Amy Roselle (28 May 1852 – 17 November 1895), born Amy Louise Roselle Hawkins[1] was an English actress who performed in Britain, the US and Australia. She specialised in Shakespearean roles but also played parts in contemporary dramas. She married Arthur Dacre, and the two toured together with their own theatre company, eventually traveling to Australia. In a murder-suicide pact, her husband shot her dead in 1895.
Amy RoselleAutographs of actors Roselle and Arthur Dacre (1850–1895)
Roselle was the eleventh of the thirteen children of William Hawkins (1807–1878). Her mother's maiden name was Rowsell, from which she took her stage name.[citation needed] Although she later claimed that her father was the headmaster of the Glastonbury Grammar School, according to the census returns he was an insurance agent (1851) and later an unemployed commercial traveller (1861).[2] Her brother Percy was a dwarf and played children's parts into adulthood in pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane as "Master Percy Roselle".[3]
Her first role, as a juvenile, was Constance in a version of King Arthur. After this, her father leased the Cardiff and Swansea theatres for two years. At these theatres, Roselle played in Shakespeare and other productions. She debuted in London at the Haymarket Theatre. There, at age 16, she played Lady Teazle and then, opposite Samuel Phelps, numerous leading parts. She replaced Madge Kendal in Diplomacy and played Esther Eccles in Caste, by T. W. Robertson. She appeared opposite Mary Anderson as Cynisca in Pygmalion and Galatea by W. S. Gilbert and created the other Gilbert roles, including Darine in The Wicked World (1873) and Eve in Charity (1874). She also performed at the Adelphi Theatre and other London theatres.[4] In 1875, she created the role of Mary Melrose in the sensation Our Boys, which was the longest-running play in history up to that time.[5]
Roselle toured the United States with E. A. Sothern, appearing in New York at Niblo's Garden. She then returned to England and starred as Lady Macbeth opposite Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theatre, London, during the illness of Ellen Terry. She also played Queen Katherine of Aragon in Henry VIII at the Lyceum. Roselle appeared in the title role of Esther Sandraz at the Prince of Wales's Theatre and created the role of Lillian in Old Love for New.[4] In 1881, she originated the role of Mrs. Blythe in F. C. Burnand's long-running comedy, The Colonel.
During a long engagement at the Royal Court Theatre, she met doctor-turned-actor Arthur Culver James (1851–1895, stage name Arthur Dacre), and the two eventually married in 1884.[citation needed] Roselle was in more demand than her husband, but the two insisted on being engaged jointly. In January 1885 the couple appeared in Grundy'sThe Silver Shield at the Royal Strand Theatre, and for several years toured together in the British provinces, but eventually they had trouble getting a joint engagement and, out of work, ran up debts. A benefit performance was held for Roselle at the Lyceum Theatre on 16 June 1887, at which Trial by Jury was performed.[6] Eventually Roselle and Dacre travelled to Australia where they played in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney (at Her Majesty's Theatre) and elsewhere. They did not succeed in paying off their debts, however, and became despondent.[3] In Australia in 1895, as part of a murder-suicide pact, Dacre shot Roselle dead before cutting his own throat.[7][8]
Notesedit
^"Amy Louise Roselle Hawkins", Ancestry.com (pay to view), accessed 4 July 2017
^ abSims, George R.My Life: Sixty Years' Recollections of Bohemian London, pp. 190–93, Eveleigh Nash Company (1917)
^ abBiography of Roselle at History of Australian Theatre website, accessed 19 May 2009
^Booth, Michael R. Review of plays by H. J. Byron including Our Boys in The Modern Language Review, Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 716–17 (July 1987; Modern Humanities Research Association)
^Richards, Leann. "Amy and Arthur Dacre 1895", History of Australian Theatre, accessed 19 May 2009; and Sydney Morning Herald, 18–20 November 1895
^"Murder and Suicide", New South Wales Police Gazette, No. 48, 27 November 1895
Referencesedit
Gänzl, Kurt (1986). The British Musical Theatre—Volume I, 1865–1914. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
External linksedit
at PictureHistory.com
Photo of Roselle, 1887
Roselle on the cover of The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News, 19 September 1885
December 07, 2023
