fbpx
Wikipedia

Mabel Terry-Lewis

May 12, 2023

Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis (born as Mabel Gwynedd Lewis) ( 28 October 1872 – 28 November 1957) was an English actress and a member of the Terry-Gielgud dynasty of actors of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Mabel Terry-Lewis photographed by Bassano in 1920

After a successful career in her twenties and thirties she married and retired from the stage in 1904. Her husband died in 1917 and she returned to the theatre in 1920, continuing to act on stage and in films until the late 1940s. Among her celebrated roles was Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, which she played opposite her nephew John Gielgud in 1930.

Life and career

Early years

Mabel Terry-Lewis was born in London, the youngest of the five children, four daughters, and one son, of Arthur James Lewis (1824–1901) and his wife, Kate (née) Terry. Lewis was a prosperous businessman, co-owner of the haberdashery firm of Lewis and Allenby, and an amateur painter, illustrator and musician.[1] Before their marriage, Kate Terry had been a well-known actress; her younger siblings, Ellen, Marion, Florence and Fred all followed her into the acting profession. The Lewises had no wish for any of their daughters to act professionally, but amateur theatricals were encouraged when the children were young. The author Lewis Carroll was a friend of Arthur Lewis, and on 24 January 1883 he visited the family home, Moray Lodge, for a performance of a comedietta titled Lady Barbara's Birthday given by the Lewis children and those of Ellen Terry. Also present on that occasion was W. S. Gilbert. Carroll wrote of the event:

Edith [Craig] was clever (though not very articulate) and Katie [Terry-Lewis] distinctly good: then Teddie (Edward Gordon Craig) was very good, though a little given to rant: but Mabel was the gem of the whole thing. I never saw her equal among children, except Ellen Terry herself. She is a born actress.[2]

It is perhaps little known that Mabel was also a painter of miniatures. Who's Who in 1935 recorded that she had exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy, Grafton and New Galleries and at Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester. One such miniature was of Minnie Terry aged 5 years, circa 1887, which can be seen at Smallhythe Place in Kent, now a National Trust property, but once the home of actress Ellen Terry who was briefly married to the painter George Frederic Watts. Two other examples are miniatures of the 'Silver King' George McCulloch and his wife who lived near Mabel's home in London; these were gifted to the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide by McCulloch's widow in 1928.

Mabel was the only one of the four Terry-Lewis daughters to pursue a theatrical career. Her first appearance on the professional stage was at the Garrick Theatre, in January 1895, as Lucy Lorimer in "A Pair of Spectacles," with John Hare. The Times commented, "Miss Lewis … is a tall, dark and graceful young lady, exhibiting few of the characteristics of the novice."[3] The Manchester Guardian said that she "played the pretty little part with unaffected simplicity, and with more ease than might have been expected in a débutante".[4]

At the Criterion in May 1897, she played Margaret Linfield in Threepenny Bits.[5] In the same year she played Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew for the Oxford University Dramatic Society at Oxford.[6] She was not seen again in London until April 1898, when she appeared at the Globe (now the Gielgud Theatre), in Hare's company, playing Mary Faber in The Master; the production attracted considerable attention because Kate Terry came briefly out of retirement to appear alongside her daughter. Although Kate had the lion's share of the press notices, Mabel was praised for a touching performance.[7]

From then until 1904, Terry-Lewis had a successful stage career. She appeared at the Globe as Bella in School (January 1899), Blanche Haye in Ours (February 1899), Esther Eccles, Marie Wilton's old part, in a revival of Caste (March 1899), and created the role of Muriel Eden in The Gay Lord Quex (April 1899).[5] In 1900 she toured in The Mistress of Craignairn and Gudgeons ,[5] and on her return to London she opened at the Strand in May 1900, as Gloria Clandon in You Never Can Tell, in which The Observer's reviewer considered her acting superior to Bernard Shaw's play.[8] After playing in a succession of ephemeral costume dramas, ending with the role of Sylvia Fitzallen in My Lady of Rosedale, she retired from the stage on her marriage in 1904.[5] Her only West End appearance during her marriage was in 1906, at her aunt Ellen Terry's jubilee celebration at Drury Lane, along with more than twenty other members of the Terry family.[9]

