FANNY WISEMAN DEAD

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 236, 6 May 1933, Page 2

FANNY WISEMAN DEAD

Oldest Actress in Australia Miss Fanny Wiseman (Mrs. South), 86, the oldest actress in Australia, died recently at the Ivy Grange Rest Home, Kew, Melbourne. She made her stage debut at 8. Miss Wiseman had not been in good health for some years, but this wonderful woman was cheerful to the last. , Miss Wiseman had 13 children, of whom seven survive her. Mrs. E. Lawrence, of Ormond Road, Klwood, is the only one who lives in Melbourne. Miss Wiseman, who was hoi'n in London, and came to Australia with her parents, made her first appearance on the stage in December, 1854, in the old Queen's Theatre, Queens Street, under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young. With her in that debut was her sister Emily, afterwards Mrs. Johnnie Hall. The sisters were fairies in the pantomime "Cherry and Fairstar.'' After the Christmas season they appeared in dramatic pieces, and Miss Wiseman played her first speaking part in "The Green Bushes." Miss Wiseman played the Duke of York in G. V. Brooke's production of "Richard III." in 1855. Some years ago Miss Wiseman played with the Allan Wilkie Company at the Palace. She appeared as the nurse in "Romeo and Juliet" and in other plays. That was her last appearance on the stage, 71 years after her first essay. Fanny and Emily were children in the opera "Norma" at George Coppin's Olympia, which was nicknamed the "Iron Pot." Lady Macbeth at 14 At 14 Fanny Wiseman played Lady Macbeth at the Theatre Royal, Bab larat with William Hoskings, a noted Shakespearean actor. In those days Bnllarat had, probably more loose, easy money in its pocket than any town in Austral in, and the company played week after week to fine business. It was housed »at the Royal for 18 months. Other distinguished players Miss Wiseman supported were the Dillons, first the elder, then the younger, William Creswick, and Mr. and Mrs. G. B. W. Lewis (Rose Edouin)..

Tour of India In 1869 Miss Wiseman, then married to William South, went to India with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, and played a season lasting 41 years in Shakespeare's plays, Byron's comedies and other pieces. Trip to China After the Indian tour she and her husband assembled a company and went to China. The venture was not a success and Miss Wiseman went to London/where she obtained an engagement in one of the stock companies Of Dion Boucicault. Later Miss Wiseman returned to Australia and in the years that followed was associated with a number of theatricals who were at the top of their profession. In IS7B she was cast •is Topsy in "Uncle. Tom's Cabin at the old Princess Theatre, which ran for 17 weeks. Thirty years later, when she was 62, Miss Wiseman was Topsy at the King's Theatre. When George Rignold revived the "Cabin" in Sydney she appeared in the familiar role. A long engagement with John 1. Sheridan's "Fun on the Bristol' company was another of the experiences of this versatile actress, whose last engagement was with the Allan Wilkie company and whoso last actual appearance was at the Theatre Royal, Perth, a little later, when the Midnight Frolics gave her a benefit.