THEATRICAL HEREDITY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 9

THEATRICAL HEREDITY

Tho arrival of a new striking personality on the British stage is always an event of peculiar interest. It is heightened when the debutante happens to come of a family which has already .made a splendid mark in dramatic history. Miss Viola Tree's rendering of the nart of Viola in “Twelfth Night” in Edinburgh recently was a very remarkable performance. She played with distinction and individuality, and it may safely be predicted that she will introduce us to new ideals of Shakespeare's heroines. Barely has a debut been witnessed so full of promise. It. is said that Mr Tree had no great desire for his daughter to follow tho profession he has adorned with his own genius and resource, and that Miss Viola Tree herself has never been among the great army of the "stage-struck”; but heredity has had its way. Tall, graceful, and gifted with a handsome intellectual face tnd an appealing voice. Miss Tree has all the natural gifts for a successful stage career. She has remarkable intelligence, and her clever dancing, for which she has a great amateur reputation, has given her a delightful ease of movement, which is none too common among English actresses. The same tiling nappeued with Harry Irving, lie was to have been a barrister, but the delights of the law, even as interpreted by the humorous Mr Mostyn Eigott, who was his coach, wore not enough to prevent his forsaking the Temple for the green-room. As X have said, it is curious how the capacity for great acting runs in families. The Kembles of one generation are succeeded by the Terrys of the next;. Charles Kean follows Edmund Kean, as afterwards H. B. Irving carries on the traditions of Sir Henry Irving. iliss Ellen Terry Is ‘he daughter and granddaughter of players. Three of her sigters—Kate, Marion, and Florence—have won great stage reputations, as have her brother, Fred Terry, and her nieces, Beatrice Terry, Minnie Terry, and Marion Terry-hewis. Mrs Kendal, who made her first appearance at the mature ago of four, was also born in a stage family. Her brother was T. W. Robertson, 'he dramatist, and her sister, Mrs Hunter, was an admirable actress.

Mrs Kendal’s daughter. Dorothy Grimston, is acting in “ I'liO Arm of the Law” at the Garrick, and her sou, Dorringtou Grimston, was - recently in the cast of "Dotty” at the Duke of York’s. Mr John Hare’s genius for the playing of "old men" characters is rivalled by that of his son, Gilbert Hare. Miss Winifred Emery is the daughter of tho famous Sam Emery, and Mr Ben. Webster and Miss Lizzie Webster are de. scendants of the even more famous Ben. Webster.

Miss Nina Boucicault, whose fame will always be associated with “Little Mary/' and her brothers Dion and Aubrey, are the children of the great Dion Boucicanlt, author of many Irish dramas; and himself an actor; while Mr H. B. Warner and Miss Grace Warner are the son and daughter of Charles Warner, the famous impersonator of Coupeau in ‘‘Drink/' Mr Huntley Wright and his brother and sisters, Bred, Haidee. and Marie, inherit their thespian talents. Mr George Grossmith got his facility for his piano entertainments from his father, George Grossmith. and was himself known in his youth as George Grossmith, jun. His elder son is nowadays ope of the leading lights at the Gaiety, and his younger son Laurence is playing in “Love -Birds" at the Savoy, while his brother Weedon is adding to his long list of successes in “The Duke of Klllicrankie” at the Criterion, . , . Poor William Tterna, most dashing of xorn antic heroes, was the father of Miss L. Ellaine Ternss. the daintiest ingenue of the English stage; and th list of similar relations could be indefinitely added to.—Sidney Dark in th© London “Daily Express/'