Otho Stuart (9 August 1863 – 1 May 1930) was a British actor of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who specialised in performing in the plays of Shakespeare. Stuart played the range of Shakespearean leading men, both with the Company of

F. R. Benson Sir Francis Robert Benson (4 November 1858 – 31 December 1939), known professionally as Frank Benson or F. R. Benson, was an English actor-manager. He founded his own company in 1883 and produced all but two of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare ...

and with his own Company during his management of the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

in London. Of independent means, he used his own money to help finance Benson's productions and his own. The theatre critic

J. C. Trewin John Courtenay Trewin (4 December 1908 – 16 February 1990) was a British journalist, writer and drama critic. Trewin was born in Plymouth, Devon, although both his parents were Cornish. He was educated at Plymouth College and in 1926 joi ...

described him as 'one of the handsomest Oberons of all time.'

Early career

He was born as Otto Stuart Andreae in 1863 in

Battersea Battersea is a large district in south London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred southwest of Charing Cross and extends along the south bank of the River Thames. It includes the Battersea Park. History Batter ...

, the youngest of six children born to Emelia ''née'' Sillem (1825–1899) and John Charles Andreae (1819–1892), a German-born naturalised British subject who was a Commissioner Merchant in Indigo. In 1881 Stuart was employed as a commercial clerk and made his professional stage début in 1886 in

's first season at the

Shakespeare Memorial Theatre The Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) (originally called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre) is a grade II* listed 1,040+ seat thrust stage theatre owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company dedicated to the English playwright and poet William Shakespea ...

Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-we ...

.OTHO STUART, LONDON ACTOR-MANAGER, DIES; Governmentor of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Made His Stage Debut in 1886
- ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', 2 May 1930, Page 21Nicholas Fogg
''Secret Stratford-upon-Avon''
Amberley Publishing (2017) - Google Books In April 1886 he played Francisco in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', Julio in ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

'', Messenger in ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Battl ...

'', and in May 1886 the Surgeon in ''

The Corsican Brothers ''The Corsican Brothers'' (french: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, père, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, though separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It h ...

''.

Theatrical career

In Benson's 1888 season at

he played Morello opposite

Ada Ferrar Ada Ferrar (1 June 1864 – 8 January 1951) was a British actress of the late Victorian era, Victorian and Edwardian eras. Early life Born in St Pancras, London, St Pancras in London in 1864 as Ada Janet Bishop to Mary S. Bishop (1836-) and ...

in ''Andrea''; Oberon in ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

''; Horatio in ''Hamlet''; Paris in ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

''; and was Dashwood in ''

The Belle's Stratagem ''The Belle's Stratagem'' is a romantic comedy of manners, the most successful work of its playwright, Hannah Cowley. It received its premiere on 22 February 1780,Winter, William. Preface to "Two Old Comedies: The Belle's Stratagem and The Wond ...

''. In 1891 he was touring with the Company of

and at the time of the 1891 Census he was staying in the same boarding house with Benson and his wife

Constance Benson Gertrude Constance Cockburn Benson ( Samwell; 26 February 1864 – 19 January 1946) was a British stage and film actress. Before her marriage to Frank Benson, she was known by the stage name Constance Featherstonhaugh, pronounced "Fanshaw" (). B ...

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

. In the same year he appeared at Benson's season at the

, playing Horatio in ''

'', Claudio in ''

Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...

'', Bertie Fitzurse in ''New Men and Old Acres'', and Ferdinand in '' The Tempest''. During 1892 Stuart was the leading man for

Mrs. Bernard Beere Fanny Mary Whitehead (5 October 1851 – 25 March 1915) was an English actress in the mid 19th-century. She was also known, after her marriage as Fanny Bernard-Beere, billed as Mrs. Bernard Beere. Early life She was born in 1851 in King's Ly ...

in her Australian tour. In Benson's 1893 Stratford season Stuart was Tullus Aufidius in ''

Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same ye ...

'' and Renaud in ''The Corsican Brothers''.

