H. G. Pelissier

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Harry Gabriel Pelissier (27 April 1874 - September 25, 1913) was an English theatrical producer, composer and satirist. Pelissier presented a number of theatrical productions during the Edwardian era, such as Pelissier's Follies.

Contents 1 Theatrical Career 2 Composer 3 References 4 External references

[edit] Theatrical Career

Born at Elm House, Church End, in Finchley, North London, he was the second son of Frederic Antoine Pelissier (d. 1914), a French diamond merchant, and his English wife, Jennie, née Kean.[1]. He attended the Highgate School in London from 1885.[2] In 1895 Pelissier was a member of the 'Baddeley Troupe', a group of amateur entertainers who performed at charity events around south London. They went professional under Sherrington Chinn and Pelissier bought the rights to the troupe from Chinn, and, renamed as 'Pelissier's Follies', the new company's first appearance was at Aberystwyth, in Wales. Moving on to Worthing pier they opened as a pierrot show on 7 August 1896.^[1]

Eventually, Pelissier and his troupe graduated from seaside piers and concert halls to London's St. George's Hall, Queen's Hall, the Tivoli Music Hall and The Alhambra until moving to the prestigious Palace Theatre in 1904 where they burlesqued Grand Opera and Shakespeare.

In December 1904, Pelissier and his 'Follies' gave a 'Royal Command Performance' before King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at Sandringham in celebration of her birthday after the King had enjoyed Pelissier's brilliant parodies of Wagner's operas. .^[2] In December 1906 Pelissier, becoming increasingly ambitious, opened in a season at a small theatre attached to the Midland Hotel, in Manchester, where they filled the house for six weeks. In April 1907 Pelissier's 'Follies' transferred to the Royalty Theatre in London, where he produced a five minute 'potted-play' called 'Baffles: a Peter-Pan-tomine', based on 'Raffles' and 'Peter Pan'. In September 1907 the troupe moved to Terry's Theatre and in February 1908 to the Apollo Theatre, where they gave several more of their 'potted-plays', based on the plots and music of grand opera, musical comedy and current news. The Apollo Theatre remained the home of 'The Follies' until 1912.[3]

In May 1908 the 'Follies' toured Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as various seaside venues, before returning to London's Apollo Theatre in December 1908. In 1912 Pelissier married the actress Fay Compton (he was her fourth husband), remaining married to her until his death in 1913. She made her first professional theatrical appearances with the 'Pelissier Follies' between 1911 to 1913.[4]

Seeking ever more extravagant stage effects, his last three 'Follies' seasons were unsuccessful; he died at his father-in-law's home, 1 Nevern Square, Earls Court, London, on 25 September 1913, aged just 39, from cirrhosis of the liver, leaving an infant son, Anthony Pelissier, who became a successful producer and director in his own right. After cremation at Golders Green Crematorium his ashes were placed in his mother's grave at Marylebone cemetery, on 29 September.^[3]

[edit] Composer

As a composer, Pelissier wrote the music for songs which were popular in their day, including:[5]

Alone

Antiques

Before The Flood

Big Bamboo, The

Canaries

Chubby Little Cherub

Contrary Mary

Down By The Wangaroo

Echoes

Flower Girl, The

Garden Of Roses, A

Girls

Hope On, Hope Ever!

I Love Thee Dear

In Santa Fe

I Wanted To Marry A Hero

I Want Somebody To Love Me

I Worship The Ground

Love Me Long

Love's Garden

Mandy

Mother's Maxims

My Boy From Barbary

My Moon

Our Canadian Canoe

Pansy Of Pennsylvania

Pleasant Countryside, The

Since I Walked Out With A Soldier

Teddy Bear

Toothbrush And The Sponge, The

Tiddle-Y-Pom

Ypsilanti

Zulu Lulu

[edit] References

[edit] External references

• Review of Pelissier and 'The Follies' in The New York Times, June 6, 1909
• Obituary in The New York Times 1913