22:
428:
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The company is fortunate in having at its head so accomplished an actress as Miss Ada
Blanche. Her vivacious but refined method, her expressive singing, clever dancing, and general daintiness of touch have long since made her a favourite with local theatre-goers, as was abundantly proved by the
127:
and her husband, Sam Adams, a theatre manager. The couple had five children, all of whom were later professionally associated with the theatre, including
Rosaline, known professionally as Rosie Nott, who married the impresario
530:, in which she had the non-singing comic role of Mrs Smith, the wife of the protagonist. The piece ran from April 1909 until August 1911. Courtneidge later cast her in three more of his productions: she played Mitsu in
480:
telephone girl, and as the interest centres in Lottie Myrtle and her love affair, it need hardly be said that she once again proved her right to be accorded a high rank among
English actresses of vaudeville and
408:. The paper commented, "Miss Ada Blanche as Robinson Crusoe would probably have astonished Daniel Defoe; but her liveliness and amusing impertinence atoned for lack of fidelity to the original character." In
418:
thought she "sang well, danced well and acted well", going onto say: "she was the life and soul of the evening. When the entertainment was flagging, on she came with her relentless spirit and energy."
65:
in London's most lavishly staged pantomimes. In the 20th century her career changed to playing comic, formidable older women. Her most celebrated role of this kind was in the hit musical
263:
250:
commented, "Miss Cecily Nott has a nice voice, which she would do well not to force too much. Miss Ada
Blanche was pleasant and ingenuous, if not very finished." The theatre historian
344:
Blanche was only briefly among the top names in West End burlesque, but in the 1890s she achieved and maintained the highest degree of stardom in pantomime under the management of
230:. Blanche was cast as the Princess, and her sister Addie Blanche took the title role. In 1882 Ada played the soprano role of Fiametta, to her mother's Peronella, in
57:
Born into a theatrical family, Blanche made her stage debut at the age of fourteen and had a forty-five year career, almost exclusively on the
British stage, in the
254:
writes that
Blanche left this engagement "to fulfil the kind of substantial pantomime principal boy engagement which would be the backbone of her early career".
1006:
124:
293:'s touring company, together with her mother and another sister, Edith Blanche. Between tours Blanche was establishing herself in the
485:
Outside the pantomime season, Blanche's West End seasons during the late 1890s and early 1900s were few. In 1898 she co-starred with
1021:
1011:
82:
and other comedies in non-singing roles between 1906 and her retirement in 1921. Among her co-stars during her long career were
307:
42:; 16 July 1862 – 1 January 1953) was an English actress and singer known early in her career for vivacious performances in
1001:
928:
829:
857:
643:
740:
285:
In 1883–84 Blanche toured with Lila Clay's all-women operetta company; in 1885 she went to the US, joining the Holmes
712:
348:
at Drury Lane. In the six seasons from
December 1892 she starred there in the theatre's lavish pantomime versions of
1016:
333:
996:
801:
1031:
360:
885:
513:, which ran for six months. She played in Robert Courteidge's pantomimes in 1903 to 1905 and toured in a
912:
684:
227:
178:
165:, playing Polly Flamborough to her mother's Mrs Primrose. In the same year she appeared in her first
26:
444:
51:
862:
745:
648:
526:
246:
67:
467:
debuted in 1896 and toured the provinces off and on until 1900, with
Blanche in the title role.
452:
1026:
298:
161:
542:(1921). Under other managements in 1917, she played Miss Carruthers in a "comedy of terrors",
524:
The great West End success of
Blanche's career came in her mid-40s in the hit musical comedy
991:
986:
498:
321:
240:
83:
8:
834:
414:
286:
43:
133:
129:
72:
626:, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, January 2011, retrieved 13 June 2014
509:, as Cleopatra to Grossmith's Mark Antony. In 1903 she was in another musical comedy,
235:
965:
378:
717:
562:
405:
294:
279:
156:
58:
21:
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parts in this and later shows. On tour or in London she played in the burlesques
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777:
619:
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980:
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316:
315:, and when Edwardes assembled touring companies Blanche was cast in Farren's
312:
231:
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166:
62:
969:
251:
933:
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198:
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99:
147:. In 1878 she toured in Britain with the actor-manager Charles Calvert in
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186:
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29:
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ran for only four months. When it closed, Blanche retired, first to
476:
cordiality of her reception last night. Miss
Blanche is, of course,
577:
397:
271:
87:
372:
210:
For the 1880 pantomime season, Blanche returned to Drury Lane in
120:
443:
As the 1890s went on, Blanche was given a few starring roles in
266:
Blanche's pantomime co-stars included (clockwise from top left)
139:
At the age of fourteen Blanche made her stage debut in London's
830:"Miss Ada Blanche, Dick Whittington, Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane"
79:
514:
331:(1887), and, as Farren aged, Blanche took the title roles in
557:
Despite a starry cast in which Blanche's co-stars included
257:
576:
Blanche never married. She died at St. Mary's Convent in
784:, Oxford University Press, 2004, retrieved 13 June 2014
497:, which ran only briefly; the following year she joined
964:(fifth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons.
