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O. B. Clarence

March 20, 2024

Oliver Burchett Clarence (25 March 1870, Hampstead, London – 2 October 1955, Hove, Sussex) was an English actor.

Clarence in 1925

Following his education at Dover College and University College Hospital, he made his stage debut in 1890. His experience included Shakespearean and other repertory with Frank Benson and Ben Greet. He performed in more than eighty productions in London, originating roles in plays by W. S. Gilbert, Bernard Shaw and others. He toured the provinces, appeared several times on Broadway, and made many films between 1914 and 1948.

Life and career edit

Early years edit

Clarence was born on 25 March 1870 in Hampstead, London, the son of Lovell Burchett Clarence (1838–1917), a colonial Supreme Court judge, and his wife Blanche, née Gunter (1840–1886).[1][2] He was intended for a medical career, and after his schooling at Dover College he studied at University College Hospital, London, before abandoning medicine for the stage.[2][3] He made his first appearance on the stage at the old Trocadero Music Hall on 14 July 1890, with Arthur Lloyd and first appeared on what he called "the regular stage" at the Olympic Theatre, in December 1890, in The People's Idol.[3] For four years he was a member of F. R. Benson's company, playing numerous parts. He then toured with Miss Fortescue, Muriel Wylford. and in Africa with Leonard Rayne, before returning to Britain and touring with Ben Greet as the Rev Gavin Dishart in The Little Minister. He rejoined Benson, appearing at the Lyceum (1900) and the Comedy (1901).[3]

 
Clarence, left, as the Rev Aloysius Parfitt in The Fairy's Dilemma (1904) with Arthur Bourchier

In May 1901 he appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Verges in Charles Villiers Stanford's operatic version of Much Ado About Nothing. The following year he joined Herbert Beerbohm Tree's company at His Majesty's, playing Simple in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Starveling and Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Adam in As You Like It.[3] After engagements on tour and in the West End he joined the Garrick Theatre company, under Arthur Bourchier, in February 1904, and appeared there in roles ranging from the Rev Aloysius Parfitt and Harlequin in The Fairy's Dilemma to Old Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice. With the exception of Clown in The Winter's Tale in 1906 his roles in the 1900s were in modern plays, including The Voysey Inheritance and Our Miss Gibbs.[3]

In late 1908 Clarence went to the US with Maxine Elliott, and played in Deborah of Tod's and The Inferior Sex. After a round of T. W. Robertson in London, he returned to the US in The Inferior Sex, subsequently touring with Olga Nethersole, playing Cayley Drummle in The Second Mrs Tanqueray, and M. Duval in Camille.[3]

West End and Broadway edit

Clarence reappeared in London, at the Savoy in June 1911, playing Lord Feenix in Dombey and Son, and subsequently Jingle in Two Peeps at Pickwick.[3] In the same year he married Hilda Bessie Forscutt; they had one daughter.[1] In 1912 his parts included a rare title role: Kipps in a dramatisation of H. G. Wells's novel.[4] Between then and 1919 he appeared in London and the provinces in mostly modern plays, and in January 1920 he returned to the US, playing in three plays in Broadway for the rest of that year and into 1921.[3]

 
As the Inquisitor in Saint Joan, 1924

At the Everyman in May 1922 he played William in Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell, subsequently playing the same part in Zurich and Geneva,[3] and in 1924 he played one of the roles most closely identified with him: the Inquisitor in Shaw's Saint Joan. The Times said of his performance:

Nobody who saw that almost motionless, white robed figure sitting calmly on the dais, delivering a quietly judicial speech, which held the audience dead still, could ever forget that there was the illusion of the drama at its best and most intense.[5]

The following year he played Firs in Nigel Playfair's production of The Cherry Orchard at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. For the rest of the 1920s he appeared mostly in new West End plays ("most of which are now forgotten" according to The Times) though he played Lord Sands and Cranmer in Henry VIII in Lewis Casson's 1925 production, starring Sybil Thorndike, and Lord Ogleby in The Clandestine Marriage in 1928.[3]

