Half a Century On the Stage

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 22

Half a Century On the Stage

Minnie Rayner tells of Her Astonishing Career

“I long to travel—it keeps one young.” How many women of 59 care or dare to say that? Minnie Rayner does not mind in the least. She is proud of her 59 years—and well she might be.

•‘Next March I will have been on the stage for 50 years,” she says, with a laugh which Is as young as her outlook on life. It is a tonic to talk to Miss Rayner —she enjoys life so keenly. “Every time I get back to London, I’m itching to be off again. Travel prevents one from becoming stagnant,” she says. Auckland theatre-goers have seen and enjoyed Miss Rayner’s performance in “Rookery Nook” at His Majesty’s Theatre. This is her first visit to New Zealand, and she is so enthralled at the sight of an overseas England that she is already planning to return.

And what a 50 years of activity this accomplished actress has led! - South Africa, India, China, Japan—all have seen her. Landon claimed her for many, many years, and the English provinces know her well. But let us start at the beginning. Miss Rayner was born in London, and at the age of 10 she went on the music halls as a child vocalist and dancer. Her parents decided her career. From then on she has played in every kind of play gnd under the most distinguished managers in England—including Sir Barry Jackson, of repertory fame, Dennis Eadie and hosts of others. At 11 Miss Rayner was appearing in “The Vicar of Bray” at the old Globe Theatre, London. Next she went into “Rip Van Winkle” at the Comedy with Fred Leslie, Lionel Brough and George Storey, where she played for two and a-half years.

An engagement at the Old Princess’s Theatre, Oxford Street, in “The

Silver King,” with Wilson Barrett, followed. This was the theatre at which the late Dame Ellen Terry made her first stage appearance. Next we hear of Miss Rayner appearing in “The Spider’s Web,” with Alma Murray, then at the Empire Theatre In “The Palace of Pearl,” with Haydyn Coffin and Florence St. John. Then came one of her greatest successes —Phyllis in “Dorothy,” at the Gaiety Theatre, under George Edwards. “Dorothy” ran for three years. Then came an engagement at the Prince of Wales with Marie Tempest. One must remember that Miss Rayner, at this time, was still only a girl. With the exception of Miss Tempest, all the people who have just been mentioned are dead.

For the next two and a-half years Miss Rayner was a member of the first Gilbert and Sullivan Company which went to South Africa. She played all the soubrette roles. “We trekked round the country in carts,” recalled Miss Rayner, whose memory is amazing. “There were no trains, but I enjoyed every minute of that tour —after it was all over.” Back in London again, and Miss Rayner appeared with Mary Eastlake. During this engagement she met her husband, the late Frederick Jaques. Another tour of South Africa followed. Leonare Braham, who created all the original Gilbert and Sullivan leads, was a member of the company. Home to England once more and Miss Rayner was engaged to play leading roles with Lionel Rignold, one of which was with Charles Warner in “Drink.” A five years’ engagement playing Nathalie in “Zaza" in London and the provinces followed that, and then came a trip to India, which lasted for another five years.

Miss Rayner, during tliis tour, played 300 character parts in musical comedy, and visited China, Japan and. Burma, as well as India. On returning to England she was engaged to play in the “Arcadians” with Robert Courtneidge, an engagement which lasted lor lour years. Miss Rayner, who has turned back the pages ol the past with astonishing clearness, now comes to the war period, when she played with Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson in Grand Guignol plays in London, at the Little Theatre. This was followed. in 1921 by still another toiir ol South Africa in “Chu Chin Chow,” “Kissing Time,” “The Lilac Domino” and “Baby Bunting.” Back in London and out to India once more in “Tons of Money” and 13 other plays. "The Sport of Kings” heralded Miss Rayner’s return to London in 1923, and then followed a "shop” with Marie Tempest in Noel Coward’s amusing “Hay Fever,” which lasted for a year. in amazing variety of plays fol-

lowed—“ Our Ostriches,” by Dr. Marie Stopes, “The Rose and the Ring” at Wyndham’s, an engagement with Basil Dean (regarded as the finest producer in England to-day), an appearance with Dennis Eadie in “Dr. Knock,” in “The Blue Oomet” at the Court, under Sir Barry Jackson, and just before she decided to tour in Australia and New Zealand, an appearance with Dennis Eadie in “The Joker.” There is a record which must be recognised as a triumph. And yet this delightful actress . who has a cheery word for everyone and an encouraging smile, talks of still more tours. She wants to go to America to complete her world conquests. “The desire to see my son, Captain F. C. R. Jaques, who is flying in Adelaide, brought me out to Australia,” she said. “We had three wonderful weeks together.”

The recent presentation of the Amer ican, Ruth Draper, to the King anc Queen is declared to be unique ii that “nobody living can remembe; when an actress of any nationality ha: been received at Court, except player: who have given up the stage, and hav< been presented as the wives of theii husbands.”

Lorna Helms, the Australian actress, has announced her engagement to Squadron-Leader T. F. W. Thompson, D.F.C., Royal Air Force, son 01 Mrs. Thompson, “The Priory,” Lincoln Hill, Bath, England, and the late Mr. Christopher Thompson. Miss Helms, who is the daughter of the late Captain and Mrs. P. T. Helms, of Sydney, is now appearing with much success in “The Girl Friend.” The marriage will be celebrated in six months’ time, at the conclusion of her engagement with the J. C. Wiliamson management. She intends to retire from the stage. Miss Helms met her fiance on board the boat when she was returning to Australia to fulfil he. present theatrical engagement.

This is one of those wildly unfunny plays which induce a hopeless melancholy in the mind, writes St. John Ervine, the London critic, of “Who’s Who,” which lasted for four performances. The authors actually attempt to be comic about the cleft palate of a monstrosity called George. They will presently, perhaps, exploit the humours of erysipelas and mastoid growths. W T hat fun they could make of goitre! Several well-known and clever players, including Oscar Asche. A. W. Baskcomb, Alexander Field, Lawrence Anderson and Dorothy Minto, endeavoured to put life into the piece, but the end was clammy and sepulchral. I do not doubt, however, that “Who’s Who” will be a roaring success in Sheffield.

• Jenny Golder, the Australian musichall artist, who has been booked for a tour of the Commonwealth, committed suicide recently in Paris.

“The Trial of Mary Dugan.” very latest in crime plays, which ** <° be done here shortly by Leon Gordoc. will be followed by ' Scandal," i* which Maude Hanaford toured y Zealand some years ago. Mr. Goi*w and his company are meeting ** great success in Wellington. . . • May Collins, the new leading Wf of the Leon Gordon Company, at Ik® ent appearing in Wellington, ha* **» an interesting career. She wo* in t* all-star cast of "The Rivals,” which aeluded the noted Australian actor, tP. Heggie, and Mrs. Fiske, and Gei**® M. Cohan; with Henrietta Croasnat; she was in “The School for Scandal and with Wallis Clarke in "W* trothal.” This was when she w*> only 15 years of age. She hasej® been with Cyril Maude In tw* Charming People.”

The French Government ha* *f proved of a company from the C*®" edie Francaise accepting the in® l "" tion of Max Reinhardt to appear Berlin in September —the first ri*“ the kind since 1913.