MAGGIE MOORE TO RETIRE

Evening Star, Issue 19062, 3 October 1925, Page 19

MAGGIE MOORE TO RETIRE

Maggie Moore, the oldest and probably tho dearest of our old theatrical artists, intends to retire from tho stage. “ Lizzie Stofel,” the name of tho part in ‘ Struck Oil,’ in which she endeared herself to Australians and New Zealanders, will always remain a pleasant memory, and the good wishes of many thousands of patrons of the drama will go with her in her retirement. Miss Maggie Moore is an actress with records. She has played Lizzie Stofel, in ‘ Struck Oil,’ nearly 5,000 times. “ Yes,” said Miss Moore, in an interview a few years ago, “ it makes one fee) awfully old when one begins to go hack'on old times. _ I do not say ‘ Struck Oil ’ is my favorite play, because I hare played in it so often, but I fancy that my opinion is somewhat tinged by that of my audiences. They all seem to enjoy the old piece so well. I have played in it in all the principal cities of England, Ireland, Scotland, India, and the United States. ‘ Struck Oil ’ was first put on at the Theatre Loyal, Melbourne, on Saturday August 1, 1874, and the principals in the cast then are worth mentioning. They were: John Stofel, Mr J. C. Williamson; Deacon Skinner, Mr Stuart O’Brien; Sergeant Flinn, Mr Harrv Sefton; Dr Pearson, Mr Charles Taylor; Corporal Sharp. Mr Tom Lewis; Susan Stofel, Mr Edwih Bryer; Lizzie Stofel, Miss Maggie Moore. I could talk to you for weeks about ‘ Struck Oil,' ” went on Miss Moore. “ Look at the number of great actors who have played in it,. Alfred Dampier

played Sergeant Flimi, go did William Holloway and 11. H. Vincent, and Charles Holloway. J. P. West was a great Deacon Skinner. John F. Fordo and Harry Sefton took the Kamo role, too, both of them with wonderful success.” Besides her first husband, J. 0. Williamson, her second (Hurry Roberts) made big hits as John Stofel. This is how Miss Maggie Mooro describes her first attempt to go on tho stage; “There was an advertisement ‘Wanted, a Singing Fairy.’ Of course, every mother thinks that her own daughters are singing fairies, and as I had an cider sister on tho stage, my mother sent me down to tho theatre to answer the advertisement. ‘ What can you singp’ the manager asked. ‘ Just Before tho Battle, Mother,’ I answered. ‘ Sing it,’ he said. So I sang it in one key while a violin played tho accompaniment in another, and it did not appear to impress him greatly. ‘ You go home, and wait.’ ho said, ‘and if wo want you we’ll., send for you.’ I went home, and waited for a year; but they didn't seem to want me. Short!v afterwards, I appeared at a benefit given to my sister, who was about to marry and leave the stage. T sane two songs, ‘ Yes, I Would tho War Were Over ’ and ‘Limerick Races.’ Both took, and the management asked ‘Would you like to go on tho stage?’ I was practical, even in the hour of triumph, and said ‘What wages will I get?’ ‘Six dollars a week,’ they said recklessly. So I went on, and very soon after was playing little Mary Morgan, in ‘ Ten Nights in a Bar Room.’ I was then eleven years of age.” In later years Miss Moore has appeared with numerous companies and with distinction* Prior to her depart-

ture for America, where sho will spend the remainder of her life with relatives, the theatrical profession is to _ tender her a monster farewell matinee in Melbourne. A contributor to the programme will he Miss Nellie Stewart, and it is hoped to persuade Mr Bland Holt to once more tread the boards. Maggie Mooro is so well known in New Zealand, the promoters (through Mr Bert Royle) will be glad to acknowledge any contributions to swell tho proceeds.