185:
in a rival version of Goldsmith's story, adapted by
620:"Courtneidge, Dame (Esmerelda) Cicely (1893–1980)"
289:Company on tour. Returning to Britain she joined
123:, London, the daughter of the singer and actress
978:
644:"The Prince's Theatre: The Vicar of Wakefield"
214:. The principal breeches part was played by
61:and on tour. In the 1890s she was a leading
78:Beyond musical comedy, Blanche appeared in
1007:Actors from the London Borough of Lambeth
447:. Harris presented an English version of
426:
392:for mention before her famous co-stars,
305:, in a supporting role in the burlesque
261:
258:Touring and burlesque; pantomime stardom
20:
782:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
624:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
311:. She understudied the theatre's star,
201:. For the same company she appeared in
979:
959:
858:"Prince's Theatre: The Telephone Girl"
538:(1913), and Lady Elizabeth Weston in
25:Blanche as Robinson Crusoe in 1893–94
772:
770:
768:
766:
764:
721:. London. 24 February 1881. p. 4
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
459:. With an English text by Harris and
71:(1909), staged by her brother-in-law
580:on 1 January 1953 at the age of 90.
937:. London. 4 January 1953. p. 5
13:
761:
590:
109:
14:
1043:
741:"The Prince's Theatre: Boccaccio"
612:
546:, and Madame Morney in the farce
50:and later in character roles in
921:
906:
878:
850:
822:
422:
181:. In 1879–80 she played at the
1022:20th-century English actresses
1012:19th-century English actresses
929:"News Miscellany: Ada Blanche"
794:
733:
705:
677:
670:"Imperial Afternoon Theatre",
664:
636:
297:. In 1886 she appeared at the
114:
1:
838:. 26 January 1895. p. 14
749:. 14 November 1882. p. 8
693:. 28 December 1880. p. 4
583:
534:(1911), Mrs Baxter-Browne in
788:UK public library membership
630:UK public library membership
361:Dick Whittington and His Cat
7:
945:– via Newspapers.com.
902:– via Newspapers.com.
874:– via Newspapers.com.
846:– via Newspapers.com.
818:– via Newspapers.com.
757:– via Newspapers.com.
729:– via Newspapers.com.
713:"Drury-Lane – Mother Goose"
701:– via Newspapers.com.
660:– via Newspapers.com.
652:. 20 August 1878. p. 5
573:and later to west London.
334:Ruy Blas and the Blasé Roué
10:
1048:
1002:Women of the Victorian era
953:
810:. 12 March 1894. p. 6
778:"Blanche, Ada (1863–1953)"
449:La demoiselle du téléphone
301:, under the management of
16:English actress and singer
917:The Stage Year Book, 1917
386:, she was singled out by
234:'s touring production of
179:Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
40:Ada Cecilia Blanche Adams
962:Who's Who in the Theatre
894:. 1 May 1899. p. 14
866:. 9 June 1896. p. 7
674:, 17 February 1880, p. 8
218:, and the cast included
52:Edwardian musical comedy
1017:English stage actresses
863:The Manchester Guardian
746:The Manchester Guardian
649:The Manchester Guardian
469:The Manchester Guardian
382:. In the title role of
247:The Manchester Guardian
511:The Medal and the Maid
483:
440:
437:The Medal and the Maid
282:
162:The Vicar of Wakefield
145:Little Goody Two Shoes
132:and was the mother of
32:
997:English women singers
960:Parker, John (1925).
521:, from 1906 to 1908.
473:
430:
265:
173:, playing Dandini in
24:
802:"Drury Lane Theatre"
499:George Grossmith Jr.
453:Maurice Desvallières
322:Little Jack Sheppard
119:Blanche was born in
84:George Grossmith Jr.
1032:People from Brixton
618:Pepys-Whiteley, D.
