BACK FROM AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 10

BACK FROM AMERICA

THE THEATRICAL WORLD.

"I took a gambler's chance and went to Broadway—the only place where you can make good." ;

The chance was all in Mr. Jerome Patrick's favour (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). Aided by natural gifts which, soon, brought him to the forefront, Mr. Patrick, as leading man with David Belasco for three and a-half years in America, has appeared successfully in many first-class plays since leaving Australia. He returned to Sydney 'by the Sonoma, to attend to private affairs, which will shortly take him ,to New Zealand. -' :

Mr. Patrick, who. will be remembered as principal man with Hilda Spong in "Passers-By" and "B-verywoman," and also as a member of the. Nellie Stewart Company, has crowded some important roles into the busy eight years ho has spent in' the United States. Speaking of his experiences he smilingly recalled how someone remarked to him before his departure from Sydney, "Let me tell you my boy, there-are 10,000 actors out of work in/America: I suppose you will be cast as leading man ion Broadway." Fortune favoured him ; a few years later, and that' prediction, offered satirically, was fulfilled. Since then he has appeared under engagement to Morosco, Klaw and Erlanger, Frohman, and Belasco. He has a great admiration for Belasco's genius in theatrical produc-. tion: "A man who seeks for the best in youth, encourages ideas, and with a great staff around him." It is probable that before his return to America, where he met Mr. E. J. Tait, Mr.- Patrick may appear in Sydney in "The Blindness of Justice," by Cosmo Hamilton, which has had a remarkable success in England and America, and which ho classes as a "delicate, wonderful play." It is more than likely, too, that- he may give . a few matinee performances of Galsworthy's "Justice," which, had a fine run in New |.York.', Harry Lauder, who was a big I draw in Hew York, is, says Mr. Patrick, jas popular as ever, and hit the public j taste greatly with, his quaint recitals of i his expoi'ience& when visiting the troops [in France. Mr. Lander is a passenger jby the incoming San Francisco mail steamer.

Mr. Patrick enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but after being in cj>.rap for some months rheumatism laid him low, necessitating bis. discharge. He is visiting Dunedin, whore his father (.Mr. ■William Patrick, donor .of the Bocken residence for the purposes of a soldiers' club) ' died recently. After settling up family a-tfairs he will return to Sydney. It wa3 net hia intention to appear pattiely ia AnstcoUa before his departure again for America, but in response to Messrs. E. J. and N. .Taif s reqciesi, ho ;;ia.y produce the two pla.ys ruentuiniKL

"Theatrical business in New York is beaming," says Mr. Patrick. "You see, too, types of people in .Now York to-day the city man never saw before. They, are coming in from all the places outback to greet their boys home from the war—and a fine type of folk they-' are.''