Australian Actress to Go Abroad

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 86, 2 July 1927, Page 22

Australian Actress to Go Abroad

Jessie Page Plans for England & America A PROMISING PLAYER AHU STRALIA is to lose another of its most promising actresses. Jessie Page , now appearing in “Eliza Stays at Home” at the Athenaeum Theatre , Melbourne, with the Joseph Cunningham Company, intends to go abroad about the end of this year , or early in 1928. Her aim is to learn in London and work, in America. Miss Page has visited New Zealand on many occasions and has done splendid work. This actress has had a remarkable career. As a child, she lived out from Bourke, and never saw a theatre, but knew she would go on the stage. An old actor who watched her performance in a comedy with an amateur combination, persuaded the girl to go on tour with a company which was delighting small towns with melodrama. As Miss .Page could play the piano, she comprised the orchestra and was also given small parts to do. Then the family moved to Sydney, and a friend introduced her to Allan Wilkie, who was producing “School for Scandal.” That was her start. She had not seen a dozen theatrical performances of any note when she spoke her first lines with Allan Wilkie. She was 16 before she went into a theatre. Miss Page is one of those versatile types who can take any role. She played four characters in one production. Much of her time had been spent as understudy to leading women. When Judith Anderson played “Cobra” in Sydney, Miss Page had no less than three parts to understudy, including that of the star. She continued as that actress’s understudy in “The Green Hat” while giving a convincing performance of the Mother Superior. In Sydney last year Miss Page won great praise as the dope fiend Nana in “The Seventh Heaven,” with Remy Carpen. For 18 months this actress was Muriel Starr’s understudy. She played her part of Dominie in “The Garden °f Allah” for some time in Brisbane. The company was then under the JC. Williamson management. When it went to New Zealand Miss Page played the Amah in “East of Suez.” the part Eily Malyon took in AustraliaAs a character actress, Miss Page has done very fine work. As Emilia* she was one of the outstanding successes in Oscar Asche’s production of “Othello” in 1924, and her Bianca* in “The Taming of the Shrew” is also remembered. When Doris Champion went out of “The Skin Game,” Miss Page, who had given a remarkable portrayal of the maid, took her place as leading woman. Much of Miss Page’s experience was gained with Oscar Asche. When the company was organised for the production of “Cairo” she was told to understudy the actress who was to do the Chinese woman, but on hearing the understudy, Mr. Asche gave her the part, and her work in that role was the subject of general admirationMiss Page was in both productions of “Chu Chin Chow.” During a New Zealand tour she was asked to take the singing lead at a moment’s notfce, and went through with it successfully. That is the only time she has sung on the stage, but for some time she has been taking singing l eS " sons with a view r of trving musical comedy. This will not be her ultimate aim, but it may serve as a vehicle when she goes abroad.