Alma Murray
Encyclopedia
Alma Murray was an English
actress, born in London
, the daughter of an actor, Leigh Murray. Her father's real surname was 'Wilson'. His brother was Gaston Murray (real name Gaston Parker Wilson) whose daughters often used the double-barreled stage-name 'Gaston-Murray' and were well-known performers with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
.
Her first appearance was at the Olympic
in 1870 as Sacharissa in The Princess. She played at the Lyceum
with Irving
in 1879 and at different West End theatres from 1882 to 1897, and took a prominent part in the few attempts to produce the dramas of Shelley
and Browning
, playing Beatrice in The Cenci (1886) and Mildred in A Blot in the 'Scutcheon (1888). She played Helena in John Todhunter
's Helena in Troas (1886). Alma Murray married the poet Alfred William Forman (1840-1925), who translated some of Wagner's
librettos. She played Mrs. Maylie in Oliver Twist (1905), (1912), the Queen in Pelleas and Melisande (1911), Lady Dedmond in Galsworthy's
Fugitive (1913), and Mrs. Eynsford-Hill in Shaw's
Pygmalion (1914).
A collection of letters between Murray and George Bernard Shaw was privately published in Edinburgh in 1927.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress, born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the daughter of an actor, Leigh Murray. Her father's real surname was 'Wilson'. His brother was Gaston Murray (real name Gaston Parker Wilson) whose daughters often used the double-barreled stage-name 'Gaston-Murray' and were well-known performers with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
.
Her first appearance was at the Olympic
Olympic Theatre
The Olympic Theatre, sometimes known as the Royal Olympic Theatre, was a 19th-century London theatre, opened in 1806 and located at the junction of Drury Lane, Wych Street, and Newcastle Street. The theatre specialised in comedies throughout much of its existence...
in 1870 as Sacharissa in The Princess. She played at the Lyceum
Lyceum Theatre (London)
The Lyceum Theatre is a 2,000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street, just off the Strand. There has been a theatre with this name in the locality since 1765, and the present site opened on 14 July 1834 to a design by Samuel Beazley. The building was unique...
with Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
in 1879 and at different West End theatres from 1882 to 1897, and took a prominent part in the few attempts to produce the dramas of Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
and Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
, playing Beatrice in The Cenci (1886) and Mildred in A Blot in the 'Scutcheon (1888). She played Helena in John Todhunter
John Todhunter
John Todhunter was an Irish poet and playwright who wrote seven volumes of poetry, and several plays.- Life :...
's Helena in Troas (1886). Alma Murray married the poet Alfred William Forman (1840-1925), who translated some of Wagner's
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
librettos. She played Mrs. Maylie in Oliver Twist (1905), (1912), the Queen in Pelleas and Melisande (1911), Lady Dedmond in Galsworthy's
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy OM was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter...
Fugitive (1913), and Mrs. Eynsford-Hill in Shaw's
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
Pygmalion (1914).
A collection of letters between Murray and George Bernard Shaw was privately published in Edinburgh in 1927.