MR. OSCAR ASCHE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1543, 12 September 1912, Page 6

MR. OSCAR ASCHE.

A FEW HOURS IN WELLINGTON. Air. Oscar Asche, the prominent Australian actor, together with his charming wife, Aliss Lily Brayton, who come with a reputation from both England and Australia, arrived from Sydney by the Aloeraki yesterday, and after the briefest glimpse of a few of our. principal streets and a handshake with a few Wellington people, boarded the express for Auckland, where they are to commenco a tour of the Dominion on Monday, next. Air. Oscar Asche is built in a big mould, and with a capacity for exerting for big things. His is not the type of personality for dainty drawing-room comedy, where a look or the emphasis on a word count for so much in the conveyance of tho author's intention. He is an actor of the nioro robust school—breezy, forceful, emphatic—that is how Mr. Asche strikes one. It is borne out, too, in his successes —his Petruchio, Othello, Count Hannibal, and Hajj (in "Kismet"). In these parts he is said to be much more impressive than as Jacques in "As You Like It," or Shylock in "The Merchant," where reserve and subtlety arc called for in carefully measured doses. Air. Asche expressed the opinion that his native country (Australia) was now a very fine show country, and one which he fancied would draw many fine artists from their accustomed haunts in the West End and Broadway. Some of them did not like the thought of the long sea trip —those who were bad sailors particularly —and others were afraid to move lest their audiences forgot them. But some of the recent successes of English actors and actresses in Australia would give a fillip to the emigration of the actor to these shores. He was very interested in New Zealand, and was determined to see as much of it as possible whilst he was here. "Yes," he remarked, " 'Kismet' has been a. great success, both in London and in Australia, and we are to produce it later on in Wellington. I think you will like Air. Knoblanch's play. It is rich in rharacler and atmosphere, and is a splendid production. We have brought over the production complete, even to the coloured men and the beautiful girls. Mr. Harker's scenery is really very fine. I intend to produce it again on my return to London." Whilst Air. Asche likes to exercise his powers as a producer on an entirely original production, he has a great reverence and affection for Shakespeare, which was arqnired during his long association with F. R. Benson, with whom he plaved for eight years. Prior to that he studied for the stage under Hansen, director of the Bergen Theatre, and BjorinsonRiornstjerne, son of the great author at Cliristiania. Such tuition gave him a very sound basic, education in the real drama, and that ho has been able to assimilate their ideas with ultra-modern methods of production has for him spelt success. He has found that Shakespeare does not spell failure when well done, and he quotes his own success in "The Taming of the Shrew," "As Yen Like It." "Othello." H. B. Irvine's production of "Hamlet" (in which Air. Asche played tho King and Aliss Brayton Ophelia, in London) and Sir Beerbohm Tree's production of "Henry VIII",—all big successes. It will be welcome news to playgoers to learn that the Asehes are In be «een in New Zealand in "Kismet." "The Taming of the Shrew," "Othello," and "The Alerry Wives of Windsor." for which productions they bring 700 tons of scenery. The top price of admission in New Zealand is to be lis., as against 7s. od. ill Australia, and 10s. fid. in London.