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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1560, 18 March 1920, Page 37

An interesting visitor to Auckland in the world of music is Mr. Frank Wilson, the well-known baritone singer, who has recently returned to Australia. Mr. Wilson sang the principal baritone roles in Gilbert-Sulli-van opera in Australia with the J. C. Williamson companies of 1905 and 1906, and again in 1914-15 with Ruth Lincoln, Ethel Morrison, Edward McKeown, and Charles Walenn. Between the dates mentioned this accomplished artist sang several of the same roles at the Savoy Theatre, with C. H. Workman as principal comedian. He brings with him news that since her marriage at Buluwayo Miss Lincoln, has returned to the stage in South Africa, and that Mr. McKeown (son of the Rev. Robert McKeown, of St." Mary’s Church of England, Waverley) is busily preparing in London for grand opera. The tenor with Mr. Wilson was with Rupert D’Oyley Carte’s Company on a long tour which embraced Glasgow and Dublin, the latter season being interrupted by the Sinn Fein attempt to burn down the city. After leaving Australia four years ago, Mr. Wilson played a good part at Daly’s Theatre for twelve months in the musical play “Happy Day,” and then he was for two years with the D’Oyley Carte Company as principal baritone. Until he sailed he was with Seymour Hicks and Isabel Elsom in the musical piece “Adam and Eve.” Mr. Wilson may probably settle out here as a teacher of singing. He was educated at Tonnerre, France, and at. Crefeld, Germany, and eventually won by pub-

lie competition a four years’ scholarship at the Paris Conservatoire, and remained there the full period, leaving with the diploma of “Laureate,” signed by Theodore Dubois. During his stay the previous director, Ambroise Thomas, composer of “Mignon,” passed away, and Wilson was one of the select singers at the funeral (1896). Some time later Mr. Wilson sang the role of the Duke, who declaims the banishment of Romeo in Gounod’s opera at Covent Garden, with Saleza as the lover, Melba as Juliet, and Plancon as the Friar—a great cast.

Mr. John Lawson, the famous Jewish actor, who will arrive in Australia about Easter under the management of Messrs. Ben. and John Fuller, will play three one-act plays in one evening. Each has a big reputation. In Mr. Lawson’s repertoire will be “Only a Jew,” “Humanity,”. “The Monkey’s Paw,” and another elabor-ately-staged thrill, in which the star will appear as Disraeli.