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Tony Hart (theater)

Tony Hart (born Anthony J. Cannon; July 25, 1855 – November 4, 1891) was an American actor, comedian and singer. He is best known for working with Edward Harrigan in the late 19th century comedy team of Harrigan & Hart.

Undated cabinet card portrait of Hart

He met Harrigan in 1870. The two became a fixture at the Theatre Comique in New York City by the mid-1870s performing in Harrigan's farcical sketches. The slight and short Hart usually portrayed the female roles in their comic sketches and plays.

Their breakthrough hit was the 1873 song and sketch "The Mulligan Guard", a lampoon of an Irish neighborhood "militia" with music by David Braham. It became their signature piece, and they featured it in many of their slapstick skits and plays. The team's last Broadway performance was in May 1885. Hart's health and financial condition both deteriorated, and he died at the age of 36.

Early life and career edit

Hart was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and began his career in Boston. He met Harrigan in Chicago in 1870 and soon changed his name to Tony Hart. Harrigan and Hart went in 1871 to Boston, where they had their first big success at John Stetson's Howard Athenaeum.[1] They then moved on to New York, where they first worked with Tony Pastor before beginning a long run at Josh Hart's Theatre Comique. By the mid-1870s they began moving from the variety show toward musical theatre. Harrigan's sketches on the Comique's crowded bill featured comic Irish, German and black characters drawn from everyday life on the streets of New York. The slight and short Hart usually portrayed the female roles in their comic sketches and plays. They began moving from the variety show toward musical theatre.[2]

The Mulligan Guard edit

 

Their breakthrough hit was the 1873 song and sketch "The Mulligan Guard", a lampoon of an Irish neighborhood "militia" with music by David Braham, who would become their musical director and Harrigan's father in law. It became their signature piece, and they featured it in many of their slapstick skits and plays.[3] In 1876, Harrigan took over the Comique himself, along with Hart and manager Martin Hanley.

By 1878, with The Mulligan Guard Picnic, Harrigan & Hart settled down on Broadway and performed in seventeen of their shows over the next seven years.[4] Their most popular musical was the Mulligan Guard's Ball (1880). Though still broad and farcical, full of chaos and hilarity, these shows integrated music with a more literary story line, together with dance, and they began to resemble modern musical comedy. Harrigan wrote the stories and lyrics, and Braham wrote the music. The action of the plays took place in downtown Manhattan and concerned real-life problems, such as interracial tensions, political corruption, and gang violence, all mixed with broad, street-smart comedy, puns and ethnic dialects. Harrigan played the politically ambitious Irish saloon owner "Dan Mulligan", and Hart played the African-American washerwoman "Rebecca Allup" in blackface.[5][page needed]

Although the Theatre Comique was eventually shut down for financial reasons, Harrigan and Hart announced in 1881 that they would build a fresh and elegant "New Theatre Comique" several blocks further north on Broadway. The building they renovated was originally the home of the Church of the Messiah but had hosted many other theatres throughout the years.[6][page needed] However, this theatre was not to last; it burned to the ground in 1884.[7] After the theatre collapsed, so did the partnership. Harrigan's habit of hiring relatives soured his partnership with Hart. In May 1885, five months after the fire, Harrigan and Hart appeared on Broadway together for the last time.[3]

Later years edit

Hart and his wife, Gertie Granville, went on to appear in other productions, but he never achieved the popularity that he had enjoyed with Harrigan. Diagnosed with paresis, as the mental symptoms of tertiary syphilis were then known, his financial condition declined along with his health.[8] His friends and fans mounted a benefit production, on March 22, 1888, to raise funds for his living expenses and medical treatment. He developed dementia and spent most of his last years in a state mental institution.[3]

He died in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the age of 36 from complications of advanced syphilis. He is buried in St. John's Cemetery in Worcester.[3] His nephew was actor Mark Hart.[9]

