Robert Courtneidge
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Robert Courtneidge (29 June 1859 – 6 April 1939) was a British theatrical manager-producer and playwright. He is best remembered as the co-author of the light opera ''
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
'' (1907) and the producer of '' The Arcadians'' (1909). He was the father of the actress Cicely Courtneidge, who played in many of his early 20th century productions. Courtneidge began as a comic actor in the late 1870s, working with Kate Santley, George Edwardes and others. In the early 1890s, he toured in Australia with Edwardes and
J. C. Williamson James Cassius Williamson (26 August 1845 – 6 July 1913) was an American actor and later Australia's foremost impresario, founding the J. C. Williamson's theatrical and production company. Born in Pennsylvania, Williamson moved with his fami ...
companies. In 1896, he became a theatre manager in Manchester and then a West End theatre producer. In the first years of the 20th century, he began to direct
musical theatre 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 ...
pieces and to write or co-write the book for some of his productions, including ''
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
'' (1907). His most popular productions included ''The Arcadians'' (1909), ''
Princess Caprice ''Princess Caprice'' is a musical theatre work described as a "comedy with music", in three acts, with music by Leo Fall. The book was adapted by Alexander M. Thompson from Fall's operetta ''Der liebe Augustin'' by Rudolf Bernauer and Ernst Welisc ...
'' (1912), ''
Oh! Oh! Delphine ''Oh! Oh! Delphine'' is a musical comedy with book and lyrics by C.M.S. McLellan and music by Ivan Caryll. It is based on the French farce ''Villa Primrose'' by Marcel Guillemaud and Georges Berr. A Broadway production opened at the Knickerbock ...
'' (1913) and ''The Cinema Star'' (1914). He directed the hit musical '' The Boy'' in 1917. After the war, he presented ''Paddy the Next Best Thing'', which had a long run, and then took a touring company to Australia, presenting a repertory of comedies. In the 1920s, he returned to producing British provincial tours and became the lessee of the Savoy Theatre, presenting a mixture of productions ranging from Shakespeare to farce. A lifelong socialist, he joined with other managers in campaigning for fair pay and treatment of actors. He also returned briefly to acting. Later in the decade, he presented more West End musicals and operettas, producing his last show in 1930. In 1933 he wrote a novel, ''Judith Clifford''.


