MISS DORIS DUANE

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 4

MISS DORIS DUANE

A CHARMING PERSONALITY. AN ACTRESS WHO LIKES ACTING When a young woman takes a delight in playing with scandal and says so it is time for a modest newspaper man to sharpen his pencil for “copy,” and in that mood a representative of the Southland Times saw Miss Doris Duane, the young English actress who is playing Beatrix Vanderdyla, the central figure in Cosmo Hamilton’s daring comedy now at the Municipal Theatre. He found Miss Daune a young lady without much desire to talk “Scandal,” however. Greeting her after (he performance he found himself talking to a very young lady, vivacious and bright in «pite of a heavy night’s work in an exacting role. She has dark bobbed hair, and si taller than she appears on the stage and her eyes are especially attractive and informative concerning her moods. She uses them to give point to her remarks, to emphasise a word and to express a whole idea. She is obviously young, interested in life and

pleased to be an actress. “I don’t care how I look so long as I am comfortable,” she said, because she knew she could look “anyhow” with immense success, and because her eyes said that she liked pretty things. “I am having a great time” she said in answer to a question. “The New Zealand scenery, particularly on the delight* ful West Coast, is charming,” exclaimed Miss Duane rapturously, “and I was thrilled by the rugged grandeur of the Otira and Buller gorges, the former especially. My first coach ride was through them. I love the coach, and, do you know, I even took the box seat so that 1 could be thrilled all the more. I like anything thrilling. “Do I think New Zealand towns very English ? Well, yes. Some of the smaller places, such as Nelson, are more so than the cities, and are more capable of reminding Englanders of their native land.” “And what of our audiences? Are they appreciative?” “Wonderfully appreciative.” replied Miiw Duane, “and we love them for it, because it helps us to give of our best. The audience* in the smaller towns are even brighter than in the bigger places, for, strange to say, they grasp things more easily and seem never to miss a point, no matter how cloaked it may be.” Miss Duane knows something about the play of which she talks because the haa appeared in it over 700 times. She likes it and that is why her performance as Beatrix is still so fresh. “It is a play which must be delicately handled,” she said, “and whn I get the first two acts over— they are very exacting—l am ready to enjoy the fun with everybody.” “We people have our peculiar moods,** she chatted on, “and frequently I simply revel in my work in the third act. which affords wonderful scope.” Miss Duane has been in comedy and dramatic work since 1917, having given up concert study when her professor died. She has a strong desire to get into emotional drama, believing that in such a field she could find more scope, but she is content to work gradually to that point. She is that rarity—the actress who says she reads what the critics say. “I love kindly criticism, for it is by heeding this that one can improve. Ignore the advice of the critics and your star begins to pale. Never believe all that your friends tell you. However, I am too young yet, and cannot hope to jump to the top without experience.” In that remark she revealed the strength of her ambition and her frank interest in her Art. She is known to have a desire to hunt big game, but a talk with her convinces one that if a chance in a good emotional drama offered, the wild beasts of South Africa would call in vain for her attentions. Miss Duane is an actress, and likes it—that’s the scandalous thing about it. She can shoot, she is a good horsewoman, and passionately fond of music, but all these things are hobbies—the stage is the “real thing” with her—one has only to talk to'her for five minutes to find it out.