Singers

Robert Evett (1874–1949)

Robert Evett (1874–1949) pictured in Oscar Straus’s A Waltz Dream (Hicks’s Theatre, 1908). He also starred in Lehár’s The Merry Widow (1907), Fall’s The Girl in the Train, and Kálmán’s Autumn Manoeuvres (1912). He co-authored the London adaptation of Straus’s The Last Waltz.

Phyllis Dare (1890–1975)

Phyllis Dare (1890–1975) starred as Gonda van der Loo in Leo Fall’s The Girl in the Train (Vaudeville Theatre, 1910), and Mariana in Jean Gilbert’s The Lady of the Rose (Daly’s Theatre, 1922).

José Collins (1887–1958)

José Collins (1887–1958) starred in Eysler’s Vera Violetta (Winter Garden Theatre, New York, 1911). She took the title role in Jacobi’s Sybil (Daly’s Theatre, 1921), and starred in Straus’s The Last Waltz (Gaiety Theatre, 1922), Lehár’s Frasquita (Prince’s Theatre, 1925) and The Blue Mazurka (Daly’s, 1927)

George Grossmith, Jun. (1874–1935)

George Grossmith, Jr. (1874–1935) starred as Max Daly in Walter Kollo’s The Girl on the Film (Gaiety Theatre, 1913; the production transferred in December that year to the 44th Street Theatre, New York).

Józef Redo (1876–1942)

A popular Polish singer (baritone) and operetta director. In 1897 he was contracted as solo tenor at theatre Nowości in Warsaw, becoming one of its most iconic singers. He recorded many albums for Sirena records, appeared in many films, and is known for dancing the first tango in Warsaw on 28 October 1913 with Lucyna Messal. He performed in the following productions in Nowości: 1910 – Emmerich [Imre] Kálmán’s Manewr jesienne (Tatárajárás, later Herbstmanöver), 1910 – Franz Lehár’s Hrabia Luxemburg (Der Graf von Luxemburg), 1913 – Lehár’s Ewa (Eva), 1914 – Kálmán’s Król skrzypków (Der Zigeunerprimas), 1916 & 1920 – Jean Gilbert’s Królowa kinematografu (Die Kino-Königin), 1918 – Leo Fall’s Róża Stambułu (Die Rose von Stambul) , 1920 – Kálmán’s Księżniczka czardasza (Die Csárdásfürstin), 1921 – Lehár’s Wesoła wdówka (Die lustige Witwe), 1924 – Fall’s Madame Pompadour, 1924 – Kálmán’s Hrabina Marica (Gräfin Mariza), 1931 – Fall’s Róże z Florydy (osen aus Florida).

Lucyna Messal (1886–1953)

Lucyna Messal was a legend of Polish operetta, adored by audiences and critics. She found success in the role of Saffi in Johann Strauss’s Baron cygański (Der Zigeunerbaron), performed in Nowości on 24 March 1909. At the same time she started recording for Sirena label. She performed to great acclaim in Warsaw, as well as in Russia, where she became very successful during her tours in 1914-1918. After 1922 she has performed on stages in Warsaw, Lublin, Łódź, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Vienna and Budapest, and started to appear in films. In 1929 she opened her own musical theatre on 114 Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw (Operetka Lucyna Messal). Here is a clip from Szczęśliwa trzynastka (Happy Thirteen, 1938), where she can be seen playing the piano and singing:

She performed in a number of operettas, which included:

• 1909 – Johann Strauss’s Baron cygański (Der Zigeunerbaron)
• 1909 – Oscar Straus’s Czar walca (Ein Walzertraum)
• 1909 – Leo Fall’s ozwódka (Die geschiedene Frau)
• 1910 – Emmerich [Imre] Kálmán’s Manewry jesienne (Tatárajárás, later Herbstmanöver)
• 1910 – Franz Lehár’s Hrabia Luxemburg (er Graf von Luxemburg)
• 1910 – Lehár’s Cygańska miłość (Zigeunerliebe)
• 1911 – Jean Gilbert’s Cnotliwa Zuzanna (Die keusche Susanne)
• 1911 – Lehár’s Wesoła wdówka (Die lustige Witwe)
• 1913 – Lehár’s Ewa (Eva)
• 1921 – Lehár’s Biały mazur (Die blaue Mazur)
• 1923 – Kálmán’s Bajadera
• 1924 – Lehár’s Frasquita, 1927 – Lehár’s Paganini.

