“AN IRISH COLLEEN.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 13 March 1913, Page 21

“AN IRISH COLLEEN.”

ALLEN DOONE’S LEADING LADY. A CHAT MISS EDNA . . KEELEY. One always associates winsomeness and vivacity with an Irish heroine, so that Miss Edna Keeley (Allen Doone’s leading lady) has every essential to fill the picture admirably. “I love Irish plays,” enthused Miss Keeley to a “Review” representative. “I love the colleens and the costumes. I’m so used to playing in them, that when the character necessitates my wearing modern dress, I don’t feel myself. But give me romance in Ireland, and a “tuck-up” costume, and I’m right at home!” “There seem to be so many Irish about, too, and they are so loyal and appreciate the pieces so keenly. Not that the audiences are all Irish. On the last night in Sydney, the stage looked like a florist’s or a sweets’ shop, so many mementoes we received. Quite a novelty was the lowering from the gallery on a green ribbon, of a laurel wreath, with a case

of silver mounted brushes for Mr. Doone.” Before leaving Sydney Mr. Doone received presentations from the Hibernian Society, and Miss Keeley was presented with an old boomerang, silver mounted. It is just sixteen months since Miss Keeley paid her first visit to Auckland. It was on the trip over from America, and they called in here on their way to Sydney for a season there prior to playing at Auckland. “I was wearing a small close fitting tartan hat with a scarlet aigrette,” said Miss Keeley, “and a navy blue costume with scarlet facings, and was greatly interested in watching some Maori women —the first I had seen.” Suddenly a fat' old lady waddled up to me, and said: “You actress —you play at the-atre?” “She evidently marked me out as a unique specimen, as I did her,” laughed, the actress. Miss Keeley is an American and proud of it. “But I’m not crazy over it, you know. I can acquire an affection for other countries too. Australia I just love! Nev/ Zealand I only know a little of. We only played the principal cities on our tour twelve months ago. This time we do it thoroughly. I’ll tell you what I think of it when I come back!”