DAME SYBIL THORNDIKE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 14

DAME SYBIL THORNDIKE

Anglo-Catholic Reception Given. VICE-PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Dame Sybil Thorndike has been closely associated with the AngloCatholic movement for many years, and yesterday afternoon she was tendered an enthusiastic reception by the Anglo-Catholics of Christchurch in the Jellicoe Hall. Dame Sybil, who has been vice-president of the Anglo-Catho-lic Congress since 1920, when the gatherings were inaugurated, has lectured at many of the meetings in England. Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, secretary of the Actors’ Church Union, and* a prominent Anglo-Catholic, presided. Other speakers were Mr W. J. Hunter, whose address dealt mainly with the progress of dramatic acting in Christchurch, and Mr Bruce Winston, a prominent member of Dame Sybil’s company. In Several Capacities. Archdeacon Taylor said that Dame Sybil came to Christchurch in several capacities, as a great actress and a prominent Churchwoman. If she came only to bring sweetness and joy into lives that were often sad and weary, she was welcome. She came as more than that. Mr Hunter described the progress of the Christchurch Repertory Society, and stated that Mr Lewis Casson, husband of Dame Sybil, was a member of the British Drama League, a branch of which had been formed in Christchurch. Dame Sybil was without doubt the leading actress on the English stage to-day. She was a great tragedienne, with immense power to move men’s hearts. She was a great orator, and in that showed more artistry even than in her acting. She was a great woman, and had written a book on the Church and the stage. Dame Sybil’s Response. “It is particularly kind of the Church people of Christchurch to welcome me, and it is fitting for me to represent something of the theatre to the Church people, for ever since my earliest days I have been brought up in the shadow of the shrine,” stated Dame Sybil. “ The feeling of a cathedral city that is about Christchurch made me feel so much at home.” Dame Sybil said that her. father, who for many years was a vicar in Kent, was a very keen amateur actor and, with the giving of many plays at Church concerts and bazaars in view, greeted with satisfaction his children’s growing interest in acting. He was horrified at some of the plays which his children showed a liking for, however, as there were too many murders in them for the Church people. “ So,” stated Dame Sybil, “ we had two sorts of plays—those to be performed for Church people and the others for the enlightened.” (Laughter.) Private Reception. A private reception was tendered yesterday morning to Dame Sybil Thorndike, Mr Lewis Casson and members of the company, by Mr and Mrs W. J. Hunter, Cashmere Hills. Dame Sybil’s frock was of briar-pink crepe de chine, smartly combining printed and plain material. Her wide brimmed black hat was of fine straw. Mrs Hunter wore a white chiffon frock patterned in blue and a delphiniumblue coatee. Those present were: —Dame Sybil Thorndike and Mr Lewis Casson, Mr and Mrs Michael Harvey, Mr and Mrs W M. Hamilton, Professor and Mrs Shelley, Di' and Mrs H. G. Denham, Dr and Mrs R. Anderson, Lady Clifford, Mesdames Walter Fox, John Guthrie, Greenstreet, James Wilks, O’Connor, Misses Rae Solomon, Zillah Carter, Hilda Davies, Julius, Macmillan Brown, Morkane (2), Nance Alexander, Archbishop Julius, Father F. . Timoney. Messrs A. Lester, S. R. Cuming, Albert Jhevalier and Atholl Fleming.