Dennis King (1897–1971)

Frederika at Imperial Theatre, New York, showing (left to right) Arthur Vinton (Captain Knebel), Helen Gleason (Frederika), and Dennis King (Goethe). New York Herald Tribune, 7 Feb. 1937.

Anny Ahlers (1907–33)

Anny Ahlers (1907–33) in The Dubarry (London, 1932), her final role before her death at 25.

Bertram Wallis (1874–1952)

Bertram Wallis (1874–1952) starred as René in The Count of Luxembourg (Daly’s Theatre, 1911), Prince Carol in Straus’s Love and Laughter (Lyric Theatre, 1913), Louis XV in Fall’s Madame Pompadour (Daly’s, 1923), and the Duke in Lehár’s Paganini (Lyceum Theatre, 1937).

Cicely Courtneidge (1893–1980)

Cicely Courtneidge (1893–1980) starred as Clementine in Fall’s Princess Caprice (Shaftesbury Theatre, 1912), and as Phyllis in Gilbert’s The Cinema Star (Shaftesbury, 1914)

Derek Oldham (1887–1968)

Derek Oldham (1887–1968) starred as Bumerli in Straus’s The Chocolate Soldier (Lyric Theatre, 1910), and as René in Fall’s Madame Pompadour (Daly’s Theatre, 1923)

Evelyn Laye (1900–96)

Evelyn Laye (1900–96) as Alice in the revival of Fall's The Dollar Princess) (Daly's Theatre, 1925). She took the title roles in Helen, an the adaptation of Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène (Adelphi Theatre, 1932). Straus’s Cleopatra (Daly’s Theatre, 1925) and Fall’s Madame Pompadour (Daly’s, 1923). She also starred as Elisa in Lehár’s Paganini(Lyceum Theatre, 1937).

George Graves (1876–1949)

George Graves (1876–1949) starred as Popoff in London’s The Merry Widow (Daly’s Theatre, 1907), and played Bogumil in Fall’s Princess Caprice (Shaftesbury Theatre, 1912).

Joseph Coyne (1867–1941)

Joseph Coyne (1867–1941) was London’s Danilo in The Merry Widow (Daly’s Theatre, 1907), and Harry Q. Conder in Fall’s The Dollar Princess (Daly’s, 1909).

Lily Elsie (1886–1962)

Lily Elsie (1886–1962) was London’s Sonia in The Merry Widow (Daly’s Theatre, 1907). She starred as Alice in The Dollar Princess (Daly’s, 1909), and as Angèle in The Count of Luxembourg (Daly’s, 1911). She made a comeback in Stolz’s The Blue Train (Mädi) in 1927 at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre.

W.H. (Bill) Berry (1870–1951)

W.H. (Bill) Berry (1870–1951) as Count Lothar in A Waltz Dream (revival), Daly’s, 1910. He also starred in Jacobi’s The Marriage Market (Daly’s Theatre, 1913), and Sirmay’s Princess Charming (Palace Theatre, 1926).

Harry Welchman (1886–1966)

Harry Welchman (1886–1966) starred with Clara Evelyn (c.1882–1980) in Princess Caprice (Shaftesbury Theatre, 1912). Evelyn had appeared prevously in Fall’s The Eternal Waltz (Hippodrome, 1911). Welchman went on to play Victor in Gilbert’s The Cinema Star (Shaftesbury, 1914), the Grand Duke in Jacobi’s Sybil (Daly’s, 1921), Colonel Belovar in Gilbert’s The Lady of the Rose (Daly’s, 1922), and John Carling in Abraham’s Viktoria and her Hussar (Palace Theatre, 1931).

Yvonne Arnaud (1890–1958)

Yvonne Arnaud (1890–1958) starred as Suzanne in Gilbert’s The Girl in the Taxi (Lyric Theatre, London, 1912), Straus’s Love and Laughter (Lyric Theatre, 1913), Eysler’s The Laughing Husband (New Theatre, 1913), and Gilbert’s Mam’selle Tralala (Lyric, 1914).

Donald Brian as Danilo in The Merry Widow

Donald Brian (1877–1948) as Danilo in The Merry Widow at the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York. He also appeared in Fall’s The Dollar Princess and The Siren (Knickerbocker Theatre, 1909 & 1911), Straus’s The Chocolate Soldier (Lyric, 1909), and Jacobi’s The Marriage Market (Knickerbocker, 1913) and Sybil (Liberty, 1916).