MR CLYDE MEYNELL RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 994, 25 March 1909, Page 18

MR CLYDE MEYNELL RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA.

Mr. Clyde Meynell, of the firm of Sir Rupert Clarke, John Wren, Meynell and Gunn, has returned to Australia after 12 months in England. In an interview he stated tastes in Australia and England are widely different, and some of the biggest successes in England have proved the direst failure in Australia. A piece must appeal to all classes to prove successful out here; whereas in London. the high-class society comedy may be a great success because there exists there the class of people who can keep it going. The society comedy is having the greatest vogue in London at the present time. Previously a wave of melodrama had swept over England, but this has to a large extent subsided. Things theatrical in London have of late improved. The recent season has proved one of the biggest surprises of recent years, for the majority of the pieces for which favorite runs were predicted have proved failures, while those for which the anticipations had been unfavorable achieved lengthy runs. A number of artists who have been out here before seemed anxious to get back. The engagement of Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton to visit Australia in July next, and Mr Arthur Bourchier apd Violet Vanbrugh, and their complete London companies, by Meynell and Gunn, has done a great deal to draw the attention of the leading theatrical people of London to this country. Most of them expressed surprise at such huge undertakings, for the reason that they seemed to regard the Australian play-going public as too

small and too unimportant for leading artists to come all this way and transport their entire repertoire, scenery, and so on. But he completely disillusioned them as regards this, and he had no doubt that in the near future Australians will be able to see the greatest artists of England, who are at present known to them by name only, appearing on the Australian stage. Negotiations are still proceeding by cable for the carrying out of an undertaking bigger than any that has hitherto been attempted by any management in Australia. Lily Brayton is the most beautiful and the most attractive actress on the stage. Mr. Asche, too, is a most powerful actor, and their repertoire will display them entirely at their best. In addition to the engagements announced last week, a new dramatic company has been formed, which will introduce to Australia Miss Emily Fitzroy, Miss Gladys Harvey, Miss Edith Deverill, Mr. Charles Randall, and Mr. J W. Devea-ill, who will make their first appearance in “ The Hypocrites.” Miss Harvey is a sister of Martin Harvey, and Mr Beerbohm Tree wanted MrMaynell to release her, but he declined. There also will be three new pantomimes in the next three years.— “ The Referee.”