THEATRICAL FAMILIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL FAMILIES.

NEW NAMES ON THE STAGE. Letty Lind, who has just died, was one of five sisters, all ot whom gained very considerable popularity on the stage, writes William Pollock in the “ Daily Mail.” Lydia Flopp, Fanny Daugo, Millie Hylton, and Adelaide Astor were Aliss Lind’s sisters, and in the eighteen-eighties and ’nineties the five names were familiar to most playgoers. They were daughters of a Birmingham man named Rudge. The Lupinos—Stanley. Barry, Alark, and Lupi’no Lane —probably provide the most numerous family contribution among well-known people on the stage to-day. The Lupinos date back to 1780 as acrobats and dancers; and no other instance occurs of four members of any other family who are now so established in the theatre.

As a matter of fact, heredity is rather lacking in feting at present. There are no Irvings playing regularly —H. B-. Irving’s daughter, Elisabeth, is only seen occasionally ; Lady Tree is acting, but Aliss Viola Tree is not; and Kemble, Kendal, Boucicault, and Forbes-Robertson arc not among the names of any of our young actors and actresses. Aliss Fay Compton, Aliss Binnie Hale, Aliss Ena Grossmitn, Aliss Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Air Dennis Neil-son-Terry, Air Godfrey Tearle, Aliss Alarie Lohr (whose mother was Kate Bishop), and Aliss Jose Collins, all come of famous theatrical stock : but it is odd that a good many or the younger and most talented players of the day seemingly have no stage strain in them. Aliss Isobel Elsom’s lji&iier was a professional singer, bur AlisS Gladys Cooper. Aliss Edna Best, and Aliss Evelyn Lave originally had only their looks to get them on the stage Aliss Aieggi© Albanesi, too, was not born into a stage family, nor was Aliss Athene Sevier. the new* generation of actrs. Air Leslie Faber, Air Leslie Henson, Air J. H. Roberts, All Hugh Wakefield, Air Nicholas Hennen, and Air Leslie Banks were, seemingly the first of their respective families to go on the stage. Tt would appear that, contrary to rather common belief, acting is not hereditary. There are exceptions, of course—brilliant exceptions from tinu to time—but many of the greatest figures of the stage have had no previous family connection with the theatre. It may be, of course, the people connected with the stage discourage their children from acting. Air Robert Hale certainly told me tint he refused to raise a finger to help his daughter Binnie to get work as an actress.

Whatever tbe reason the fact re mnins th-t tbo fheotnnl family tree does not flourish particularly just now.