A RECORD NEW ZEALAND TOUR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 19 December 1912, Page 20

A RECORD NEW ZEALAND TOUR.

OSCAR ASCHE-LILY BRAYTON

COMPANY.

The most successful tour ever enjoyed by a theatrical company in New Zealand was that just terminated by the Oscar Asche-Lily Brayton organisation. Apart from its financial success Mr. and Mrs. Asche also thoroughly enjoyed the Dominion tour. They were accorded a public welcome in every city in which they appeared, and on several occasions during their w ehington. season they were the guests of his Jtuxceilency the Governor of New Zealand (Lord Islington)). The very happy relations which existed between Mr. and Mrs. Asche and the J. C. Williamson,Ltd., managerial staff were demonstrated on the last night of the Invercargill season, when Mr. Asche presented Mr. Harold Ashton (manager), Mr. John Farrell (touring manager), and Mr. Otto Sudholz (treasurer), with handsome souvenirs, in the form of a silver cigar case, a silver jewel case, and a silver tobacco holder respectively. The heads of the back of the stage staffs were the recipients of very tangible forms of Mr. Asche’s appreciation in‘ the shape of substantial cheques. In making the presentations Mr. Asche expressed his appreciation of the excellent manner in which the arrangements had been conducted, both before and behind the curtain. A further indication of the cordiality which is held for the great actor and his talented wife was furnished when Mr. Ashton, on behalf of Messrs. Farrell, Sudholz, and himself, asked Miss Lily Brayton to accept a greenstone bracelet set with pearls and amethysts, and Mr. Asche to accept a set of greenstone links, as tokens of the very high esteem in which both were held by the J. C. Williamson representatives who were associated with them on the tour= and as suitable souvemrs of the Dominion.

When an audience laughs a great deal it seldom applauds much. —Miss Gertrude Kingston.

Harry Phydora, the dame of pantomimic fame, is playing ’Umbles in “ Peggy ” in the English provinces.

Probably there is no greater fay? ourite with New Zealand audiences than Miss Celia Ghiloni. In “The Girl in the Train” she will be seen as Martje Kronweleit, the amusing domestic, who gives evidence in the famous divorce case. Recently in Sydney Miss Ghiloni made a pronounced success as Mrs. Privett in the big revival of “Dorothy” in that city. She is spoken as being the best exponent of the part yet, her comedy scenes with Lurcher (Mr. W. S. Percy) being the essence of legitimate humour.