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Apparently, you don't even know what city the ''Musical News'' was reporting from, so keep it simple. It was certainly not London.
→‎Career: reduced this to a sensible statement. Please do not add silly garbage back into the article.
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Between March 1895 and March 1896, Thorne had a long run in ''[[Gentleman Joe]]'' at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]], originating the role of Dawson, then from April to June 1896 sang the part of General Tomassino in [[Jerome K. Jerome]]'s ''Biarritz'', at the same theatre.<ref>Wearing (2013), pp. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA244#v=onepage&q&f=false 244], [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA291#v=onepage&q&f=false 291]</ref>
Between March 1895 and March 1896, Thorne had a long run in ''[[Gentleman Joe]]'' at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]], originating the role of Dawson, then from April to June 1896 sang the part of General Tomassino in [[Jerome K. Jerome]]'s ''Biarritz'', at the same theatre.<ref>Wearing (2013), pp. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA244#v=onepage&q&f=false 244], [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA291#v=onepage&q&f=false 291]</ref>


On 11 September 1897, Thorne sang the part of Hilarius, the dollmaker, in a single matinee performance of ''[[La poupée|La Poupée]]'' at the Prince of Wales, which was to launch a provincial tour,<ref>Wearing (2013), [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA354#v=onepage&q&f=false p. 354]</ref> an unusual event arranged at the suggestion of [[Henry Lowenfeld]].<ref>D. Forbes-Winslow, ''Daly's: the Biography of a Theatre'' (Allen, 1944), p. 92</ref> He continued to sing the part for several years;<ref name=carte/> in 1899, the ''Musical News'' reported that "Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts".<ref>''Musical News'', Volume 17 (1899), p. 497: "At the Theatre Royal "La Poupée" is paying its first visit there this week, it having before been heard at the Royalty. Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr. Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts."</ref> In 1905, ''[[The Oxford Magazine]]'' gave both Thorne and Gastelle warm reviews for the show;<ref>[[The Oxford Magazine]], Volume 24 (The Proprietors, 1906), p. 16</ref> and the ''[[Western Morning News]]'' said in Thorne's obituary that he had had an unbroken run of eight years in the part.<ref name=WMN>"Death of Mr. E. Thorne" in ''[[Western Morning News]]'' (Devon, England), 29 November 1922, p. 5</ref> However, as Thorne also sang other roles during those years, the run was not continuous.<ref>[https://theatricalia.com/person/cq9/eric-thorne Eric Thorne] at theatricalia.com, accessed 13 April 2020</ref>
On 11 September 1897, Thorne sang the part of Hilarius, the dollmaker, in a single matinee performance of ''[[La poupée|La Poupée]]'' at the Prince of Wales, which was to launch a provincial tour,<ref>Wearing (2013), [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nF8pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA354#v=onepage&q&f=false p. 354]</ref> an unusual event arranged at the suggestion of [[Henry Lowenfeld]].<ref>D. Forbes-Winslow, ''Daly's: the Biography of a Theatre'' (Allen, 1944), p. 92</ref> He continued to sing the part for several years;<ref name=carte/> in 1899, the ''Musical News'' reported that "Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts".<ref>''Musical News'', Volume 17 (1899), p. 497: "At the Theatre Royal "La Poupée" is paying its first visit there this week, it having before been heard at the Royalty. Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr. Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts."</ref> In 1905, ''[[The Oxford Magazine]]'' gave both Thorne and Gastelle warm reviews for the show;<ref>[[The Oxford Magazine]], Volume 24 (The Proprietors, 1906), p. 16</ref> and an obituary stated that Thorne played for eight years in the part.<ref name=WMN>"Death of Mr. E. Thorne" in ''[[Western Morning News]]'' (Devon, England), 29 November 1922, p. 5</ref>


