrell, not a stick, and he did not raise it above his head. Mr William Abingdon, the stage director, said he reerarded Miss Nirska's action as a brech of discipline, and he had a conversation with Mr Ephriam about it. Mr Nordon: Did Mr Ephriam use any threat of violence to this lady ?—Absolutely nose. Did he raise his hand or umbrella?—Ho did not do anything at all. What are the relations between the man-