Her marriage, to Captain (later Major) Ralph Cecil Batley, was a happy one, and she enjoyed her quiet life on his country estate in Dorset. Her young nephew, John Gielgud stayed there on occasions, and took part in the amateur dramatics she organised for the Women's Institute.[10] Batley had to resign his commission in January 1917 because of ill health, and he died on 23 October 1917 aged 54.[11] Writing in 1989 about his aunt, Gielgud was uncertain whether her return to the stage after being widowed was an outlet for her "boundless energies" or was for financial reasons.[12]

Second stage career

Terry-Lewis made her reappearance on the stage at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 10 February 1920, when she played Lady Sarah Aldine in The Young Person in Pink, at a one-off charity matinée.[5] Her return to the mainstream West End theatre was in April of the same year, in the role of Jane Stroud in " The Grain of Mustard Seed". The Times commented, "Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis, in the part of a grave, high-minded, somewhat désabusée patrician gives a performance of really exquisite beauty."[13]

In 1923 she toured America with Cyril Maude and Lydia Bilbrook in If Winter Comes, playing at Chicago in April and New York in the autumn.[14] During subsequent visits to the US she played for three seasons in such popular pieces as Aren't We All, Easy Virtue, and The Constant Wife.[15] In the West End she appeared in new plays and revivals, including The Importance of Being Earnest as the formidable Lady Brackell to the John Worthing of Gielgud in 1930.[12] The Times observed, "Mr Gielgud and Miss Terry-Lewis together are brilliant ... they have the supreme grace of always allowing Wilde to speak in his own voice."[16] Gielgud thought her performance was superb, although she had no sense of humour and never understood why audiences found her Lady Bracknell funny.[12]

Terry-Lewis's other plays included The Skin Game, Death Takes a Holiday, Dinner at Eight, The Admirable Crichton, Distinguished Gathering, Victoria Regina, They Came to a City and Lady Windermere's Fan.[15] She also appeared in films, including The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), The Third Clue (1934), Dishonour Bright (1936), The Squeaker (1937), Jamaica Inn (1939), The Adventures of Tartu (1943) and They Came to a City (1944).[15]

She died in London in 1957, aged 85.

Filmography

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, The University of Glasgow Archive
  2. ^ Foulkes, p. 97
  3. ^ "Garrick Theatre", The Times, 18 January 1895, p. 7
  4. ^ "Our London Correspondence", The Manchester Guardian, 18 January 1895, p. 5
  5. ^ a b c d e Parker, pp. 569–570
  6. ^ Photograph of Terry-Lewis in The Taming of the Shrew in 1897, Victoria and Albert Museum
  7. ^ "Globe Theatre", The Times, 25 April 1898, p. 8; and "'The Master' at the Globe", The Observer, 24 April 1898, p. 6
  8. ^ "At the Play", The Observer, 6 May 1900, p. 6
  9. ^ "A Cast of Terrys at Miss Ellen Terry's Jubilee Benefit Matinee", The Illustrated London News, 16 June 1906, p. 894
  10. ^ Gielgud (2000), p. 284
  11. ^ "Deaths", The Times, 27 October 1917, p. 5
  12. ^ a b c Gielgud (2000), p. 285
  13. ^ "The Grain of Mustard Seed", The Times, 21 April 1920, p. 14
  14. ^ "Dramatis Personae", The Observer, 25 February 1923, p. 11
  15. ^ a b c "Obituary – Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis", The Times, 30 November 1957, p. 8
  16. ^ "Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith", The Times, 8 June 1930, p. 12

References

  • Foulkes, Richard (2005). Lewis Carroll and the Victorian Stage: Theatricals in a Quiet Life. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. ISBN 0754604667.
  • Gielgud, John (1979). An Actor and His Time. London: Sidgwick and Jackson. ISBN 0283985739.
  • Gielgud, John (2000) [1939 and 1989]. Gielgud on Gielgud – volume comprising reprints of Early Stages and Backward Glances. London: Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0340795026.
  • Parker, John (1925). Who's Who in the Theatre (fifth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. OCLC 10013159.

