AN AMUSING MUMMER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 9

AN AMUSING MUMMER.

Mr. George Grossmith,is, as was his father before, him, ono of the most popular comedians on tho English stage. Every Londoner is familiar with tho name of this clover fun-maker) and many a New Zealaiider who has visited the "Big Smoke" and. witnessed the drolleries of .Georgo tho Second at' the ; famous' Gaiety Theatre, will have pleasant memories of this talented and original stage celebrity. Books of theatrical reminiscences being now the vogue, Mr. Grossmith' has found his Boswell K Mr. Sidney Naylor. Tho result id .a volume "Gaiety and George Grossmith being random reflections-on the ' serious business of enjoyment" (Stanley. Paul and Co.), in. which Mr. Nay- ' lor sets down, for tho benefit of the large, some of the many curious experiences of his hero during his long and successful theatrical career, to-j gether with many' equally interesting observations on stage life and London

life generally by.Mr. Grossmith. Mr. Grossmith's reflections often display considerable shrewdness. He discourses, for tne most part, on the' lighter,- not to'ea'y the more frivolous, side of Lon-

don life. If he is occasionally "a" little severe upon the eccentricities and vagaries of the .young men about town,' the "bloods" and the ."nuts," he can champion the beauty, tho ability, arid tho morality of the much misrepresented' chorus-girl, and speaks even of the down-at-heel mummer who is everlastingly "on the cadge," with 'kindly tolerance. ■ ' ■ . .

Of late years, he tells us, the social conditions , of tho actor have improved out of all knowledge, still, nevertheless, some.of the luckier onos "find it cheaper to .take a taxi down the Strand, no matter how passionately fond we may be of walking."

A confrere lately , told. me -how, having. long ago concluded .'that "the' ; Strand.- was!., safe," :.ho '■ was ambling: carelessly along past tho bottom of Bedford Street, when, .before.he* had the'chance to escape, ho,was affably hailed by a notorious .'"toucher." "By instinct, ho put his hand ii\ his pocket to.bring out the needed coin. But no, he had misjudged his inan. Instead, he was invited, in. dulcet tones, for old time's sake, to come and have a drink." My friend gladly accepted iJJe invitation, eager to show his appreciation of the changed state of affairs. He did not , per'ceivo his' mistake until the time came round for him to pay for -tho second drink in return. Then it was that the "touch." artfully became possessed of his change, and—holding '.up;; five shillings of it—he inquired suavely, "Till Friday?"

There is an interesting chapter' on love-making on the stage, concerning which, , says Mr.'Grossniit'h, many pretmyths^'areapt to exist. "Why,"., ipl"sdyirf-yit is .about as thrilling an adventure for the average actor ito make love' m; his "professional capacity as it ijsi to driss ..his'., maiden |auritV£ofiTqf ~,....man, ~- playing juvenile'yead;; making lore'is :, just- so miicii'.paf.|;'..of,'the day's work, .and "not ahvajs'.tho'nlost agreeable part, cither." He.-rfelat&.htijv one of,the:most effectivehis career .was that in. whichy.nignUy, for a period of eighteen months', .ft "was his duty to bill and coo ovDr-.a:laay with, whomj:off the stage, he was-"Jjarely on speaking terms." Purely a'modern', Mr. 'Grossmith jibes at the ■unreality of the lovo scenes of high tragedy. The- comment of u friend of his on , Juliet is typical of a latter-day 'spirit. "I can't quite reconcile how Juliet contrived to prove what one leading critic called a 'Moltke of passion, storming one citadel- after /another, , ' when, all. the while, we are told, she had not reached her fourteenth birthday! I took this difficulty to ah obtuse male friend of mine, and he merely murmured, 'Extraordinary kid!' I mentioned it to an intelligent, middle-aged Englishwoman, and sho replied, 'Oh, well, you the girl was an Italian, and one might expect almost anything! , '"

'Mr. Grossinith has a good deal to say about the supper parties at'which so maiiy of .the young, "bloods" entertain their stage- (lady) friends. For his own part he; does hot caro for tho noisy festivals with which theatrical successes are often celebrated. . Ho prefers a supper party en petit comite. Apropos, to a supper party ho gave a year or two ago in a. private-room at a certain restaurant, lie tells a curious story. "A Cabinet Minister was among my guests, and I have often wondorcd sinco whether ho would not have been a trifle surprised if heiiad known that, disguised as a waiter, a certain highly-placed landowner,, one of his fiercest political opponents, whom hojias persistently attacked from public 'platforms.-stood behind his chair, and poured out <. his champagno on that festivo'evening, such, indeed, was the case. '. ..■,,. To "ils day: the secret'has ..been well' kept, though if...Cabinet Ministers read books abput actors, it may now be a secret no more.: , . , _ ■Mγ. Grossmith's reminiscences, as , , chronicled by . Mr. ' Naylor,r-. make' 'highly; diverting .'reading'/' A feature of the ;bpok.is its .wealth of, illustration. Portraits- of -the author, 'pictures' of ■beautiful'or famous English, and American, actresses, reproductions of cartoons and sketches from various weekly journals,, togother with fac-similes of play-billsv.-and- autographs, add much to tho entrust-.of-tlia letter-press. New Zealand 6s.