roselle, 1852, november, 1895, born, louise, roselle, hawkins, english, actress, performed, britain, australia, specialised, shakespearean, roles, also, played, parts, contemporary, dramas, married, arthur, dacre, toured, together, with, their, theatre, compan. Amy Roselle 28 May 1852 17 November 1895 born Amy Louise Roselle Hawkins 1 was an English actress who performed in Britain the US and Australia She specialised in Shakespearean roles but also played parts in contemporary dramas She married Arthur Dacre and the two toured together with their own theatre company eventually traveling to Australia In a murder suicide pact her husband shot her dead in 1895 Amy Roselle Autographs of actors Roselle and Arthur Dacre 1850 1895 Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editRoselle was the eleventh of the thirteen children of William Hawkins 1807 1878 Her mother s maiden name was Rowsell from which she took her stage name citation needed Although she later claimed that her father was the headmaster of the Glastonbury Grammar School according to the census returns he was an insurance agent 1851 and later an unemployed commercial traveller 1861 2 Her brother Percy was a dwarf and played children s parts into adulthood in pantomimes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as Master Percy Roselle 3 Her first role as a juvenile was Constance in a version of King Arthur After this her father leased the Cardiff and Swansea theatres for two years At these theatres Roselle played in Shakespeare and other productions She debuted in London at the Haymarket Theatre There at age 16 she played Lady Teazle and then opposite Samuel Phelps numerous leading parts She replaced Madge Kendal in Diplomacy and played Esther Eccles in Caste by T W Robertson She appeared opposite Mary Anderson as Cynisca in Pygmalion and Galatea by W S Gilbert and created the other Gilbert roles including Darine in The Wicked World 1873 and Eve in Charity 1874 She also performed at the Adelphi Theatre and other London theatres 4 In 1875 she created the role of Mary Melrose in the sensation Our Boys which was the longest running play in history up to that time 5 Roselle toured the United States with E A Sothern appearing in New York at Niblo s Garden She then returned to England and starred as Lady Macbeth opposite Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theatre London during the illness of Ellen Terry She also played Queen Katherine of Aragon in Henry VIII at the Lyceum Roselle appeared in the title role of Esther Sandraz at the Prince of Wales s Theatre and created the role of Lillian in Old Love for New 4 In 1881 she originated the role of Mrs Blythe in F C Burnand s long running comedy The Colonel During a long engagement at the Royal Court Theatre she met doctor turned actor Arthur Culver James 1851 1895 stage name Arthur Dacre and the two eventually married in 1884 citation needed Roselle was in more demand than her husband but the two insisted on being engaged jointly In January 1885 the couple appeared in Grundy s The Silver Shield at the Royal Strand Theatre and for several years toured together in the British provinces but eventually they had trouble getting a joint engagement and out of work ran up debts A benefit performance was held for Roselle at the Lyceum Theatre on 16 June 1887 at which Trial by Jury was performed 6 Eventually Roselle and Dacre travelled to Australia where they played in Melbourne Adelaide Sydney at Her Majesty s Theatre and elsewhere They did not succeed in paying off their debts however and became despondent 3 In Australia in 1895 as part of a murder suicide pact Dacre shot Roselle dead before cutting his own throat 7 8 Notes edit Amy Louise Roselle Hawkins Ancestry com pay to view accessed 4 July 2017 Ancestry com 1851 census and 1861 census a b Sims George R My Life Sixty Years Recollections of Bohemian London pp 190 93 Eveleigh Nash Company 1917 a b Biography of Roselle at History of Australian Theatre website accessed 19 May 2009 Booth Michael R Review of plays by H J Byron including Our Boys in The Modern Language Review Vol 82 No 3 pp 716 17 July 1987 Modern Humanities Research Association Ganzl p 96 Richards Leann Amy and Arthur Dacre 1895 History of Australian Theatre accessed 19 May 2009 and Sydney Morning Herald 18 20 November 1895 Murder and Suicide New South Wales Police Gazette No 48 27 November 1895References editGanzl Kurt 1986 The British Musical Theatre Volume I 1865 1914 Oxford Oxford University Press External links editRoselle at PictureHistory com Photo of Roselle 1887 Roselle on the cover of The Illustrated Sporting amp Dramatic News 19 September 1885 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amy Roselle amp oldid 1178502427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
