Henry Lytton
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Sir Henry Lytton (born Henry Alfred Jones; 3 January 1865 – 15 August 1936) was an English actor and singer who was the leading exponent of the starring comic
patter Patter is a prepared and practiced speech that is designed to produce a desired response from its audience. Examples of occupations with a patter might include the auctioneer, salesperson, dance caller, magician, or comedian. The term may h ...
-
baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...
roles in
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
operas from 1909 to 1934. He also starred in
musical comedies Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
. His career with the
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Th ...
spanned 50 years, and he is the only performer ever
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
ed for achievements in Gilbert and Sullivan roles. Lytton was born in London; he studied there with a painter but then went on the stage in defiance of his family's wishes. At the age of 19 he married
Louie Henri Louie may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Louie'' (American TV series), by comedian Louis C.K. * ''Louie'' (French TV series), animated series about a young rabbit who draws pictures which come to life * "Louie" (song), by Blood Raw * ''L ...
, an actress and singer who helped him gain a place in a D'Oyly Carte touring company in 1884. After briefly playing in other companies, he and his wife rejoined D'Oyly Carte. He had an early breakthrough in 1887 when the
Savoy Theatre The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy Pala ...
star
George Grossmith George Grossmith (9 December 1847 – 1 March 1912) was an English comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer. His performing career spanned more than four decades. As a writer and composer, he created 18 comic operas, nearly 100 musical ...
fell ill, and the 22-year-old Lytton went on for him in ''
Ruddigore ''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse'', originally called ''Ruddygore'', is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written tog ...
''. Lytton starred in D'Oyly Carte touring companies from 1887 to 1897, playing mostly the comic patter roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan (and other) operas. From 1897 to 1903 he appeared with the company continuously at the Savoy Theatre, playing a range of baritone parts, from romantic leads to character parts in new operas and revivals. During this time his brief and costly attempt at theatrical production in London led to his abandoning thoughts of being an
impresario An impresario (from the Italian ''impresa'', "an enterprise or undertaking") is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film or television producer. Hist ...
. The D'Oyly Carte company left the Savoy Theatre in 1903, and Lytton appeared in half a dozen West End musical comedies over the next four years, including ''
The Earl and the Girl ''The Earl and the Girl'' is a musical comedy in two acts by Seymour Hicks, with lyrics by Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll. It was produced by William Greet and opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 10 December 1903. It transferre ...
'', ''
The Spring Chicken ''The Spring Chicken'' is an Edwardian musical comedy adapted by George Grossmith, Jr. from ''Coquin de Printemps'' (1897) by Jaime and Duval, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton and lyrics by Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank and Gross ...
'' and ''
The Little Michus ''Les p'tites Michu'' (The Little Michus) is an opérette in three acts, with music by André Messager and words by Albert Vanloo and Georges Duval (journalist), Georges Duval. The piece is set in Paris in the years following the French Revolutio ...
''. He also wrote for, and performed in,
music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
and wrote a
libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
. During the two D'Oyly Carte repertory seasons at the Savoy between 1906 and 1909, Lytton rejoined the company, again playing a variety of baritone roles, but mostly not the principal comedian patter roles. Beginning in 1909, and continuously to 1934, he was the principal comedian of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in London and on tour.


