A FINE ARTIST

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 16

A FINE ARTIST

THE LATE JOHN RALSTON

By tho death of Mr. John Ralston, which took place in a private hospital ia Perth, the Australian stage has lost probably its finest comic opera and musical comedy artist. Mr. Ralston, though only 51 years of age, had boon in indifferent health for some time. During the Gilbert and Sullivan season in l\ew Zealand he had to stand down owing to heart trouble, and he was ill during portion of the Sydney season. He went to Perth with the company, but owing to ill-health was unable to appear there, says the Melbourne "Age." Born in Brisbane, Mr. Ralston as ,a lad commenced his theatrical career with the Pollard Lilliputian company, a juvenile organisation which for many years about the close of last century "toured Australia, New Zealand, and the East with considerable success. The children received sympathetic treatment from the proprietary, which took exceeding pains over their training, and the- company gained widespread repute. Many of the children responded so well to this efficient treatment that in later years they became notable artists. Unfortunately there are few stage artists today who receive the same systematic training in all departments of stage work, notably in elocution and deportment. John Ralston was an outstanding example of this efficient training. For years past there lias been no more capable, more conscientious, or more popular actor than he on the Australian stage. His death will be deeply regretted by the great majority of Australian, theatregoers, and tho firm with which he has been so long and so creditably associated will find it not an easy matter to fill his place, for while he retained his health he was always a reliable actor, capable of taking any part for which he was cast, or of filling any emergency, and filling it well. MANY LEADING ROLES. It was during Mr. Ralston's association with the Pollard company that he attracted the attention of the late Mr. J. C. Williamson. He played many leading roles as a juvenile, and this versatility was later reflected in a long series of successful characterisations in comic opera, musical comedy, and Gilbert and Sullivan operas. After joining up with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., ho was for many years connected with various companies of the firm, but his most notable successes wore achieved with the Gilbert and Sullivan company, in. which he played all the leading baritone parts. Mr. Ralston was an artist of remarkable versatility. Every part ho played, he played well, and he was artistic in his make-up. It would bo difficult to conjure up two more widely different characters portrayed by one man than Ralston's Wilfred Shadbolt, the gaoler in the "yeomen of the Guard," and his Squire Bantam in "Dorothy." As Shadbolt he was cadaverous, wooden, and almost loathsome in appearance, but as Squire Bantam he was a typical English squire, overflowing with good spirits and genial hospitality. One could scarcely believe that tho two •roles were interpreted by tho one man. Hundreds of playgoers will recall him as the sentry in '.'lolanthe," King Hildebrand in "Princess Ida," Pooh Bah in "The Mikado," the Sergeant in "The Pirates of Penzanee," Bill Bobstay in "Pinafore," and Schubert in "Lilac Time." His Schubert was considered not only an outstanding performance from a musical point of view, but also a remarkable stage characterisation. In his different characters he was never the same man twice. He made several trips abroad, including England, the United States, and South Africa, Mr. Ralston's widow was well known on the stage as Miss Rosie •Evesson, but she retired many years ago. There are two daughters, Mascotte (now married in the United States), who appeared with her father in tho first production of "Lilac Time," and Edna, who has appeared with several Australian companies.

A law that will require all hikers and pedestrians on roads in Kansas, United States, to carry red lanterns at night is being contemplated by the State Legislature.