HARRY RICKARDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3357, 9 November 1889, Page 2

HARRY RICKARDS.

The following account of an interview with Harry Rickards, whoso Company is announced to appear ut . tho Jla&terton Theatre Royal on JS Tuesday next is of interest just now:— . > " vViien I commenced my professional career in 18C8," said Mr Harry Rickards, the well-known comic singer and actor, to a representative of the Standard, who had secured his attention whilo the Murphys were going through thoir performance at St. Georgo's Hall, and the comique himself was walking about thestagt. already dressed for, and awaiting tmT* time to «o on and sing " The Bridge," " when I commenced my professional career in 18G8, Vance and Leybonrne were the great representatives of the stylo of entertainment to which 1 have since devoted my life, and in which, I think I can, without vanity, say I have won a large measure of success and distinction in nearly all English speaking parts of the world. And speaking of Loybourno reminds mo that when he died, and both have now passed away, a mutual friend commented thus:—' A.h, poorGeonje I ho drew the largest audiences while ho lived, and had the biggest funeral when he died.'

" I was a civil engineer in London when in the year named I accom- JM panied some friends to Knightsbridge, and at the Sun Hall, hearing * a variety entertainment which included comic vocalism, the idea came into my head that I could go and do likewise, and I did, In 18081 was introduced to Mr John Wilton, otA Wilton's Hull, who, hearing me singft; at onco offered mo an engagement, ' which I accepted, and sang comic and topical songs, My success was such that in the course of a few aonths Mr Charles Morton, the proprietor of tho Oxford and Canterbury Halls, secured my services for thoso houses, and my income jumped at one bound to £2O a week, I remained there for three years, and if the issue of songs associated with a singer is any indication of popularity, then I had no reasox to be dissatislisd, as, I think, no vocalist, beforo or since, has had so much published with bis name upon it as a claim for it of favorable recognition. Ono of my great successes at this time was ' Captain Jinks of tho Horse Marines,' which became world-famous, and has been repeatedly sun« siuco by W. H. Lingard and Billy Emerson.

" Acting upon the hint given by > Enderby Jackson, I brought out a 1 company to Australia in 1872, and opened at the old Princess Theatre on the occasion of a benefit tendered ff Mrs Mary Gladstone, under tho management of Mr L. M. Bayless. Subsequently I played long and successful seasons at that theatre, at St George's Hall, at the Apollo Hall, which was expressly built for me, and in neatly every city and important centre throughout tho whotoof tho colonies. Since then I havo been homo twice, and returned with new companies, of which that now playing with mo is tho fourth. It is my intention to settle in Melbourne, and if tny schemes are carried out I shall build a theatre especially adapted to my lino of business, and then pay a 'flying visit to London and engage a first class company for it. " The taste of my patrons in Melbourne is far above that of the London music hall goer, and they require a better entertainment. You need have no fear that a good show will succeed. It will, and tlin introduction of vulgarity will condemn the best. That is why I endeavour to my utmost tL elevate the tone of my cotupanies,anfl produco nothing but higher class pro-' grammes free from anything which could possibly offend." $p Then there is a call for" Hickards" and the little chat preforce concludes.