Serious Charges Prefer ed Against Open Fires The Defendant Charged One ca wine the defendant, the Open Fire, dragged into the Court of Public Opinion an charwes preferred against it by the woukd-Tesindustrious,—alleyinge that sich and such occasions, to-wit, Passing the orchestra, with Miss Norman ae the piano," perfec: them in. the accompaniments, found Miss Rossiter all ready for a rehearsal herself. One of the outstanding features of this company's performances, it may be said incidentally, is' the quick, smoothness of its programme, No mis-cues, no blurs, no waits, "I can't stand things that drag," admitted Misx Rossiter, "tit bothers me to have ple standing round with nothing "Yes," replied Miss Rossiter to our opening query, "T like Shanghai tatidienees, they come to the theatre willing to be amused, and don't sit there glum with an expression which says: Make me Inugh if you dare!" And Tm enjoying this visit better than the one in 1921 when I was here with the Bandman Company because of the weather. I like cold, snappy days. Of course, too, it is pleasant to have one's own company. No, this is not my first. This was organized in England last June but have had my own companies since as far back as 1912, "My stage history?
Why 1 have been on the stage almost all my: life, My mother, Mme.
C. Rossiter, was once called the best pianist on the stage. father, Professor W. J. L. Millar, was also connected with the stage for much of his life. It's my life, and when people tell' me that I am very quiet off the boards 1 tell them that I put my greatest energy into my work and that I have to be ¢|passive off the stage in order to sore up reserve force for my greatest interest.
"What I like best? My piano playing. My mother taught me, and that is. my. truest self-expression. Tplay to amuse or solace myself, but I don't dance for those reasons.' My violin? Yes, I love it, but not as deeply. I'm sorry I haven't my own strument here. It went to pieces Singapore on account of "the climate and I don't enjoy playing fon the substitute so that I'm not featuring apy violin solos here.
"And the banjo? Perhaps you heard a man clamouring for banjo selection the other night. I did strum some melodies when I was here before, but this trip haven't my banjo. He said, this unknown friend, that he would lend me his, and if he does I will do the best I can to satisfy those who want the banjo melodies, although don't consider myself an expert. We are glad when an audience wil tell us what it wants, and our third week here will be largely request programmes, although we can't always go on repeating favourites, or fse you Shanghai people will think we don't know anything else.
Yes, I compose a great deal of the incidental music we use in a programme and have published a number of piano and banjo selections and songs, Among those song:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.