MR GEORGE GROSSMITH

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11739, 29 January 1924, Page 12

MR GEORGE GROSSMITH

CELEBRATED ENCLISH COMEDIAN AN INTERESTING CHAT. A cosmopolitan in the best sense. Mr Lawrence Grossmith, the eminent English actor now in Wellington, is yet typically English, a man whose strong personality has the charm of breeding and education. The name of Giossmith has been connected with the English stage throughout several generations; that is to say, on the male side, for it is only comparatively recently that Miss Ena Grossmith. the niece of the eminent actor, daughter of Mr George Grossmith, made hei debut on the London stage. Mr Lawrence Grossmith’s father, the late George Grossmith, w-as prominent in the original Gilbert and Sullivan productions at the Savoy Theatre m London. When the split between Gilbert and Sullivan took place, an estrangement that lasted about five years, George Grossmith, senior, com posed songs and worked with Gilbert in the production of further comic operas. The late Weedon Grossmith, uncle of our present visitor, was » leading comedy actor in London, one of his last parts being in “The Misleading Lady,” at the London - playhouse during the war period. “Georgs” seems to be a family name, for the grandfather, who also claimed it, was an entertainer and a public reader of Dickens. Great-uncles of Mr Lawrence Grossmith, Benjamin and W. M., were famous child-actors, and had become stars at a very early age. Indeed, Benjamin was rather an infant prodigy, composing music, and being capable of filing the old Drury Lane Theatre—much larger than the present huge edifice—at the early age of 10 years. WAR SERVICE. Mr Grossmith w r as in America at the beginning of the war in search of suitable plays for England. His brother, George, cabled him that the theatre business had slumped owing to the war, and it would be useless making any purchases, so that he might as well return, home. In the meantime Mr Grossmith received his commission in the Imperial Army, and was appointed to the Intelligence Branch in New York, acting as liaison officer. On being discharged at the conclusion of the war ha resumed his old profession, and had a number of successes in America. SOME COMPARISON'S. Questioned as to a comparison ot conditions theatrical in England, the United States, and the overseas dotninions, Mr Grossmith said that the younger countries demanded brighter and newer plays. England was still insular, or rather London, where revivals of farces of the type of “Char- ' v’s Aunt” were still more popular than subtle comedies. Farces that Pad been huge succeeses in London tailed to run any appreciable time at all in New York. As an example, he quoted a Press notice of “A Little Bit °f Fluff,” which ran at the Criterion Theatre in London for the Igreater pait of the war period. The American critic wrote: “Last night I went to see an English farce, ‘A Little Bit of Fluff.’ It weighed a ton.” That was all. On the contrary, English actors and actresses had been, and were continuing to make good in America, and were very popular. ENGLAND AND AMERICA. In regard to conditions, Mr Grossmith explained that a good play could run for ■ almost an indefinite time in America, for after even three years in New Y'ork, there were numbers of other large cities to be visited, so that one company possibly could be employed on the one show for 10 years. This was not possible in England, where, while the main company was playing in London, a number of touring companies were showing to the towns in the provinces. The subtleles of a large number of plays written a Central European writer, and adapted, were proving enormously sue-I cessful in America, and these were just the right type to delight New Zealand audiences. Playing in Australia and New Zealand made a heavy demand on the versatility of the company, for it was necessary to have a repertoire of three or four plays and lt; with B reat difficulty that these could be found to fit his company, and the company to fit them. Eor all that, it was the audience that made a show go. If the audience were appreciative and entered into the spirit, they laughed at tho situations and almost made dialogue unnecessary. WRONG IMPRESSIONS. . Of his stay in America and of the Americans Air Grossmith spoke in aopreciativo terms. He felt certain that one had to live in America. and see Americans .in their own homes to know and judge them, and it was an inaccurate impression that was gained of an American when lie was abroad. On© might as well attempt to judge England by the type of stray Englishm6fci°ne a foreign country. After his New Zealand toiir ‘Mr Grossmith expects to go to South Africa via Australia, returning ro the Commonwealth with Wo new plays one of which will be the enormously successful “Green Goddess.” He hopes to return to the Dominion with these and then possibly will be permitted to set his face towards England.