The rest of Clarence's long career followed a similar pattern: playing old men in ephemeral new plays in the West End and on Broadway, with occasional appearances in the classics, both old and new. These included a second run as the Inquisitor in Saint Joan (1931), Mazzini Dunn in Heartbreak House (1932), George Booth in The Voysey Inheritance (1934) and Sir William Gower in Trelawny of the 'Wells' (1938). In 1939 Clarence played Polonius in Tyrone Guthrie's modern-dress and uncut Hamlet with Alec Guinness in the title role. He played Firs again in 1941 in a production by Guthrie at the New Theatre, and Old Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer in 1943 and 1945.[3]

Clarence retired from the stage in 1945 and made the last of his many film appearances in 1948. He died in Hove, Sussex, on 2 October 1955, at the age of 85.[3]

Reputation edit

The Times commented that Clarence had been "for more than half a century one of the most accomplished character actors on the English stage":

He was the old man in a bewildering variety of parts on the stage and on the screen, holding his hand to his ear and quavering: "Eh? Eh?" Yet each part, however small it was, was carefully and subtly thought out in detail; nothing was ever mechanical or stereotyped, and so perfect was the characterization that there indeed moved and had their being, Fondlewife, Booth Voysey. General Gough-Bogle, and Old Hardcastle and not Mr. O. B. Clarence giving his well-known interpretation of the parts. Few actors have been so utterly absorbed by their art, fewer still have made such a reputation by such self-effacement.[5]

Films edit

Although best known as a stage actor, Clarence made many films between 1914 and 1948. They include:

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Oliver Burchett Clarence", Ancestry UK. Retrieved 2 August 2021 (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b "The Benson Tradition: O. B. Clarence Talks of Past and Present", The Stage, 7 February 1946, p. 1
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Parker, Gaye and Herbert, pp. 449–451
  4. ^ "Art, Music and the Drama", Illustrated London News, 16 March 1912, p. 398
  5. ^ a b "Mr. O. B. Clarence", The Times, 5 October 1955, p. 11

Sources edit

  • Parker, John; Freda Gaye; Ian Herbert (1978). Who Was Who in the Theatre. Detroit: Gale Research. OCLC 310466458.

