MISS DOROTHY BRUNTON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2970, 6 January 1917, Page 11

MISS DOROTHY BRUNTON

IMPRESSIONS BY A MEMBER OP THE COMPANY. (Contributed.) Dainty, delightful, fascinating, and talented, Dorothy Brunton is to leave us shortly for England and America, and there is no section of the community who will more keenly regret her departure than those with whom she lias been associated during hor theatrical career, it must bo a very interesting study for those sitting iu the auditorium to try and imagine what, type of man or woman the various artists are in private life, so probably a few impressions of. "Dot" Brunton, by which title she is"Jcnmru behind the scenes, will be appreciated by file public who know lior only as an actress. Well, Miss Brunton is simply adored by her fellow artists. This adoration- has been won by her beautiful disposition to evory person behind the footlights. From the principals to the call boy sho is just Dorothy Brunton,- and to those with whom she conies in daily contact this means everything, because she is the. personification ol all that is lovable in a woman. She is the tirst to help a beginner, even when that beginner happens to tread in her own footsteps as a comedienne. In ail companies a certain atmosphere is created by the principal artist or artists, and to an extent upou this atmosphere depends the happiness or unhappiiicss of the whole organisation. In the present ease tho other members of the company appearing at the Opera House attribute tho fact that they are like one large' liappy family to the atmosphere created by Miss Brunton's charming personality, a personality which reflects itself over the footlights and makes her so tremendously popular with playgoers. Although jiiss Dorothy Brunton is still only a- young girl, she has enjoyed a wonderful career, her rise to popularity being simply meteoric. Miss Brunton is proud of the fact that she lias not missed one single night olf the stage for just on live years, so she is naturally looking forward, to the spell that she will enjoy during her visit to England and America,. To me it seems but the other day that 1 saw Miss Brunton playing child's parts with Bland Holt, to whom her father, the fate John Brunton, was scenic artist. Miss Brunton ioves and revels in her work, that is why alio appears to bo so sincere on the stage. Afterwards she obtained a place with fchu Williamson dramatic productions, and mp.do a brilliant success as Stephanus in "The Sign of the Cross." Mrs. Hugh J. Ward about this time-discovered that Dorothy had a voice, which sho undertook to train, and Mr. Ward had Miss Brunton transferred to one of the musical comedy companies.

hi "Autumn .Manoeuvres" Miss Brunton played a singing scono in the last act with tho old general. It was a coaxing number, appealing to Daddy Dear. Every night it got an encore. At one peiiormaucu Louis Waller sat in the managerial box. Me remarked after seeing Miss Brunton, "There- is not a singing actress iu London who could havo played that scene as well as Miss Brunton. Sim's a hud." Opportunity, came for proving this when Maggie Jams married, leaving "The Girl in the Taxi" Company. Miss Brunton was given the lead in that production, and in "High Jinks." Now sho is where Nellie Stewart stood with tho Australian public in her own particular lino at Her heydey, and where Florence Young was with her public ten years ago. There is no reason why Miss Bruiuon should not hold sway over a generation of plagoers just as Nellie Stewart and I'loroiiee Voung succeeded in doing. She is easily now tho most popular player before the Australian public. Knowing "Dot" Brunton as 1 haveknown her for many years, and having inside knowledge ol the place she holds in the affections of every member of the theatrical profession, particularly of those in the present company, 1 am quite safe in asserting that when the time comes for "Dot" to say good-bye it will surprise mo if there are any dry eyes on that occasion behind the scenes, and I'm equally sure that tho playgoers will keenly regret her departure, more than any artist they have lost for many a day.