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Furneaux Cook

Furneaux Cook (1839 – 19 January 1903), born John Furneaux Cook, was an English opera singer and actor best known for baritone roles in the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and Alfred Cellier on the London stage. Cook appeared on stage for over 30 years in London, the British provinces and America.

Cook as Squire Bantam in Dorothy

Life and career edit

Cook was the brother of opera singer Aynsley Cook and fellow Savoyard Alice Aynsley Cook (1849–1938).

Early career and D'Oyly Carte edit

One of Cook's earliest professional engagements was in the obscure Michael Balfe opera, Letty the Basketmaker, produced by John Hollingshead at the Gaiety Theatre in London in 1868. This was played as part of the same programme with W. S. Gilbert's burlesque Robert the Devil. Cook also played Peter the Watchman in the burlesque Cinderella the Younger (by Alfred Thompson, composed by Émile Jonas) at the Gaiety in 1871,[1] and the title character in The Sultan of Mocha, by Alfred Cellier, in Manchester in 1874–75.[2]

 
Cook as Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance (1879)

Cook then joined one of Richard D'Oyly Carte's touring companies in 1878 in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer, playing the vicar, Doctor Daly,[3] and also Old Matthew in the curtain-raiser Breaking the Spell, by H. B. Farnie, based on Jacques Offenbach's Le Violoneau.[4] From 1879 to 1880, he travelled to America with Gilbert, Sullivan and the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company to present the authorised version of H.M.S. Pinafore, in which he played Dick Deadeye, and The Pirates of Penzance, in which he created the role of Samuel first in New York and then in Philadelphia, where he moved up to the larger roles of Sergeant of Police in Pirates and Captain Corcoran in Pinafore. He also played Dr. Daly on this tour.[5] On 23 April 1880, the company gave a benefit for Cook consisting of Pinafore and the second act of Pirates, in which Cook played Deadeye, Corcoran (apparently one in each act), and the Sergeant.[2]

 
Cook in 1883 – The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News

Cook left the company upon his return to England, appearing later in 1880 and 1881 in The King's Dragoons in Manchester and Liverpool, and in then in La Belle Normande and The Grand Mogul in London. Re-joining the D'Oyly Carte organisation at the end of 1881, he played Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre in The Sorcerer and Corcoran in Pinafore. In 1883, Cook joined Kate Santley's company at the Royalty Theatre in The Merry Duchess by George R. Sims and Frederic Clay in the role of Farmer Bowman. In 1884–86, he was back with D'Oyly Carte, touring as Dick Deadeye in Pinafore, the Sergeant in Pirates, Archibald Grosvenor in Patience (in 1884 only), the Earl of Mountararat in Iolanthe (in 1885 only) and Pooh-Bah in The Mikado (in 1885–86). In 1884, he also played Cox in a series of matinees of Cox and Box at the Royal Court Theatre with Richard Temple and Arthur Cecil.[6] He then retired from the D'Oyly Carte company.[2]

Later career edit

After this, Cook created the role of Squire Bantam in the hit comic opera, Dorothy, by Cellier and librettist B. C. Stephenson in September 1886. In the show, he was assigned the song 'Here's a welcome to all at Chanticleer Hall.'[7] This show enjoyed a record-setting two-year run. Next, he appeared as Alderman Shelton in Cellier and Stephenson's Doris in 1889.

After this, Cook continued to act in London for another ten years. In 1892, he appeared in Gilbert and Cellier's The Mountebanks (Cellier's last opera) as innkeeper Elvino di Pasta.[8] In 1893, he played in Little Christopher Columbus, a very successful musical burlesque with music by Ivan Caryll and Gustave Kerker and a libretto by George Robert Sims and Cecil Raleigh. In 1894, Cook was in The House of Lords by Harry Greenbank with music by George Byng (who conducted some of the 1920s recordings of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas) and Ernest Ford.[9]

Cook was the recipient of a benefit matinee performance of Dorothy at the Gaiety Theatre in June 1897, reviving his role as the Squire. His old co-stars Marie Tempest, Hayden Coffin, Florence Perry, Arthur Williams and John Le Hay reprised their roles, and Seymour Hicks, Mabel Love, Arthur Roberts and Charles Kenningham, among others, participated.[10] His last appearance in London was as a juryman in Trial by Jury, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1898 in a performance for the benefit of Nellie Farren.[11]

Cook died in West Kensington, London and is buried in the West Norwood Cemetery.

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Plays about Cinderella". TheatreHistory.com. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Furneaux Cook". Who Was Who in The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (1875–1982). David Stone. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  3. ^ Ainger, p. 152
  4. ^ . The D'Oyly Carte Opera company. David Stone. Archived from the original (Document) on 4 September 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  5. ^ Ainger, p. 176
  6. ^ . Gilbert & Sullivan. C20th. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  7. ^ Coffin, C. H. Hayden Coffin's Book – Packed with Acts and Facts (Alston Rivers, London, 1930), pp. 71, 247.
  8. ^ Sidney Dark, Rowland Grey (1923). W S Gilbert His Life and Letters. Ayer Publishing. ISBN 0-405-08430-7.
  9. ^ Description of 1894 stage works
  10. ^ NY Times article about the 1897 benefit
  11. ^ François Cellier, Cunningham Bridgeman (1914). Gilbert and Sullivan and Their Operas. Sir Isaac Pitman & sons, ltd.