Life and career


Early years

Lytton was born as Henry Alfred Jones on 3 January 1865 in Pembroke Square,
Kensington Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in the West End of London, West of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up b ...
, London, the son of Henry Jones (1829–1893), a jeweller, and his second wife Martha Lavinia, ''née'' Harris.Parker, John
"Lytton, Sir Henry Alfred (1865–1936)"
''Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 1949. Retrieved 15 September 2020
According to his highly unreliable memoirs he was educated at St Mark's School,
Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
, and took part there in amateur theatricals and boxing. He studied art with the painter W. H. Trood. It is unclear whether the studies were part-time or full time, or during his schooldays or later. In 1881 Lytton made his first appearance on the professional stage at the Philharmonic Theatre,
Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...
, in the
comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...
''A Trip to China, or The Obstinate Bretons'', in the cast of which was his future wife,
Louie Henri Louie may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Louie'' (American TV series), by comedian Louis C.K. * ''Louie'' (French TV series), animated series about a young rabbit who draws pictures which come to life * "Louie" (song), by Blood Raw * ''L ...
, daughter of William Webber, of London. They married in early 1884, both aged 19, at
St Mary Abbots St Mary Abbots is a church located on Kensington High Street and the corner of Kensington Church Street in London W8. The present church structure was built in 1872 to the designs of Sir George Gilbert Scott, who combined neo-Gothic and early ...
church, Kensington. Lytton was estranged from his father, who disapproved of Lytton's and Henri's profession, and neither family attended the ceremony. Henri played an important part in Lytton's early theatrical career, coaching him in acting, and playing the piano to help him learn his musical parts. In February 1884 the two joined one of the
impresario An impresario (from the Italian ''impresa'', "an enterprise or undertaking") is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film or television producer. Hist ...
Richard D'Oyly Carte Richard D'Oyly Carte (; 3 May 1844 – 3 April 1901) was an English talent agent, theatrical impresario, composer, and hotelier during the latter half of the Victorian era. He built two of London's theatres and a hotel empire, while also establi ...
's touring companies. She played the small role of Ada in the first provincial tour of
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
's ''
Princess Ida ''Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant'' is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen. ''Princess Ida'' opened at the Savoy Theatre on 5 January 1884, for a ru ...
'';Rollins and Witts, p. 53 he sang in the chorus and understudied the principal comic role of King Gama. According to his memoirs, Henri had obtained an audition for him, passing him off as her brother – "H. A. Henri" – in the mistaken belief that married couples were not welcome in Carte's companies. Any pretence was quickly abandoned, but Lytton kept the stage name Henri until 1887. The tour ended in December, and the following month the couple's first child, Ida Louise, was born. Henri and Lytton rejoined the D'Oyly Carte tour when it resumed in February 1885, continuing until May. After this, they joined with other out-of-work actors and travelled from town to town in
Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
for just over two months, performing a drama (''All of Her''), a comedy (''Masters and Servants''), and
Charles Dibdin Charles Dibdin (before 4 March 1745 – 25 July 1814) was an English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist, singer and actor. With over 600 songs to his name, for many of which he wrote both the lyrics and the music and performed them himself, ...
's
ballad opera The ballad opera is a genre of English stage entertainment that originated in the early 18th century, and continued to develop over the following century and later. Like the earlier '' comédie en vaudeville'' and the later ''Singspiel'', its dist ...
''The Waterman''. Lytton's memoirs record that they made little money, and the struggling young actors sometimes went hungry. Between theatrical engagements Lytton took odd jobs, including putting his artistic training to use by painting decorative plaques. He was taken on by another of Carte's touring companies from September to December 1885, after which he and Henri were in the 1885 Christmas
pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...
at the
Theatre Royal, Manchester The Theatre Royal in Manchester, England, opened in 1845. Situated next to the Free Trade Hall, it is the oldest surviving theatre in Manchester. It was commissioned by Mancunian businessman John Knowles who wanted a theatre venue in the city. T ...
. In May 1886 they were in the chorus of ''The Lily of Leoville'' in
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
, and then of ''
Erminie ''Erminie'' is a comic opera in two acts composed by Edward Jakobowski with a libretto by Claxson Bellamy and Harry Paulton, based loosely on Charles Selby's 1834 English translation of the French melodrama, ''Robert Macaire''. The piece first ...
'' at the
Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,
, London. At the end of 1886 Lytton was engaged by Carte to appear at the
Savoy Theatre The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy Pala ...
. Eric Lewis, who had been understudying
George Grossmith George Grossmith (9 December 1847 – 1 March 1912) was an English comedian, writer, composer, actor, and singer. His performing career spanned more than four decades. As a writer and composer, he created 18 comic operas, nearly 100 musical ...
in the starring comic
patter Patter is a prepared and practiced speech that is designed to produce a desired response from its audience. Examples of occupations with a patter might include the auctioneer, salesperson, dance caller, magician, or comedian. The term may h ...
roles since 1882, left the D'Oyly Carte company. Lytton was appointed to replace him, understudying the role of Robin Oakapple in the new
Savoy opera Savoy opera was a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which impr ...
, ''
Ruddigore ''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse'', originally called ''Ruddygore'', is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written tog ...
'', which opened on 22 January 1887.Rollins and Witts, p. 10 A week later Grossmith fell ill. Between 31 January and 15 February, Lytton appeared in the role. When he went back to the chorus on Grossmith's return, the dramatist
W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most f ...
presented him with a gold-mounted walking stick in appreciation of his performance.