Life and career


Early years

Courtneidge was born in Glasgow, Scotland."Obituary, Mr. Robert Courtneidge", '' The Times'', 8 April 1939, p. 14 He appeared as an amateur actor in Edinburgh and later in Manchester. At Christmas 1878 he made his professional debut in the pantomime '' Babes in the Wood'' at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester. He toured with the Charles Dillon and
Barry Sullivan Barry Sullivan may refer to: *Barry Sullivan (American actor) (1912–1994), US film and Broadway actor *Barry Sullivan (stage actor) (1821–1891), Irish born stage actor active in Britain and Australia *Barry Sullivan (lawyer), Chicago lawyer and ...
companies,"Robert Courtneidge"
''British Musical Theatre'', The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, accessed 10 August 2011
and later with Kate Santley playing Hamet Abensellah in ''Vetah'' (1886). In 1885 he played Mr. Drinkwater in
H.J. Byron Henry James Byron (8 January 1835 – 11 April 1884) was a prolific English dramatist, as well as an editor, journalist, director, theatre manager, novelist and actor. After an abortive start at a medical career, Byron struggled as a provincial ...
's ''Open House'', a performance praised by '' The Manchester Guardian'' as "a well-studied sketch of a vain and irritable old widower." He made his London debut in 1887 at the Adelphi Theatre, in ''The Bells of Haslemere''. His other roles included Pepin in Robert Reece's English version of Auguste Coedes's ''Girouette'' (1889) and Major Styx in a Scots musical ''Pim Pom'' set in a monkey house at the zoo. Courtneidge's wife was Rosaline May ''née'' Adams (stage name Rosie Nott). She was the daughter of the singer and actress
Cicely Nott ''Myrrhis odorata'', with common names cicely (), sweet cicely, myrrh, garden myrrh, and sweet chervil, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the celery family Apiaceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Myrrhis''. Etymology The gen ...
and the sister of three other actresses including
Ada Blanche Ada Blanche (born Ada Cecilia Blanche Adams; 16 July 1862 – 1 January 1953) was an English actress and singer known early in her career for vivacious performances in Victorian burlesque and pantomime and later in character roles in Edwardian m ...
, a well-known pantomime star. In 1892 Courtneidge and his wife went to Australia, where he played comic roles for George Edwardes's
Gaiety Gaiety or Gayety may refer to: * Gaiety (mood), the state of being happy * Gaiety Theatre (disambiguation) * ''USS Gayety (AM-239'', former name of the ship ''BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20)'' See also *Gaiety Girls Gaiety Girls were the chorus girl ...
company in the
burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.
s, '' Carmen up to Data'', ''
Faust up to Date ''Faust up to Date'' is a musical burlesque with a score written by Meyer Lutz (a few songs by others were interpolated into the show). The libretto was written by G. R. Sims and Henry Pettitt. It is a spoof of Gounod's opera, ''Faust'', which ...
'', ''Miss Esmeralda'' and ''Joan of Arc''. He and his wife remained in Australia during 1893 and 1894; he joined the
J. C. Williamson James Cassius Williamson (26 August 1845 – 6 July 1913) was an American actor and later Australia's foremost impresario, founding the J. C. Williamson's theatrical and production company. Born in Pennsylvania, Williamson moved with his fami ...
company, appearing in ''On 'Change'', '' La Mascotte'', ''
Sweet Lavender ''Sweet Lavender'' is a play in three acts by Arthur Wing Pinero, first performed in 1888. The sentimental and gently humorous story concerns the romance of Lavender Rolt and Clement Hale, and the complications impeding the course of true love. ...
'' and '' Princess Ida'' and in pantomime."Players of the Period", ''The Era'', 18 April 1896, p. 10 His daughter
Cicely ''Myrrhis odorata'', with common names cicely (), sweet cicely, myrrh, garden myrrh, and sweet chervil, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the celery family Apiaceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Myrrhis''. Etymology The gen ...
was born while he and his wife were in Sydney.Pepys-Whiteley, D
"Courtneidge , Dame (Esmerelda) Cicely (1893–1980)"
''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, January 2011, accessed 8 August 2011
On returning to England, Courtneidge toured with Kate Vaughan and
May Fortescue May Fortescue (9 February 1859 – 2 September 1950) was an actress, singer and actor-manager of the Victorian era and a protégée of playwright W. S. Gilbert. She was a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1881 to 1883, when she left ...
, and in 1895 he played the
Grossmith Grossmith is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *George Grossmith (1847–1912), English comedian, writer, and musician *Weedon Grossmith (1854–1919), English artist, writer, and actor; younger brother of George Grossmith, Sr. *G ...
role of the Governor in a tour of '' His Excellency''; ''The Manchester Guardian'' wrote, "Mr. Courtneidge … though with very little vocal power, knows how to sing a patter song." By 1896 he had taken part in 19 Christmas pantomimes.


