Arthur Law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Arthur Law | |
|---|---|
 Poster for The Great Tay-Kin by Law and Grossmith |
|
| Born | March 22, 1844 Northrepps, Norfolk, England |
| Died | April 2, 1913 (aged 69) Parkstone, Dorset |
| Occupation | Playwright, actor, scenic designer |
| Nationality | British |
| Writing period | 1872–1909 |
| Genres | Comic theatre |
| Spouse(s) | Fanny Holland |
Arthur Law (22 March 1844 – 2 April 1913) was an English playwright, actor and scenic designer.
Contents |
[edit] Life and career
Law was born in Northrepps, Norfolk, England. From 1864 to 1872, he served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
[edit] Early career
Law began to act, making his professional stage debut in 1872 at the Edinburgh Royal Theatre. He then toured the British provinces for two years, after which joined the German Reed Entertainments in London. While performing with the German Reeds, he wrote nineteen short comic theatre works performed by the company. Law was married to actress Fanny Holland, with whom he appeared with the German Reeds at the Gallery of Illustration and St. George's Hall.
Some of Law’s plays for the German Reeds include A Night Surprise in 1877 (under the pseudonym, "West Cromer"), A Happy Bungalow (1877), with music by Charles King Hall; and Nobody’s Fault (1882), with music by Hamilton Clarke.[1] In 1881, he wrote Uncle Samuel, a curtain raiser for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company played at the Opera Comique, with music by George Grossmith. It played, together with Patience, in 1881, and Law appeared in the role of John Bird. Law later appeared on stage at the Savoy Theatre as Mr. Wranglebury in the companion piece Mock Turtles in 1882, and as Major Murgatroyd in Patience in 1882, filling in for Frank Thornton.
During a two-year period, Law and Holland performed on tour as "Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Law's Entertainment," but the venture proved unsuccessful.
[edit] Later years
After this, Law devoted himself to playwriting. His first "serious" drama, Hope, was produced at the Standard Theatre in 1882. That year he also wrote a musical farce, Mr. Guffin's Elopement, in collaboration with George Grossmith, for Toole's Theatre, starring J. L. Toole.[2] In 1885, Grossmith and Law wrote The Great Tay-Kin, produced at Toole's.[3]
Law wrote dozens of other plays. His best known include an adaptation of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, produced at the Princess's Theatre in 1888; The Judge, produced at Terry's Theatre in 1890; The Magic Opal, played at the Lyric Theatre and the Prince of Wales's Theatre in 1893; The New Boy at Terry's and the Vaudeville Theatre in 1894; The Sea Flower at the Comedy Theatre in 1898, A Country Mouse at the Prince of Wales's in 1902; The Bride and Bridegroom at the New Theatre in 1904; and Artful Miss Dearing at Terry's in 1909.
A few of Law’s plays were also produced on Broadway, including The New Boy in 1894 at the Standard Theatre and A Country Mouse in 1902 at the Savoy Theatre. He also created the scenic design for The Bachelor in 1909 at Maxine Elliott's Theatre.
Law died in Parkstone, Dorset, England at the age of 69.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Review of ’’Nobody’s Fault’’
- ^ Grossmith, George (1888). A Society Clown: Reminiscences. Bristol/London: Arrowsmith. Chapter 8 Available online here
- ^ Review that mentions The Great Tay-Kin
[edit] References
- Arthur Law at the WhoWasWho in the D’Oyly Carte website
- Adams, William Davenport, ’’ A Dictionary of the Drama’’ (1904) Chatto & Windus, describing numerous plays by Law or in which he appeared as an actor
- Gänzl, Kurt. The British Musical Theatre (1986) Macmillan, vol.I, London.
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Law, Arthur |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Playwright, actor, scenic designer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1844-3-22 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Northrepps, Norfolk, England |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1913-4-2 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Parkstone, Dorset |