References edit

  • Furneaux Cook at Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte
  • Ainger, Michael (2002). Gilbert and Sullivan, a Dual Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195147693.

furneaux, cook, 1839, january, 1903, born, john, english, opera, singer, actor, best, known, baritone, roles, comic, operas, gilbert, sullivan, alfred, cellier, london, stage, cook, appeared, stage, over, years, london, british, provinces, america, cook, squir. Furneaux Cook 1839 19 January 1903 born John Furneaux Cook was an English opera singer and actor best known for baritone roles in the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan and Alfred Cellier on the London stage Cook appeared on stage for over 30 years in London the British provinces and America Cook as Squire Bantam in Dorothy Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Early career and D Oyly Carte 1 2 Later career 2 Notes 3 ReferencesLife and career editCook was the brother of opera singer Aynsley Cook and fellow Savoyard Alice Aynsley Cook 1849 1938 Early career and D Oyly Carte edit One of Cook s earliest professional engagements was in the obscure Michael Balfe opera Letty the Basketmaker produced by John Hollingshead at the Gaiety Theatre in London in 1868 This was played as part of the same programme with W S Gilbert s burlesque Robert the Devil Cook also played Peter the Watchman in the burlesque Cinderella the Younger by Alfred Thompson composed by Emile Jonas at the Gaiety in 1871 1 and the title character in The Sultan of Mocha by Alfred Cellier in Manchester in 1874 75 2 nbsp Cook as Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance 1879 Cook then joined one of Richard D Oyly Carte s touring companies in 1878 in Gilbert and Sullivan s The Sorcerer playing the vicar Doctor Daly 3 and also Old Matthew in the curtain raiser Breaking the Spell by H B Farnie based on Jacques Offenbach s Le Violoneau 4 From 1879 to 1880 he travelled to America with Gilbert Sullivan and the D Oyly Carte Opera Company to present the authorised version of H M S Pinafore in which he played Dick Deadeye and The Pirates of Penzance in which he created the role of Samuel first in New York and then in Philadelphia where he moved up to the larger roles of Sergeant of Police in Pirates and Captain Corcoran in Pinafore He also played Dr Daly on this tour 5 On 23 April 1880 the company gave a benefit for Cook consisting of Pinafore and the second act of Pirates in which Cook played Deadeye Corcoran apparently one in each act and the Sergeant 2 nbsp Cook in 1883 The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic NewsCook left the company upon his return to England appearing later in 1880 and 1881 in The King s Dragoons in Manchester and Liverpool and in then in La Belle Normande and The Grand Mogul in London Re joining the D Oyly Carte organisation at the end of 1881 he played Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre in The Sorcerer and Corcoran in Pinafore In 1883 Cook joined Kate Santley s company at the Royalty Theatre in The Merry Duchess by George R Sims and Frederic Clay in the role of Farmer Bowman In 1884 86 he was back with D Oyly Carte touring as Dick Deadeye in Pinafore the Sergeant in Pirates Archibald Grosvenor in Patience in 1884 only the Earl of Mountararat in Iolanthe in 1885 only and Pooh Bah in The Mikado in 1885 86 In 1884 he also played Cox in a series of matinees of Cox and Box at the Royal Court Theatre with Richard Temple and Arthur Cecil 6 He then retired from the D Oyly Carte company 2 Later career edit After this Cook created the role of Squire Bantam in the hit comic opera Dorothy by Cellier and librettist B C Stephenson in September 1886 In the show he was assigned the song Here s a welcome to all at Chanticleer Hall 7 This show enjoyed a record setting two year run Next he appeared as Alderman Shelton in Cellier and Stephenson s Doris in 1889 After this Cook continued to act in London for another ten years In 1892 he appeared in Gilbert and Cellier s The Mountebanks Cellier s last opera as innkeeper Elvino di Pasta 8 In 1893 he played in Little Christopher Columbus a very successful musical burlesque with music by Ivan Caryll and Gustave Kerker and a libretto by George Robert Sims and Cecil Raleigh In 1894 Cook was in The House of Lords by Harry Greenbank with music by George Byng who conducted some of the 1920s recordings of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas and Ernest Ford 9 Cook was the recipient of a benefit matinee performance of Dorothy at the Gaiety Theatre in June 1897 reviving his role as the Squire His old co stars Marie Tempest Hayden Coffin Florence Perry Arthur Williams and John Le Hay reprised their roles and Seymour Hicks Mabel Love Arthur Roberts and Charles Kenningham among others participated 10 His last appearance in London was as a juryman in Trial by Jury at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1898 in a performance for the benefit of Nellie Farren 11 Cook died in West Kensington London and is buried in the West Norwood Cemetery Notes edit Plays about Cinderella TheatreHistory com Retrieved 11 July 2008 a b c Furneaux Cook Who Was Who in The D Oyly Carte Opera Company 1875 1982 David Stone Retrieved 11 July 2008 Ainger p 152 Information about D Oyly Carte curtain raisers The D Oyly Carte Opera company David Stone Archived from the original Document on 4 September 2006 Retrieved 11 July 2008 Ainger p 176 Programme from an 1884 production Part 1 Early Memorabilia Gilbert amp Sullivan C20th Archived from the original on 20 July 2008 Retrieved 11 July 2008 Coffin C H Hayden Coffin s Book Packed with Acts and Facts Alston Rivers London 1930 pp 71 247 Sidney Dark Rowland Grey 1923 W S Gilbert His Life and Letters Ayer Publishing ISBN 0 405 08430 7 Description of 1894 stage works NY Times article about the 1897 benefit Francois Cellier Cunningham Bridgeman 1914 Gilbert and Sullivan and Their Operas Sir Isaac Pitman amp sons ltd References editFurneaux Cook at Who Was Who in the D Oyly Carte Ainger Michael 2002 Gilbert and Sullivan a Dual Biography Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0195147693 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Furneaux Cook amp oldid 1214607311, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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