STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 3

STAGE NOTES.

Miss Lillah McCarthy, the wellknown actress, having divorced her first husband, Mr. Granville Barker, the equally well-known actor-drama-tist, has now married Professor Keeble, formerly of Oxford, and now head of the Horticultural Division of the Board of Agriculture. Miss McCarthy’s greatest success as an act-ress-manager was with Bernard Shaw’s comedy “Fanny’s First Play.” Miss McCarthy’s father left her £50,000 when he died. Miss Lillah McCarthy was leading lady of the Wilson Barrett Dramatic Company when it visited New Zealand a dozen or more years ago now.

Several influential papers are booming the “Golden Apple Challenge,” but it is roundly condemned by the theatrical and semi-theatrical press. “Carados,” in “The Referee,” writes of “The degradation of the drama by ‘beauty competitions’,” and adds: “These sorry exhibitions are being run by certain newspapers, and, of course, are encouraged by free advertisement - seeking managements—theatrical, variety, and cinematographic. Rows upon rows of portraits of the ‘beauty competitors’ are printed from day to day. Indeed, every inducement is held forth to attract the attention of the thousands nf beautiful —but mostly brainless — .whn are thus

vi aiitS, cvxl<3? — w ■■'..■ ■ when .clever stage players and choristers, both male and female, are ‘walking about’ workless, many of the men still lacking the employment promised them on their being demobbed. Managers and producers who assist in or seek to profit by these methods deserve to be pilloried.” * * * * There is in London a strange tavern that has reformed itself, or, maybe, never needed a change. Established in 1682, it has remained in the hands of the same family ever since. It is a “free” house, and bears no sign other than the name of its proprietor. Outside it has nothing of the appearance of a public house? and within it is unique. For no smoking is allowed in the bar, and a person who has had a drink must have left the house at least half an hour before he may be served again. The printed rules are on the walls for all to see. This most respected tavern is in Artillery Row, near Liverpool Street Station, London.