External links edit

March 20, 2024
clarence, oliver, burchett, clarence, march, 1870, hampstead, london, october, 1955, hove, sussex, english, actor, clarence, 1925following, education, dover, college, university, college, hospital, made, stage, debut, 1890, experience, included, shakespearean,. Oliver Burchett Clarence 25 March 1870 Hampstead London 2 October 1955 Hove Sussex was an English actor Clarence in 1925Following his education at Dover College and University College Hospital he made his stage debut in 1890 His experience included Shakespearean and other repertory with Frank Benson and Ben Greet He performed in more than eighty productions in London originating roles in plays by W S Gilbert Bernard Shaw and others He toured the provinces appeared several times on Broadway and made many films between 1914 and 1948 Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Early years 1 2 West End and Broadway 1 3 Reputation 1 4 Films 2 References 3 Sources 4 External linksLife and career editEarly years edit Clarence was born on 25 March 1870 in Hampstead London the son of Lovell Burchett Clarence 1838 1917 a colonial Supreme Court judge and his wife Blanche nee Gunter 1840 1886 1 2 He was intended for a medical career and after his schooling at Dover College he studied at University College Hospital London before abandoning medicine for the stage 2 3 He made his first appearance on the stage at the old Trocadero Music Hall on 14 July 1890 with Arthur Lloyd and first appeared on what he called the regular stage at the Olympic Theatre in December 1890 in The People s Idol 3 For four years he was a member of F R Benson s company playing numerous parts He then toured with Miss Fortescue Muriel Wylford and in Africa with Leonard Rayne before returning to Britain and touring with Ben Greet as the Rev Gavin Dishart in The Little Minister He rejoined Benson appearing at the Lyceum 1900 and the Comedy 1901 3 nbsp Clarence left as the Rev Aloysius Parfitt in The Fairy s Dilemma 1904 with Arthur BourchierIn May 1901 he appeared at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Verges in Charles Villiers Stanford s operatic version of Much Ado About Nothing The following year he joined Herbert Beerbohm Tree s company at His Majesty s playing Simple in The Merry Wives of Windsor Starveling and Quince in A Midsummer Night s Dream and Adam in As You Like It 3 After engagements on tour and in the West End he joined the Garrick Theatre company under Arthur Bourchier in February 1904 and appeared there in roles ranging from the Rev Aloysius Parfitt and Harlequin in The Fairy s Dilemma to Old Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice With the exception of Clown in The Winter s Tale in 1906 his roles in the 1900s were in modern plays including The Voysey Inheritance and Our Miss Gibbs 3 In late 1908 Clarence went to the US with Maxine Elliott and played in Deborah of Tod sand The Inferior Sex After a round of T W Robertson in London he returned to the US in The Inferior Sex subsequently touring with Olga Nethersole playing Cayley Drummle in The Second Mrs Tanqueray and M Duval in Camille 3 West End and Broadway edit Clarence reappeared in London at the Savoy in June 1911 playing Lord Feenix in Dombey and Son and subsequently Jingle in Two Peeps at Pickwick 3 In the same year he married Hilda Bessie Forscutt they had one daughter 1 In 1912 his parts included a rare title role Kipps in a dramatisation of H G Wells s novel 4 Between then and 1919 he appeared in London and the provinces in mostly modern plays and in January 1920 he returned to the US playing in three plays in Broadway for the rest of that year and into 1921 3 nbsp As the Inquisitor in Saint Joan 1924At the Everyman in May 1922 he played William in Bernard Shaw s You Never Can Tell subsequently playing the same part in Zurich and Geneva 3 and in 1924 he played one of the roles most closely identified with him the Inquisitor in Shaw s Saint Joan The Times said of his performance Nobody who saw that almost motionless white robed figure sitting calmly on the dais delivering a quietly judicial speech which held the audience dead still could ever forget that there was the illusion of the drama at its best and most intense 5 The following year he played Firs in Nigel Playfair s production of The Cherry Orchard at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith For the rest of the 1920s he appeared mostly in new West End plays most of which are now forgotten according to The Times though he played Lord Sands and Cranmer in Henry VIII in Lewis Casson s 1925 production starring Sybil Thorndike and Lord Ogleby in The Clandestine Marriage in 1928 3 The rest of Clarence s long career followed a similar pattern playing old men in ephemeral new plays in the West End and on Broadway with occasional appearances in the classics both old and new These included a second run as the Inquisitor in Saint Joan 1931 Mazzini Dunn in Heartbreak House 1932 George Booth in The Voysey Inheritance 1934 and Sir William Gower in Trelawny of the Wells 1938 In 1939 Clarence played Polonius in Tyrone Guthrie s modern dress and uncut Hamlet with Alec Guinness