ACTRESS-AUTHOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

ACTRESS-AUTHOR

INTERESTING CAREER. of Frances Dillon’s most treasured possessions is a typewriter. Like the lamb of the nursery tale it goes wherever she goes, for, even Miss Dillon will confess, her writing is not what it should bo. By this you will have guessed that Miss Dillon is on author as well as an actress. This is her first visit to New Zealand, but already tho experience of seeing this overseas England has sot her thinking of a new novel. I found her in the theatre in the throes of a rehearsal. During the intervals we sat on a property couch and while stage carpenters hammered and stage hands fiddled with the scenery she told of her desire to write as well as to act. “Acting helps one to write,” she confided. “One’s experiences arc so varied, one’s environment changes so rapidly that the only thing to ilo is to jot impressions down as they flash through the mind. Just as I know when 1 am boring an audience, so I know when I am boring my readers.” “My first novel, ‘Pigstyes and Spires,’ has been published in T.ondou by Jonathan Cape and in New \ ork, w'here it was the book of the month, for August, by Dutton. “I have the manuscript of my second novel, ‘Lancs Lead to Cities,’ with me, but I shall be posting it to London shortly, after I have rewritten part of it.”

From her trip to Australia and New Zealand another novel xviil gradually come to life, though she confesses that she docs not believe in writing books about any one particular country. “I write under the name of Georgina Garry,’’ laughed Miss Dillon. “I once knew an actress who wrote under her own name, and as everybody remarked, that ‘One could see it was written by an actress,’ I decided to choose a pen name. ’ ’

And then we talked of her stage career. As a girl Miss Dillon “walked on” in Beerbohm Tree’s company and xvas terribly proud of doing so. With her, also “walking on” were Sir Gerald Du Mauricr and Norman McKinnell. This accomplished actress has appeared xvith many of London’s finest actors and managers. She was Sir Beerbohm Tree’s leading lady for. a number of years, with Sir George Alexander, Granville Barker in a series of Shaw plays, Ben Greet, Edward Terry, Jerrold Robcrtshaxv, Frank Benson and numbers of others. “I have the greatest admiration for Granville Barker/” Miss Dillon confessed. I played in his command production of ‘Julius Caesar’ for the Kaiser. It was splendidly produced. Barker wrote separate lines for the crowds to make them more realistic, and the effect was excellent.” A glance through the pages of “Who’s Who in the Theatre” shows that Miss Dillon has played in almost every kind of play. She still retains a youthful enthusiasm for her work and will tell you that she loves playing xvith the Sunday night societies in London when all kinds of unusual plays are produced; She will also tell you that Margaret Bannernlan has one of her plays in Australia at the present time and that Anthony Princcp may produce it there if the opportunity offers. Miss Dillon’s first part xvas Mrs Chetwynd in “Vanity Fair.” That xvas in 1895, at the Court Theatre, London. To follow her career on the English stage and on South African tours xvould take several columns. It is sufficient to mention a few of the plays in which she has appeared to give the reader some idea of her ability.

The more interesting ones are “His House in Order,” “Man and Superman,” “Arms and the Man,” “The School for Scandal,” “Sweet Nell of Old Drury,’’ “The Three Musketeers,” “The Prisoner of Zenda,” “The Lady of Lyons,” “The Sign of the Cross.” In addition to many more Miss Dillon has played several seasons of Shakespeare and for five years she toured the English provinces playing Margherita Cavallini in “Romance.” Miss Dillon has also given a daughter to the stage—Barbara Dillon, xvho is only just 21. This promising actress

played opposite Talullah Bankhead in “The Green Hat” and more recently she appeared in “The Transit of Venus. ’ ’ “My daughter is to be married on October <> to Vai Gielgud, a grandnenhexv of the late Dame Ellen Terry,” said Miss Dillon, xvho is very disappointed that she will not be present at the wedding.