MISS JANET A CHURCH.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7700, 4 November 1890, Page 2

MISS JANET A CHURCH.

This lady, who made her first appearance in Christchurch at the Theatre Royal last evening, is a striking example of •what can be done in a comparatively short time, if happily there is combined in the same person the rare qualities of a natural aptitude for the histrionic art, together with love of the work and the power of application necessary to make full nse of innate advantages. For although at present there is nothing but report by which we can gauge Miss Achurch's claims to be placed amonßst the first rank of emotional actresses, it must be remembered that she has acquired her reputation chiefly in London, which after all is the "hub of the universe" as far as matters theatrical are concerned, and there must be something in the artist nrho comes out of that trying arena with a certificate of merit. Miss, Achurch has done this and done it quickly; besides, it Iβ bo email proof of her standing as an eetress, *hat *he well-known firm of Williamson Garner and Musgrove thought her worthy of starring under their banner in Australia, and engaged Jterin England for this purpose.. Commencing at the very bottom rung of the ladder, she has in less than five years reached & high position in her profession. She procured her first engagement under Miss Genevieve Ward, then managing the Olympic, fulfilled three consecutive engagements, and parted with the manageress only on the departure of the latter tor Australia. Miss Ward, by the retains warm feelings towards these colonies, and on recently bidding Mr and Mrs Charrington (Miss Achurch) farewell, observed, "You will like Australia and New Zealand; they are grand countries, and the people are delightful." Before leaving for Australia Miss Ward obtained an engagement for Mies Achurch with the Hare and Kendal management, but settling in Xfondon co early in her career meant want of experience and artistic loss, so the young actress negotiated for herself an engagement in a small- stock company, One ofthe few left iv England, and she played a round of characters, including most of tie melodramatic stock parts, and even played through a season of pantomime. - After this experience she became a member of a Shakespearian and Old Bagliah; company, and /«$%:. • year's wanderiags played I*ady Macbeth, Juliet, Beatrice* Portia, Desdemona, Lydia Languish, foady Teazle, &c. Portia And L&dy Macbeth she has since played in London with success. After this year of hard work she felt herself justified in appearing in "■ London in a leading and at once scored a suocess with her performance of Mercy Merrick in " The New Magdalen." She played other leading parts in the great metropolis with considerable success, but tfee piece which she probably scored best in is the much discussed "A Doll's Hpuse," by Henrik Ibsen, in which she crested the part of Nora Helmer. Miss Achurch's recent season in Sydney was by far the most successful of her Australian tour; in that; city her efforts were so favourably received that she lengthened her visit there from five weeks, as originally intended, to fourteen. One of the features of the coming season will be the reappearance, after an absence of some years, of Mr Herbert Flemming, who is one of the best actors the Australian stage has raised for a long time. As many of the public no doubt know, Mr Flemming commenced his theatrical career in Ohrlstohurch some fourteen or fifteen years ago. Since be threw over the fascinations of a desk in a merchant's office in favour of an actor's life, Mr Flemming has by hard and painstaking endeavours made a well-merited reputation for himself. Hβ has not been itere for some years now—his last appearance being with Miss Pomeroy—and his coming visit will be most welcome. i Amongst the rest of the company who are ! supporting Miss Achnreh is cer husband, Mr 0. Charrington, who has made a name for himself birth as actor and author. There are also several members of the comp&ay who are not unknown to Christchurch ftctdienees. Miss Achurch travels with an extensive repertoire of powerful nJava. which includes " A Poll's gfonee,'* «The New Magdalen," "Camllle" and "In Bis Power. Taking everything into consideration a good time may be fairly counted on during the next two weeks or i Boy The opening piece on Monday will be and as the experienced manager, Mr W. H. Manning (another ' old Christchurch man) is in full command !of thft trissiness part ofthe venture, everybody may rest assured, that all care will be take to make the arrangements in front fca perfect »» possible.