Principal comedian on tour 1887 to 1897

From April 1887 Lytton played Robin in his own right in two of Carte's touring companies, the first performing in medium-sized towns and the second in the major provincial cities. During the year, at Gilbert's suggestion, he changed his stage name from H. A. Henri to Henry A. Lytton.Parker, John, and K. D. Reynolds
"Lytton, Sir Henry Alfred (real name Henry Alfred Jones) (1865–1936), actor"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2020
He received good notices, more for his acting than his singing. One reviewer wrote, "Mr Henry A. Lytton, though not shining as a vocalist, was in every way an admirable Robin Oakapple"; another praised the "light but masterly touch" with which he transformed himself from the innocent Robin of Act 1 to the bad
baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...
of Act 2. On tour Lytton gradually added to his repertoire the comic patter roles in many of the other Gilbert and Sullivan operas, beginning with Sir Joseph Porter in ''
H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, whic ...
'' (1887), the Major General in ''
The Pirates of Penzance ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 ...
'', Ko-Ko in ''
The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...
'' and Jack Point in ''
The Yeomen of the Guard ''The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid'', is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888 and ran for 423 performances. This was the eleventh ...
'' (all 1888). He later described Point as his favourite part. The creator of the role, Grossmith, was celebrated as a comic performer and did not emphasise the tragic side of the part; both Lytton and his colleague George Thorne in another touring company did so, portraying Point's collapse at the end as fatal. Gilbert and Carte approved, and the interpretation became standard. In 1890 Lytton played the Duke of Plaza-Toro in the new Savoy opera, ''
The Gondoliers ''The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria'' is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances (at that time the ...
'', on tour and on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
, where Carte sent him with other D'Oyly Carte principals, to bolster the weak cast of the original New York production. After returning to Britain he added another of Grossmith's old roles to his repertory, playing the Lord Chancellor in ''
Iolanthe ''Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri'' () is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, first performed in 1882. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert ...
''. In the first provincial production of ''
Utopia, Limited ''Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress'', is a Savoy opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was the second-to-last of Gilbert and Sullivan's fourteen collaborations, premiering on 7 October 1893 for a ...
'' (1893) he played King Paramount – the main baritone part – created at the Savoy by
Rutland Barrington Rutland Barrington (15 January 1853 – 31 May 1922) was an English singer, actor, comedian and Edwardian musical comedy star. Best remembered for originating the lyric baritone roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas from 1877 to 1896, his p ...
. He played the title role in ''
The Sorcerer ''The Sorcerer'' is a two-act comic opera, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It was the British duo's third operatic collaboration. The plot of ''The Sorcerer'' is based on a Christmas story, ''An Elixir of Lo ...
'' and Bunthorne in ''
Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced ...
'' for the first time in 1895, and later in 1895 King Gama in ''Princess Ida'', finally appearing in the role he had understudied in his first season with D'Oyly Carte eleven years earlier. In 1896 he toured as Ludwig in the final Gilbert and Sullivan opera, ''
The Grand Duke ''The Grand Duke; or, The Statutory Duel'', is the final Savoy Opera written by librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, their fourteenth and last opera together. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 March 1896, and ran for 12 ...
''. In most of these provincial tours Lytton's wife was a fellow member of the company. During them he also appeared in Savoy operas by librettists or composers other than Gilbert and Sullivan, playing the title role in ''
The Vicar of Bray The Vicar of Bray is a satirical description of an individual fundamentally changing his principles to remain in ecclesiastical office as external requirements change around him. The religious upheavals in England from 1533 to 1559 (and then from ...
'' (1892), Flapper in '' Billie Taylor'' (1893: "Mr Henry A. Lytton scored immensely by his clever impersonation of Captain the Hon. Felix Flapper, R.N, – his efforts were rewarded by sustained applause and laughter"), Bobinet in '' Mirette'' (1895) and Peter Grigg in ''
The Chieftain ''The Chieftain'' is a two-act comic opera by Arthur Sullivan and F. C. Burnand based on their 1867 opera, ''The Contrabandista''. It consists of substantially the same first act as the 1867 work with a completely new second act. It premiered at ...
'' (1895).


