Lydia Thompson's Farewell.

Manawatu Herald, 24 June 1899, Page 3

Lydia Thompson's Farewell.

'.CVily old or, at any rate, middle-aged playgoers will be able to recall the dainty little lady who more years ago than it would be courteous to recall first danced and sang herself into their favour as harlequin in a children's pantomime at the Haymarket while under the Buckstone regime says a Home paper. The lively little, lady confirms the first impression, and established herself as a public favourite by her pretty saucy piquancy in " Broken Toys " at the old Prince of Wales, off Tottenham Courtrd. Later still, like Miss Nelly Farren, Miss Thompson bewitched her audience by her sweet warbling graceful dancing and frolicsome fun in burlesque, her best-remembered assumption being the fur-clad Robinson Crusoe. She migrated years ago to America, and the London stage for too long a time past has missed Miss Lydia Thompson's bright presence until now the inevitable day has come when the old-time pet of the public returns, alas ! " for this occasion only," to the scene of h n r former triumphs to say farewell c. 2 quitting it for ever. The complimentary performance given on Wednesday afternoon (4th May) at the Lyceum by the generous aid of devoted friends on both sides of the footlights was indeed well merited by the charming beneficiaire, whose own contribution to the entertainment, the last of the brilliant series, as it assuredly proved to be the most interesting and sympathetic, was her farewell address, written by Mr W. S. Gilbert, and spoken through evidently suppressed emotion by the lady, led forward to the footlight by Sir Henry Irving. Although the accounts will not be finally made up for some little time, it is estimated that the total profits of the Lydia Thompson benefit at the Lyceum will amount to £3,200. This i3 g times the amount the Lyceum ordinarily holds. A few stalls at £$ ss. each were left on the hands of the management, but private boxes brought fancy prices, and the programmes, sold by a bevy of pretty actresses, alone fetched neary i>ioo.