FAMOUS COMEDIAN PASSES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 97, 18 January 1919, Page 12

FAMOUS COMEDIAN PASSES

DEATH OF FRANK THORNTON.

Frank Thornton, the inimitable "Private Secretary" and "Charley's Aunt," is dead. A decade or more ago his name was in everybody's mouth; He was one of the laughter-makers of the earth. Thornton was a horn comedian. There was humour in every linr. of his mobile face. He drifted into theatrical life, though from his earliest'days the footlights had an attraction foi- him. It was_ while playing as an amateur entertainer in Londo7i that he caught the attention of d'Oyly Carte, tho producer of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas, and he-was forthwith engaged' to. play the foreman of the jury in "Trial by Jury." He made Rood, of course —he could not help doing so. But he also made friendships which were more interesting to him. In 1882 he was stage manager for "lolanthe," the most poetical 'of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and after tho first production D'Oyly Carte took him out to dinner, and said, over tho wine, "Thornton. I am very much obliged to yen! I don't know how I can repay you." Then he pulled out his cheque book and said, "Fill up a blank cheque to satisfy yourself, and you'll satisfy me I" Thornton replied, "I don t want money. I would rather you gave mo a souvenir which I could show to my children.

D'Oyly Carte gave him a sinjrle-stone diamond ring, inscribed "lolanthe, November, 1882." Thousands have seen it sparkling on his finger. Pew people remember Thornton's 'appearance in 1885, when lie was enRaged by AVilliamson. Garner, and Musgrnve, and played in Gilbert and fvi'l'ivan .operas. lie went back to London and America. Then lie throw over comic o.pera aiul bccamc famous fur the.role of the Rev. Robert Spalding in "The Private Secretary." He was never excelled in farcical comedy. Who does not remember the preternatural gravity of his Private Secretary, or the woes of Lord Fancourt Ruhberley in his impersonation of Charley's Aunt, from Brazil, "where tli? nuts come from"? lit both these characters Frank Thornton was irresistibly laughable. Then his Dick Phenyl, the lovable old ifrieiid and Staunch ally of Clem and Sweet Lavender 1 And his cliirrupy old man in "A Little Ray of Sunshine," one of the most charming plays of his repertory!—little Lord jMarkhani, who crowed witli delight at each fresh blunder about his identity, when he was being thrown out of the bouse where the quests were anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Frank Thornton came several times to Australia, and his repertoire includtd "Mamma," "Sweet Lavender," "Charley's Aunt," "Facing thn Music," "A Little- l!ay of Sunshine," and, of course, "The Private Secretary." His favourite role v'ns Did; Phenyl. On bis last visit to Australia he produced "When Knights AVere Bold." lie always contended that Australian nudienccs were the best in the world.