in the title role He played Firs again in 1941 in a production by Guthrie at the New Theatre and Old Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer in 1943 and 1945 3 Clarence retired from the stage in 1945 and made the last of his many film appearances in 1948 He died in Hove Sussex on 2 October 1955 at the age of 85 3 Reputation edit The Times commented that Clarence had been for more than half a century one of the most accomplished character actors on the English stage He was the old man in a bewildering variety of parts on the stage and on the screen holding his hand to his ear and quavering Eh Eh Yet each part however small it was was carefully and subtly thought out in detail nothing was ever mechanical or stereotyped and so perfect was the characterization that there indeed moved and had their being Fondlewife Booth Voysey General Gough Bogle and Old Hardcastle and not Mr O B Clarence giving his well known interpretation of the parts Few actors have been so utterly absorbed by their art fewer still have made such a reputation by such self effacement 5 Films edit Although best known as a stage actor Clarence made many films between 1914 and 1948 They include Liberty Hall 1914 Todman Crafer London Pride 1920 Mr Tunks The Little Hour of Peter Wells 1920 Peter Wells The Man from Chicago 1930 John Larwood The Bells 1931 Watchman Keepers of Youth 1931 Slade Goodnight Vienna 1932 Theatre Manager Jack s the Boy 1932 Timkins uncredited The Flag Lieutenant 1932 Gen Gough Bogle Where Is This Lady 1932 Dr Peffer The Barton Mystery 1932 Sir Everard Marshall Discord 1933 Mr Hemming Perfect Understanding 1933 Dr Graham Soldiers of the King 1933 Tom Excess Baggage 1933 Lord Grebe Falling for You 1933 Trubshawe His Grace Gives Notice 1933 Lord Rannock A Shot in the Dark 1933 Rev John Makehan I Adore You 1933 Mr Young Friday the Thirteenth 1933 Clerk Turkey Time 1933 Shopkeeper uncredited The Silver Spoon 1933 Parker Eyes of Fate 1933 Mr Oliver The Double Event 1934 Rev Martingale The Only Girl 1933 Etienne The Great Defender 1934 Mr Hammond Song at Eventide 1934 Registrar Nell Gwynn 1934 Clockmaker uncredited Father and Son 1934 Tom Yates Lady in Danger 1934 Nelson The Scarlet Pimpernel 1934 Count de Tournay The King of Paris 1934 Mayor The Feathered Serpent 1934 George Beale D Ye Ken John Peel 1935 Ogleby Barnacle Bill 1935 Uncle George Dandy Dick 1935 Council Member uncredited Squibs 1935 Sir John Barratt The Private Secretary 1935 Thomas Marsland No Monkey Business 1935 Professor Captain Bill 1935 Sir Anthony Kipps The Cardinal 1936 Monterosa Seven Sinners 1936 Registrar East Meets West 1936 Osmin All In 1936 Hemingway The Mill on the Floss 1936 Mr Gore King of Hearts 1936 Mr Ponsonby Silver Blaze 1937 Estate Agent uncredited Victoria the Great 1937 Coachman in Chief Murder at the Baskervilles 1937 De Marre Dinner at the Ritz 1937 Messenger uncredited Second Best Bed 1938 Torceston Magistrate uncredited Pygmalion 1938 Mr Birchwood the Vicar It s in the Air 1938 Sir Philip s Gardener uncredited Old Iron 1938 Gordon A Spot of Bother 1938 Butler uncredited Stolen Life 1939 uncredited Me and My Pal 1939 Judge Black Eyes 1939 Waiter Jamaica Inn 1939 Coach Passenger uncredited The Missing People 1939 Young Man s Fancy 1939 Guest at Reception uncredited The Dark Eyes of London 1939 Prof John Dearborn voice uncredited Return to Yesterday 1940 Mr Truscott Spy for a Day 1940 Medical Officer Saloon Bar 1940 Sir Archibald Major Barbara 1941 Pettigrew Old Mother Riley in Business 1941 Quiet Wedding 1941 First Magistrate Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It 1941 Professor Mackenzie Turned Out Nice Again 1941 Mr Dawson Dangerous Moonlight 1941 released as Suicide Squadron in the USA Waiter with Tray of Wine Old Mother Riley s Circus 1941 Lawyer Penn of Pennsylvania 1942 Lord Cecil Gert and Daisy s Weekend 1942 Vicar uncredited Front Line Kids 1942 Real Clergyman uncredited On Approval 1944 Dr Graham A Place of One s Own 1945 Perkins The Way to the Stars 1945 Minor Role scenes deleted Great Day 1945 Caesar and Cleopatra 1945 Egyptian uncredited The Magic Bow 1946 Old Gentleman School for Secrets 1946 Old Retainer Great Expectations 1946 The Aged Parent While the Sun Shines 1947 Old Gentleman Meet Me at Dawn 1947 Ambassador Uncle Silas 1947 Vicar Clay The Calendar 1948 Old Gentleman at Epsom No Room at the Inn 1948 Reporter in Council Chambers uncredited final film role References edit a b Oliver Burchett Clarence Ancestry UK Retrieved 2 August 2021 subscription required a b The Benson Tradition O B Clarence Talks of Past and Present The Stage 7 February 1946 p 1 a b c d e f g h i j k l Parker Gaye and Herbert pp 449 451 Art Music and the Drama Illustrated London News 16 March 1912 p 398 a b Mr O B Clarence The Times 5 October 1955 p 11Sources editParker John Freda Gaye Ian Herbert 1978 Who Was Who in the Theatre Detroit Gale Research OCLC 310466458 External links editO B Clarence at IMDb O B Clarence at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O B Clarence amp oldid 1158238224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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