REHEARSAL IN COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8053, 4 July 1904, Page 2

REHEARSAL IN COURT.

. : * > ACTRESS FLAYS A PART IN <EH£ WITNESS-BGX. Last month va actress was called upon to give a specimen of her art in the wit-ness-box in, Mr Justice Darling's Court, London. She complied with some reluctance, complaining that there was no one to give her her "cues." . *• The point at issi*3 was whether Miss Honor Moore, who was engaged by Mr A. Wilfrid Cotton, managing director of the Wilfrid Cotton "Theatre Company, Limited, to double the parts of a French. bonne md a charwoman in " The Light that Failed " during a provincial tour, waa fitted to play these characters. "■She failed because 'she was too ladylike," said Mr Pearoe, assistant stage manager to Mr Forbes Robertson, who gave Mr. Cotton leave to perform the piece. Mxbs Moore was dismissed, and she now sued for 'breach of contract. ' It was at the Judge's suggestion, that ■Miss Moore, who is a handsqndte brunette, repeated the lines allotted to the French bonne in Court, it having been said that she did not main the most of the " broken English." Miss Moore read' the whole part, cues and all, introducing appropriate gestures) and gwatly pleased her audience. The part is a small one, and the "turn" occupied only a. few minutes. At this point' cpunselfor the defendant frankly conceded that Miss Moore is a fu-st-class actress, but submitted that the parte did not suit her style. Mr Forbes Robertson was called to prove that Mr Poarce. was , a good judge of acting, and in the er|d the jury found that no contract was entered into, and a verdict was given for the defendant.