519:What the Butler Saw
346:Sir Augustus Harris
44:Victorian burlesque
465:The Telephone Girl
441:
283:
134:Cicely Courtneidge
130:Robert Courtneidge
73:Robert Courtneidge
33:
913:"The Spring Song"
786:(subscription or
628:(subscription or
451:, an operette by
412:, a reporter for
379:Babes in the Wood
155:'s adaptation of
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973:
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886:"Comedy Theatre"
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563:C. Hayden Coffin
410:Dick Whittington
406:Herbert Campbell
308:Monte Cristo Jr.
280:Herbert Campbell
183:Imperial Theatre
143:Christmas show,
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559:Walter Passmore
550:with the young
548:The Spring Song
487:Courtice Pounds
457:Gaston Serpette
425:
384:Robinson Crusoe
355:Robinson Crusoe
303:George Edwardes
291:Dion Boucicault
260:
141:Adelphi Theatre
117:
112:
110:Life and career
96:Walter Passmore
17:
12:
11:
5:
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567:The Rebel Maid
540:The Rebel Maid
536:The Pearl Girl
495:The Royal Star
479:
445:musical comedy
424:
421:
350:Little Bo-Peep
328:Miss Esmeralda
299:Gaiety Theatre
259:
256:
228:Arthur Roberts
204:As You Like It
116:
113:
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108:
15:
9:
6:
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2:
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1027:Edwardian era
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776:Gänzl, Kurt.
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609:Parker, p. 87
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527:The Arcadians
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508:
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503:Willie Edouin
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461:F. C. Burnand
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317:principal boy
314:
313:Nellie Farren
310:
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233:
232:Emily Soldene
229:
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206:
205:
200:
196:
195:Lionel Brough
192:
189:and starring
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168:
167:breeches role
164:
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68:The Arcadians
64:
63:principal boy
60:
55:
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41:
37:
31:
28:
23:
19:
961:
939:. Retrieved
934:The Observer
932:
923:
916:
908:
896:. Retrieved
889:
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868:. Retrieved
861:
852:
840:. Retrieved
833:
824:
812:. Retrieved
805:
796:
781:
751:. Retrieved
744:
735:
723:. Retrieved
718:The Standard
716:
707:
695:. Retrieved
688:
685:"Drury-Lane"
679:
671:
666:
654:. Retrieved
647:
638:
623:
614:
575:
566:
556:
547:
543:
539:
535:
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507:Great Caesar
506:
494:
491:Lottie Venne
484:
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423:Later career
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332:
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306:
284:
245:
239:
238:'s operetta
220:John D'Auban
216:Kate Santley
212:Mother Goose
211:
209:
202:
199:Kyrle Bellew
191:Marie Litton
174:
160:
148:
144:
138:
118:
100:Kate Santley
77:
66:
56:
39:
35:
34:
18:
992:1953 deaths
987:1862 births
941:7 September
898:7 September
870:7 September
842:7 September
814:7 September
753:7 September
725:7 September
697:7 September
656:7 September
433:Tom Terriss
402:Marie Lloyd
394:Little Tich
339:Joan of Arc
337:(1890) and
325:(1886) and
276:Marie Lloyd
268:Little Tich
224:Frank Wyatt
153:W. G. Wills
125:Cicely Nott
115:Early years
104:Little Tich
92:Marie Lloyd
36:Ada Blanche
981:Categories
584:References
552:Ralph Lynn
544:Seven Days
532:The Mousme
481:burlesque.
471:observed:
367:Cinderella
252:Kurt Gänzl
187:Tom Taylor
175:Cinderella
27:Drury Lane
891:The Times
807:The Times
790:required)
690:The Times
672:The Times
632:required)
571:Yorkshire
389:The Times
287:Burlesque
241:Boccaccio
207:in 1880.
171:pantomime
157:Goldsmith
48:pantomime
30:pantomime
970:10013159
578:Chiswick
398:Dan Leno
341:(1891).
295:West End
272:Dan Leno
88:Dan Leno
59:West End
954:Sources
835:The Era
415:The Era
373:Aladdin
177:at the
121:Brixton
968:
439:, 1903
149:Olivia
80:farces
38:(born
515:farce
431:With
236:Suppé
966:OCLC
943:2023
900:2023
872:2023
844:2023
816:2023
755:2023
727:2023
699:2023
658:2023
561:and
501:and
489:and
455:and
404:and
376:and
278:and
226:and
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