W. Anson. The Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company inaugurated their lesseeship and management of Her Majesty's Opera House, Melbourne, on 9 October September, 1886, by the first production in Australia of "Turned Up" by Mark Melford. Though modern comedy was usually played, there was one excursion into Shakespeare, a notable performance of Much Ado About Nothing with Titheradge as Benedick, and Mrs Brough as Beatrice. Boucicault had invaluable experience both as a producer and as an actor, and when he returned to London in 1896 he was capable of taking any part that his lack of height, 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), did not disqualify him for. On 20 January 1898 he played one of his most successful parts, Sir William Gower, in Trelawney of the Wells, and a long succession of important parts followed, including many characters of "crusty senility". He directed the first production of Peter Pan and other well-known plays by Barrie, Milne and various leading dramatists of the time. From 1901 to 1922, Boucicault was active as a producer, first in partnership with Charles Frohman, and, after Frohman's death, on his own. His last successful production was Lilac Time in December 1922. Boucicault visited Australia again in 1923 with his wife Irene Vanbrugh, with a repertoire which included Mr. Pim Passes By, Belinda, The Second Mrs Tanquerary, Trelawney of the Wells, His House in Order and Aren't We All. He returned to London in 1925 but was back again in Australia in 1926 (accompanied by Brian Aherne), and in South Africa in 1927, and once again in Australia and New Zealand in 1927-28 when plays by Barrie, Milne and others were staged. He played the part of the Chinese character Ong Chi Seng in the production of Somerset Maugham's play The Letter in Melbourne in 1927. Late life and legacy Boucicault's health began to deteriorate in Australia, and returning to England via New Zealand, he died at his home in Berkshire on 25 June 1929, survived by his wife. Boucicault was a great producer of comedy and paid great attention to detail. In Australia he set a standard that has seldom, if ever, been surpassed. He was a most finished actor in a wide range of parts and in his later years became the legitimate successor of Sir John Hare in playing old men's parts. News of his death in Australia had critics mourning his