THE LATE MR. THOMAS KINGSTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1119, 21 September 1911, Page 16

THE LATE MR. THOMAS KINGSTON.

When it was reported last week that Mr. Thomas Kingston had died in London profound regret was expressed among playgoers. During the last decade there have been few artistes on the Australasian stage who were more highly respected and universally admired. Mr. Kingston was an actor of great versatility. He had a striking stage appearance and so natural a bearing that, his work was always marked by a freshness which banished any suggestion of “staginess.” Thomas Kingston was in a word a keen student and thoroughartist. The deceased came out to Australia some twelve years ago as leading man to Miss Nance O’Neill, and stayed with her during her tour of the world, playing lead during the season of the American actress at the London Adelphi in 1901. He then joined Lewis Waller, and supported him throughout a run of 600 nights in “Monsieur Beaucaire,” and had an excellent part as the Chevalier de Valclos in that actor-manager’s London production of “A Marriage of Convenience.” As the Chevalier'Mr. Kingston appeared before King Edward at Sandringham, and subsequently toured the provinces in the comedy with a company of his own. Besides playing lead in Canada and the United States with Mrs. Langtry, the deceased actor twice toured South Africa, and then made another long stay in Australia about 1907. His association with Miss Tittel Brune

brought him forward as Parsifal, in the Rev. Hillhouse Taylor’s spectacular version of the dramatic legend, and it was with this actress that he made his appearance last year as Johnson, the adventurer, in “The Girl from the Golden West.” He also played the leading part in “The Flag Lieutenant” last year, and one of his brightest impersonations was as Brewster, in the comedy “Brewster’s Millions,” in which he showed a .very light touch, and a sense of humour. He was, in fact, an accomplished artist, and as he was probably not quite 50 years of age at the time of his death, and was reputed to be well-to-do, should have had many happy years before him. Mr. Thomas Kingston’s last appearance in Auckland was when he appeared as the Pirate King, in “Peter Pan.” He was married to a brilliant pianist, Adelina de Lara, and had two young children. In private life the deceased actor had a very large circle of friends, and was highly esteemed for his breezy, frank and courteous manner.