External links

May 12, 2023
mabel, terry, lewis, mabel, gwynedd, terry, lewis, born, mabel, gwynedd, lewis, october, 1872, november, 1957, english, actress, member, terry, gielgud, dynasty, actors, 19th, 20th, centuries, photographed, bassano, 1920, after, successful, career, twenties, t. Mabel Gwynedd Terry Lewis born as Mabel Gwynedd Lewis 28 October 1872 28 November 1957 was an English actress and a member of the Terry Gielgud dynasty of actors of the 19th and 20th centuries Mabel Terry Lewis photographed by Bassano in 1920 After a successful career in her twenties and thirties she married and retired from the stage in 1904 Her husband died in 1917 and she returned to the theatre in 1920 continuing to act on stage and in films until the late 1940s Among her celebrated roles was Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest which she played opposite her nephew John Gielgud in 1930 Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Early years 1 2 Second stage career 2 Filmography 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditEarly years Edit Mabel Terry Lewis was born in London the youngest of the five children four daughters and one son of Arthur James Lewis 1824 1901 and his wife Kate nee Terry Lewis was a prosperous businessman co owner of the haberdashery firm of Lewis and Allenby and an amateur painter illustrator and musician 1 Before their marriage Kate Terry had been a well known actress her younger siblings Ellen Marion Florence and Fred all followed her into the acting profession The Lewises had no wish for any of their daughters to act professionally but amateur theatricals were encouraged when the children were young The author Lewis Carroll was a friend of Arthur Lewis and on 24 January 1883 he visited the family home Moray Lodge for a performance of a comedietta titled Lady Barbara s Birthday given by the Lewis children and those of Ellen Terry Also present on that occasion was W S Gilbert Carroll wrote of the event Edith Craig was clever though not very articulate and Katie Terry Lewis distinctly good then Teddie Edward Gordon Craig was very good though a little given to rant but Mabel was the gem of the whole thing I never saw her equal among children except Ellen Terry herself She is a born actress 2 It is perhaps little known that Mabel was also a painter of miniatures Who s Who in 1935 recorded that she had exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy Grafton and New Galleries and at Liverpool Glasgow and Manchester One such miniature was of Minnie Terry aged 5 years circa 1887 which can be seen at Smallhythe Place in Kent now a National Trust property but once the home of actress Ellen Terry who was briefly married to the painter George Frederic Watts Two other examples are miniatures of the Silver King George McCulloch and his wife who lived near Mabel s home in London these were gifted to the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide by McCulloch s widow in 1928 Mabel was the only one of the four Terry Lewis daughters to pursue a theatrical career Her first appearance on the professional stage was at the Garrick Theatre in January 1895 as Lucy Lorimer in A Pair of Spectacles with John Hare The Times commented Miss Lewis is a tall dark and graceful young lady exhibiting few of the characteristics of the novice 3 The Manchester Guardian said that she played the pretty little part with unaffected simplicity and with more ease than might have been expected in a debutante 4 At the Criterion in May 1897 she played Margaret Linfield in Threepenny Bits 5 In the same year she played Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew for the Oxford University Dramatic Society at Oxford 6 She was not seen again in London until April 1898 when she appeared at the Globe now the Gielgud Theatre in Hare s company playing Mary Faber in The Master the production attracted considerable attention because Kate Terry came briefly out of retirement to appear alongside her daughter Although Kate had the lion s share of the press notices Mabel was praised for a touching performance 7 From then until 1904 Terry Lewis had a successful stage career She appeared at the Globe as Bella in School January 1899 Blanche Haye in Ours February 1899 Esther Eccles Marie Wilton s old part in a revival of Caste March 1899 and created the role of Muriel Eden in The Gay Lord Quex April 1899 5 In 1900 she toured in The Mistress of Craignairn and Gudgeons 5 and on her return to London she opened at the Strand in May 1900 as Gloria Clandon in You Never Can Tell in which The Observer s reviewer considered her acting superior to Bernard Shaw s play 8 After playing in a succession of ephemeral costume dramas ending with the role of Sylvia