A FAMOUS MIMIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 15

A FAMOUS MIMIC

MISS NINA GORDON. ' MUSIC HALL FAVOURITE. , Artistic talent runs in families. This is a fact quite generally recognised, and it is particularly noticeable in regard to the stage and the concert platform. Miss Nina Gordon, the great mimic, a . lady whose name has headed innumerable bills at various London music halls and many of the leading provincial houses, is a noteworthly instance. Her mother. a‘ Scotswoman, was a bom musician, and in earlier years a well-known singer, with a great Jove of classical song. She received her training in Italy, and, finding in her children the promise of ability, she devoted to them all her care and attention. The father was the late James Westell Gordon. a famous publisher and bookseller, of Oxford street, London, who numbered among his personal friends many famous men, including the late W. E. Gladstone. Among Mrs Gordon’s many treasured mementos is a letter from the Right Hon. (now Viscount) Herbert Gladstone enclosing a family ticket to Mr Gordon to attend at Westminster Abbey on the occasion of, Mr Gladstone’s burial, the only such invitation sent out to any tradesman. Miss Nina Gordon first- became prominent as a child prodigv at the piano giving s concert at the Queen’s Hall at the age of eight. Among her most cherished souvenirs is a photograph of Paderewski, insenoed; “To iny Baby Rival.” Her first love she never deserted, and to-day, the piano is still one of the means by which she makes her great appeal to the public. But it is to her mastery of mimicry that she owes her greatness to-day. She was a born mimic, a fact brought hdme to her mother Very shortly after the Queen’s Hal] concert. Mrs Gordon had been giving an “At Home,” at which a number 'of artists—good, bad, and indifferent—had appeared. Shrieks of laughter in the nursery took her there in the evening, to find little Nina among the other children, amusing them with imitations of the various performers of the afternoon. This settled the matter of Nina’s future, for pianists abound, while really clever mimics are few and far between. Her debut as a public entertainer was made at the Palace 'theatre (Sir Alfred Butt) in 1910, and for a number of years she constantly reappeared for seasons of eight or nine weeks at a time, With intervals of three months. Miss Gordon at first devoted njpst of her time to fulfilling private engagements. She appeared on several occasions before Royalty, and was a popular entertainer at society functions. The provincial music halls later demanded her services, and she was starred in ilirmingham, Manchester (with George Robey), Liverpool, and elsewhere. In Scotland, too. she met with pronounced success, Edinburgh'and Glasgow particularly welcoming her visits. To her success at Home she has added a triumphal visit to New York. Originally booked for a two months’ stay she was claimed for seven months, fulfilling engagements with various Scottish societies. A trip to India was undertaken recently, and'then Miss Gordon came to Australia for a holiday, meaning to return to India. A hitch occurred, and the hot weather season setting in Miss Gordon was approached by Messrs J. and N. Tait, and accepted an engagement' at the Tivoli, Sydney". Her success was pronounced, and she met with similar enthusiasm in the fulfilment of a five weeks’ engagement at the Melbourne Tivoli. Returning to Sydney she'opened with Mr Wilkie Bard, and after a season. of six weeks proceeded to Brisbane under direction of Messrs J. C. Williamson (Ltd.), Mr South good, touring New Zealaind-with the “Quality Performers,” conceived the idea of securing'the great artist for ; a time, and, on approaching her to visit New ;Zealancj, had the satisfaction of obtaining' her consent. Miss Nina did not inherit the whole' of the family genius. In Westell Gordon she has a brother who has achieved distinction in the musical world. He is the composer of the songs “One Little Dream of Love.” “Lantern Time of Love,” “Haven of Tenderness,” ‘‘Perfect Love,” and “Lavender Love of Long Ago.” Miss Marie Blanche’s hit in the Govent Garden pantomime “Cindrella” Last season. Mr Westell Gordon has arrived at Sydney, and it is Miss Nina’s hope that she and her brother may before long be able to tour together, for not only is he a .composer but he is the possessor of a fine tenor voice, which he accompanies himself on the ’cello.

In the course of an interview yesterday afternoon both Mrs and Miss Gordon revealed charming personality. Miss Nina is an enthuiast in her work, and her mimicry is rooted in an admiration for great artists her appreciation is keen. In Dame Melba and Harry Lauder she has personal friends, and most of her other great impersonations have been witnessed' by tfie artists themselves with an admiration and approval as great as the rest of her audiences. She has no tendency towards vulgarity, the words of her qld master at the Royal Academy of Music remaining ever true ; “You play the piano brilliantly; your mimicry is ‘admirable, and your taste is refined. Altogether yours is unquestionably a high class exhibition, and I congratulate you on its complete success.” These words were written in 1915 by Francesco Berger, who did not know what had become of his pupil, but had accepted an invitation from her to witness her performance. Not content with the congratulations he had extended to her at its close he wrote the letter directly on his arrival home. “There is nothing whatever to be ashamed of in it or about it,” he "saidt “It is an honourable thing to do, and you do it splendidly—as well as it could possibly be done. That you or your mother should say that you owe all you can do at the piano to me is very gratifying, but you have inborn talent, and have used your brains to good purpose, and these nobody could have supplied but nature.” Of Miss Nina Gordon’s performance it is unnecessary to speak. The Triad has singled out the great mimic for unnualified praise on occasions when the pen otherwise has seemed dipped in gall; “easily the best we have yet discovered among women” is one of the phrases used. . In New York, with Lauder himself on the programme she has impersonated this great Scot and had to remain for half-an-hour; he has' himself played her accompaniment and she has from him in writing the fullest permission to imitate any of his specialties she thinks fit. Her greatest triumph was the capture; of Dame Melba ‘ some years ago, and the ordeal was almost as severe recently in Melbourne, where she was advised not to attempt the impersonation, but refused to* accede. Melba and Lauder are her antitheses, and she insisted •on giving the complete performance. Her insistence was justified, the Melbourne audiences showing rapturous delight. Miss Gordon is very versatile and by no means confirmed to what might be called a'few-“stunts.” She is a real impersonator, possessed of a remarkable voice over which she has marvellous command. Her performances here rvill include impersonations of Ella Shields, Harry Lauder, Dame Melba, Dorothy Brunton, and Connie Ediss. The Melba impersonation will include “Oaro Nome,” from “Rigoletto,” in Italian, the impersonation -n which Dame Melba first witnessed her when taken to the performance by Lord Derby. At the piano the characteristics of the world’s great composers wilj- he shadowed through the of “Three Blind Mice,” and perhaps “Tipperaify.” Miss Gordon will also present as • concertos of her own wellknown songs arranged for piano and full orchestra, these including "Land of Hope and Glory,” and “God Send You Back to Me,” also the Greig concerto. Like so many 'music hall artists and society entertainers Miss Gordon played a part in the Great War. She was con-. stantly singing around the various hospitals in London and throughout England and ■ Scotland, and was to nave paid a visit to I France. In this she was prevented owing ! to important movements taking place at the time and people being forbidden to cross. Many of the New Zealand and Australian troops were entertained. at her Awn home, Ke'nt Terrace, Regents Park.