LATE SIR GEORGE ALEXANDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 154, 19 March 1918, Page 6

LATE SIR GEORGE ALEXANDER

A POLISHED ACTOIt. Perhaps the most essentially London actor living was Sir George Alexander, whose death was reported by cablegram yosterday. He seldom left the metropolis, though he had often been persuaded to visit other parts of the world. This trait was remarkable because Sir George (whose real name was George iSamson) was the son of a Scotch manufacturer, and was partly educated at the High School, Stirling. It was whilst employed in a London drapery warehouse that Sir George became an enthusiastic amateur actor —an enthusiasm which carried him into tho (profession and remained with him all liis days. He made his first professional appearance at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, in September, 1879, under the management of Miss Ada Swanborough and Mr. \V. 11. Vernon. Then followed a three years' engagement with Tom Robertson to tour in that manager's own comedy, "Caste" (so recently played here by JMr. Cyril Maude). In 1.881 lie joined the late Sir Henry Irving at the Lyceum, making his first London appearance as Caleb Deecie in "The Two Roses." When Mr. William Terriss left the Lyceum Sir George succeeded him in the leading juvenile roles, making signal successes as Faust (in tho drama of that name) and Macduff in "Macbeth." After eight years with Irving he was chosen by Sir W7G. Gilbert to support Miss Mary Anderson in "Comedy and Tragedy;", and latter appeared in the melodrama "London Day by Day." He opened his career as a manager in "Dr Bill," which ran for seven months, and followed itaip with further successes in "Sunlight and Shadow" and "The Idler." In 1891 he migrated to St. James's Theatre, which he made the hub of English high comedy. There he produced and played in such notably fine plays as "Lady Windermere's Fan," "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," "Liberty Hall," "The Masqueraders," "The Prisoner of Zenda, "As You Like It," "The Tree of Knowledge," "Enpert of Hentzau," "The Awakening," "Tho Importance of Beingin Earnest," "Paolo and Francesca, 1 "John Chilcote, M.P." (which story has just been revived again in America under the title of "The Masquender ), "His House in Order,". "If I Were King," "Thunderbolt," and "MidChannel." Lady Alexander was a Miss Florence Thelawe. The death of Sir George Alexander removes from the English stage one of its brightest ornaments, and a theatrical intellect that scorned the meretricious in the drama.