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Henry Pottinger Stephens

March 04, 2023

Henry Pottinger Stephens, also known as Henry Beauchamp (1851 – 11 February 1903),[1] was an English dramatist and journalist.

Stephens caricatured in Punch, 1881

After beginning his career writing for newspapers, Stephens began writing Victorian burlesques in the 1870s in collaboration with F. C. Burnand and the composer Edward Solomon. Stephens and Solomon wrote several comic operas together that briefly rivalled the Savoy Operas in popular esteem, including Billee Taylor (1880) and Claude Duval (1881). He also collaborated with Meyer Lutz at the Gaiety Theatre on burlesques including Little Jack Sheppard (1885). He worked again with Solomon on one of the first pieces considered a musical comedy, The Red Hussar (1889). He also wrote novels, plays and pantomimes, and acted in some of these.

Life and career

"Pot" Stephens was born in Barrow-on-Soar, Leicestershire.[2] He started his career as a journalist, working for The Daily Telegraph and Tit-Bits, among others, and was the first editor of Topical Times. He began writing for the stage, and in 1873 his "comedietta" Rosebud's Rose was presented by an amateur company in Bournemouth.[3] He wrote his first burlesque, Back from India, in 1879 under the aegis of German Reed's management at St. George's Hall. The piece, with music by Cotsford Dick, was judged a "decided success" by The Era.[4] Stephens soon wrote lyrics for F. C. Burnand's burlesque of Rob Roy, Robbing Roy, at the Gaiety Theatre and collaborated with Burnand on a couple of other burlesques, Balloonacy, a New and Original Musical Extravaganza, with music by Edward Solomon,[5] and The Corsican Brothers and Co, Limited.[6]

 
Sheet music to Stephens's Little Jack Sheppard

After Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore became a hit, Stephens was inspired to collaborate with Solomon on a comic opera, Billee Taylor (1880), which played in London at the same time as The Pirates of Penzance. Billee Taylor received favourable comparisons with Gilbert and Sullivan's piece in the press and caused its authors to be hailed briefly as the equals of Richard D'Oyly Carte's prized writing team. Solomon and Stephens also had a success in Claude Duval (1881).[7] Carte produced successful tours of Claude Duval and Billee Taylor in America.

In 1882, Stevens obtained Anthony Trollope's permission to adapt the latter's novel, Doctor Wortle's School for the stage.[8] In the same year Stephens married, but in 1887 his wife, Elizabeth Alice, divorced him for adultery. There were two children of the marriage.[9] Also in 1882, Stephens and Solomon wrote two comic operas, Virginia and Paul, for the rising star Lillian Russell,[10] and Lord Bateman for the Gaiety Theatre.[11]

Stephens returned to burlesque with Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed in 1883, with music by Meyer Lutz. In the same year he collaborated with the composer Florian Pascal[12] on a comic opera, The Black Squire.[13] Stephens had further successes with The Vicar of Wide-awake-field and Little Jack Sheppard (both 1885, with music by Lutz) under George Edwardes's management at the Gaiety Theatre.[14]

In 1884, Solomon and Lillian Russell sued Stephens for libel,[15] but by 1889 Solomon and Stephens were friendly enough to collaborate on a successful musical comedy, The Red Hussar (1889), starring Marie Tempest and Arthur Williams.[16]

Stephens also wrote novels, plays, pantomimes, and an 1899 revue, A Dream of Whitaker's Almanack, with Walter Slaughter, Pascal, Georges Jacobi and Walter Hedgecock.[17] He also acted in some of these.

Stephens died in London in 1903, aged 51.

Notes

  1. ^ Cleeve, Brian & Anne Brady, A Dictionary of Irish Writers (Dublin: Lilliput 1985) quoted at [1] give Stephens's year of birth as 1850
  2. ^ Cleeve, Brian & Anne Brady, op. cit, give Stephens's place of birth as Dublin.
  3. ^ The Era, 5 January 1873, p. 2
  4. ^ The Era, 29 June 1879, p. 4
  5. ^ The Era, 9 November 1879, p. 6
  6. ^ The Graphic, 30 October 1880, p. 427
  7. ^ "Claude Duval Produced", The New York Times, September 11, 1881, p. 5, accessed 26 October 2009
  8. ^ The Graphic, 18 February 1882, p. 171
  9. ^ The Era, 7 May 1887, p. 8
  10. ^ Glasgow Herald, 25 September 1882, p. 5
  11. ^ Henry Pottinger Stephens at Ricorso, accessed 14 October 2009
  12. ^ Florian Pascal was a pseudonym for Joseph Williams, Jr. (1847–1923), a music publisher and composer. See Florian Pascal[dead link] at The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive and "A Thirty-ninth Garland of British Light Music Composers" at MusicWeb International
  13. ^ The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, 30 October 1888, p. 3
  14. ^ Parker, J. "Farren, Ellen (1848–1904)",Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 23 Oct 2009
  15. ^ The Era, 9 August 1884, p. 8
  16. ^ The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times, 30 November 1889, p. 419
  17. ^ The Era, 10 June 1899, p. 8

References

  • O'Donoghue, D. J. The Poets of Ireland: A Biographical Dictionary (Dublin: Hodges Figgis & Co 1912)

