A POPULAR ACTOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18600, 30 December 1920, Page 5

A POPULAR ACTOR.

CHAT WITH MR GEORG® TULLY,

IMPRESSIONS OF ’‘ THE MAN FROM TORONTO.”

in private life “ The Man from Toronto '• is Mr George Tully, one of England’s leading actors. Mr Tully is a native of the West of Ireland, and his stage career extends over, some twentyfour years.' Ho made his first appearances in tho morus oi a musical burlesque, “ Lonnie Boy Blue,'' and subsequently graduated through musical comedy to farce and comedy proper. He is one of the most popular—and suc-cessful-—of the “West End” actors at iiiome, his position in the theatrical world corresponding to that of the liarley Street specialist in medicine. Air Tully is making his first visit to Australasia, his present tour, in fact, [being the first occasion on which he has ‘ played ” outside the United ' Kingdom. His colonial tour is due to the fact that Mr Robert Courtneidge was unable to’secure a suitable theatre at Home owing to the heavy bookings, and in the interim decided to give Australia and New Zealand an opportunity of witneesing his clever company in [their moßt successful plays. Unfortunately, owing- to Mr Tully being due Ibaok in England in April, it was only tFound possible to produce, ope play on the New Zealand tour, and “The Man from Toronto” was selected as being the most likely to prove popular with audiences in the Dominion. Other plays which Mr Tully had hoped to produce here are: “The Saving Grace,” a comedy by Mr Haddon Chambers, and Somerset Maugham’s “Too Many Husbands,” originally produoed under the fitle, “Home.and Beauty.”' Mr Tully is very favourably impressed witli New Zealand and New Zealand audiences. “ Your country is glorious,” be stated yesterday, “ and your /audiences are a treat to play to—they are so quick to grasp the finer points of a play.” Colonial playhouses he considers quite good." The .Christchurch Theatre Royal, he stated, was a very dine theatre from an artist’s point of view. Everything was so clean and well arranged, it was somewhat disappointing, however, to find hot water appliances in the dressing rooms, but no hot water. It was very difficult to remove grease paint with cold water, and visit- ’ ing artists must find it inconvenient if they had any elaborate “make-up.” Cue feature about the Christchurch Theatre Royal which somewhat surprised him was its poor entrances and exterior lighting arrangements. “Your picture shows,” he said, “ are all made as attractive-looking as possible from the outside—brilliantly lighted and with handsomo entrances, yet your only theatre is shrouded in gloom. As far as the entrances are concerned one might bo entering the garage, confectioner’s or restaurant alongside. Better lighting would more than pay for its cost in the increased attendances. There is nothing to attract the public to vour theatre from the outside/’ _ \Vhen Mr Tully left Home conditions in tho theatrical world were very prosperous. As stated before, the theatres were all hooked up and excellent business was being recorded. Since Iris arrival here, however, he has heard that things have quietened down somewhat and managers are not engaging “star” actors and actresses to the same extent as they did formerly. Some interesting reminiscences of England during the war period were narrated by Mr *Tully. He “ played ” through all the air raids, and on occasion shrapnel came through the stage roof and shattered some of the footlights. Warnings that hostile aircraft were approaching were always announced to the audience, but the play was invariably proceeded with. By a coincidence Mr Tully was appearing at tho Duke of York Theatre in a play relating to Canada when .war was declared, and he was back at the same' theatre playing “ The Man from Toronto” when peace was proclaimed. His Press agent had announced that he was prepared to wager that he would he playing there when peace was declared, ana he was besieged with letters from all over the United Kingdom offering to “ take him up.” Mr Tully is returning to England to take the lead in a play which Air Courtneidge is haying written for him. If by any chance the company. is delayed in New Zealand it will probably produce “ The Saving Grace,” a play which Mr Tully says he would very much like to 9tage here, as those who know state that it is even better than *“ The Alan from Toronto.”