MISS LOTTIE SARGENT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1035, 6 January 1910, Page 17

MISS LOTTIE SARGENT.

MUSICAL COMEDY ACTRESS AND DANSEUSE. AN INTERVIEW. Have you seen the Danse des Apaches ? If so, you will sympathise with the desire that possessed me to see and know something further concerning Miss Lottie Sargent, whose witchery of movement has cast such a spell over Auckland theatre-goers during the last ten days. It was that desire that took me to “Mount Nessing” on the morning following the first production of “The King of Cadonia” at His Majesty’s. Off the stage, Miss Sargent is an altogether different personage to the pert little Malitza, whose sensational dancing is such a feature in Mr. Williamson’s latest production. Quietly dressed, gentle voiced, sweet and ladylike, Miss Sargent has a charming personality. Her bright, restless eyes, quick, vivacious manner, graceful movements and ready speech, attract one irresistibly. With an almost girlish figure and appearance, sne combines an old-world air of wisdom that comes only from travel and contact with men and women of many lands. With simple naivete, she confessed to having a dread of being interviewed. “It is quite a new thing for me, being interviewed,” she said. “ I felt quite nervous when Mr. Berkeley told me your people wanted to see me. But I feel quite at home with you; it is nice to talk to a woman; I can open my mind more freely, and have no fear that I shall be misunderstood.” I hastened to assure Miss Sargent

that I had no desire to pry into her - private concerns, but said I should like to know something concerning her professional career. “ Well,” said Miss Sargent, “ I have been on the stage a great many years now. I began when I was seven, taking child parts with Sir Henry Irving in Shakespearian plays at the London Lyceum. It was there that the foundation of all my stage work was laid. Of course, I only had very small parts. Sometimes I merely walked on ana off, or stood still, on one of the scenes, and at most I would only have a line or so to repeat in the dialogue. But I was trained for it all the same, because Sir Henry Irving was so thorough in everything, and paid attention to the most minute details. During those early years I was in daily contact with that King of Actors, and I feel even now that it has been the greatest privilege of my life to h ave known and been associated with Sir Henry Irving. Such a privilege does not fall to the lot of every aspirant for stage honours. I think it is due to that contact and training that my work is what it is. Sir Henry taught me to make the most of my parts and to endeavour to get all that I can out or them, and to interpret them as the author meant them to be interpreted. You know, of course, that a very great deal depends upon the actor; the parts ■ are essentially what we make them. Mannerisms, actions and speech all go to the building up of the part and help to make or mar it.” “ By the way, you’re a Londoner, are you not?” I asked, certain little mannerisms having by this time impressed themselves upon me. “ And yet,” I added, “ you are surely of French descent also, are you not?” Miss Sargent smiled. “I am both,” she said; “A cockney born within sound of Bow Bells, but of French descent on my mother’s side. I think I have to thank my mother for my animation and quick perception. lam naturally active, and once an idea strikes me I must give it practical expression straight away.” From Shakespearian plays at the Lyceum Miss Sargent drifted into a wholly different direction, taking up pantomime work, then going Into bur-

lesque, and so on to comedy and farce. “ I got my first real chance,” she said, “in ‘A Night Out,’ which had a big run in London. When it was first produced I was simply ‘ understudy’ to the leading lady, Miss Patty Brown, an Australian actress. She dropped out unexpectedly, and I had to take her place, and so came into the bigger parts I have played ever since.” Miss Sargent has played in musical comedy for a long time now, and has a great liking for it. “ I love my work,” she said, “ and no matter how tired, or dispirited I may feel during the day, once I am before the footlights I forget everything except the work I am engaged in; that seems to enter into my very soul, and to fill and possess me to the exclusion of all else. ‘My dancing?’ Well, it is curious how the Danse des Apaches thrills and attracts, repels and antagonises, yet holds one spellbound all through. But that is the spirit of it, and Mr. Gilbert, recognising its possibilities, introduced it at the time when it was all the rage in Paris and London. It has certainly proved a great attraction in Australia. You will be better able to judge of its success here later on.” Naturally Miss Sargent has travelled a good deal. America, South Africa, and now Australasia have each called and held her. She likes Sydney and its people, who were very kind to her. But the little she has seen of New Zealand has attracted her more than all else. “ This Auckland of yours reminds me so much of Home,” she said.

“I remarked that as they drove us up from the boat, and I got a whiff of the magnolias. They smelt like Home, and then the * live’ English-like hedges, the oaks, the elms and the fir trees I The tears rushed to my eyes as I looked at them, for although we travel so much our hearts still cling to

the home of childhood’s days!”