Management

In 1896 Courtneidge became manager of the Prince's Theatre in Manchester. The following year, reviewing his progress to date, ''The Manchester Guardian'' wrote: Courtneidge remained in charge of the Prince's Theatre until 1903, but he also gained a footing as a producer and director in the West End of London. In 1898, he produced the successful George Dance and
Carl Kiefert Carl Johann Kiefert (also Johann Carl; 1855 – 26 November 1937) was a German-British conductor and composer, who spent much of his career conducting at the Hippodrome and other London theatres. He was the musical director of the original London ...
musical ''The Gay Grisette''. Among his later productions in Manchester was ''
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 ...
'' in 1901, in which Bottom was played by
W.H. Denny W. H. Denny (22 October 1853 – 31 August 1915) was an English singer and actor in comic operas, operettas and musical theatre. He is best remembered for his portrayal of baritone roles in the Savoy operas. Life and career Early years Denny ...
and the tiny role of Peaseblossom was played by Courtneidge's eight-year-old daughter Cicely, making her stage debut. On leaving Manchester after seven years, Courtneidge was presented with a scroll inscribed by members of the theatrical profession headed by Henry Irving and the local community headed by
C.P. Scott Charles Prestwich Scott (26 October 1846 – 1 January 1932), usually cited as C. P. Scott, was a British journalist, publisher and politician. Born in Bath, Somerset, he was the editor of the ''Manchester Guardian'' (now ''the Guardian'') ...
"to one who has done so much for the honour and dignity of the English stage". His career as a producer-director continued in the West End. George Edwardes invited him to direct Ivan Caryll's comic opera, '' The Duchess of Dantzic'', in 1903. As an independent West End producer, Courtneidge began in 1905 with '' The Blue Moon''. He soon began collaborating on the books of musicals that he produced, although in some cases he contributed only the minimum needed to allow him to claim an interest in the copyright and royalties of the piece. Among the works credited to him as co-librettist are ''The Dairymaids'' (1906) and ''
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
'' (1907). In 1909, Courtneidge became lessee of the
Shaftesbury 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 the same year, he had his biggest success, with '' The Arcadians'', which ran for more than 800 performances. This was followed in 1911 by ''The Mousmé'', an oriental piece in a vein already familiar from '' The Mikado'', ''
The Geisha ''The Geisha, a story of a tea house'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James Ph ...
'' and ''
San Toy ''San Toy, or The Emperor's Own'' is a "Chinese" musical comedy in two acts, first performed at Daly's Theatre, London, on 21 October 1899, and ran for 768 performances (edging out the same composer's '' The Geisha'' as the second longest run f ...
''. Despite a lavish production, including a spectacular earthquake scene, it was only modestly successful. In 1912, Courtneidge joined several other theatre managers in opposing an attempt to abolish theatre censorship. The managers believed that a licence from the Lord Chamberlain to present a piece insured them against legal action by the police, local authority or anyone else. Among those whom Courtneidge joined in this successful opposition were Edwardes,
Herbert Beerbohm Tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (17 December 1852 – 2 July 1917) was an English actor and theatre manager. Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre in the West End, winning praise for adventurous progra ...
, Charles Frohman, Gerald du Maurier and Rupert D'Oyly Carte. In the same year, Courtneidge presented an English version of Leo Fall's ''Der liebe Augustin'', as ''
Princess Caprice ''Princess Caprice'' is a musical theatre work described as a "comedy with music", in three acts, with music by Leo Fall. The book was adapted by Alexander M. Thompson from Fall's operetta ''Der liebe Augustin'' by Rudolf Bernauer and Ernst Welisc ...
'', with a cast including Courtice Pounds and Courtneidge's daughter Cicely. There was some feeling in theatrical circles that Cicely's elevation to star status was due more to her being Robert Courtneidge's daughter than to any special talent. Of Courtneidge's two productions in 1913, Ivan Caryll's American musical ''
Oh! Oh! Delphine ''Oh! Oh! Delphine'' is a musical comedy with book and lyrics by C.M.S. McLellan and music by Ivan Caryll. It is based on the French farce ''Villa Primrose'' by Marcel Guillemaud and Georges Berr. A Broadway production opened at the Knickerbock ...
'' received a strong reception, but ''The Pearl Girl'' was only a moderate success. In 1914 Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert starred in ''The Cinema Star'', an adaptation by Hulbert and Harry Graham of ''Die Kino-Königin'', a 1913 German comic opera by Jean Gilbert. It was a hit for Courtneidge and ran to full houses at the
Shaftesbury 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 ...
until Britain and Germany went to war in August 1914; anti-German sentiment brought the run to a premature and abrupt halt. Courtneidge's next shows, ''My Lady Frayle'', ''Oh, Caesar!'' and ''The Light Blues'' (all 1916, the last of which included a young
Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...
in its cast) all failed,Gaye, p. 492 and the patriotic operetta ''Young England'' was only a modest success. After these financial setbacks, Courtneidge next produced less expensive extravaganzas in the provinces, including ''Oh, Caesar!'' ''Petticoat Fair'', ''Fancy Fair'' (the last two of which he wrote) and ''Too Many Girls''. He directed the hit musical '' The Boy'' (1917) at the Adelphi Theatre.


