SIR HERBERT TREE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17523, 5 July 1917, Page 7

SIR HERBERT TREE.

FAMOUS ACTOR DEAD.

HEAD OF THEATRICAL PROFESSION.

By Telegraph—Press Association— CopyrtghV Router's Tolegraras. ' LONDON, July 3. The death is announced of Sir Herbert Tree. Australian and N.Z. Cable Aceociatiou. (Received July 4, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. Sir Herbert Tree's death was due to heart failure while recovering from an operation to his knee after an accident.

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, admittedly tho greatest figure of the modem British stage, was a Londoner by birth, beina born in the capital on December 17 1853, the second son of Julius Beerbohm and Constantia Draper. Hewas educated in England and Germany, and entered his father's business, but became identified with amateur theatricals, appearing several times in London while still a.n amateur. At this period ho was a clover mimic of popular actor?, and in 1878 he appeared as Gnmaldi in "The Life of an Actress." On the strength of this performance her was offered a professional engagement on tour, and when h e returned to London he appeared in small parts in suburban theatres. In 1879 ho played the Marquis de Pontsable in " Madame Favaxt" on tour, and this led to Ins appearance with Genevieve Ward an " Forget-Me-Not" at the Princ e of Wales (Theatre. At tho conclusion of this run" lie was engaged by Charteß Wvndham for " Where's the Oat with some success. Ho seized every opportunity for matinee performances at this time, appearing as Malvolio, Fagin in " Oliver Twist," " Ingomar, and Sir Anthony Absolute in " The Rivals." Bv 1883 be established himself firmly with a fine portrayal of Princa Borowski in Grundy's "The Glass ot Fashion" and as Chrysnl in "The Palace of Truth." At this time he played in his own one-act play, " Six and Eightpence" and in 188-4 he made a terrific hit as tho Rev Robert Spalding in "The Private Secretary," inventing most of tho catchwords and. phrases which became so popular. This wa s followed by his greatest work up to this time, Paolo Macarj in "Called Back." Two years later ho scored again as Baron Hartfinld in " Jim the Penman," and in 1887 ho went into management, starting with " Too Red Lamp," in which he played tho wily old diplomat, Paul Demetrius, a part which lie returned to many years after with even greater success. This success led nim to take over the management- of the Haymarket Theatre, vacated by the Bancrofts a year or bo before, and hero he gathered a fine company of actors and encourage! home playwright*—H. A. Jones. Sydney Grundy, Wilde. Haddon Chambers as Ogilvio being among the names on tho Haymarket bill. Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" art.d Maeterlinck's ''lntruders" w«re produced in this period, which saw Tree's first appearance as FalstnfF in "Tho Merry Wives" (1888), " Kinc John" (1890). Abbe Dubois in "A Villnco Priest" (1890 V "Beau Austin" (1890), " Hamlet" (1892). In 1895 he made his first ,visit to America, and on his return pat ou Du Manner's "Trilby," with himself as Svpngali. Then came "Henrv IV." (Part I.), first with Tree as Hotspur, but Inter with Treo as Falstnff and Lewis Waller as Hotspur, In 189 G he built Her Majesty's Theatre, leaving' Cyril Maude to take over tho Hnvmnrket, oooninrr in 1897 with Sir Gilbert Parker's "The Seats of the Mighty," which failed. Then came the first of a series of Shakespearean plays on a scale more lavish than London had known. Ho was tho head and forefront of the " sumptuous revival ' theory, and followed Kean in his bold rearrangement of scones and interpolations in Shakespeare. But although ho was furiously attacked for his presumption he did more than any actor, except Sir Frank Benson, to givo Shakesneare a place in the life of the modern Britisher. . In 1907 he and his comnanv played a Shakespearean season in Berlin with areat success, but though he was of German descent he spoke afterwards of the season with a shudder. He made several command performances, and throughout his career approached hk work with great energy and a wonderful catholicity of taste. He produced "The Darling of the Gods" (190-1). "The Beloved Vagabond " (1908), " False Gods " 0909). " Beethoven " (1909), " Tho War God " (1910). In the season 1910-11 h c produced, none, but Shakespearean plays, and in 1912 came his great patriotic production, " Drake," which was revived durino: 1914. and in "1913 " Joseph and His Brethren" was a great) success. A 'few years ago he appeared in moV'on pictures, a reproduction of "Henry VTIT." during his great festival seasons, and last year in America he played "Macbeth" before the camera. In the Shakespearean tercentenary celebrations in the United States be wag the central figure, and his productions of tho plays were huge successes. Ho completed a season in New York in "The Newcomes." and recently returned to London. He wa.s knighted in 1909, and on the death of Sir Henry Trvrng was elected president of the; Theatrical Managers' Association and the Actors Association. In 1907 he received the Order of tho Crown of Germany and the Order of the Crown of. Italy in recognition of his efforts, and he was accepted as the head of the profession. Sir Herbert Tree founded, a dramatic school which worked a great EOod for the stage. He married' Maud Holt in 1883. who made her first appearance with him that year in "Sweethearts." Their eldest daughter, Viola Tree, became prominent on the stare with her first appearance as Viola in "Twelfth Night." Max Beerbohm, the critic and-playwright, is the youngest brother of the actor.