The Savoy: 1897 to 1903

Lytton was called to London in 1897 to play King Ferdinand in the new Savoy opera, '' His Majesty''. He was an emergency replacement for Grossmith who had returned to the Savoy after nine years to star in the piece, but had withdrawn from the production in the first week of the run, pleading ill health. Lytton's performance won critical approval,"'His Majesty' Revisited", ''The Westminster Gazette'', 16 April, 1897, p. 2 but the piece did not please the public and was withdrawn after sixty-one performances.Rollins and Witts, p. 16 Such comedy as there was in ''His Majesty'' was given to the performer
Walter Passmore Walter Henry Passmore (10 May 1867 – 29 August 1946) was an English singer and actor best known as the first successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Passmo ...
. He had succeeded Grossmith as the Savoy's principal comedian and was principal exponent of the patter roles there until 1903. After ''His Majesty'' closed, Lytton remained in the Savoy company – joined the following year by his wife – playing a wide range of other baritone roles, from comic to romantic and serious. His only patter role during this period was Major General Stanley in a revival of ''The Pirates of Penzance'' (1900), in which Passmore took the part of the Sergeant of Police. Between 1897 and 1903 Lytton's Gilbert and Sullivan roles at the Savoy were Wilfred Shadbolt in ''The Yeomen of the Guard'', Giuseppe in ''The Gondoliers'', the Learned Judge in ''
Trial by Jury A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are used in a significant ...
'', Dr Daly in ''The Sorcerer'', Captain Corcoran in ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', Grosvenor in ''Patience'', and Strephon in ''Iolanthe''. In operas not by Gilbert and Sullivan he created nine roles: Prince Paul in ''
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' (1897), Simon Limal in '' The Beauty Stone'' (1898), Baron Tabasco in ''
The Lucky Star ''The Lucky Star'' is an English comic opera, in three acts, composed by Ivan Caryll, with dialogue by Charles H. Brookfield (revised by Helen Lenoir) and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Aubrey Hopwood. It was produced by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Co ...
'' (1899), Sultan Mahmoud in ''
The Rose of Persia ''The Rose of Persia''; ''or, The Story-Teller and the Slave'', is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 29 November 1899, closing on 28 June 1900 after a profitabl ...
'' (1899), Charlie Brown in the
curtain raiser A curtain raiser is a short performance, stage act, show, actor or performer that opens a show for the main attraction. The term is derived from the act of raising the stage curtain. The first person on stage has "raised the curtain". The fashio ...
''
Pretty Polly Pretty Polly may refer to: * "Pretty Polly" (ballad) * ''Pretty Polly'' (film) * ''Pretty Polly'' (opera) * Pretty Polly (horse) Pretty Polly (March 1901 – 17 August 1931) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and bro ...
'' (1899), Ib's Father in ''
Ib and Little Christina ''Ib and Little Christina'' refers to two theatrical adaptations by Basil Hood of the 1855 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, Hans Andersen of the same name: a play (1900) and an opera (1901). Play The first version was a play subtitled "A Pi ...
'' (1901), Pat Murphy in ''
The Emerald Isle ''The Emerald Isle''; ''or, The Caves of Carrig-Cleena'', is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German, and a libretto by Basil Hood. The plot concerns the efforts of an Irish patriot to resist the oppressive "re-edu ...
'' (1901), the Earl of Essex in '' Merrie England'' (1902), and William Jelf in ''
A Princess of Kensington ''A Princess of Kensington'' is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood, produced by William Greet. The first performance was at the Savoy Theatre, London, on 22 January 1903 and ran for 115 performances. ...
'' (1903).Rollins and Witts, pp. 16–20; and Lytton (1922), p. 85 While appearing at the Savoy, Lytton made a brief and unsuccessful attempt at theatrical production. He and some partners leased the
Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began development ...
to stage ''The Wild Rabbit'', a
farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity o ...
by
George Arliss George Arliss (born Augustus George Andrews; 10 April 1868 – 5 February 1946) was an English actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award – which he ...
, which had done well in a provincial tour. The reviews were reasonably favourable, but the production opened during a heat wave in the summer of 1899 and played for only three weeks, sustaining over £1,000 in losses (). A second investment later in the year, in ''Melnotte'', an operatic version of the comedy ''
The Lady of Lyons ''The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride'', commonly known as ''The Lady of Lyons'', is a five act romantic melodrama written in 1838 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton. It was first produced in London at Covent Garden Theatre on 15 Februar ...
'', also lost money, after which Lytton abandoned thoughts of being an impresario.


