Eleanor Evans

Eleanor Evans in about 1950

Eleanor Evans (1893 – 20 December 1969) was a Welsh actress, singer and stage director. She performed in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas for over a span of more than 20 years with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. In 1949, she was appointed as the company's Stage Director and Director of Productions, continuing in those positions until 1953, but she proved to be unpopular with actors whom she directed because of her inflexibility and strict devotion to the traditional staging and comic business that had been used by the company for decades.

Early years

Evans was born in Henllan, Denbighshire, the middle daughter of John Evans, a veterinarian who specialised in gelding horses. She had four brothers and two sisters. Her elder sister was the opera singer Laura Evans-Williams.[1] Evans studied at the Royal Academy of Music, as did her future husband, the bass-baritone Darrell Fancourt, with whom she sang at a Royal Academy concert in May 1914.[2] They married in January 1917.[3]

Fancourt joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as a principal in 1920, and Evans followed him into the company as a chorister in 1921. Evans, who acquired the nickname "Snookie", first played the role of the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury later that year. According to fellow D'Oyly Carte performer Derek Oldham, "Oh, she was so beautiful, was Snookie! We all fell for her, and we gave Darrell a busy time keeping us 'off'."[4] Evans continued singing in the chorus until 1923 and also was given the small role of Ada in Princess Ida. She again sang the Plaintiff during 1924, and also played the larger role of Lady Psyche in Princess Ida. Occasionally, she also filled in as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. She continued to play the Plaintiff and Psyche in the 1925–26 season. After that, she returned to the chorus but on occasion she filled in as Psyche and as Gianetta in The Gondoliers during the next season. From 1927 to 1937, she sang only in the chorus. She left the company in July 1937, but returned from 1941 to 1945, again singing in the chorus.[5]

Stage director

Soon after Bridget D'Oyly Carte inherited the company, in 1949, she appointed Evans as Stage Director and Director of Productions to replace Anna Bethell (Mrs. Sydney Granville).[5] The choice of the temperamental Snookie, the wife of a leading principal with the company, was a highly unpopular one and contributed to a wave of defections from the company culminating in 1951. One of the most important stars to leave the company was principal comedian Martyn Green. He wrote in his 1952 memoir:

I had heard there was some possibility of [the selection of Evans] happening and ... told Miss Carte that I thought she was making a great psychological error. During Anna Bethell's regime (Mrs. Sydney Granville), there had been growing signs of discontent and suggestions of favouritism being shown to some of the members of the chorus in respect to passing over existing understudies, selections for small parts, and so on.... But to appoint not only a woman who had for fifteen years worked in the chorus alongside several who were now principals, but the wife of one of the main principals, seemed to me to be a psychological error of the first magnitude. I felt that ... she would, rightly or wrongly, be accused of that very same favouritism. My views made no impression on Miss Carte, but time was to prove that I was right. Discontent grew, changes were constantly taking place, and criticism became rampant. Nor did it stop at the methods of production; it went so far as to suggest a complete lack of knowledge, evidenced ... by constant self-contradiction. There were other accusations levelled against her, of a more serious nature.... [Those] in control ... apparently assumed in the first place that the performers are little more than automatons and are completely devoid of brains or the ability to think for themselves. Production is done to a plan that takes no consideration of the individual, his personality or his histrionic ability – a stereotyped plan that results in a clockwork performance devoid of spontaneity.[6]

Historian Tony Joseph writes: "But Green was not the only member of the Company to leave.... Ella Halman left too. So did Richard Watson ... Margaret Mitchell ... Radley Flynn and no fewer than twenty-two other small part players and choristers. It was the largest single exodus of performers in D'Oyly Carte history, and that was why the sense of sadness that hovered over the season was so marked.... August 1951 was the end of an era."[7] Cynthia Morey, who joined the Company just before the mass exodus writes: "I have never found out precisely why this great exodus took place.... We were always under the impression that we should feel honoured to be in the employ of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company; it was patently obvious that the management held firmly to the policy that nobody is indispensable".[8] Morey also writes:

[Snookie]'s career in the company commenced as a chorister in the 1920/21 season [and she then played several roles with the company]. In 1927 she was apparently demoted to the chorus, and there she remained for [fifteen years]. Then, in 1949, under the grand name of Stage Director we find the name: Eleanor Evans. I should not have thought these qualifications sufficient for such an important post; to spend all those years as a chorister seems to signify a lack of ambition or achievement. But I suppose a 'Director of productions' in those days merely needed to know every move and every gesture, and exactly when they occurred, for no departure from the set production was ever permitted.[9]

Soprano Shirley Hall said: "All she did was just show you the moves – you never had any real direction ... you just got told to do what everybody had done for years ... carbon copy performances. ... [T]he inflections and everything had to be exactly as prescribed."[10] Richard Walker and others also criticised Evans's temperament and methods. She retired as stage director in 1953, the year that her husband retired and died, but she coached new D'Oyly Carte principals in their roles for some years thereafter.[5] One of these was Kenneth Sandford, who wrote, "It took me about two years to get rid of the shackles of [her direction]".[11] She was replaced as Director of Productions by Robert Gibson.[12]

She died in Colwyn Bay, Wales, in 1969, aged 76.

Notes

  1. ^ Census records
  2. ^ The Musical Times, July 1914, p. 469
  3. ^ The Times, 24 July 1913, p. 12; and London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754–1921, accessed 25 July 2010 (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Derek Oldham Remembers" at the Memories of the D'Oyly Carte website
  5. ^ a b c Stone, David. "Eleanor Evans", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 24 June 2002, accessed 26 November 2009
  6. ^ Green, pp. 236–37
  7. ^ Joseph, p. 272
  8. ^ Morey, pp. 51–52
  9. ^ Morey, pp. 81–82
  10. ^ Berger, Leon. "Obituaries: Shirley Hall", The Gilbert and Sullivan News, Vol. V, No.2, Summer 2013, pp. 16–17
  11. ^ Watt, John. "The Ones that I Like", Interview with Sandford, c. 1972, at the Memories of the D'Oyly Carte website
  12. ^ Stone, David. "Robert Gibson", Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 26 August 2007, accessed 26 November 2009

References

  • Green, Martyn (1952). Here's a How-de-do. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. American Edition (contains information not found in the British edition).
  • Joseph, Tony (1994). D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 1875–1982: An Unofficial History. London: Bunthorne Books. ISBN 0-9507992-1-1
  • Morey, Cynthia. Inclined to Dance and Sing (Chichester: Prospero Books, 1998)
  • Rollins, C. and R. J. Witts, eds. The D'Oyly Carte Company in Gilbert and Sullivan Operas (1962)

Read other articles:

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: An Arab Woman Speaks – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources th...

 

Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada Februari 2023. SDN 001 GalangInformasiJenisSekolah NegeriAlamatLokasiSembulang - Pulau Galang, Batam, Kepri,  IndonesiaMoto SDN 001 Galang, merupakan salah satu Sekolah Menengah Dasar Negeri yang ada di Provinsi Kepulauan Riau, yang beralamat di Sembulang - Pul...

 

Choirul Anam Inspektur KostradPetahanaMulai menjabat 22 Maret 2024 PendahuluMochamad Reza UtamaPenggantiPetahanaPanglima Divisi Infanteri 3/KostradMasa jabatan8 Maret 2023 – 22 Maret 2024 PendahuluNovi Helmy PrasetyaPenggantiBangun NawokoKomandan Korem 163/WirasatyaMasa jabatan25 Februari 2022 – 8 Maret 2023 PendahuluHusein SagafPenggantiAgus Muchlis Latif Informasi pribadiLahir1 Oktober 1972 (umur 51)Banyuwangi, Jawa TimurSuami/istriNy. Helmy Anam, S.Sos., M.A....

Association football league in RomaniaThis article is about the top division in men's Romanian football. For top division in Romanian women's football, see Liga I (women's football). For other uses, see Liga 1 (disambiguation). Football leagueLiga IOrganising bodyLiga Profesionistă de Fotbal(Liga I)Founded1909; 115 years ago (1909)CountryRomaniaConfederationUEFANumber of teams16 (from 2020–21)Level on pyramid1Relegation toLiga IIDomestic cup(s)Cupa RomânieiSupercupa Rom�...