In 1908, Thorne was Baron Popoff in a touring production of ''[[The Merry Widow]]'', and his performance, "clothed by his characteristic gesture and mannerism", was praised in the ''[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]''.<ref>"Mr. Eric Thorne" in the ''[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]'' (Yorkshire, England), 01 December 1908, p. 4</ref> A later Theatre history comments that "Thorne made a big hit on tour in George Graves' part of Baron Popoff in ''The Merry Widow''."<ref name=DFW>Forbes-Winslow (1944), p. 91</ref> Between 1909 and 1910, he toured in a [[George Edwardes]] production of ''[[The Dollar Princess]]'', singing Mr Bulgar, with the ''[[Leeds Mercury]]'' reporting that he "gagged with conspicuous daring and success".<ref>"The Dollar Princess Matinee" in ''[[Leeds Mercury]]'' (Yorkshire, England), 17 December 1909, p. 4; "Sidney Lewis Ransom" in ''[[Coventry Herald]]'' (Warwickshire, England), 25 March 1910, p. 1</ref>
In 1908, Thorne was Baron Popoff in a touring production of ''[[The Merry Widow]]'', and his performance, "clothed by his characteristic gesture and mannerism", was praised in the ''[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]''.<ref>"Mr. Eric Thorne" in the ''[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]'' (Yorkshire, England), 01 December 1908, p. 4</ref> A later Theatre history comments that "Thorne made a big hit on tour in George Graves' part of Baron Popoff in ''The Merry Widow''."<ref name=DFW>Forbes-Winslow (1944), p. 91</ref> Between 1909 and 1910, he toured in a [[George Edwardes]] production of ''[[The Dollar Princess]]'', singing Mr Bulgar, with the ''[[Leeds Mercury]]'' reporting that he "gagged with conspicuous daring and success".<ref>"The Dollar Princess Matinee" in ''[[Leeds Mercury]]'' (Yorkshire, England), 17 December 1909, p. 4; "Sidney Lewis Ransom" in ''[[Coventry Herald]]'' (Warwickshire, England), 25 March 1910, p. 1</ref>

Revision as of 03:33, 13 April 2020

Thorne as Baron Popoff
in The Merry Widow

Frederick Thomas Thorne (1862 – 26 November 1922), whose stage name was Eric Thorne, was an English singer and actor in musical theatre and comic opera.

His professional career began in 1884 with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, and he played at London theatres before becoming better known on tour. He was still singing in the early 1920s.

Career

In February 1884, Thorne joined the chorus of a D'Oyly Carte touring company. In the summer of that year, while the company performed at Portsea, he married another member of the company, Ada Dorée.[1][2] In March 1885, Thorne briefly performed the role of King Hildebrand in Princess Ida, and in May he was given the part of Florian in that production and in The Sorcerer took over as Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre. In June 1885, H.M.S. Pinafore was added to the company's repertoire, and Thorne was given the part of Dick Deadeye. He left the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1885.[1]

In the spring of 1888, Thorne sang the part of the Lord Chamberlain in a touring production of The Punch Bowl, a musical comedy about a prince who believes he is invisible.[3] In September of the same year, he appeared in Carina at the Opera Comique in London.[4]

On 29 April 1889, Thorne opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in the comic opera Faddimir, singing the lead part of Faddimir the First,[5] with his wife also in the company.[1] In July 1890, he opened at the Gaiety Theatre in Brander Matthews's melodrama A Gold Mine, which closed in August.[6]

Over the ensuing decades, Thorne continued to make a name for himself in musical theatre in the West End and the touring destinations around Britain, and he also worked overseas, in France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and the United States.[1] He played leading parts in The Lady Dandies, The Little Michus, and A Waltz Dream.[1]

Between March 1895 and March 1896, Thorne had a long run in Gentleman Joe at the Prince of Wales Theatre, originating the role of Dawson, then from April to June 1896 sang the part of General Tomassino in Jerome K. Jerome's Biarritz, at the same theatre.[7]

On 11 September 1897, Thorne sang the part of Hilarius, the dollmaker, in a single matinee performance of La Poupée at the Prince of Wales, which was to launch a provincial tour,[8] an unusual event arranged at the suggestion of Henry Lowenfeld.[9] He continued to sing the part for several years;[1] in 1899, the Musical News reported that "Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts".[10] In 1905, The Oxford Magazine gave both Thorne and Gastelle warm reviews for the show;[11] and an obituary stated that Thorne played for eight years in the part.[12]

