Charles Walenn Returns to England

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 352, 12 May 1928, Page 22

Charles Walenn Returns to England

Gilbert & Sullivan Company Reorganised TOUR OF N.Z. TO FOLLOW Charles Walenn, the diminutive comedian of the Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company, is returning to England, but the company is to be reorganised for further tours of New* Zealand and Australia. OIR GEORGE TALLIS said recently in Melbourne that after the company had played a season in Perth, Mr Walenn would leave for England, and the company would be reorganised for a tour of the Australian country centres and New Zealand. The company had already played in some of the larger country towns, but this would be the first occasion on which a comprehensive provincial tour had been planned for a Gilbert and Sullivan combination. Many of the principals would be retained, and the company would ho

company would be I a very strong one, I though, of course, S a little smaller than | at present. There I was evidently a I great demand for I Gilbert and SulliI van opera in the | country. The comI pany would proI bably continue for | a year.

There will be many regrets at the departure of

tue departure of Mr. Walenn, but he has remained in Australia longer than he intended to. It is interesting to note that Mr Walenn knew both Gilbert and Sullivan, and that Richard D'Oylv Carte gave him his first chance on the stage Gilbert was partly the cause of his becoming a comedian. “Gilbert liked small men for comedy and 1 was just the size,’* remarked Mr. Walenn. “Richard D’Oyly

Carte had this in mind when he tried me out for comedy parts. Some time after he had engaged me for the chorus he let me understudy baritone parts. One night, in Sheffield, the company was w*ithout a Giuseppe in The Gondoliers.’ 1 was rushed into the part, and was then known as the pocket Giuseppe. My size was against me for this, but it had its advantages. I had understudied the Duke of Plaza-Toro, and Mr. D*Oyly Carte gave me principal comedy parts in a less important company. That is how I became a comedian. It is said that onwe a comedian, always a comedian. That has been my role ever since the time I have in many productions besides Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and in some to which either Gilbert or Sullivan contributed.”