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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1434, 18 October 1917, Page 32

Mr. Jack O’Sullivan, who is wellknown in theatrical circles, has set off for Hongkong as tour.ng manager for Mr. Edgar Warwick’s “Court Cards.” The members of the 1 newlyconstituted company include Geo. Titchener (comedian), Albert Keats (pianist), Mss Rosina Palmerston (recently on the Fuller circuit), Miss Vic. Parsons, Miss Grace, and W. Walton (Joker). Miss Maud Fane remains in Australia as principal lady in the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company.

Strikes and dislocated steamer service notwithstanding, Mr. Frank Kenny braved the opposing forces and managed to negotiate the distance between Sydney and Auckland. Allen Doone’s former well-known manager is over this time to advance the musical combination “Look Who’s Here” (Sydney James and Jack Waller), and has left for Gisborne to prepare for the opening there, which (S.V.) takes place at the end of the month.

A clever young dancer in the “Mr. Manhattan” company is Miss Maudie Amery, who is another example of the fine material the J. C. Williamson firm is able to draw from its various companies. Miss Amery has youth, charm, and personality, added to her art as a dancer. The dance makes a big hit at every performance.

Lieutenant W. R. Coleman, son of the J. C. Williamson scenic artist at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, has received an important staff appointment in England, after two years of active service in Egypt and France. Young Coleman was assistant to his father prior to leaving Melbourne with the Light Horse, and did some fine work, particularly in pantomime. The black and white scene, which was one of the features of the “Forty Thieves” pantomime, was painted by him. Another son of Mr. W. R. Coleman (Jack) was mentioned in despatches in Egypt for his work with the Duke of Westminster’s armoured car expedition against the Senussi. He left Australia with the first contingent.

Miss Margaret Calvert, the English actress who plays the important role of Mrs. Blascom in “Turn to the Right,” to be played in New Zealand shortly, is the daughter of a shipmaster of the R.N.R., who happened to be the skipper iu charge of Lord Cardigan’s yacht when she visited Sydney many years ago. Miss Calvert studied elocution at the Guildhall School of Music, London, and after going on the stage married the well-known actor the late Alexander Calvert. In England she was one of the most popular actresses who essayed the role of Mercia in “The Sign of the Cross” in the provinces. Miss Calvert married into one of the most distinguished of theatrical families, for her husband’s father, the late Charles Calvert, was an ornament to the English stage, and his wife was an extremely gifted actress, who only a few years ago appeared in support of Miss Marie Tempest in “Penelope.” In 1911 Mrs. Calvert, sen., appeared as Dame Quickly in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” before the King and Queen, on which occasion the cast included Miss Ellen Terry and Mrs. Kendall. Miss Calvert’s Maw in “Turn to the Right” is said to be a very appealing creation.

In “L’Aiglon,” at Melbourne Theatre Royal, Kathleen MacDonell as the Duke de Reichstadt has one of the longest parts ever written. It comprises 169 “sides” (or pages), which is longer than the role of Hamlet. Yet Miss MacDonell committed it to memory and was word perfect in five days-—a wonderful feat of memory, all the more remarkable by reason of the fact that the “business” in the part is of a most intricate character and is crowded with detail.

“The Pink Lady” has caught on everywhere it has been staged. It is described as a merry, musical, metrical morsel; bright and tuneful, gleeful, stimulating and witty.