Walter Hill

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Contributor Walter Hill
Other Names Mr Walter Hill
Gender Male
Functions Actor
Notes Married to Mrs Walter Hill; one of ther offspring was An actor named Harry Hill, born in New Zealand. Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12419, 5 February 1906, Page 8 (From a series 'Players and Singers of the Seventies' by G.R.H.): Mr Walter Hill was a very clever all round actor, excelling in parts of the eccentric comedy type. His Trinculo in ''The Tempest' is one of those which comes to my mind as a fine performance, as also was that of Bardolph in 'Henry I V.' His make-up with the historical nose, which is spoken of in the text by his boon companion, Falstaff, as burning like the poop lantern of the Admiral's ship, was splendidly done, whilst his scenes with Sir John Falstaff were full of humour. I remember on the occasion of a charitable outdoor fete at Hagley Park—for the Kaitangata Relief Fund, I believe—Mr Hill and myself collaborated in a Richardson show drama, which bore the fearsome title of 'Ruperto the Ruthless, or the Gruesome Goblin of the Ghastly Gorge.' We both had parts in it, and were rival suitors for the hand of the haughty beauty of the piece. The dialogue we made up principally as we went on, and the play lasted a little over ten minutes, in the course of which we enacted three murders, an abduction of the aforesaid beauty, a double hornpipe by Mr Hill and the lady impersonating the beauty, and general reconciliation, with a final walk-round dance. We played that piece, with considerable variations as to text and incidents—l was going to say from early morn to dewy eve—from early in the afternoon till the fete closed. The audiences were let in at one door and out at the other with commendable rapidity. There were no seats, except about a dozen chairs for distinguished visitors, and so soon as the tent was filled we went at it again. Our parade on the outside platform in full Richardsonian array, with plenty of big drum, was a sight to remember. To my horror, looking through the curtain before we started one of the numerous performances we gave, I saw all the front seats occupied by several of the principal members of the theatrical company, and some of my journalistic confreres, who had made up their minds to give Mr Hill and myself a good time. The performance on that occasion. was interspersed with a running fire of sarcastic observations as to our histrionic ability, etc., from the occupants of the front seats, the rest of the audience— the tent being crowded to excess by our numerous friends, who were in the secret—being in convulsions of laughter. In our haste to get the show over and escape from the merciless fire of witticisms, an incident occurred which brought the curtain down abruptly amid perfect screams of laughter from the audience. Mr Hill, who played the ruthless villain, had to carry out the abduction of the village beauty. The lady impersonating the V.B. aforesaid was—not to put too fine a point upon, it—exceedingly plump. The villain had, whilst she was supposed to be sleeping in a chair, to seize her in his arms, and uttering 'Ha! ha!' in appropriately villainous tones, stride off on the O.P. sIde with her. Now, whether it was that the exertion of having done this so many times during a remarkably hot afternoon was too much for the strength of the villain, or the kindly meant instructions from the critical group in front to 'take her up tenderly, so young and so fair,' upset him, I. do not know, but Mr Hill rushed off too fast, and there being only a very small space at the back behind the impromptu wing, he went too far, and both the villain and the V.B. pitched off the stage through the canvas and rolled out ignominiously on to the ground, in full view of the crowd outside. This broke the show up. Fortunately, it was near the close of the day. We netted a large sum by our performances, however, during the day for the good cause, but. had to undergo a considerable amount of chaff for weeks after.
Events
  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878
  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872
  • Belphegor, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 6 December 1872
  • The Lady of Lyons, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 4 December 1872
  • New Men and Old Acres, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 2 December 1872
  • The Colleen Bawn, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November 1872
  • The Hunchback, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28 November 1872
  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872
  • The Lancashire Lass, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 9 December 1871
  • The Lancashire Lass, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 20 March 1871
  • The Lancashire Lass, Thames, Thames, New Zealand, 1871
  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878
  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872
  • Belphegor, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 6 December 1872
  • The Lady of Lyons, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 4 December 1872
  • New Men and Old Acres, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 2 December 1872
  • The Colleen Bawn, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November 1872
  • The Hunchback, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28 November 1872
  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872
  • The Lancashire Lass, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 9 December 1871
  • The Lancashire Lass, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 20 March 1871
  • The Lancashire Lass, Thames, Thames, New Zealand, 1871
  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Florence Colville - Actor

  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872
  • Belphegor, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 6 December 1872
  • The Lady of Lyons, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 4 December 1872
  • New Men and Old Acres, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 2 December 1872
  • The Colleen Bawn, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November 1872
  • The Hunchback, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28 November 1872
  • The Lancashire Lass, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 9 December 1871
  • The Lancashire Lass, Thames, Thames, New Zealand, 1871

William Hoskins - Actor

Walter Hill - Actor

H N Douglas - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872
  • Belphegor, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 6 December 1872
  • The Lady of Lyons, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 4 December 1872
  • The Colleen Bawn, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November 1872

Henry Byron - Playwright

J Hesford - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Lancashire Lass, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 20 March 1871

Cassy Matthews - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872
  • The Lady of Lyons, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 4 December 1872

John Musgrave - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872
  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872

L Booth - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872

Lizzie Bushel - Actor

G W Collier - Actor

Haveling - Actor

Hooper - Actor

Inglis - Actor

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872

B N Jones - Actor

J G Joyce - Actor

I F Keogh - Actor

William Shakespeare - Playwright

  • Romeo and Juliet, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 11 January 1873
  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872

J A South - Actor

Williams - Scenic Artist

Allen - Actor

Tilly Andrews - Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

Lucy Ashton - Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

J J Bartlett - Actor

  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872

Dion Boucicault - Playwright

  • The Colleen Bawn, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 30 November 1872

Edouin Bryer - Actor

Edward Bulwer-Lytton - Playwright

Charles Burford - Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

G D Chaplin - Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

JH Clifford - Actor

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Cliffton - Actor

  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872

Dave Clinton - Actor

  • Macbeth, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 14 December 1872

George Colman - Playwright

  • The Heir-At-Law, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 13 December 1872

John Courtney - Playwright

  • Belphegor, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 6 December 1872

H T Craven - Playwright

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Olly Deering - Actor

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

A W Dubourg - Playwright

Carrie George - Actor

Holloway - Actor

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

E Holloway - Actor

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

James Sheridan Knowles - Playwright

  • The Hunchback, Princess Theatre, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, 28 November 1872

B W Lawrence - Actor

Levoi - Actor

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Maria Lovell - Playwright

  • Ingomar, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2 October 1878

W H Metcalfe - Actor

Power - Actor

T W Robertson - Playwright

  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872

Robinson - Actor

Starke - Actor

  • David Garrick, Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 August 1872

Stevens - Actor

Tom Taylor - Playwright

Kate Vernon - Actor

  • Milky White, University of Auckland, Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, Auckand, New Zealand, 18 April 1870

Robert Percy Whitworth - Actor

Wilkinson - Actor

J S Willis - Actor, Set Designer
Data Set Theatre Aotearoa
Contributor Identifier 595018