External links

  • Profile and list of major stage works
  • Discusses the Stephens and Solomon successes

March 04, 2023
henry, pottinger, stephens, also, known, henry, beauchamp, 1851, february, 1903, english, dramatist, journalist, stephens, caricatured, punch, 1881, after, beginning, career, writing, newspapers, stephens, began, writing, victorian, burlesques, 1870s, collabor. Henry Pottinger Stephens also known as Henry Beauchamp 1851 11 February 1903 1 was an English dramatist and journalist Stephens caricatured in Punch 1881 After beginning his career writing for newspapers Stephens began writing Victorian burlesques in the 1870s in collaboration with F C Burnand and the composer Edward Solomon Stephens and Solomon wrote several comic operas together that briefly rivalled the Savoy Operas in popular esteem including Billee Taylor 1880 and Claude Duval 1881 He also collaborated with Meyer Lutz at the Gaiety Theatre on burlesques including Little Jack Sheppard 1885 He worked again with Solomon on one of the first pieces considered a musical comedy The Red Hussar 1889 He also wrote novels plays and pantomimes and acted in some of these Contents 1 Life and career 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksLife and career Edit Pot Stephens was born in Barrow on Soar Leicestershire 2 He started his career as a journalist working for The Daily Telegraph and Tit Bits among others and was the first editor of Topical Times He began writing for the stage and in 1873 his comedietta Rosebud s Rose was presented by an amateur company in Bournemouth 3 He wrote his first burlesque Back from India in 1879 under the aegis of German Reed s management at St George s Hall The piece with music by Cotsford Dick was judged a decided success by The Era 4 Stephens soon wrote lyrics for F C Burnand s burlesque of Rob Roy Robbing Roy at the Gaiety Theatre and collaborated with Burnand on a couple of other burlesques Balloonacy a New and Original Musical Extravaganza with music by Edward Solomon 5 and The Corsican Brothers and Co Limited 6 Sheet music to Stephens s Little Jack Sheppard After Gilbert and Sullivan s H M S Pinafore became a hit Stephens was inspired to collaborate with Solomon on a comic opera Billee Taylor 1880 which played in London at the same time as The Pirates of Penzance Billee Taylor received favourable comparisons with Gilbert and Sullivan s piece in the press and caused its authors to be hailed briefly as the equals of Richard D Oyly Carte s prized writing team Solomon and Stephens also had a success in Claude Duval 1881 7 Carte produced successful tours of Claude Duval and Billee Taylor in America In 1882 Stevens obtained Anthony Trollope s permission to adapt the latter s novel Doctor Wortle s School for the stage 8 In the same year Stephens married but in 1887 his wife Elizabeth Alice divorced him for adultery There were two children of the marriage 9 Also in 1882 Stephens and Solomon wrote two comic operas Virginia and Paul for the rising star Lillian Russell 10 and Lord Bateman for the Gaiety Theatre 11 Stephens returned to burlesque with Galatea or Pygmalion Reversed in 1883 with music by Meyer Lutz In the same year he collaborated with the composer Florian Pascal 12 on a comic opera The Black Squire 13 Stephens had further successes with The Vicar of Wide awake field and Little Jack Sheppard both 1885 with music by Lutz under George Edwardes s management at the Gaiety Theatre 14 In 1884 Solomon and Lillian Russell sued Stephens for libel 15 but by 1889 Solomon and Stephens were friendly enough to collaborate on a successful musical comedy The Red Hussar 1889 starring Marie Tempest and Arthur Williams 16 Stephens also wrote novels plays pantomimes and an 1899 revue A Dream of Whitaker s Almanack with Walter Slaughter Pascal Georges Jacobi and Walter Hedgecock 17 He also acted in some of these Stephens died in London in 1903 aged 51 Notes Edit Cleeve Brian amp Anne Brady A Dictionary of Irish Writers Dublin Lilliput 1985 quoted at 1 give Stephens s year of birth as 1850 Cleeve Brian amp Anne Brady op cit give Stephens s place of birth as Dublin The Era 5 January 1873 p 2 The Era 29 June 1879 p 4 The Era 9 November 1879 p 6 The Graphic 30 October 1880 p 427 Claude Duval Produced The New York Times September 11 1881 p 5 accessed 26 October 2009 The Graphic 18 February 1882 p 171 The Era 7 May 1887 p 8 Glasgow Herald 25 September 1882 p 5 Henry Pottinger Stephens at Ricorso accessed 14 October 2009 Florian Pascal was a pseudonym for Joseph Williams Jr 1847 1923 a music publisher and composer See Florian Pascal dead link at The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive and A Thirty ninth Garland of British Light Music Composers at MusicWeb International The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post 30 October 1888 p 3 Parker J Farren Ellen 1848 1904 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 accessed 23 Oct 2009 The Era 9 August 1884 p 8 The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times 30 November 1889 p 419 The Era 10 June 1899 p 8References EditO Donoghue D J The Poets of Ireland A Biographical Dictionary Dublin Hodges Figgis amp Co 1912 External links EditProfile and list of major stage works Discusses the Stephens and Solomon successes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Pottinger Stephens amp oldid 1084411125, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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