“MESSAGE FROM MARS”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 9

“MESSAGE FROM MARS”

Sold by Author for £5O Miss Lola Maries, a journalist, now resident in Wellington, is the sister of the late Mr. Robert’ Ganthony, the author of the comedy-drama, “A Message From Mars,” which enjoyed such a' successful run when produced and played in London by the late Mr. Charles Hawtrey, and in Australia and New Zealand by his brother, the late Mr. W. F. Hawtry. Miss Maries states that her brother’s pen name, Robert Ganthony, was made up from his full name, Robert George Anthony, who was the son of a London journalist, at one time the proprietor of a Spanish paper. The playwright was also a journalist, and, like many another author, he found some difficulty in selling his wares. He hawked “A Message From Mars” from manager to manager without any tangible result. At last he left the manuscript with the late Mr. Hawtrey—and waited. Becoming tired of that process, he sought an interview with the popular actor-manager, and as the outcome, Mr. Hawtrey offered the author £5O for the play outright. In need of funds, Mr. Ganthony accepted. The rest is history. “A Message From Mars” was produced at the Avenue Theatre on June, 19,1905, and ran for 544 performances, and was revived again at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on December 9, 1911; at the Apollo on December 2, 1914, and at the Playhouse on December 23, 1925. It has also been adapted for the screen (silent). Mr. Hawtrey probably never invested £5O so profitably.