Evening star., 1922-06-18
Gilda Varesi,1 Playing in Romance
Turns DRAMA s Name to Reality.

died away she took out, for the TWEEN
tieth time. a cable that had arrived
from London that day. and read again
the simple message.
When Miss Varesi had left England,
John Archibald had bent himself with
greater energies to his work. The grim
days OF war and separation were made
little lighter by the frequent letters
that went back and forth across the
Atlantic. AS time went on something
that Archibald had been cherishing as
secret dream began to grow into a
great determination.
Just before the close Of the war. on
a pretext Of business. Archibald came
to New York. Miss Varesi was playing
in a small town in the middle west, and
the good-looking Englshman made the
rail journey and arrived at the "opry
house" There was a brief renewal of
the friendship. for Archibald had TO
return almost Immediately to England.
His visit to America had strengthened
his resolve. but his wisdom decided that
the time had not yet come to speak.
A FEW more years passed. Last
January it was decided that Enter
Madame" the success OF the season in
New York, Chicago, Washington, etc,
should go to London for a run in the
British capital.
At the end Of January Miss Varesi
sailed for England. When the great
liner pulled in at Southampton, a tall.
good looking young Englishman stood
waiting on the pier.
1t was a night journey from South
ampton to London. and Miss Varesi and
Mr.. Archibald-they were John and
Gilda by this time-sat up alone in one
of the compartments OF the day coach.
OF course. she said Yes"
Her coming to London was the cor
tinuation of family tradition for
Gilda Varesi is the fourth genera
ton, in a direct line. to star in Lon
don. 1t began with her great-grand-
mother. Nine. Bocca badati, the famous
prima donna who thrilled Covent Gar
den about the time Victoria ascended
the trone. Her grandfather was the
wrote the role of Rigoletto. Hence
Miss Varesi's name, Gilda. after the
heroine of the opera. He. too, was
the sensation of many seasons at the
Royal Opera in London. Her mother.
Nine. Elena Naresi, is still remem-
bered by the older generation OF
opera-goers in England for the ex-
quisite purity of her voice, her grace
and charm What a qualification it
was to Gilda Varesi few weeks ago
when she met George Bernard Shaw
and he said. Il heard your mother
sing at Covent Garden"
Now comes Gilda. daughter OF
Elena Varesi, granddaughter of Felice
Varesi and great-granddaughter OF
Luigi Boccabadati, to star on the Lon
don stage in her own play.
1t was for this that the good-look-
ing Englishman with the determined
chin had to wait. He says it was
worth it.
And SO, few weeks ago, they were
married. When they were making
the marriage plans there was one
person in all London to whom they
turned-Alfred Sutro. The play
wright. proudly realizing the impor-
tance of his position, signed the mar
rage register. and thereby goes down
to posterity as the person responsi-
BILE for the whole affair.
Enter Madame" has closed its Lon
don run But in charming mouse
at No. 5 Clarence Terrace. Regent
Park, in a drawing room hung with
Italian paintings and an exquisite
miniature of Luigi Boccabadau in
glass case, Gilda Varesi plays new
role, the most exacting and reward
ing one of her life-the role of Mrs.
Icbo O. Archibald