Actor-manager

In 1896 he was touring as

actor-manager An actor-manager is a leading actor who sets up their own permanent theatrical company and manages the business, sometimes taking over a theatre to perform select plays in which they usually star. It is a method of theatrical production used co ...

with his own Otho Stuart Company as Constantine Brancomir in ''For the Crowd''. When in 1901 it looked like the Company of

would fold it was Stuart's managerial acumen that kept it afloat. From 1904 to 1907 with

Oscar Asche John Stange(r) Heiss Oscar Asche (24 January 1871 – 23 March 1936), better known as Oscar Asche, was an Australian actor, director, and writer, best known for having written, directed, and acted in the record-breaking musical ''Chu Chin C ...

he co-managed the

which became noted for its productions of modern drama and Shakespearean revivals. Their first play was ''The Prayer of the Sword'' in which

Walter Hampden Walter Hampden Dougherty (June 30, 1879 in Brooklyn – June 11, 1955 in Los Angeles), known professionally as Walter Hampden, was an American actor and theatre manager. He was a major stage star on Broadway in New York who also made numerous ...

appeared. Stuart co-produced ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...

'' with

in 1904. Their production of ''

'' in 1905 had Asche as Bottom and

Roxy Barton Roxy Barton (8 May 1879 – 1 March 1962) was an Australian actress who also had a theatrical career in London and the U.S. She was born in Sydney in Australia in 1879 as Roxy Claudia May Barton, daughter of Jane McCulloch ''née'' Davie (183 ...

as Titania. In 1905 they produced ''

'' with

H. B. Irving Harry Brodribb Irving (5 August 1870 – 17 October 1919), was a British stage actor and actor-manager; the eldest son of Sir Henry Irving and his wife Florence ( née O'Callaghan), and father of designer Laurence Irving and actress Elizabeth ...

in the title role, ''Under Which King?'' (1905) with

Lily Brayton Elizabeth "Lily" Brayton (23 June 1876 – 30 April 1953) was an English actress and singer, known for her performances in Shakespeare plays and for her nearly 2,000 performances in the First World War hit musical ''Chu Chin Chow''. Early life ...

and ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the ''First Folio'' of 1623. The play's plot features its ...

'' (1906) with Asche as Lucentio. ''

The Graphic ''The Graphic'' was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Ltd. Thomas's brother Lewis Samuel Thomas was a co-founder. The premature death of the latt ...

'' of November 1906 wrote, 'Mr. Otho Stuart's management at the Adelphi has for long been distinguished by his bold policy of encouraging the poetic drama. At a time when every other theatre in London has shrunk from producing blank-verse plays he has boldly come forward and produced piece after piece of this character, and this, too, in a beautiful and tasteful manner. As a result, his theatre from being a home of melodrama, has come to be the home of blank-verse plays. His latest venture, produced last week with every sign of success, is the work of a new and young playwright, namely, Mr.

Rudolf Besier Rudolf Wilhelm Besier (2 July 1878 – 16 June 1942) was a Dutch/English dramatist and translator best known for his play ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' (1930). He worked with H. G. Wells, Hugh Walpole and May Edginton on dramatisations. Ear ...

. It is called ''The Virgin Goddess'' and is a Greek tragedy written on the lines used by the Greek dramatists...' The drama starred

and

. Stuart directed ''Turtle Doves'' at

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c.1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the archit ...

in 1906. When the lease at the

came to an end in 1907 Stuart became manager of the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...

in London. Here he had an unexpected failure and needing another play quickly he accepted ''

Lady Frederick ''Lady Frederick'' is a comedy by the British writer W. Somerset Maugham, written early in his career. The play was first seen in London in 1907, and was very successful, running for 422 performances. The title role was played by Ethel Irving. In ...

'' by

Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

, then virtually an unknown writer. Maugham later wrote, '... Otho Stuart, who was a famous heatricalmanager in his day, had run into difficulties with a play at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, and he wanted a replacement so that the theatre shouldn't be dark.

Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley (; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the pro ...

, one of my disreputable friends, introduced me to him... If ''Lady Federick'' had failed, I'd made up my mind that I would give up writing.' ''Lady Frederick'' was a success for Stuart and for Maugham. The drama was first at the Court Theatre on 26 October 1907, with

Ethel Irving Ethel Irving (1869–1963) was a British stage actress. She also appeared in five films. She was the daughter of stage actor Joseph Irving (died 1870) and the wife of actor Gilbert Porteous (died 1928)Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play ...

