Courtice Pounds
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Charles Courtice Pounds (May 30, 1862 – December 21, 1927), better known by the stage name Courtice Pounds, was an English singer and actor, known for his performances in the tenor roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and his later roles in Shakespeare plays and Edwardian musical comedies.
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[edit] Life and career
Pounds was born in Pimlico, London. He began to sing treble solos at age eight in the choir at St. Stephen's Church, Kensington, and the Italian Church, Hatton Garden. His mother, Mary Courtice, was a well-known English singer. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music, he returned to St. Stephens as tenor soloist.
[edit] Early years on tour
Pounds joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1881 in the chorus of Patience. He soon played the role of Mr. Wranglebury in the curtain raiser Mock Turtles. At the end of 1882, he began touring as Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe. In 1884, toured as Prince Hilarion in the first provincial production of Princess Ida, and in 1885 he toured as the Defendant in Trial by Jury (a role he also played in numerous "benefit" performances in London and elsewhere). He also played the role of Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore.
In 1885, Pounds traveled to New York to play Nanki Poo in D'Oyly Carte's first American production of The Mikado, in a cast that included George Thorne (Ko-Ko), Geraldine Ulmar (Yum-Yum), and Fred Billington (Pooh-Bah). After that, he toured in Germany and Austria as Nanki-Poo. In 1886, he returned to the Savoy Theatre to fill in for Durward Lely as Nanki-Poo, then returned to the European continent.
Pounds then joined the company of John Stetson, the American manager, playing Hilarion and Nanki Poo in Carte-sanctioned productions in New York and, in 1887, Archbald Grosvenor in Patience in Boston. Pounds then returned to England to rehearse Gilbert and Sullivan's new opera, Ruddygore, performing in two matinee performances as Richard Dauntless, before sailing for New York again to play Richard there. Later, Pounds stayed in New York to appear in The Marquis and Madelon.
[edit] Principal tenor
In 1888, Pounds returned to the Savoy to create the part of Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard. Sullivan wrote to Ulmar of the casting decision: "I should have preferred a stronger actor than Pounds, but he will sing the music well, and is safe in acting at all events." Pounds's Fairfax was a success, and he earned good notices. The Times wrote: "(Pounds, is) a decided acquisition... the possessor of a charming voice and cultivated style.... He acts in a spirited and unaffected fashion, which is very rarely found in tenors, and did much for the general success."[1] Next, he created the roles of Marco in The Gondoliers in 1889 and Indru in The Nautch Girl in 1891. After that, he played the Reverend Henry Sandford in The Vicar of Bray in 1892 and created the role of John Manners in Haddon Hall later that year.
Pounds left the D'Oyly Carte organisation in 1892. He appeared in Ma Mie Rosette, La fille de Madame Angot and Miami in 1893, and Wapping Old Stairs, in 1894. Returning to D'Oyly Carte in 1894, he played Picorin in Mirette and created the role of Count Vasquez de Gonzago in The Chieftain late in 1894. He then went on tour briefly with D'Oyly Carte as Picorin, Vasquez, and possibly Rev. Sandford in 1895 before leaving D'Oyly Carte again. Pounds then traveled to Australia, appearing in Yeomen in 1896 with J. C. Williamson's opera company.
[edit] Later career
Pounds returned to London to play Lancelot on the West End in La Poupée in 1897–98). Over the next twenty-five years, he appeared regularly in London in a variety of roles ranging from Shakespeare to music hall. In 1901, with Herbert Beerbohm Tree's company, he appeared as the clown Feste in Twelfth Night, Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Touchstone in As You Like It, which role established his reputation as a popular Shakespearean character actor. In 1902, he played Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Some of Pounds's most notable roles were in musical comedies, including Papillon in The Duchess of Dantzic (1903), The Belle of Mayfair (1906), and Ali Baba in the phenomenally successful Chu Chin Chow (beginning in 1916, he starred in this role for over 2,000 performances). He was also well remembered for his role as Franz Schubert in Lilac Time (1922). Pounds also appeared in Princess Caprice and The Boatswain's Mate, among others.
Four of Pounds' sisters (Lily, Louie — a very successful actress in her own right—Nancy, and Rosy) appeared with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, and he was married to D'Oyly Carte performers Jessie Gaston (also known as Jessie Pounds) and, later, Millicent Pyne.
Pounds died in Surbiton.
[edit] Recordings
Pounds recorded a few songs for HMV in 1916, and four from Lilac Time for Vocalion in 1923, but his only Gilbert and Sullivan recording ("Is Life a Boon?", 1916) was never issued. He is heard on "The Art of the Savoyard" (Pearl GEMM CD 9991) singing "When a Pullet is Plump" from Chu Chin Chow.
[edit] References
- Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd. Introduction by Martyn Green.
[edit] External links
- Courtice Pounds at Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte
- Profile of Pounds
- Profile and photos of Pounds
- Courtice Pounds at the Internet Movie Database
