MISS SPONG INTERVIEWED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5730, 25 November 1896, Page 1

MISS SPONG INTERVIEWED.

I called on Miss Hilda Spong and her mother, at 12, Keppel Street on the evening of Sept. 23, to have a little chat about the former's experiences at Drury Lane. The Australian actress was looking verybright and happy though inclined to be modestly diffident about the reality of her success. On that point I could confidently reassure her. "With the exceptions of Mary Anderson and Ada Eehan, I can (I recall no American nor colonial actress who has been received with such an absolutely unanimous chorus of praise. Clement Scott, ' Carados,' Bernard Shaw, William Archer, Truth's man, in fact every leader of theatrical opinion in England has said the same thing." "It seems almost too good to be true. But. I have, indeed, been extraordinarily lucky. It was lucky to meet Mr Coleman, lucky to get the engagement, lucky to be cast for a sympathetic part." "Oh Monday morning/ interjected Mrs Spong, " we were both of course itching to see the papers, but the servant would not bring them. She seemed to think we wanted breakfast first. At last 1 borrowed a Telegraph and took it in to Hilda. No sooner had she read the notice than she burst out crying, and really for quite a" long time I couldn't stop her." "They were tears of joy and unspeakable relief," said Miss Spong, " What agonies of anxiety I had gone through the previous week no one would believe." " Certainly," said I, " that is a tremendous notice of Clement Scott's. He doesn't usually let himself go over anybody but Ellen Terry. It will unquestionably turn many eminent ladies in your profession green with envy. Do you know Mr Scott, Miss Spong." "No, we don't as yet know one of the dramatic critics. This week, of course, I've been deluged with ' interviewers,' but they, I think, are not quite the same thing." "Tell me how you fared on Saturday, Miss Spong." ■•.-•- --" We were far too nervous to settle down to ordinary pursuits," replied Mrs Spong ; "so what do you think we did, Hilda and I ? We went out and picked up a suburban bus, and got on the top and drove out for miles into the country. It was a splendid day, quite like an Australian spring, and did us a deal of good." "At last," Miss Spong went on, "the time came for me to go down to the theatre, and just as I was saying 'goodbye ' to mother, a barrel organ in the' street struck up ' Cheer, Boys, Cheer.' It seemed a happy omen." " And your reception, Miss Spong. was " "Oh! terribly chilling— so different to Sydney. Some of the Australians in the huge house clapped, but the feebleness of their effort only emphasised the general silence. I felt I was on trial. Presently something I did pleased them, and a short, sharp round of applause followed me off the stage. Then came a scene with Mr Glenny -which gave satisfaction. After that 1 seemed to be able to do nothing wrong. They clapped me constantly and cordially, and it has been so every night since. Both on and off the stage people are ; wonderfully kind. Of Mr Coleman's goodness I cannot say enough. Mr Charles Grlenney not merely acts very sympathetically but most unselfishly. Some leading men want the whole stage when they are on it, but he seems even more pleased to help us girls to make a point than to score one himself." " By the way I thought Clarence Holt was to have had a part ?" "So he was, but he gave it up and became assistant stage manager." "At the dose of the play on Saturday there was I believe quite a scene ?" "Oh! yes. After they had called us again and again my Australian friends insisted on 'coo-ee-ing' to me. The pit couldn't make it out." " And about the authorship of the piece, Miss Spong ?" " I really can't tell you. We suspect Mr Coleman himself prepared the original scenario, but like many such pieces it was almost entirely re-written, and the situations recast in the course of rehearsal. The Western Australian colour is understood to have been supplied mainly by Sir William Eobinson and Mr Julius Price." " There was a supper afterwards I believe to the company." " Oh ! yes. Lord Pingall, Mr Hewitt Myring and Mr Francis Hart, who are financing Mr Coleman's venture, entertained us sumptuously. My mother sat next to Lord Fingall, who paid me many compliments, and Sir William Eobinson and Mr Myring were also most kind." "And what is your next move, Miss Spong ?" "Well, should the 'Duchess of Coolgardie' prosper, I am booked for Drury Lane till Christmas. After that all is vague. I should like, of course, to play Eosalind or a Pinerian heroine in London. But one cannot always do as one likes." Such outward and visible evidences of success as interviewers, begging-letter-writers, playwrights with pieces "which would just suit you," and photographers are just now rather a trial to Miss Spong. To the claims of the latter the Australian actress will, however, have to give way, though she deplores the fact, as none of the samples submitted to her by them are equal to the really wonderfully artistic pictures of the Sydney photographers.

Lecture. — There w^as a good attendance at the Oddfellows' Hall last evening, -when the Eev J. Gibb,of Dunedin, gave a lecture on " Vesuvius and Pompeii." The Eev Dr Elmslie occupied the chair. The lecturer pave a very interesting description of his visit to Mount Vesuvius and the ruined city of Pompeii, drawing a • comparison between that city and a modern one of similar size. On the motion of Mr W. Gavin, seconded by Mr D. Duncan, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Gibb. —On Sunday afternoon a lecture will be delivered in the Temple of Truth on " The Bible and Prohibition."