Cecil Sheridan
Encyclopedia
Cecil Sheridan was an Irish
comedian and actor who performed in variety shows and pantomimes in Ireland
and Great Britain
during a versatile career spanning over forty years.
. In a bid to cure a stammer
he sought opportunities to perform in public. He made his stage debut at the age of twenty when he won £100 in a talent show. However, he continued to work in his father's business until 1937 when, after winning another talent contest, he decided to become a fulltime stage performer.
s, variety shows, and pantomimes kept the spirit of the old music hall
and vaudeville
alive on the Dublin stage well into the era of television.
He performed frequently at Dublin's Queen's Theatre
from 1940 onwards, and he appeared also on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Dublin
. In 1976, he was deemed by The Irish Times
to have "stolen the show" when he performed his own songs in Noel Pearson
's production of You Ain't Heard Nuttin' Yet at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. He was a regular at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin
, and was one of the leaders of the campaign to raise funds for the theatre's restoration following the collapse of the proscenium arch in 1974. He appeared in the first show to be staged at the Olympia when it reopened in March 1977.
Sheridan wrote his own material, including pantomimes. Three days before his version of Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs was due to begin its run, he learnt that Walt Disney
's feature-length cartoon of the same name
was about to open at a nearby cinema. He set to work immediately on a new pantomime, Mother Goose
, and had it ready for its first performance on the date planned for Snow White. He also wrote humorous songs and his clever use of wordplay earned him the title of "Parody
King". Among his most popular songs were "Hannigan's Hooley" and "Mick McGilligan's Daughter".
Sheridan toured Scotland
with Andy Stewart
and performed at the Metropole Theatre in London
.
As an actor Sheridan appeared in a number of stage plays including the world première of Brian Friel
's Crystal and Fox, in which he played the supporting role of Pedro in a Hilton Edwards
production at the Gaiety Theatre. He was also among the cast of several films shot in Ireland, for instance, Ulysses and Where's Jack?
. One of his more unusual acting roles came in 1966 when he portrayed the trade union leader, James Larkin
, in a pageant staged in Croke Park
to commemorate the Irish struggle for independence.
One of Sheridan's last live appearances was in The Heart's A Wonder, a musical
based on John Millington Synge
's Playboy of the Western World, which was staged at Limerick
's Crescent Theatre in September 1978.
Sheridan's writings form part of the Irish Theatre Archive held at the Dublin City Archive
.
, and two daughters, Ann and Barbara. Cecil Sheridan died aged 69 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
comedian and actor who performed in variety shows and pantomimes in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
during a versatile career spanning over forty years.
Early life
Sheridan was the son of a Dublin upholsterer, also named Cecil, and his wife, Catherine. His mother died of tubercolosis when he was six and he and his siblings were raised by his father. He was educated at Synge Street CBSSynge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS is a Christian Brothers School in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was founded in 1864.-Primary school:The primary section caters for boys from seven to twelve years. It is called Sancta Maria CBS. It opened in 1954.-Secondary school:...
. In a bid to cure a stammer
Stuttering
Stuttering , also known as stammering , is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words or phrases, and involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the stutterer is unable to produce sounds...
he sought opportunities to perform in public. He made his stage debut at the age of twenty when he won £100 in a talent show. However, he continued to work in his father's business until 1937 when, after winning another talent contest, he decided to become a fulltime stage performer.
Career
Sheridan's performances in revueRevue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
s, variety shows, and pantomimes kept the spirit of the old music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
alive on the Dublin stage well into the era of television.
He performed frequently at Dublin's Queen's Theatre
Queen's Theatre, Dublin
The Queen's Theatre, Dublin, located in Pearse Street was originally built in 1829 as the Adelphi Theatre. This building was demolished in 1844 and rebuilt. It reopened that same year as the Queens Royal Theatre, the new owner having been granted a Royal Patent to operate as a patent theatre. The...
from 1940 onwards, and he appeared also on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Dublin
Theatre Royal, Dublin
At one stage in the history of the theatre in Britain and Ireland, the designation Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre was an indication that the theatre was granted a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal...