Harrigan 'n Hart edit

In 1985, a musical celebrating the rise of the partnership, Harrigan 'N Hart, opened on Broadway. The show has a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Peter Walker, and music by Max Showalter is based on the book The Merry Partners by Ely Jacques Kahn, Jr. and material found by Nedda Harrigan Logan. Harry Groener portrayed Harrigan, Mark Hamill (of Star Wars fame) played Hart, Christine Ebersole was Gertie, and Joe Layton directed. Frank Rich of The New York Times found the show dull and "aimless",[10] and so did audiences, as it closed after 25 previews and four regular performances.[11]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Cullen, p. 484
  2. ^ Chase, p. 365
  3. ^ a b c d "Tony Hart", Internet Accuracy Project, accessed October 1, 2014
  4. ^ Kenrick, John. "Who's Who in Musicals: Hale-Harris", Musicals101.com
  5. ^ Moody, p. ?
  6. ^ Kahn Jr., E. J. The Merry Partners: The Act and Stage of Harrigan and Hart. New York: Random House, Inc., 1955
  7. ^ Greenleaf, pp. 375–76; and "New Theatre Comique", Internet Broadway Database
  8. ^ Cullen, p. 487
  9. ^ "Mark Hart, Actor, Dies; Veteran of 50 Years on Stage Was Former Officer of Lambs". The New York Times. November 28, 1950. p. 30.
  10. ^ Rich, Frank. "Stage: Harrigan 'n Hart Opens at the Longacre", The New York Times, February 1, 1985, accessed October 1, 2014
  11. ^ Harrigan 'n Hart, Internet Broadway Database, accessed October 1, 2014

References edit

  • Chase, Gilbert (2000). America's Music: From the Pilgrims to the Present. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-00454-X.
  • Frank Cullen; Florence Hackman; Donald McNeilly (2007). Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-93853-2.
  • Greenleaf, Jonathan A History of the Churches, of All Denominations, in the City of New York (New York: E. French, 1846)
  • Moody, Richard. Ned Harrigan: From Corlear’s Hook to Herald Square. Chicago: Nelson-Hall Inc., 1980

