VOICE FROM THE PAST

Evening Star, Issue 23189, 11 February 1939, Page 27

VOICE FROM THE PAST

HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW ZEALAND STAGE GREETINGS FROM JULIUS KNIGHT FAMOUS ACTOR IN RETIREMENT As his ship steamed away from the South of Franco, a Dunedin resident, on his way to England, settled himself down to a quiet game of quoits. He had not been playing long when an elderly man came on the scene and began offering, in a friendly manner, advice on how to play the game. Conversation began between the two, and when the Dunedin mail said where ho came from the stranger, who had come aboard at the last port of call, beamed. “ New Zealand,” he said, “ it docs not scorn so very long since my name was known from Auckland to the Isluff.”

The Dunedin man was interested, and the stranger produced his card. It, read: “Julius Knigjit.” At once the Dunedin man’s mind went fleeting back over the years to the days of the old Princess Theatre and the His Majesty’s Theatre that served as a playhouse until 1913; to the days when Julius Knight’s name symbolished the greatest attractions the stage could offer. An older generation will not need to be told of the many appearances'Mr Knight and his company made in Dunedin between the late 1890’s and 1914, nor of the high standard maintained on everyone of his appearances. He was probably one of the greatest actors ever to come to Now Zealand, and certainly no other actor of Mr Knight’s, calibre made so many appearances in this country. The plays ho presented were worthy of the man and the company which supported - him. Perhaps his best-remom-bered appearance was as Marcus Superbus in ‘ The Sign of the Cross,’ Wilson Barrett’s undying story of the persecution of the Christians in ancient ftd'ine. Mr Knight was, also Sir Percy Biakeney in ‘ The Scarlet Pimpernel,’ and other plays included Shaw’s ‘ IVlan and' Superman,’ Bennett and Knoblock’s ‘ Milestones,’ Hichens’s ‘ Bella Donna,’ ‘ Monsieur Beaucaire,’ ‘ The Breed of the Treshams,’ ‘ The Sacrament of Judas,’ ‘ A Royal Divorce,’ and ‘ An Englishman’s Home.’ His last appearance was in May and June of 1914, when there was given ‘ Under Fire,’ a singularly prophetic title for that year.

Mr Knight loved New Zealand and his audiences. The Dunedin traveller and the actor spent mhcli time in exchanging interesting reminiscences, living in the past, and enjoying the experience. Before tlie two parted, Mr Knight said, “ I want you to take back to New Zealand my regards to old friends and to the country, and I want you to see that that message is made known.” The Dunedin man, now that he is back home, is carrying out his promise, and doubtless there will be hundreds of people delighted to have the name of Julius Knight recalled. _ He no longer acts, but leads a quiet life iii retirement. His ’main diversions are' golf and taking his dogs out for runs. His health is good and he seems destined to live for a good many years in his fine home at Hull.