Harriett Everard
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Harriett Everard (March 12, 1844–February 22, 1882) was an English singer and actress best known for creating the role of Little Buttercup in the Gilbert and Sullivan hit H.M.S. Pinafore.
[edit] Life and career
Born Harriette Emily Woollams in Marylebone, Everard made her first stage appearance in Exeter, at the Theatre Royal, in 1860, and spent a number of years performing light opera, burlesque, comedy, and pantomime, both in the provinces and in London.
Everard joined Richard D'Oyly Carte's company at the Opera Comique after numerous appearances throughout London. It was for him, in November 1877, that she created the part of Mrs. Partlett in Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera The Sorcerer. When The Spectre Knight by James Albery and Alfred Cellier was added to the program in February of 1878, she created the part of the First Lady-in-Waiting.
Everard also created the role of Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore when it opened in May of 1878, playing the role for the duration of the long run, until February 1880. During the scuffle at the Opera Comique, early in the run of Pinafore, when Carte's former backers tried to seize the scenery and properties during a performance and were repelled by the backstage crew, Everard earned admiration for carrying on bravely with the show.[1]
Everard was next cast to play Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance when she became the victim of an accident. Rutland Barrington was a witness to the incident and later described it thus[2]:
| “ | She was standing in the centre of the stage at rehearsal one morning, when I noticed the front piece of a stack of scenery falling forward. I called to her to run, and got my back against the falling wing and broke its force to a great extent, but it nevertheless caught her on the head, taking off a square of hair as neatly as if done with a razor. The shock and injury laid her up for some time. | ” |
As a consequence, Everard missed the opening performance on April 3, 1880, being replaced as Ruth by Emily Cross. Although she was able to assume the role in June, her run did not last long – she turned the part over to Alice Barnett in July when the company returned to England from New York.
Everard left the company at this point, and worked little for the remainder of her life; her last recorded appearance was as Aunt Priscilla in Frederick Marshall's comic opera Lola in January of 1881. She died in London little more than a year later, apparently having never completely recovered from the accident, although some sources report that she died of consumption.
[edit] References
- Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd. Introduction by Martyn Green.
