A VETERAN ACTRESS.

Western Star, Issue 1576, 4 July 1891, Page 2

A VETERAN ACTRESS.

ft is curious (says the Pall Mall Gazette) to note that the charming Mrs Keel ay, who on Saturday opened the new theatre. Ipswich, has two most important associations with that somnolent town. In the first place she was born there, S 4 years ago ; and in the secon 1 her initial appearance on the !) >ar Is, of which she Inis si ice been so bright an nraameiir, also occu-red at Ipswich, nearly 70 vears since. Oao has to turn to Mr Gladstone’s recenc history. But Mrs Koelev’s is an extraordinary personality in many wavs. The gifted couWienue, whose loving labours in connection with the Child ren’s Hospital are so well known, made her first London appearance so long, ago as 1825, the sc-me of her debut being Ihe Lyceum. To the privileged visitor to her pretty home in Palhamerescent she can unfold a rich store of reminiscences which taka one back over the past half century. The death of Mrs Fitz George la.-t year affected the veteran actress, who is still with in, with all the sorrow she would na'mraily feel at the loss of an old associite. Mrs Keeley—dill true in her declining days to the old maxim that a player on holiday always finds recreation at the p'ay ho use—is an industrious theatre-goer. She wept over '■ The Dead Heart,” and went a few nights later to see Kellie Barren at the Gaiety. Mrs Keeley plaved and sang with the incomparable Malibran fifty years ago ; and her bright eyes and firm cheeks speak well for the healthiness of London, •eeing that she has lived in it for the best part of 6) years. Her tour with Mr Keeley in America was made in 1837, and gave great delight to hush out and wife.

Mrs Keeley’s favourite parts are Nyd'a in “ The Last Days of Pompeii,” and, above all others, Smike in the adaptation of ‘‘Nicholas Nicklebv.” She is a wonderful old ladv in every way. Long may her genial face remain to brighten the world ! ■