West End: 1903 to 1909

After the run of ''A Princess of Kensington'' ended in May 1903 the company toured the piece and then dispersed. After 1903 a single D'Oyly Carte touring company continued to appear in the provinces. The Savoy closed, reopening the following year under a different management.Rollins and Witts, p. 20 Many of the former Savoy company, including
Isabel Jay Isabel Emily Jay (17 October 1879 – 26 February 1927) was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in Edwardian musical comedies. During ...
,
Robert Evett Robert Evett (16 October 1874 – 15 January 1949) was an English singer, actor, theatre manager and producer. He was best known as a leading man in Edwardian musical comedies and later managed the George Edwardes theatrical empire. In 1892, at ...
, Barrington, Passmore and Lytton continued to appear in the West End in
musical comedies Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
, many of which had long runs. Between 1903 and 1907 Lytton appeared in West End productions by
William Greet William Greet (1851 – 25 April 1914) was a British theatre manager from the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. Originally a business manager for other theatre licensees in the 1880s, he branched out as an independent manager ...
,
George Edwardes George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond. Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...
,
Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...
and
Frank Curzon Frank Curzon (17 September 1868 – 2 July 1927) was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, leasing the Royal Strand Theatre, Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, am ...
. He starred in ''
The Earl and the Girl ''The Earl and the Girl'' is a musical comedy in two acts by Seymour Hicks, with lyrics by Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll. It was produced by William Greet and opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 10 December 1903. It transferre ...
'' and '' Little Hans Andersen'', (1903, alongside Passmore); ''The Talk of the Town'' (1905, also with Passmore); ''
The Little Michus ''Les p'tites Michu'' (The Little Michus) is an opérette in three acts, with music by André Messager and words by Albert Vanloo and Georges Duval (journalist), Georges Duval. The piece is set in Paris in the years following the French Revolutio ...
'' (1905, with Evett); '' The White Chrysanthemum'' (1905, with Barrington and Jay); ''
The Spring Chicken ''The Spring Chicken'' is an Edwardian musical comedy adapted by George Grossmith, Jr. from ''Coquin de Printemps'' (1897) by Jaime and Duval, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton and lyrics by Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank and Gross ...
'' (1905); and ''My Darling'' (1907). Apart from his musical comedy roles, Lytton wrote for and performed in the
music halls Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
. In 1904 he wrote the libretto for a one-act operetta, ''The Knights of the Road'', set to music by
Sir Alexander MacKenzie Sir Alexander Mackenzie (or MacKenzie, gd, Alasdair MacCoinnich; – 12 March 1820) was a Scottish explorer known for accomplishing the first crossing of America north of Mexico in 1793. The Mackenzie River is named after him. Early life ...
, which was well received at its premiere at the Palace Theatre of Varieties in February 1905. ''The Musical Standard'' commented favourably on the piece and its "unmistakably Savoy flavour". Lytton performed in music hall sketches with
Connie Ediss Connie Ediss (born Ada Harriet Whitley; 11 August 1870 – 18 April 1934) Gänzl, Kurt"The real Connie Ediss, or 'She was a Milliner's Daughter'" Kurt of Gerolstein, 6 November 2020 was an English actress and singer best known as a buxom, good-h ...
in 1906 and Constance Hyem in 1908. Lytton wrote that greatly as he enjoyed, and profited from, his musical comedy roles, he found them shallow and superficial compared with the Savoy Operas, to which he was glad to return in 1907. He appeared at the Savoy in
Helen Carte Helen Carte Boulter (born Susan Helen Couper Black; 12 May 1852 – 5 May 1913), also known as Helen Lenoir, was a Scottish businesswoman known for her diplomatic skills and grasp of detail. Beginning as his secretary, and later marrying, impre ...
's first London repertory season of Gilbert and Sullivan in June of that year, playing Strephon. When she presented a second London repertory season, from April 1908 to March 1909, he played in all five operas staged, as the Mikado; Dick Deadeye in ''H.M.S. Pinafore''; Strephon; the Pirate King in ''The Pirates of Penzance''; and Giuseppe in ''The Gondoliers''.Rollins and Witts, p. 22 The patter roles were played by C.H.Workman, seconded from the year-round touring company. At the end of the season Workman left to pursue a career as an actor-manager; Lytton took over the patter roles in the touring company, in which his fellow principals included
Fred Billington Fred Billington (1 July 1854 – 2 November 1917) was an English singer and actor, best known for his performances in baritone roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. His career with the company began in 1879 and continued ...
, Clara Dow, Sydney Granville,
Louie René Louie René (c. 1872 - 9 March 1955) was an English opera singer and actress best remembered for her performances with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles at the turn of the 20th century. René performed wi ...
and Leicester Tunks.