1920s and 30s

In 1920, Courtneidge presented the non-musical comedy ''Paddy the Next Best Thing'' at the Savoy Theatre. The reviewer of ''The Times'' expressed the hope that people in Ireland would not hear of the show: "Ireland has enough grievances to go on with". Nevertheless, the play was a popular success, and ran for 867 performances. Following this, Courtneidge took a touring company to Australia, presenting a repertory of comedies including ''The Man from Toronto'', Somerset Maugham's ''Home and Beauty'', and a work by an Australian author, ''Saving Grace''. Among the company members was Courtneidge's younger daughter Rosaline. He returned to England by way of the US, where he presented '' Paddy the Next Best Thing'' in New York.
Alexander Woollcott Alexander Humphreys Woollcott (January 19, 1887 – January 23, 1943) was an American drama critic and commentator for ''The New Yorker'' magazine, a member of the Algonquin Round Table, an occasional actor and playwright, and a prominent radio p ...
in '' The New York Times'' was no more laudatory than his critical counterpart in London, but the play ran well. In the 1920s Courtneidge returned to producing British provincial tours, including the old-fashioned ''Gabrielle'' (1921; composed by George Clutsam, Archibald Joyce and others), which was successful for several years. In 1923, he became the lessee of the Savoy, where his first production was ''
The Young Idea ''The Young Idea'', subtitled "A comedy of youth in three acts", is an early play by Noël Coward, written in 1921 and first produced the following year. After a pre-London provincial tour it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 60 performances from 1 ...
'' by the 22-year-old Coward. He followed this with a mixture of productions ranging from Shakespeare to farce. During the 1920s, Courtneidge, a lifelong socialist, joined with other managers including
Arthur Bourchier Arthur Bourchier (22 June 186314 September 1927) was an English actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. He married and later divorced the actress Violet Vanbrugh. Bourchier was noted for roles both in classical drama, particularly William S ...
in campaigning for fair pay for chorus members and players of small parts. Many other managements lagged behind in this, for instance not paying salaries during rehearsals. Courtneidge said in 1924, "There is a large section of theatrical managers who will not deal justly. The actor is again forced to the wall, and compelled to fight for his rights." He had earlier resigned from the Actors' Association, of which he had been a founder member, disagreeing with its closed shop policy, but his indignation at a proposed new standard contract for actors led him to rejoin. In 1925, Courtneidge returned briefly to acting. After a tryout at his old Manchester theatre, the Prince's, he brought the old farce ''On 'Change'' to the Savoy, winning good notices for his performance in the leading role of a vain and touchy Scottish professor, which he had first played in the 1880s. Although Cicely had made her career away from his management since World War I, Courtneidge regularly featured his younger daughter Rosaline in his casts, in such plays as ''The Sport of Kings'' (1924) and ''The Unfair Sex'' (1925), until her early death in 1926 at the age of 23. Courtneidge returned to presenting West End musical shows in 1927, directing Lehár's ''
The Blue Mazurka ''Die Blaue Mazur'' (''The Blue Mazurka'') is an operetta by Franz Lehár. It was first performed in Vienna in 1920. Synopsis The operetta takes place in Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europ ...
'' (1927) with English lyrics by Harry Graham at Daly's Theatre. His last London musical was ''The Damask Rose'' (1930), an attempt to emulate with Chopin's music the success of '' Lilac Time'', a piece written around Schubert's music. The adaptation was by Clutsam (who had adapted ''Lilac Time''), with Courtneidge as co-author of the book. A strong cast included
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 ...
, and the piece won friendly notices."Prince's Theatre – ''The Damask Rose''", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 4 February 1930, p. 13, "Savoy Theatre – 'The Damask Rose.", ''The Times'', 27 March 1930, p. 12, and "''The Damask Rose''", ''The Observer'', 30 March 1930, p. 15 His final production was at the Prince's and on tour, a musical, ''Lavender'' (1930), with music by Clutsam."Mr. R. Courtneidge", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 8 April 1939, p. 7 In the same year, Courtneidge published his memoirs ''I was an actor once'', and in 1933 he wrote a novel, ''Judith Clifford''. Courtneidge retired to
Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
, where he died in 1939 at the age of 79.


Notes


References

*Courtneidge, Robert, Autobiography: ''I Was an Actor Once'' (Hutchinson, London, 1930) *


External links

*
Information about ''The Arcadians'' and Courtneidge
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtneidge, Robert English theatre managers and producers English musical theatre librettists 1859 births 1939 deaths Theatre people from Glasgow