FROM STAGE TO CONVENT.

Evening Star, Issue 10851, 8 February 1899, Page 2

FROM STAGE TO CONVENT.

With the departure -of the Comic Opera Company next week, the patrons of the theatre in Melbourne will lose sight, for a time, of the face of one whose presence on the boards at the Princess's Theatre has (says the ' Age' of January 28) done much to make this company remembered. Miss Dorothy Vane, who made such a strong impression in her opening role of the doll in 'La Poupee,' must obey the marching orders issued to the company, and return to Sydney, where a lohg season is contemplated. Miss Vane warmly declares her sense of the kindness with which she has been received in Melbourne, and the city and its people are sufficiently agreeable to her to prompt the confession that she is really sorry to leave here. It will, we are sure, come as a great surprise to all theatregoers to learn that Miss Dorothy Vane has decided to retire from the stage at the end of her present engagement, and then to enter a convent. Miss Vane has been about six years on the stage in England. She was not expressly trained for the stage, her professional bent being towards concert work; but all who have witnessed her vivacious performances in the theatrical sphere will acknowledge that she displays remarkable ability. Miss Vane, however, declares that she has definitely made up her mind to take the step mentioned. She will play out her present contract in Australia, which runs for two years more; after that she will not take up any new engagement, but will withdraw from both the mimic stage and the real stage of worldly life, and go into a convent Somewhere in England. Of course, as suggested by Mrs Bracy, who was present during an interview on this subject last night between Miss Vane and a representative of the ' Age,' " all sorts of things may happen in two years." But Miss Dorothy, shaking her head, replied Sat she did not think anything would occur to alter her resolve. Miss Vane solemnly protests that she quite understands the consequences of the step she proposes to take, and has thoroughly made up her mind. Then came the brisk, merry tones of Mrs Bracy once-morer "What nonsense! You talk likie an old woman, my dear!" And so

Miss Vane aits tyAtown, pewdwly Pj*** ing at the thick gold ffliibroiteies of t*» Japanese ~own, which looks so light and eool,i though really heavy; tyt when she speaks again it is only to reiterate her former declaration. .