 

Self-portrait (c.1860) Sappho kissing her lyre, oil on canvas Jules-Élie Delaunay (bahasa Prancis: [dəlonɛ]; 13 Juni 1828 – 5 September 1891)adalah seorang akademik serta pelukis Prancis. Biografi Ia lahir di Nantes di Loire-Atlantique département Prancis. Delaunay belajar di bawah Flandrin, dan di École des Beaux Arts di Paris di bawah Lamothe. Dia bekerja dengan cara classicist dari Ingres sampai, setelah memenangkan Prix de Rome, dia pergi ke Italia; pada tahun 18...

 

Benying Ficus fistulosa Status konservasiRisiko rendahIUCN147493386 TaksonomiDivisiTracheophytaSubdivisiSpermatophytesKladAngiospermaeKladmesangiospermsKladeudicotsKladcore eudicotsKladSuperrosidaeKladrosidsKladfabidsOrdoRosalesFamiliMoraceaeGenusFicusSpesiesFicus fistulosa Blume, 1825 Tata namaSinonim takson Daftar Ficus tuberculata (Miq.) Miq.Ficus tengerensis Miq.Ficus rubrovenia Merr.Ficus repandifolia ElmerFicus polysyce Ridl.Ficus millingtonifolia Griff.Ficus lucbanensis ElmerFicus harl...

Questa voce o sezione sugli argomenti stati scomparsi e Unione Sovietica non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Georgia (dettagli) (dettagli) Motto: (KA) პროლეტარებო ყველა ქვეყნისა, შეერთდით!proletarebo qvela k’veqnisa, sheert’di...

 

Questa voce sull'argomento cestisti statunitensi è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Justin Wright-Foreman Nazionalità  Stati Uniti Altezza 188 cm Peso 86 kg Pallacanestro Ruolo Playmaker Squadra  V.L. Pesaro Carriera Giovanili High School for Construction2015-2019 Hofstra Pride Squadre di club 2019-2020 Utah Jazz4 (19)2019-2020→  S.L.C. Stars36 (621)2021 Er...

 

2016 single by Wiz Khalifa featuring Lil Uzi VertPull UpSingle by Wiz Khalifa featuring Lil Uzi VertReleasedMay 24, 2016Recorded2016GenreTrapLength3:27LabelAtlanticSongwriter(s)Cameron ThomazSymere WoodsBryan SimmonsMackenzie StottsProducer(s)Ricky PTM88Wiz Khalifa singles chronology All Night (2016) Pull Up (2016) Kush Ups (2016) Lil Uzi Vert singles chronology You Was Right(2016) Pull Up(2016) Too Much Sauce(2016) Pull Up is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa featuring fellow Ame...

Fleury-la-ForêtcomuneFleury-la-Forêt – Veduta LocalizzazioneStato Francia Regione Normandia Dipartimento Eure ArrondissementLes Andelys CantoneRomilly-sur-Andelle TerritorioCoordinate49°25′N 1°33′E / 49.416667°N 1.55°E49.416667; 1.55 (Fleury-la-Forêt)Coordinate: 49°25′N 1°33′E / 49.416667°N 1.55°E49.416667; 1.55 (Fleury-la-Forêt) Superficie7,88 km² Abitanti277[1] (2009) Densità35,15 ab./km² Altre informazi...

 

Ligatur huruf ο dan υ Yunani ataupun o dan u Latin yang umum digunakan semasa Kekaisaran Romawi Timur. Huruf W sebenarnya merupakan ligatur dari huruf u ganda ataupun v ganda. Artikel ini mengandung karakter istimewa. Tanpa dukungan perenderan yang baik, Anda mungkin akan melihat tanda tanya, kotak, atau simbol lain. Dalam tulisan dan tipografi, ligatur terjadi di mana dua atau lebih grafem atau huruf digabungkan untuk membentuk satu glif. Contohnya adalah karakter æ yang digunakan dalam b...

