The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-14

test DAA ot1EAAll4-
ability. Suffice It 70 say" she con-
tiuued. Ny makeup box has been
in Use from theaters in which We
scrambled 10 grab the best glass and
chair TO one with an elevator handy,
where I could entertain my friends
among my own curtains"
Mrs.. Robinson Is grateful for her
experience with Robert COurtneidge,
whom she calls England's BelascO.
I got 10 him BY various INTRODUCE
tons 10 producers and managers.
Courtneidge was a dynamic little
man with eyes like steel gimlets
peerIng out Of much lined face.
parchment cOlored. His importance
was impressive but his appearance
was paralyzing.
But somehow I sang for him and
recovered my nervy cheek enough TO
tell him all the many things 1 could
do. lie dismissed me finally with
a pat on the shoulder which seemed
very final But I received a call the
next day 70 the ShaftesbuTy Ave
nue. theater where Light Blues
was in rehearsal I sang again.
PLAYING the piano on the platform
built out over the orchestra, and
was handed a wee part and a little
song. both so small that. if the audi
ence blinked. it missed the scene.
But luck again: it came in the
third act. IN a dull spot. The play
was written around the oxford and
Cambridge boat race. -Four girls
and myself were some dukes sis
ters and when we dashed on and I
did nv little number. I'm the Bad
Girl OF the Family the house
seemed TO wake up and the stage
door was jammed with men and
bows waiting for the sisters.
Proved Hard Master
while the Light Blues toured
COlrtneidee would appear at odd
times. soaring us all. We could
feel him in the house. He would
rehearse us for the London open
ing. And those in whom he was IN
terested suffered the most. He liked
me so much that putting on mas
cara was a waste of time IN the
morning I had cried 1t all into
my hanky by noon
She paused a bit as she chatted
about those early days.
~On the first day of rehearsal for
Meet NV Sister memories CT Eng
land came back and shocked me ike
a cold shower. There / was again,
singing and dancing. and the role
recalled many experiences, she con-
tinued.
After Light Blues" Mrs. Robin
son went on the road in the comedy
lead of Lady Frayle." in which
she had all the numbers, all the
laughs and all the comedy. On
iris tour she made a name fur her
sell. The stage door began to be
cluttered up with flowers
The English are a demOnstra-
tive lot really" she cOnflded.
began 10 be interviewed by the local
papers. and told them how 1 first
sang in public at a competition Tor
children on the sands at Margate
and won a doll set: and that 1 had
been frustrated at an early age III
NNIN LEaA LAANANE VI NAAAN ---+N-
wanted to go 70 sea like all my boy
cousins and their fathers. would
initiate the whistle Of a destroyer
for them-to color the story
Men in her mothers family had
been Seafaring for several genera
tions and as a child she was forever
begging her mother 70 tell her
stories about the sea.
Recalls War ScareS
Mrs. RObinsOn's eyes flashed. She
tossed her red hair eXcitedly as she
talked about Drury Lane. the En-
pire at Leicester Square, the London
HippCdrome.
AT the Hippo We played through
air faids. bombs dropping. Shrap-