Principal comedian: 1909 to 1934

Helen Carte died in 1913, and the opera company was inherited by her stepson
Rupert D'Oyly Carte Rupert D'Oyly Carte (3 November 1876 – 12 September 1948) was an English hotelier, theatre owner and impresario, best known as proprietor of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and Savoy Hotel from 1913 to 1948. Son of the impresario and hotelier ...
. Although he wrote in 1922 that "the scope and versatility" of Lytton's work was unique, three years earlier, when planning the company's first London season for more than ten years, Carte had hoped to persuade Workman, who was in Australia, to return. Workman declined, and Lytton remained in possession of the patter roles both in London and on tour for the rest of his career. After the opening night of the 1919–20 London season at the
Prince's Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was d ...
, in which he played the Duke of Plaza-Toro, ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
'' commented: Lytton starred in later seasons at the Prince's (1921, 1924 and 1926), in tours of Canada in 1927 and 1928 and the US in 1929, and in London seasons at the Savoy in 1929–30 and 1932–33.Parker ''et al'', pp. 1559–1560 Carte attempted to balance respect for tradition with the desire to keep productions fresh. Lytton approved of the new costumes commissioned by Carte, but strongly disapproved of, and battled against, the brisk tempi imposed by
Malcolm Sargent Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent (29 April 1895 – 3 October 1967) was an English conductor, organist and composer widely regarded as Britain's leading conductor of choral works. The musical ensembles with which he was associated include ...
, the young conductor brought in as musical director for the London seasons of 1926 and 1929–30. Lytton, who never mastered the art of reading music, had learnt his parts by rote, and had trouble with what he called "the twiddly bits" − Sullivan's turns and
ornaments An ornament is something used for decoration. Ornament may also refer to: Decoration *Ornament (art), any purely decorative element in architecture and the decorative arts *Biological ornament, a characteristic of animals that appear to serve on ...
; ''The Times'' commented in 1926 that he "shows more respect for Gilbert's words than for Sullivan's notes, though he still manages to give the gist even of the latter"."Prince's Theatre", ''The Times'', 21 September 1926, p. 12 Sargent studied Sullivan's manuscripts, and for some numbers set tempi that Lytton found difficult to cope with. There were rows at rehearsal and sometimes open disagreement in performances, with Lytton deliberately lagging behind Sargent's beat. Lytton was
knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in the 1930 Birthday Honours; he is the only person to have received the accolade for achievements as a Gilbert and Sullivan performer.Stone, David
"Henry A. Lytton"
''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'', Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2020
The award was marked by newspapers in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the US. In May the following year Lytton, driving in heavy rain, crashed his car; his passenger, his fellow D'Oyly Carte principal
Bertha Lewis Bertha Amy Lewis (12 May 1887 – 8 May 1931) was an English opera singer and actress primarily known for her work as principal contralto in the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Life and career Early life ...
, was killed, and he was injured. He was absent for six weeks, during which
Martyn Green William Martin Green (22 April 1899 – 8 February 1975), known by his stage name, Martyn Green, was an English actor and singer. He is remembered for his performances and recordings as principal comedian of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, in t ...
, his understudy and eventual successor, took over his roles. In August 1931 Lytton permanently handed over two of his roles to Green – Robin Oakapple and the Major General.Rollins and Witts, p. 156 Lytton's last central London appearance was as Ko-Ko at the Savoy in January 1933.Rollins and Witts, p. 157 He then toured with the D'Oyly Carte company until 30 June 1934, making his final appearance at the
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre on South King Street in Dublin, Ireland, off Grafton Street and close to St. Stephen's Green. It specialises in operatic and musical productions, with occasional dramatic shows. History In April 1871, the broth ...
as Jack Point.Rollins and Witts, p. 158 He was the last remaining member of the company to have performed under the direction of both Gilbert and Sullivan. In his memoirs he listed thirty different roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas he had played during his career.


Last years

After retiring from the D'Oyly Carte company Lytton made his last stage appearance, as the Emperor of China in ''Aladdin'', the Christmas pantomime at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham in 1934–35. It was also his last broadcast performance, being relayed by the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
on New Year's Day, 1935. Lytton died at his home in
Earls Court Earl's Court is a district of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London, bordering the rail tracks of the West London line and District line that separate it from the ancient borough of Fulham to the west, the ...
, London, in 1936 at the age of 71; he was survived by his wife, Louie Henri, who died in 1947, their two sons, including Henry Lytton, Jr. (1906–1965), whose high-profile marriage to
Jessie Matthews Jessie Margaret Matthews (11 March 1907 – 19 August 1981) was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1920s and 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period. After a string of hit stage musicals and films in the mid-1930s, Ma ...
in 1925 ended in divorce in 1930, and two daughters, Bessie Ena Lytton Elverston (1904–1995) and Ida Louise Lytton-Gay (1883–1979). Another son, Percy Arthur Bertram Lytton (1893–1918), was killed in February 1918 while serving in the
Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...
, and two others died in infancy. In an appreciation in ''
The Manchester Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', the critic
Neville Cardus Sir John Frederick Neville Cardus, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (2 April 188828 February 1975) was an English writer and critic. From an impoverished home background, and mainly self-educated, he became ''The Manchester Gua ...
wrote:


