GLADYS MONCRIEFF.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

GLADYS MONCRIEFF.

A UNIQUE POSITION. MADE HER WAY ALONE. ■ o Gladys Moncrieff occupies a unique position In the world of tli o iheatre, and it was her own hard work and determination that got fPPI ’ ~ her there. The idol iffi SP of Australia, London pjjßlL' .JSPt- favourite, and with r.er work in “ Rio i Y\\ finishing touches 1 lit lit l!1 tlie admira ' ion : :nd esteem in u.auys which she is held in New Zealand, it needs only a brief survey of her career to see that she owes her success to no-one but herself; grit allied to unusual gifts. She was born in Bundaberg, away in North Queensland, which whatever its fertility in sugar and timbers, has little opportunity for musical comedy voices. She was unknown. Her voice was untrained. Into the rest of this story of Gladys comes another clement—opportunity. She lias the voice—almost a grand opera voice. She has presence and beauty—also more suited to grand opera than to ordinary light comedy. When she and Opportunity met first, she was, so to speak, all dressed up for the meeting. She had had of the best training; she had played in lighter shows; she had learned a certain amount of stage craft. Her time was ripe when Opportunity brought her "The Maid of the Mountains.” It created a furore. Gladys created a bigger one. Her airs—she made them hers —reached every corner of Australia. Her numbers were on every Jew’s harp, concertina, accordeon and gramophone.

Did Not Lose Her Head. Anyone but Gladys would have lost her head after that victory, but this was an exceptional girl. Her roles in the next few years were only watching ones, in which she tested herself, learned new technique, cured her weaknesses, corrected her faults, improved . her singing, and saw the tage methods of other lands. When she felt that she was strong enough to face the lights of London, she went there. Opportunity, her old friend, met her on the wharf with “ The Blue Mazurka.” As a show it was not .a success, but Gladys was because it contained a part just made for her. It looked definitely as If this end of the world had lost her for good, as it has lost many another star. But one day Mr John Fuller was in New York and saw a show called “Rio Rita." Then he went to the nearest cable office and wired Gladys: “ Will you accept leading part in “ Rio Rita " and mentioned the biggest salary' ever paid to a musical comedy artiste in Australia. The result is that we have her with us again—Australia’s Queen of Song—in a part worthy of her.