JOY BEATTIE RETURNS

Evening Star, Issue 25927, 19 October 1946, Page 11

JOY BEATTIE RETURNS

TWO SUCCESSFUL YEARS IN AUSTRALIA The marked success which Miss Joy Beattie gained in repertory and theatrical work in the south before her departure two years ago for Australia under the wing of J. C. Williamsons Ltd. has always tied her with Dunedin. Alias Beattie herself, however, who arrived this week in Christchurch on her first return visit, declares that she is Christchurch born, and bred. Before her parents, Mr and Mrs J. D. - Beattie, made their home in Oamaru they lived in Christchurch for years. Hard work, and plenty of it, has been Miss Beattie’s portion in the last two years, but with it lias been a life with which she is obviously in tune. Out of it she has received entertainment, much humour, and gratifying recognition of her talents, even to an extensive fan-mail. Rehearsals last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.ni. daily when a new role is undertaken, “ and there is always much to do around the theatre,” she says. On her arrival from New Zealand Miss Beattie slipped straight into the lead in ‘ The Desert Song,’ and later into fhe role of 1 Rose Mario. 1 In these two productions she played for months in Melbourne, Brisbane. Sydney, aud Adelaide. “It was the previous experience in New Zealand which tola,” she said, reflecting- happily that ‘ The Desert Song ’ broke all previous records as a revival in the first three cities. Only last Wednesday Miss Beattie finished playing ‘ Rose Marie ’ in Sydney, and already in Christchurch, she*has begun rehearsals .again for ‘ The Desert Song,’ which is to open in Dunedin. \ . v , *

In the two years she has been in Australia Miss‘Beattie’s publicity has always stressed her New Zealand birth, and she had many visitors from the Dominion. Men on service and others sought her acquaintance as someone from “home.” '