TROUBLE OVER A PART.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

TROUBLE OVER A PART.

TWO ACTORS MAKE UP. LANCE FAIRFAX EXPLAINS. Two actors for one parti That was why the curtain was late in rising for tlie performance of “The New Moon" on Tuesday night (staled the Sydney Sun of February 13). _Lauce Fairfax and Sidney Burchall both made up for the part of Robert Misson in '“The New Moon." There are two complete sets of clothes, and each actor when playing the part uses his own. Mr Fairfax explained that when he was asked to step down he insisted on having the instruction in writing, and that caused the delay. He says he was told to do so by Mr G. B. Westmacott, who did not arrive at the theatre until ten minutes to 8 o’clock, and in the meantime slips had been passed round the audience saying that Mr Burchall would play that night. Mr Fairfax states that he is in no way indisposed, is singing better than ever, and has never had throat trouble in liis life, and that the reason he stepped out of the cast of “The New Moon” previously was because he felt he needed a holiday, liis contract lias not expired, and lie cannot understand the alii tilde of the management in its treatment of him. tic declares that he had no intimation that he was not to play the part, and that it was his duty to report to play it, although a letter had been handed to him about 5 o’clock in the afternoon from Mr Westmacott advising him not to appear. "I could not step down on advice,” lie continued. “It must be a definite instruction in writing.” Mr Westmacott, when questioned, said: “Mr Fairfax is not right in saying that he was not told not to go on until just before the curtain went up. A letter was sent to him at 4 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon containing certain suggestions, but he disregarded it." Mr Burchall says nothing. He will continue to play the part, while Mr Fairfax supports Gladys Moncrieff in a series of revivals. Both Mr Fairfax and Mr Burchall were in Hamilton with “The Desert Song,” the former appearing as the Red" Shadow and the latter as Captain Paul Fontaine.