 

إمام المسلمين وسلطان العربصاحب الجلالة المعظم عبد العزيز آل سُعُود إمام ومؤسس الدولة السعودية الثالثةمَلِك الحِجاز وَسُلْطان نَجْد وَمُلْحَقاتِهْامَلِك الْمَمْلَكَة العَرَبيَّة السَّعُودِيَّة الحاكم الرابع عشر من آل سعود رسم لأول صورة رسمية جرى نشرها في وكالات الأنب...

This article is about traumatic liver injuries. For drug-induced liver injury, see Hepatotoxicity. Form of trauma sustained to the liver Medical conditionLiver injuryA watercolour painting of a liver with extensive rupturing caused by blunt trauma to the abdomen.SpecialtyEmergency medicine  A liver injury, also known as liver laceration, is some form of trauma sustained to the liver. This can occur through either a blunt force such as a car accident, or a penetrating foreign object such ...

 

Italian Orthodox rabbi, linguist and poet Samuel David LuzzattoLuzzato, from an 1865 engraving.Born(1800-08-22)22 August 1800Free City of Trieste, Holy Roman EmpireDied30 September 1865(1865-09-30) (aged 65)Padua, Lombardy–Venetia, AustriaNationalityItalian Samuel David Luzzatto (Hebrew: שמואל דוד לוצאטו, Italian pronunciation: [ˈsaːmwel ˈdaːvid lutˈtsatto]; 22 August 1800 – 30 September 1865), also known by the Hebrew acronym Shadal (שד״ל‎), was...

 

У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Профиль. Профиль Специализация деловой Периодичность еженедельно по понедельникам Язык русский Страна  Россия Издатель Европейская медиагруппа История издания с 1996 по настоящее время ISSN печатной версии 1726-0639 Веб-сайт...

Electric multiple unit train built by Siemens British Rail Class 707Desiro CitySoutheastern Class 707s at Hither GreenInterior as refreshed by SoutheasternStock typeElectric multiple unitIn service17 August 2017 – presentManufacturerSiemens MobilityBuilt atKrefeld, GermanyFamily nameDesiro CityReplacedClass 465[1]Class 466[1]Constructed2015–2018[2]Entered service2017Number built30SuccessorClass 455(SWR)Class 458 (SWR)[3]Formation5 cars per unit...

 

11th season in franchise history 2012 Houston Texans seasonOwnerBob McNairGeneral managerRick SmithHead coachGary KubiakOffensive coordinatorRick DennisonDefensive coordinatorWade PhillipsHome fieldReliant StadiumResultsRecord12–4Division place1st AFC SouthPlayoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs(vs. Bengals) 19–13Lost Divisional Playoffs(at Patriots) 28–41Pro Bowlers 9 QB Matt Schaub RB Arian Foster WR Andre Johnson TE Owen Daniels OT Duane Brown OG Wade Smith C Chris Myers DE J. J. W...

 

Georgian military unit in Ukraine This article is about the Ukrainian military unit. For other military units with that name, see Georgian Legion. This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2024) Georgian National LegionГрузинський національний легіон (Ukrainian)ქართული ლეგიონი (Georgian)Unit insigniaFounded2014 (2014)Country Ukrai...

Robert Burns The Ayrshire Garland: Containing a Few Celebrated Songs Music of Scotland in the eighteenth century includes all forms of music made in Scotland, by Scottish people, or in forms associated with Scotland, in the eighteenth century. Growing divisions in the Scottish kirk between the Evangelicals and the Moderate Party resulted in attempt to expand psalmondy to include hymns the singing of other scriptural paraphrases. From the late seventeenth century Church music in the Church of...

 

Political party in Germany For the modern party, see German Communist Party. For other uses, see Communist Party of Germany (disambiguation). KPD redirects here. For the form of diabetes, see Ketosis-prone diabetes. For the approach to kidney transplanation, see Kidney paired donation. Communist Party of Germany Kommunistische Partei DeutschlandsLeaderCollective leadershipFounders Rosa Luxemburg Karl Liebknecht Founded1 January 1919; 105 years ago (1 January 1919)Preceded by...