. In 1976, he was deemed by The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
to have "stolen the show" when he performed his own songs in Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson (film and theatre producer)
-Film credits:His film credits include My Left Foot, which received five Academy Award nominations , and won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress...
's production of You Ain't Heard Nuttin' Yet at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. He was a regular at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall/theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.-History:Built in 1879, it was originally called the "Star of Erin Music Hall". Two years later in 1881, it was renamed "Dan Lowrey's Music Hall" and was renamed again in 1889 to "Dan Lowrey's Palace of...
, and was one of the leaders of the campaign to raise funds for the theatre's restoration following the collapse of the proscenium arch in 1974. He appeared in the first show to be staged at the Olympia when it reopened in March 1977.
Sheridan wrote his own material, including pantomimes. Three days before his version of Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
and the Seven Dwarfs was due to begin its run, he learnt that Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's feature-length cartoon of the same name
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
was about to open at a nearby cinema. He set to work immediately on a new pantomime, Mother Goose
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
, and had it ready for its first performance on the date planned for Snow White. He also wrote humorous songs and his clever use of wordplay earned him the title of "Parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
King". Among his most popular songs were "Hannigan's Hooley" and "Mick McGilligan's Daughter".
Sheridan toured Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with Andy Stewart
Andy Stewart (musician)
Andrew "Andy" Stewart MBE was a Scottish singer and entertainer.-Career:The use of tartan patriotism and stereotypical Scottish humour goes back to Sir Harry Lauder and music hall songs. In the 1960s this strand was continued by the entertainer Andy Stewart.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in...
and performed at the Metropole Theatre 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...
.
As an actor Sheridan appeared in a number of stage plays including the world première of Brian Friel
Brian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
's Crystal and Fox, in which he played the supporting role of Pedro in a Hilton Edwards
Hilton Edwards
Hilton Edwards was an English-born Irish actor and theatrical producer. He was the son of Thomas George Cecil Edwards and Emily Edwards ....
production at the Gaiety Theatre. He was also among the cast of several films shot in Ireland, for instance, Ulysses and Where's Jack?
Where's Jack?
Where's Jack? is a 1969 film based around the exploits of notorious 18th century criminal Jack Sheppard and London "thieftaker" Jonathan Wild....
. One of his more unusual acting roles came in 1966 when he portrayed the trade union leader, James Larkin
James Larkin
James Larkin was an Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. He and his family later moved to a small cottage in Burren, southern County Down. Growing up in poverty, he received little formal education and began working in a variety of jobs...
, in a pageant staged in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to commemorate the Irish struggle for independence.
One of Sheridan's last live appearances was in The Heart's A Wonder, a musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
based on John Millington Synge
John Millington Synge
Edmund John Millington Synge was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre...
's Playboy of the Western World, which was staged at Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
's Crescent Theatre in September 1978.
Sheridan's writings form part of the Irish Theatre Archive held at the Dublin City Archive
Dublin City Public Libraries and Archive
Dublin City Public Libraries represents the largest library authority in the Republic of Ireland, serving over half a million people through a network of 41 branch libraries and service points....
.
Personal life
Sheridan's wife, Ann Doyle, predeceased him in 1978. Towards the end of his life he credited her with restoring his Catholic faith, which had lapsed during his bachelor days. They had three children, a son, Noel, who was director of Dublin's National College of Art and DesignNational College of Art and Design
The National College of Art and Design is a national art and design school in Dublin, Ireland.-History:Situated on Thomas Street, the NCAD started as a private drawing school and has become a national institution educating over 1,500 day and evening students as artists, designers and art educators...
, and two daughters, Ann and Barbara. Cecil Sheridan died aged 69 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
.
External links
- Cecil Sheridan at Irish Playography
- Cecil Sheridan at the Internet Movie Database
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPn9Hug2K_wMaureen PotterMaureen PotterMaria Philomena Potter , known as Maureen Potter, was an acclaimed Irish singer, actor, comedian and performer.-Life:...
performing "Hannigan's Hooley" on YouTube]