FORTY YEARS AFTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 15

FORTY YEARS AFTER

BOUCICAULT REMEMBERS FIRST VISIT FAREWELL TO COMPANY “ It is forty years since I first played in Auckland in the early days of my partnership with the late Mr. Robert j Brough,” Mr. Dion Boucicault told the | big audience at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday evening. It was the last performance of the Boucicault-Vanbrugh season, and when the last curtain of “Miss Nell o’ New Orleans” had fallen, the audience was clamorous for speeches. Mr. Boucicault said he would be ungrateful if he did not express the very deep appreciation felt by Miss Irene Vanbrugh, by all the members of the company and by himself for the kindly reception in Auckland. General plays other than those staged here were to have been produced, but the unfortunate illness of members of the company had stopped them. Both he and Miss Vanbrugh would take back to England charming recollections of the appreciation and affection shown in Auckland. He felt he had earned a rest and his farewell had come because he did not wish to lag superfluous on the stage. Miss Vanbrugh, who was presented with bouquets, also thanked the audience. Shortly before midnight there was still a small crowd of people waiting for the appearance of the artists. Both Vanbrugh and Mr. Boucicault shook hands with their admirers and “Auld Lang Syne” was sung.

Maurice Chevalier. the famous French vaudeville artist, whose first sound picture for Paramount is titled “The Innocents of Paris." arrived in Hollywood recently. He was tendered a welcome by the entire motion picture colony. Preparations are now well advanced for the start of the picture, in which the star’s voice will be heard in song and dialogue.