Recordings, film and broadcasts

Lytton featured prominently in early gramophone recordings. As early as 1902–03 the
Gramophone Company The Gramophone Company Limited (The Gramophone Co. Ltd.), based in the United Kingdom and founded by Emil Berliner, was one of the early recording companies, the parent organisation for the ''His Master's Voice (HMV)'' label, and the European ...
(HMV) was promoting him as one of its stars along with performers ranging from
Enrico Caruso Enrico Caruso (, , ; 25 February 1873 – 2 August 1921) was an Italian operatic first lyrical tenor then dramatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles (74) ...
,
Edvard Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the foremost Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. His use of ...
and
Joseph Joachim Joseph Joachim (28 June 1831 – 15 August 1907) was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher who made an international career, based in Hanover and Berlin. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of ...
to
Dan Leno George Wild Galvin (20 December 1860 – 31 October 1904), better known by the stage name Dan Leno, was a leading English music hall comedian and musical theatre actor during the late Victorian era. He was best known, aside from his music hall ...
,
Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as " T ...
and
George Robey Sir George Edward Wade, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954),James Harding (music writer), Harding, James"Robey, George" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University P ...
. His recordings between 1901 and 1905 include "My Cosy Corner Girl" from ''The Earl and the Girl'', which was something of a best-seller. Twenty-five of his recordings were collected on the 1982 LP set "The Art of Henry Lytton".''The Art of Henry Lytton'', Pearl, GEMM197, 1982 . It contains eight Gilbert and Sullivan numbers from five operas, and songs from three other shows in which he appeared – ''Merrie England'', ''A Princess of Kensington'' and ''The Earl and the Girl'' – and three he did not appear in – ''
A Country Girl ''A Country Girl, or, Town and Country'' is a musical play in two acts by James T. Tanner, with lyrics by Adrian Ross, additional lyrics by Percy Greenbank, music by Lionel Monckton and additional songs by Paul Rubens. The musical opened at D ...
'', ''
The Toreador ''The Toreador'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Harry Nicholls, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London, mana ...
'' and '' The Girl from Kay's''. The set also contains four non-show songs, including one of his own composition. George Baker, who sang several of Lytton's roles in HMV recordings in the 1920s and 1930s, later described Lytton's voice as "light, tenory, thinnish", but added that in the theatre "he persuaded me that he was a good baritone – he wasn't, really, but he was such a supreme actor … that he could persuade you he could sing splendidly". By the time HMV began using D'Oyly Carte principals in its recordings of the Savoy operas in the mid-1920s, Lytton's voice was not thought suitable for the gramophone, and he was included in only ''Princess Ida'' in 1924 ( acoustic) and 1932 (
electrical Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...
), ''The Mikado'' in 1926, ''The Gondoliers'' in 1927, and ''H.M.S. Pinafore'' in 1930, his other roles being sung by Baker. When the 1930 ''H.M.S. Pinafore'' was released, Cardus wrote in ''The Manchester Guardian'', "It was high time something was done to send down to posterity the genius of the greatest of all surviving artists in Gilbert and Sullivan. The omission of Lytton's voice from the 930''Iolanthe'' was a blunder of the first importance … there is no mistaking the Lytton accent, the old kindly yet pungent tones". Lytton sang Ko-Ko in a 1926 BBC radio broadcast of two half-hour excerpts from ''The Mikado'', and appeared in the same role in a four-minute-long silent promotional film for the D'Oyly Carte production in the same year. In January 1933 the BBC broadcast the last night of the D'Oyly Carte London season, which marked Lytton's last appearance in the West End. He sang Ko-Ko in Act 1 of ''The Mikado''. On Christmas Day of the same year, while the company was playing in the London suburb
Golders Green Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in England. A smaller suburban linear settlement, near a farm and public grazing area green of medieval origins, dates to the early 19th century. Its bulk forms a late 19th century and ea ...
, Lytton – described by the BBC as the "G&S star of stars" – performed in a broadcast of Act 2 of ''The Mikado'' from a radio studio in London, with
Isidore Godfrey Isidore Godfrey OBE (27 September 1900 – 12 September 1977), born Israel Gotfryd, was musical director of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for 39 years, from 1929 to 1968. He conducted most of the company's performances during that period, excep ...
conducting a BBC orchestra and the D'Oyly Carte cast."Christmas Day Programmes"
''Radio Times'', 22 December 1933, p. 896


Notes, references and sources


Notes


References


Sources

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lytton, Henry 1865 births 1936 deaths People from Kensington English male singers English male musical theatre actors Knights Bachelor Singers awarded knighthoods Actors awarded knighthoods