A GENEROUS GESTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

A GENEROUS GESTURE

SYRIL THORNDIKE SAVES LONDON PLAY. By a generous gesture Sybil Thorn* dike recently save,! a London play. The story of how she came to the rescue was told as follows: One evening she was at Dartmouth with her son, a naval cadet, watching the manoeuvres, when she received a t<4egram from Leon AL. Liou, the theatre manager: , “I am in a quandary; will you help 1 ” She instantly wired back: “Yes; what is it?” Air Lion telegraphed: 4 ‘Willette Kershaw ill; will you play iu ‘The Stranger in the House’?” This is the play by Michael Alorton and Peter Traill which was presented at Wyndham's Theatre. Miss Kershaw, the Canadian actress who ma»A> her first English success in Air Lion £ play, “Woman to Woman.” ha.'l been chosen for t.he leading role, an»l was rehearsing the part when she became seriously ill. Aliss Thorndike replied to Mr Lion's second wire: “Yes; express part by train; wire what type of woman.” She received the part, instantly returned to London, and the next morning was rehearsing at Wyndham's Theatre. Aliss Thorndike has many kind memories of Mr Lion. She was his leading lady in “A Chinese Puzzle.” succeeding Eth'ol Irving, and he relieved her from a long contract when she was to have played in “T.he Outsider.” in order that she might go into management.