Howard Vernon (Australian actor)
Encyclopedia
Howard Vernon was an Australia
n actor best known for his performances in comic roles of Gilbert and Sullivan
operas.
Vernon developed a pleasing light tenor
voice. In 1873, he played in a season of opera bouffes with the Alice May
company. He joined an opera company that toured India. In 1874, he organized a company of his own, Royal English Opera Company, which went to China and in 1877 to Japan, where he was one of the earliest actors of European birth to appear on the Japanese stage. He later played Ange Pitou in La fille de Madame Angot
, and Fritz in The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein in England with Alice May's company. Vernon then crossed to America and played with Emilie Melville at San Francisco.
He returned to Australia and took parts in light operas such as Gaspard in Le Cloches de Corneville, and Pippo in La Mascotte
. His reputation was, however, not fully established until he began to play in Gilbert and Sullivan
operas with the J. C. Williamson
company. From 1881 when he took the part of Bunthorne in Patience
, to 1890 when he was Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers
, Vernon was in each Gilbert and Sullivan production in Australia, in most cases creating his part, and playing in revivals in later years. His Ko Ko in The Mikado
was his masterpiece, but he was excellent in everything. His singing voice deteriorated as he grew older, but his rendering of patter song
s was very good, his diction was admirably clear, and his dry humour was used with artistic restraint. After a retirement he played King Paramount in Utopia, Limited
in 1906, and afterwards travelled with a company in New Zealand
and played for some years in Great Britain.
He returned to Australia in 1914 and retired from the stage. In 1920 he was given a benefit, and he died at Melbourne on 26 July 1921. He left a widow, the singer Vinia de Loitte (whom he had married in 1906), two sons and two daughters by his earlier marriage.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n actor best known for his performances in comic roles of Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operas.
Biography
Vernon was born in Collins-street, Melbourne. His name was originally John Lett. On 2 February 1870, as Norman Letville, he married an actress, Mary Jane Walker (d. 1905). They had nine children.Vernon developed a pleasing light tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
voice. In 1873, he played in a season of opera bouffes with the Alice May
Alice May
Alice May , sometimes known as Louise Allen, was an English singer and actress, perhaps best remembered as the creator of the soprano role of Aline in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer ....
company. He joined an opera company that toured India. In 1874, he organized a company of his own, Royal English Opera Company, which went to China and in 1877 to Japan, where he was one of the earliest actors of European birth to appear on the Japanese stage. He later played Ange Pitou in La fille de Madame Angot
La fille de Madame Angot
La fille de Madame Angot is an opéra comique in three acts by Charles Lecocq. The French text was by Clairville, Paul Siraudin and Victor Koning.-Performance history:...
, and Fritz in The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein in England with Alice May's company. Vernon then crossed to America and played with Emilie Melville at San Francisco.
He returned to Australia and took parts in light operas such as Gaspard in Le Cloches de Corneville, and Pippo in La Mascotte
La mascotte
La mascotte is an opéra comique by Edmond Audran. The French libretto was by Alfred Duru and Henri Charles Chivot. The story concerns a farm girl who is believed to bring good luck to whoever possesses her, so long as she remains a virgin...
. His reputation was, however, not fully established until he began to play in Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operas with the J. C. Williamson
J. C. Williamson
James Cassius Williamson was an American actor and later Australia's foremost theatrical manager, founding J. C. Williamson Ltd....
company. From 1881 when he took the part of Bunthorne in Patience
Patience (opera)
Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride, is a comic opera in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. First performed at the Opera Comique, London, on 23 April 1881, it moved to the 1,292-seat Savoy Theatre on 10 October 1881, where it was the first theatrical production in the...
, to 1890 when he was Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers
The Gondoliers
The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances , closing on 30 June 1891...
, Vernon was in each Gilbert and Sullivan production in Australia, in most cases creating his part, and playing in revivals in later years. His Ko Ko in The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
was his masterpiece, but he was excellent in everything. His singing voice deteriorated as he grew older, but his rendering of patter song
Patter song
The patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note...
s was very good, his diction was admirably clear, and his dry humour was used with artistic restraint. After a retirement he played King Paramount in Utopia, Limited
Utopia, Limited
Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress, is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was the second-to-last of Gilbert and Sullivan's fourteen collaborations, premiering on 7 October 1893 for a run of 245 performances...
in 1906, and afterwards travelled with a company in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and played for some years in Great Britain.
He returned to Australia in 1914 and retired from the stage. In 1920 he was given a benefit, and he died at Melbourne on 26 July 1921. He left a widow, the singer Vinia de Loitte (whom he had married in 1906), two sons and two daughters by his earlier marriage.
External links
- Howard Vernon (1848-1921) Gravesite at Brighton General Cemetery (Vic)