SAD SUICIDE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 7

SAD SUICIDE.

THE END OF A POPULAR COMEDIAN. (Ot TtIiEOBARJI—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYItIOnT.

(Reo. January 5, 9.25 p.m.) ' . Sydney, January 5.

Mr. Gcbrgo,-Lauri, the wel)-known comedian, who had'been in, ill-health for some time, committed suicide to-day at Bayview, near Manly. t Ho cut his throat with a razor, and died shortly afterwards.

'iMRv UAUBI'S CAREER. iMr.'George/liauri'was one of the.most popular operatic comedians .ever seen, in Australasia, and!:waS-a-/nieiriber; of the well-known English theatrical' family of the same; name.. :He: came to .-Australia as the successor of/the late' Mr. -'W'm..,Eltori, : .as principal comedian of the 'Royal- Comic. •*Opera ' Company,'; and- at once sprang 1 into favour. as an- exponent of Such 'comedy, roles- as the Duke of Plaza Toro in- "The Gondoliers," Jaok Point in\';The Tebmeh of >the Guard,": Polydore Poupart in "The Old f Guard," Lurcher in "Dorothy" the Sohoblb6y!iito!'oharity :begina a,t Home," and in a long string'.of such parts in; the! extensive repertoire,6f Mr;- J. G. Williamson's permanent operatioibrganisatipri,.-.-■ -Yvhen/.tlifi public taste: turned .'to' musical' comedy,, he -showed an easy- faci!ityTin ; "-adaptirig'himself; to the exi-. gencies of 'tho'lighter fare. ... Miiny plajpoers will reinember/with pleasure ,:i n Gapt. C'oddingtori in "Id Town," .and his oomib ititpcfdonations in •.".The .:Gftifity . Girl," 'Tho French Maid," f'Thi;iGeisha," and later in-.."Flbra-doi-a," Hilarlusin -%'a Poupeo, , ''"and- within the last;' few; years his' excellent foolin?.-■■ in' 7'Tho CingileeT-'and,:' YTh'e '■ .Country \ Girl." Latterly'he scored-big-successes in ."The Girls of: Gbttenburgi':; "MThe: Little, > Michus;" and "The Dairymaids," but some months ago his health: began. to" fail,'and he was forced'to take a long .holiday','.: whioh has emded so. tragically; :'Mi'. Laiifi (whose; brother was Mr. Edward Lauri, anotherr/well-known -oomedinn) • exjided a fine natural hunjbiir, which was aided professionally -by -0.1 /quftiht'-persoriallty,. a pleasing light tenor-voice,': and a nimble pair of -foefej During his lbng'.stay/in Australia'-.hb- has beenassooiftted'with all'.the. principal'light opera' female "stars," .from -Missi Clara M«rivale: and Miss" 'Nellie .-Stewart, down;tb 'Miss: : Carrie Moore ' and-Mies :Fannie Dango., 'His - wife was Miss Marietta'; Nosh, a prever. :little artist, who made? occasional';, appearances. with ; . the Koyal' ComicsV.iyiThe:,'deceased comedian had many friendsVandvadmirers in New Zealand, who wiir regret > to-learn of his untimely end.