, 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 ...

, the New Theatre and the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

; it ran for 422 performances. Stuart returned to

for his later seasons at Stratford, playing Dr. Burton in ''The Peacemaker'' opposite

Lilian Braithwaite Dame Florence Lilian Braithwaite, (9 March 1873 – 17 September 1948), known professionally as Lilian Braithwaite, was an English actress, primarily of the stage, although she appeared in both silent and talkie films. Early life She was born ...

(1907), and the Duke of Clarence in ''

'' (1909 and 1910); He was Edward Stacy Spells in ''Through the Post'' at the

(1910).

J. P. Wearing John Peter Wearing (born c. 1945) is an Anglo-American theatre historian and professor, who has written numerous books and articles about nineteenth and twentieth-century drama and theatre, including ''The Shakespeare Diaries: A Fictional Autobi ...

''The London Stage 1910-1919: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''
Rowman & Littlefield (2014) - Google Books For Benson at Stratford Stuart played Bassanio and Gratiano in ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

'' (1910 and 1911); Valentine in '' You Never Can Tell'' (1912); and Young Marlow in ''

She Stoops to Conquer ''She Stoops to Conquer'' is a comedy by Oliver Goldsmith, first performed in London in 1773. The play is a favourite for study by English literature and theatre classes in the English-speaking world. It is one of the few plays from the 18th ...

'' (1912). He was Johannes in ''The Sixth Commandment'' at the

(1912), and one of the Thirty Handsome Young Lords in ''The "Mind the Gates" Girl'' at His Majesty's Theatre (1912). In

's 1915-16 Stratford season Stuart was Menenius Agrippa in ''

'' (1915), Horatio in ''

'' (1915), Chorus in ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

'' (1915 and 1916), Marcus Brutus in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

'' (1915), Duke of Clarence in ''

'' (1915), Mercutio in ''

'' (1915), and Feste in ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vio ...

'' (1915).Plays of Otho Stuart - Theatricalia website
/ref> In Stratford's Tercentenary Commemoration of Shakespeare he played Feste in ''

'' and Brutus in ''

''. He appeared in

's production of ''

'' 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 ...

(1916–17) in a cast that also included

Henry Baynton Henry Baynton (23 September 1892 in Moseley in Warwickshire, England – 2 January 1951 in London) was a British Shakespearean actor and actor-manager of the early 20th century who in a stage career lasting 40 years is credited with playing ...

. He was Lord Lushington in ''Kultur at Home'' at the Strand Theatre (1916) and Bernard of Treviso in a matinee performance of ''The Elixir'' at the

Vaudeville Theatre The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on the Strand in the City of Westminster. As the name suggests, the theatre held mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. It opened in 1870 and was rebuilt twice, although each ...

(1918). He was Prince Sergius Abreskov in ''Reparation'' at the

St. James's Theatre The St James's Theatre was in King Street, St James's, King Street, St James's, London. It opened in 1835 and was demolished in 1957. The theatre was conceived by and built for a popular singer, John Braham (tenor), John Braham; it lost mon ...

(1919) opposite

Claude Rains William Claude Rains (10 November 188930 May 1967) was a British actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in ''The Invisible Man'' (1933), he appeared in such highly regarded films as '' ...

and Baron Revendal in ''The Melting Pot'' at the

(1920). In 1898 he married the actress Emma Marion South (1867-1927) in London. Their daughter was Elizabeth Mary Emma Andreae (1903-1993). Stuart was a Governmentor of the

. In his later years he lived at 14

The Boltons The Boltons is a street and garden square of lens shape in the Brompton district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England (postcode SW10). The opposing sides of the street face the communal gardens (as two non-semicircula ...

South Kensington South Kensington, nicknamed Little Paris, is a district just west of Central London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically it settled on part of the scattered Middlesex village of Brompton. Its name was supplanted with ...

. He died in London in 1930 and left an estate valued at £26,905 14s.England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Otto Stuart Andreae:1930 - Ancestry.com
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Otho 1863 births 1930 deaths English people of German descent People from Battersea Actor-managers English male stage actors English theatre managers and producers 20th-century theatre managers