Gossip of Plays and Players

 Irene Dunne deserves a medal for good sportmanship. To oblige a managed in distress she played an cut-of-town engagement especially written for her. Another actress had the thrill of playing Miss Dunne's New York premiere; which meant the glory of "creating" a role, not to speak of being seen by the firstnighters and the critics. Surely her picture deserves the caption:"She Made the Supreme Sacrifice," for what more can an actress do for a manager than to give up her New York opening?

 Henry W. Savage is the manager concerned in Miss Dunne's "Supreme Sacrifice" and "Lollipop" at the Knickerbocker is the opening she missed, though she's now playing her role every night. Just before Miss Dunne was ready to open in her part, Peggy Wood, star of "The Clinging Vine," another Savage production, fell ill on tour. Miss Dunne had understudied Miss Wood last season in New York, and on several occasions had given a letter-perfect performance of the part. Zelda Sears, who wrote "The Clinging Vine," at that time promised to write a prima donna part for Miss Dunne in "Lollipop."

 When Miss Wood became ill, Mr. Savage asked Miss Dunne - then engrossed in "Lollipop" rehearsals - to substitute until Vivienne Segal could open in "The Clinging Vine." Miss Segal was delayed in joining the company, and meantime Miss Dunne had to "carry on" up State, while "Lollipop" had its Broadway premiere. 

 But if Miss Dunne missed one big night, she won as compensation a three years contract with Henry W. Savage, and the promise of another even better role written by Zelda Sears.

(The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York, March 30, 1924)