THE NEW COMEDY COMPANY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1695, 24 August 1904, Page 39 (Supplement)

THE NEW COMEDY COMPANY

A good many years ago, the then existing firm ■of Williamson, Gainer and Musgrove sent a ■comedy company through New Zealand, which for all-round merit haij never since been excelled. Among the artists w ere such well-known people as Mr Geo. S. Titheracge, Mr add Mrs Brough, Messrs Dion Boucicault, Geo. W. Anson, Frank Cates, and Miss Jenny Watt fanner. In fact, it •was quite a constellation of “stars,” and the older theatregoers will remember their performances with genuine pleasure, as being of rare artistic brilliancy. The company, however, was unfortunately not intended to be Permanent. but Mr Brough and Mr Bouc’.cault stepped into the breach, and for several years ran their own organisation with great success. Since their departure —or rather since that of Mr Brough, for he remained some time after Mr Boucicault — there has been no company producing lr.gh-class comedies, as apart from farcical comedy, which has been so much in vogue. Noting this,* Mi Williamson decided upon forming one to take up the running, and to produce several of the latest pieces which have made such great successes in London. This is the company Wellington theatregoers are to see for the first time at the Opera House on Saturday evening, August 27. The portraits of some of the leading members are given on this page. With but two exceptions, all the artists were engaged in England by Mr Williamson when on his recent trip to the Old Country, and each one conies with a reputation for particular ability on

PRINCIPALS IN THE J. C. WILLIAMSON COMEDY COMPANY, WHICH OPENS AT WELLINGTON, AUGUST 27.

the comedy stage. Miss Florence Hamer, Miss Florence Le Glcrcq, Mr Wilfred Dravcott. and Mr Fred W. Permain are four of the most prominent of the new people, and, judging from the opinions of the Melbourne and Sydnev critics, they are artists whose performances are indeed a pleasure to witness. The exceptions above referred to are Miss Bose Musgrove and Mr Athol Forde. The latter has been here once before — with Mr Musgrove’s Shakespearian Company, of which he was undoubtedly one of the finest actors. As for Miss Musgrove, her name has only to be mentioned to bring back vivid memories ol her delightful performances in “San Tov.” “The Runaway Girl,” and other musical comedies. This is her first venture in legitimate comedy, but she has started brilliantly, and makes one of the conspicuous successes in “The Marriage of Kitty,” which is the first piece to be presented in the Wellington season.