Last night with the first performance of "Full House" presented at the Lyceum Theatre by the Amateur Dramatic Club of Shanghai, Mrs. Gardner Crane commenced the last of a series of four appearances which she will make before her departure for the United States, whither her husband has already preceded her. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Crane as a result of their theatrical activities during their long stay in Shanghai have made quite a mark in the history of local thespians. The formation of the American Players gave the couple a chance to coach a large number of enthusiastic actors, and there was rarely an occasion when productions in which the two were concerned did not prove to be highly successful. Of latter years they have been associated in productions of the A.D.C. and it is very much due to their efforts that A.D.C. performances have reached the high standard they have. As a producer Mrs, Gardner Crane was excellent. She would work with her amateur casts with infinite patience, seeing that the actors understood fully what they were doing, and assisting them to bring out every point in their lines. It has been a pleasure to many to be able to watch the technique with which she approached her tasks, As an actress she firmly established herself in the affections of the Shanghai theatre-going public with her all round ability and the finish of her acting. In this connection reference may be made to her splendid performance in "Tovarich" in which her character sketch of Mme. Dupont was one of the outstanding features of an outstanding production. As a character actress she was invariably successful owing to the facility with which she could throw herself into her roles. It is understood that she and Mr. Gardner Crane are going to Hollywood, and in extending to them both the congratulations of Shanghai lovers of the legitimate stage, and every hope that they will be successful, it may be remarked that in this instance Shanghai's loss will undoubtedly be Hoilywood's gain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.