tony, hart, theater, this, article, about, american, theatrical, performer, english, artist, television, personality, tony, hart, tony, hart, born, anthony, cannon, july, 1855, november, 1891, american, actor, comedian, singer, best, known, working, with, edwa. This article is about the American theatrical performer For the English artist and television personality see Tony Hart Tony Hart born Anthony J Cannon July 25 1855 November 4 1891 was an American actor comedian and singer He is best known for working with Edward Harrigan in the late 19th century comedy team of Harrigan amp Hart Undated cabinet card portrait of HartHe met Harrigan in 1870 The two became a fixture at the Theatre Comique in New York City by the mid 1870s performing in Harrigan s farcical sketches The slight and short Hart usually portrayed the female roles in their comic sketches and plays Their breakthrough hit was the 1873 song and sketch The Mulligan Guard a lampoon of an Irish neighborhood militia with music by David Braham It became their signature piece and they featured it in many of their slapstick skits and plays The team s last Broadway performance was in May 1885 Hart s health and financial condition both deteriorated and he died at the age of 36 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 The Mulligan Guard 3 Later years 4 Harrigan n Hart 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life and career editHart was born in Worcester Massachusetts and began his career in Boston He met Harrigan in Chicago in 1870 and soon changed his name to Tony Hart Harrigan and Hart went in 1871 to Boston where they had their first big success at John Stetson s Howard Athenaeum 1 They then moved on to New York where they first worked with Tony Pastor before beginning a long run at Josh Hart s Theatre Comique By the mid 1870s they began moving from the variety show toward musical theatre Harrigan s sketches on the Comique s crowded bill featured comic Irish German and black characters drawn from everyday life on the streets of New York The slight and short Hart usually portrayed the female roles in their comic sketches and plays They began moving from the variety show toward musical theatre 2 The Mulligan Guard edit nbsp Their breakthrough hit was the 1873 song and sketch The Mulligan Guard a lampoon of an Irish neighborhood militia with music by David Braham who would become their musical director and Harrigan s father in law It became their signature piece and they featured it in many of their slapstick skits and plays 3 In 1876 Harrigan took over the Comique himself along with Hart and manager Martin Hanley By 1878 with The Mulligan Guard Picnic Harrigan amp Hart settled down on Broadway and performed in seventeen of their shows over the next seven years 4 Their most popular musical was the Mulligan Guard s Ball 1880 Though still broad and farcical full of chaos and hilarity these shows integrated music with a more literary story line together with dance and they began to resemble modern musical comedy Harrigan wrote the stories and lyrics and Braham wrote the music The action of the plays took place in downtown Manhattan and concerned real life problems such as interracial tensions political corruption and gang violence all mixed with broad street smart comedy puns and ethnic dialects Harrigan played the politically ambitious Irish saloon owner Dan Mulligan and Hart played the African American washerwoman Rebecca Allup in blackface 5 page needed Although the Theatre Comique was eventually shut down for financial reasons Harrigan and Hart announced in 1881 that they would build a fresh and elegant New Theatre Comique several blocks further north on Broadway The building they renovated was originally the home of the Church of the Messiah but had hosted many other theatres throughout the years 6 page needed However this theatre was not to last it burned to the ground in 1884 7 After the theatre collapsed so did the partnership Harrigan s habit of hiring relatives soured his partnership with Hart In May 1885 five months after the fire Harrigan and Hart appeared on Broadway together for the last time 3 Later years editHart and his wife Gertie Granville went on to appear in other productions but he never achieved the popularity that he had enjoyed with Harrigan Diagnosed with paresis as the mental symptoms of tertiary syphilis were then known his financial condition declined along with his health 8 His friends and fans mounted a benefit production on March 22 1888 to raise funds for his living expenses and medical treatment He developed dementia and spent most of his last years in a state mental institution 3 He died in Worcester Massachusetts at the age of 36 from complications of advanced syphilis He is buried in St John s Cemetery in Worcester 3 His nephew was actor Mark Hart 9 Harrigan n Hart editIn 1985 a musical celebrating the rise of the partnership Harrigan N Hart opened on Broadway The show has a book by Michael Stewart lyrics by Peter Walker and music by Max Showalter is based on the book The Merry Partners by Ely Jacques Kahn Jr and material found by Nedda Harrigan Logan Harry Groener portrayed Harrigan Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame played Hart Christine Ebersole was Gertie and Joe Layton directed Frank Rich of The New York Times found the show dull and aimless 10 and so did audiences as it closed after 25 previews and four regular performances 11 Notes edit Cullen p 484 Chase p 365 a b c d Tony Hart Internet Accuracy Project accessed October 1 2014 Kenrick John Who s Who in Musicals Hale Harris Musicals101 com Moody p Kahn Jr E J The Merry Partners The Act and Stage of Harrigan and Hart New York Random House Inc 1955 Greenleaf pp 375 76 and New Theatre Comique Internet Broadway Database Cullen p 487 Mark Hart Actor Dies Veteran of 50 Years on Stage Was Former Officer of Lambs The New York Times November 28 1950 p 30 Rich Frank Stage Harrigan n Hart Opens at the Longacre The New York Times February 1 1985 accessed October 1 2014 Harrigan n Hart Internet Broadway Database accessed October 1 2014References editChase Gilbert 2000 America s Music From the Pilgrims to the Present University of Illinois Press ISBN 0 252 00454 X Frank Cullen Florence Hackman Donald McNeilly 2007 Vaudeville Old and New An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America Routledge ISBN 978 0 415 93853 2 Greenleaf Jonathan A History of the Churches of All Denominations in the City of New York New York E French 1846 Moody Richard Ned Harrigan From Corlear s Hook to Herald Square Chicago Nelson Hall Inc 1980 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Hart theater amp oldid 1210024605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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