MISS HILDA SPONG.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 5

MISS HILDA SPONG.

( « TO TOUR AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrleht London, September 12. Mr. J. C. 'Williamson has engaged Mi&s nilda Spong for an Australian tour, ( which opens in Sydney in December next. The chief pisce to bo presented will bo , "Everywoman," a modernised version, with. spectacular features, of tho old' morality play "Everyman." Miss Hilda Spong is not unknown in New Zealand. She was last here as load with tho Howe-Spong Company, when sho nppeared to great advantage as Rosalind in. "As You Like It," and in "Tho Ironmaster" and other plays. Sho is the daughter of Mr. W. B. Spong, a scenic artist, whoso work was at ono time well known in London. She made her first appearance at tho Criterion Theatre, Sydney, in "Joseph's Sweetheart" in , 1890, afterwards became leading lady for Bland Holt, and subsequent to that appeared with tho estimable Brough Comedy Company in "Sowing the Wind," "Niobo," "Tno Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith," '"I'ho New Woman," and "Tho Benefit of the Doubt." Miss Spong made her debut in London ■in 1806 as Sibyl Grey in "Tho Duchass of Coolgardie, since when she has played a host of parts in England aiul America. She has been in America for the last thirteei years, and long ago reached "stardom." At latest advices shV wns appearing in "A Man and His Mate." "Every Woman" is a modern moralitv play, but, unlike "Every Man" (which Mr. Julius Knight and Co. played at tho Concert Chamber in Wellington about six years ago), the play is most gorgeously dressed and mounted.