BEFORE AND BEIJIND THE FOOTLIGHTS. 235 



niles, when Mr. Fred Duval was the manager. It 

 was amusing to see the youngsters at work. They 

 were all as full of mischief as a set of schoolboys and 

 schoolgirls, and Mr. Pollard must have been blessed 

 with no end of patience. These clever juveniles have 

 produced as many as four different operas in a 

 week. 



When Mr. J. L. Toole visited the Colonies he 

 met with a hearty reception. Socially, he was a 

 success, but, from what I saw of him at Sydney, he 

 did not catch on with the public. Mr. Toole's style is 

 peculiarly his own, and his humour did not appear 

 to strike the Colonial audiences. This may sound 

 like heresy in such a celebrated actor's case, but it 

 is nevertheless a fact. I do not think Mr. Toole was at 

 his best. 



Many a time I have laughed at his wonderful 

 acting in ray juvenile days, and I shall never forget 

 the first time I saw Toole in the pigskin. 



Mrs. Bernard Beere was a decided success. Her 

 style exactly hit Australian audiences. Mr. Charles 

 Warner met with a fair share of success, and appeared 

 in some of his best plays. '^ Drink '' was as popular 

 as any of them. 



Mrs. Brown Potter and Mr. Kyrle Bellew were 

 also well received. They produced a remarkable 

 play '' Hero and Leander/' which afforded Mrs. 

 Potter an opportunity of appearing in a very cool 



