THE ANDERSON ENTERPRISES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1062, 14 July 1910, Page 19

THE ANDERSON ENTERPRISES.

MR. FRANK GERALD. “THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.” “A new chum, eh? Well, not exactly., “said Mr- Frank Gerald to a Melbourne “Punch” interviewer, shortly after his arrival in the Victorian capital. Certainly I only got here last Monday, but all the same 1 have spent sixteen years of my life in Australasia, and know it fairly well!” So said Frank Gerald when we got him by himself the other day to tell us a few things about what he has come out here to do. “And your special business out here?” we asked. “1 am here under contract to Mr. Wm. Anderson, of the King’s Theatre, to assist him in the production of Nat Gould’s sporting and romantic drama, xiie Chance of a Lifetime,” ana to play the part of the villain in the piece, one Captain Francis Clinch.” “Let us talk about The Chance of a Lifetime.’ ”

“I think,” said Mr- Gerald, “it is one of the best sporting dramas I have ever met. If anyone can write a sporting drama, Nat Gould ought to be able to, and I believe he has. Like all his novels, it is a fine, healthy, breezy story. The love interest is strong, and the racy element is handled in the way that only Nat Gould can handle it. The chief incident is the stealing of the Gold Cup at Ascot in ’0 7. We call it Woodcot in the play. The cup is stolen absolutely in the way it was stolen in reality, but in the last act we bring the Cup to light again, whereas, in fact, it was, as you know, never recovered.” “You anticipate a success then, Mr. Gerald?”

“Yes, for several reasons- The play is a good one, I am convinced, and Mr. Anderson is sparing no expense in mplung a magnificent production of it. Mr. Robins has already commenced painting the scenery, and every department in the theatre has started work. Further, everything in connection with the play will be Australian. Mr. Gould wished his first play to be produced in Australia. Mr. Anderson is an Australian manager, and his company are Australians; the scenery will be painted by an Australian (Mr- Robins); the music composed by an Australian (Mr.- Such); and I am, if not Australian born, an Australian actor, and have always been known as one. Therefore, we shall especially deserve the support of the Australian public.” “What have you been doing-all the time you have been away, Mr. Gerald?” asked our representative. “Well, that is easily told. Theatrically I played Dick Turpin in drama, “The King’s Highway,” written by George Roberts and myself, in theatres and halls for twelve years, and my sketch “Jealousy.” Between whiles I produced two papers, engineered the Australian matinee at the Alhambra at the time of the Boer War, and sent £450 to the different colonies, and conducted the Music Hall Strike of 1907I have taken an active part in the Labour movement; given evidence before the Lords and Commons Grand Committee on the licensing of theatres and the censorship of plays. I am glad, very glad, to be out here once more, and I hope to help make a big success for both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Gould. I’ll tell you some more another time.”