Fred Sullivan
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Frederic Sullivan (December 25, 1837 – January 18, 1877) was an English actor and singer.
[edit] Life and career
Born in Lambeth, Sullivan was the elder brother of Arthur Sullivan. He trained as an architectural draftsman but soon found his career as an entertainer. Later, he quipped, "I still draw large houses." (Ayer p. 407) According to Leslie Ayre, Fred sometimes accompanied Arthur to the Chapel Royal and "amuse[d] the boys with comic songs" (Ayer p. 407). Sullivan married Charlotte Louisa Lacy in 1862, and they had eight children: Amy Sophia, Florence Louise, Edith Mary, Herbert "Bertie" Thomas, Maud "Cissie" Helen, Frederic Richard, George Arthur, and William Lacy.
Sullivan first appeared in several amateur performances, but his professional London debut is believed to have been in a burlesque by Robert Reece (who co-wrote an Ali Baba pantomime in 1878 with W. S. Gilbert), Whittington Junior, and his Sensation Cat, at the New Royalty Theatre in 1870. The next year he took the role of Mr. Cox in his brother Arthur's Cox and Box. He created the role of Apollo in his brother's first collaboration with W. S. Gilbert, Thespis, at the Gaiety Theatre, which ran from December 1871 until March 1872. He also appeared at the Gaiety Theatre in 1872 as Patachon in Jacques Offenbach's Les Deux Aveugles and in Ganymede and Galatea and continued to appear at the Gaiety, and at the Holborn Empire Theatre, until the end of 1874. Sullivan also toured in two of his brother's collaborations with F. C. Burnand, Cox and Box and The Contrabandista.
For Richard D'Oyly Carte's company, Sullivan created the role of the Learned Judge in Trial by Jury at the Royalty Theatre on March 25, 1875. He also sang the role of Don Andres, the British Viceroy, in Offenbach's La Périchole, which appeared on the same bill. Sullivan was made up for the role of the Learned Judge to look like the Lord Chief Justice. He continued to appear as the Judge at the Royalty and then at the Opera Comique until May 5, 1876, except when he played the role in a few matinee performances at the Gaiety Theatre and on tour in 1875, and on tour from May through October 1876. Sullivan's performance was the hit of the show. F. C. Burnand wrote of him:
- Fred Sullivan, Arthur's brother, was one of the most naturally comic little men I ever came across. He, too, was a first-rate practical musician.... As he was the most absurd person, so was he the very kindliest. The brothers were devoted to each other.... (Ayer p. 408)
Sullivan suffered from chronic ill health and died of liver disease and tuberculosis in Fulham in 1877, at the age of only 39. Arthur Sullivan's popular song, "The Lost Chord", was composed at Fred's bedside just five days before Fred died, and it is dedicated to Fred's memory. Arthur Sullivan did his best, throughout life, and in his will, to take care of Fred's children.
[edit] References
- Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd. Introduction by Martyn Green.
- Ainger, Michael (2002). Gilbert and Sullivan – A Dual Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Allen, Reginald; Gale R. D'Luhy (1975). Sir Arthur Sullivan – Composer & Personage. New York: The Pierpont Morgan Library.
- Jacobs, Arthur (1992). Arthur Sullivan – A Victorian Musician, Second Edition, Portland, OR: Amadeus Press.
- Young, Percy M. (1971). Sir Arthur Sullivan. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