Fitzallen in My Lady of Rosedale she retired from the stage on her marriage in 1904 5 Her only West End appearance during her marriage was in 1906 at her aunt Ellen Terry s jubilee celebration at Drury Lane along with more than twenty other members of the Terry family 9 Her marriage to Captain later Major Ralph Cecil Batley was a happy one and she enjoyed her quiet life on his country estate in Dorset Her young nephew John Gielgud stayed there on occasions and took part in the amateur dramatics she organised for the Women s Institute 10 Batley had to resign his commission in January 1917 because of ill health and he died on 23 October 1917 aged 54 11 Writing in 1989 about his aunt Gielgud was uncertain whether her return to the stage after being widowed was an outlet for her boundless energies or was for financial reasons 12 Second stage career Edit Terry Lewis made her reappearance on the stage at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 10 February 1920 when she played Lady Sarah Aldine in The Young Person in Pink at a one off charity matinee 5 Her return to the mainstream West End theatre was in April of the same year in the role of Jane Stroud in The Grain of Mustard Seed The Times commented Miss Mabel Terry Lewis in the part of a grave high minded somewhat desabusee patrician gives a performance of really exquisite beauty 13 In 1923 she toured America with Cyril Maude and Lydia Bilbrook in If Winter Comes playing at Chicago in April and New York in the autumn 14 During subsequent visits to the US she played for three seasons in such popular pieces as Aren t We All Easy Virtue and The Constant Wife 15 In the West End she appeared in new plays and revivals including The Importance of Being Earnest as the formidable Lady Brackell to the John Worthing of Gielgud in 1930 12 The Times observed Mr Gielgud and Miss Terry Lewis together are brilliant they have the supreme grace of always allowing Wilde to speak in his own voice 16 Gielgud thought her performance was superb although she had no sense of humour and never understood why audiences found her Lady Bracknell funny 12 Terry Lewis s other plays included The Skin Game Death Takes a Holiday Dinner at Eight The Admirable Crichton Distinguished Gathering Victoria Regina They Came to a City and Lady Windermere s Fan 15 She also appeared in films including The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934 The Third Clue 1934 Dishonour Bright 1936 The Squeaker 1937 Jamaica Inn 1939 The Adventures of Tartu 1943 and They Came to a City 1944 15 She died in London in 1957 aged 85 Filmography EditLove Maggy 1921 Lady Shelford Shirley 1922 Mrs Prior Caste 1930 Marquise The Third Clue 1934 Mr Fuller The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934 Countess de Tournay Dishonour Bright 1936 Lady Melbury The Squeaker 1937 Mrs Stedman Stolen Life 1939 Aunt Helen Jamaica Inn 1939 Lady Beston The Adventures of Tartu 1943 Mrs Stevenson They Came to a City 1944 Lady Loxfield final film role See also EditTerry familyNotes Edit The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler The University of Glasgow Archive Foulkes p 97 Garrick Theatre The Times 18 January 1895 p 7 Our London Correspondence The Manchester Guardian 18 January 1895 p 5 a b c d e Parker pp 569 570 Photograph of Terry Lewis inThe Taming of the Shrew in 1897 Victoria and Albert Museum Globe Theatre The Times 25 April 1898 p 8 and The Master at the Globe The Observer 24 April 1898 p 6 At the Play The Observer 6 May 1900 p 6 A Cast of Terrys at Miss Ellen Terry s Jubilee Benefit Matinee The Illustrated London News 16 June 1906 p 894 Gielgud 2000 p 284 Deaths The Times 27 October 1917 p 5 a b c Gielgud 2000 p 285 The Grain of Mustard Seed The Times 21 April 1920 p 14 Dramatis Personae The Observer 25 February 1923 p 11 a b c Obituary Miss Mabel Terry Lewis The Times 30 November 1957 p 8 Lyric Theatre Hammersmith The Times 8 June 1930 p 12References EditFoulkes Richard 2005 Lewis Carroll and the Victorian Stage Theatricals in a Quiet Life Aldershot UK Ashgate ISBN 0754604667 Gielgud John 1979 An Actor and His Time London Sidgwick and Jackson ISBN 0283985739 Gielgud John 2000 1939 and 1989 Gielgud on Gielgud volume comprising reprints ofEarly StagesandBackward Glances London Hodder and Stoughton ISBN 0340795026 Parker John 1925 Who s Who in the Theatre fifth ed London Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons OCLC 10013159 External links EditMabel Terry Lewis at IMDb Terry Lewis in the Gielgud Archive at the British Library Terry Lewis in They Came to a City at wickedlady com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mabel Terry Lewis amp oldid 1141564541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.