HERBERT FLEMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 337, 26 October 1908, Page 5

HERBERT FLEMMING.

A PERSONAL TRIBUTE. (By " Sylvius.") Horbort Flomming, actor, who has passed away in Sydney, was a gentleman whom I had the privilege of knowing intimately. Onco an actor with strikingly handsome stage appearance, ho achieved an' awkward rotundity during his long sojourn in South Africa, which he was never able to get rid of.' An increasing ,sizo is the actor's bane, for as surely as he notices its growth so surely does he seo the most attractive stage parts closed to him. To tho naturally stout man the stage is a severely restricted field of endeavour, unless lie be good enough to command a high position, and so have parts—• usually comedy parts—written round him. These wore really Herbert Flemminjj's conclusions when discussing with the writer the part of Frobisher in "The Walls of Jericho." Mr. Flemming knew perfectly well—better even than the most discerning critic—that physically lie was " out of tho picture," but he had weighed out tho qualities in temperament of the male members of his company, and lie had come to the conclusion —doubtless a sano one—that he, with his girth thrown in. would do tho part more justice than others who, lacking his weight, did not have his. knowledge of tho Australian character. His performance as Jack Frobisher in "The Walls of Jericho " might have justified him in assuming the role of Marcus Ordeyne in "The Morals of Marcus," but'on the last occasion, ho took good care to have the right man to relieve him from parts that might be incongruous for him to assume. Ho also recognised that his bulk was "out of the picture" as the Vicar of Wakefield in " Olivia," but it was a part that required the dignity of age, a part in which the slightest indication of youth concealed would have been fatal. His best performance in his later days was unquestionably Farmer Wake lin "Dr. Wake's Patient,' 1 the hearty old county farmer, who gives his son a medical education, and lives to learn that there are barriers of caste in English society as difficult to overcome as those of India. Of his earlier performances, I can . remember, little beyond his handsome and graceful appearance, but Herbert Flemming, though never a groat actor, lacking tho Promethean lire in his somewhat placid, " comfortable " constitution, was a sound actor within limitations, with a likeable personality both on and off the stage. When last in Wellington, he and I were talking about new pieces. "Here's a fine one .■that I have tho refusal-; of," said he, handing me a scrip of "Jack Straw," "but I can't seo any of my people in the part, least of all myself. It is essentially a Charlie Hawtrey part, and for the life of mo I'cannot think of anyone out here who could touch it." Tho comody has since been secured by Mr. J. C. Williamson for production in Australia and New Zealand. f Unliko most actor-managers, Mr. Flemming was very popular with. tho members of his company. He had tho knack of being firm, and yet kind and encouraging. These, and his self : effacing qualities, made him loved and respected by the players ho controlled. Mr. Flemming was a raconteur of parts; could tell—and tell well —yarn for , yarn with tho late Mel. B. Spurr (who died in Melbourne when under Mr. Flemming's management), and was a capital after-dinner speaker. '