FAME IN A NIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 100, 19 July 1927, Page 9

FAME IN A NIGHT

SHIPYARDS TO STAGE DICK HENDERSON ARRIVES A SURPRISED COMEDIAN T IFE has been full of surprises u for Mr. Dick Henderson, the celebrated English comedian. He was surprised when he was commanded to appear before the King and Queen last year in London. Next morning he was still more surprised. He was such a success at the command performance that he became a “top-liner” overnight in the vaudeville world at Home. During the visit to Australia surprises came in overwhelming numbers. Mr. Henderson’s eyebrows were expressive. They practically told the story <yl how he had backed the winner in the Grand National in Sydney. Air. Henderson comes from Yorkshire —the home of the English comedians. He has been on the stage only ten years. "How did I come to take up the stage? Oh, that was easy. You see, I worked in the shipyards, and I thought life would be better on the stage—easier, at any rate.” and Mr. Henderson laughed, one of those laughs which makes everyone want to join in. He has a round, comical face —a fortune in itself. “No, I don’t use any traps—only a bowler hat —that and domestic comedy. I find that vaudeville audiences prefer domestic comedy. The subtle variety should be reserved for straight comedy.” Air. Henderson pushed his hat over one eye, buittoned his coat over a wellproportioned waistline, and surveyed the Auckland waterfront. “.Here we are, in God’s own country.” brightly remarked an informative passenger. “Not another one, surely,” remarked the comedian. He went on to crack a few jokes (not for publication), and then began to talk as seriously as he could of his profession. “I’ve never played pantomime dame and I don’t want to,” he remarked. “Before I left London \ was playing at the Alhambra. My musical comedy career was in “The Kodak Girl,” but I have played all over England on the vaudeville stage.” Mr. Henderson came out to Australia for a season of 10 weeks and stayed 25. He went to America some time ago for a short season, which grew into 46 weeks. When he has finished in New Zealand and Australia he is going back to America for a season on the Keith Circuit. Air. Henderson says that the £3OO a week artists have gone from the vaudeville world. Producers will not pay the enormous money they did, but he is quite satisfied with what he calls the “ruling prices.”

“The Queen is a very good aLidience,” said Mr. Henderson, talking of his command prformance. “She prefers homely comedy.” “I just wanted to have a jaunt round the world —that is rhy only reason for coming out,” he remarked a little later “but I’m glad 1 came; it has been a wonderful trip.” Mr. Henderson is accompanied by his wife, who played in vaudeville with her husband for some years. They have a family of three in England. The celebrated comedian will don his bowler hat at His Majesty’s Theatre this evening for the first time in New Zealand. Auckland has put a more pronounced arch in his eyebrows. At noon to-day he wore his surprised look as he walked down Queen Street—he has heard a new joke after coming 16,000 miles.