Robert Evett
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Evett (16 October 1874 – 15 January 1949) was an English singer and actor, theatre manager and producer.
Contents |
[edit] Life and career
Robert Evett was born in Warwickshire, England.
[edit] Acting career
In 1892 Evett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on tour in The Vicar of Bray, playing the Reverend Henry Sandford, the tenor lead. In 1893, Evett added the role of Oswald in Haddon Hall. In 1894, the company toured with Gilbert and Sullivan's Utopia Limited, with Evett playing the role of Lord Dramaleigh. In 1895, Evett added the roles of Bertuccio in Mirette, Count Vazquez (and sometimes Pedro Gomez) in The Chieftain, Mr. Box in Cox and Box, and Prince Hilarion in Princess Ida. He also moved up to the tenor lead, Captain Fitzbattleaxe in Utopia.
In 1896, D'Oyly Carte touring companies played The Grand Duke with Evett as Ernest Dummkopf, Utopia, with Evett as Captain Fitzbattleaxe, and other Gilbert and Sullivan operas in repertory. In 1897 and 1898, Evett toured with D'Oyly Carte in the principal tenor roles of Alexis in The Sorcerer, Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, the Duke of Dunstable in Patience, Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe, Cyril in Princess Ida, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Marco in The Gondoliers, as well as (briefly) Prince Max in His Majesty.
In 1898, Evett transferred from the touring company to the Savoy Theatre in London, where he played Marco in The Gondoliers and Alexis in The Sorcerer. In 1899, he created the role of Tapioca in The Lucky Star (1899), played Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore and created another role, Yussuff in The Rose of Persia. In 1900, he played Frederic in Pirates, the Duke in Patience and Charlie Brown in the curtain-raiser Pretty Polly. In 1901, he created the roles of Terence O'Brien in The Emerald Isle and Ib in Ib and Little Christina. In 1902, he played Tolloller in Iolanthe and created the role of Sir Walter Raleigh in Merrie England. In 1903, he created the role of Lieutenant Brook Green in A Princess of Kensington, after which he toured with that production.
When the tour ended, Evett and many other members of D'Oyly Carte left that company and transferred to the Adelphi Theatre where they appeared in The Earl and the Girl. Evett continued to perform in West End musical comedies for another ten years, appearing at Daly's Theatre, Drury Lane, Hicks Theatre, and the Vaudeville, in shows such as The Little Michus (1905), The Talk of the Town (1905), The Merveilleuses: The Lady Danchies (1906), The Merry Widow (1907, creating the role of Camille de Rosillon), A Waltz Dream (1908), and The Girl in the Train (1910). In 1912, he returned to the Adelphi in 1912 in Autumn Manoeuvres and later toured in that production. In 1913 and 1914, Evett performed on Broadway.
[edit] Directing and management career
Upon the death of George Edwardes in 1915, Evett returned to England where he managed the Edwardes estate, which was then in debt and close to bankruptcy. Evett became the director of Daly's Theatre and George Edwardes Enterprises.
Evett soon began producing shows for Daly's and other theatres. As managing director at Daly's, he directed and produced The Happy Day (1916). In 1917, Evett produced and had a creative hand in The Maid of the Mountains. Evett engaged José Collins to star in, and Oscar Asche to direct, this musical. The show ran for a record-breaking three years and saved the Edwardes estate. This was followed by A Southern Maid (1917; revived 1920) and Our Peg (later adapted into Our Nell). He also directed revivals of The Dollar Princess.
Later, at the Gaiety Theatre, in 1922, Evett produced adaptations of Catherine and The Last Waltz, a work of which he was co-author. In 1924, he produced Our Nell, the revised version of Our Peg, at the Gaiety. His last production was Frasquita, presented at the Prince's Theatre in 1925.
[edit] Recordings
Evett recorded many songs for Odeon between 1906 and 1908, including songs from West End musicals such as The Little Michus, The Geisha, and The Merry Widow. He also recorded two songs from The Yeomen of the Guard ("Is Life a Boon?" and "Free From His Fetters Grim") and one each from Merrie England ("The English Rose") and A Princess of Kensington ("A Sprig of Rosemary"). The two songs from Yeomen may be heard on the Pearl CD, The Art of the Savoyard.
[edit] References
- Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd. Introduction by Martyn Green.