In 1908, Thorne was Baron Popoff in a touring production of The Merry Widow, and his performance, "clothed by his characteristic gesture and mannerism", was praised in the Yorkshire Evening Post.[13] A later Theatre history comments that "Thorne made a big hit on tour in George Graves' part of Baron Popoff in The Merry Widow."[14] Between 1909 and 1910, he toured in a George Edwardes production of The Dollar Princess, singing Mr Bulgar, with the Leeds Mercury reporting that he "gagged with conspicuous daring and success".[15]

In 1912, Thorne played the part of Grand Duke Rutzinov in a production of Franz Lehár's The Count of Luxembourg,[16] as one of the five principals, together with Daisy Burrell, Lauri de Frece, Robert Michaelis, and Phyllis le Grand, who were collectively described by the Musical News as "all consummate artists in their own style".[17] Between February and September 1913, Thorne starred on tour in Robert Courtneidge's Princess Caprice,[18] and from January to March 1914 sang in P. G. Wodehouse's Nuts and Wine at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square.[19] In March 1915, Thorne played the principal role of Richard Thistle in the musical comedy Rosebuds, at the Palace Theatre, Bath.[20]

From 1920 to 1921, Thorne performed in The Little Dutch Girl at the Prince's Theatre, Bristol.[21]

Thorne died on 26 November 1922 at a nursing home in Marylebone.[12][22] An obituary in the Leeds Mercury on 29 November said of him:

London knew of, but did not know, Eric Thorne, the provinces did. For some reason, he never made good as a permanent "West Ender" in the theatrical world, though his artistry, always unfailing and resourceful, fully entitled him to a front rank.[23]

D. Forbes-Winslow's Daly's: the Biography of a Theatre (1944), confirms that "Thorne was a great favourite in the provinces" and adds that he was "certainly a great comedian ".[14]

Private life

Thorne married Ada Earée, whose stage name was Ada Dorée, in Portsea in August 1884. Her father, William Earée, was a Church of England clergyman, and the Banns of marriage were published three times in July in the names of Frederick Thomas Thorne "of this parish", and Ada Catherine Elizabeth Earée, of Alphamstone.[24][2] Her father was the Rector there, and her brother Robert Brisco Earée was also a clergyman.[25]

Ada was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in 1850, and trained at the Guildhall School of Music, going on to sing roles in operetta, Victorian burlesque, and pantomime between the 1870s and the 1890s.[26] The couple's daughter Gladys Edith Hilda Earée Thorne was born at Alphamstone on 17 June 1885.[27] Her parents' names were stated for the christening as Frederic Thorne and Ada Catherine Elizabeth Thorne.[28]

In 1904, "Madam Ada Dorée" was left an annuity, and a pony and trap, in the will of Thomas Craigie Glover, of Edinburgh, to thank her for looking after him following the death of his wife in 1895.[26] On 2 April 1911, as Ada Dorée-Thorne, she made a Census return for 4, Wharfedale Street, Earl's Court, stating herself as head of the household, living on a "small annuity". With her was her unmarried daughter Gladys Dorée-Thorne, one servant, the servant's husband, and a visitor.[29] On 28 April 1916, Ada Dorée-Thorne died at St Saviour's Hospital, St Pancras, London, aged 66,[26][30] leaving an estate valued at £1,589, with her daughter as executor.[31]

Within a few weeks, Thorne married secondly, in Brentford, Katie Seager Murdoch,[32] also known as Sybil. At the time of his death, in November 1922, he was living at 1a, Castletown Road, West Kensington. He left an estate valued for probate at £10,968, equivalent to £756,502 in 2023. His widow survived him until 1936, when she was living in Marylebone.[22][33]

Thorne's daughter Gladys remained unmarried and died at the age of 94 at 10, Weston Place, Worthing, on 22 December 1979. Probate was granted in the amount of £4,860, in the name of Gladys Edith Hilda Earee Doree-Thorne.[27][34]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f David Stone, Eric Thorne, Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company at gsarchive.net, accessed 9 April 2020
  2. ^ a b "Thorne Eric & Earee Ada Catherine E" in Marriages for Portsea, vol. 2b (1884), p. 840
  3. ^ Kurt Gänzl, The British musical theatre, Vol. 1 (Macmillan, 1986), p. 349
  4. ^ "Carina, Tonight" in St James's Gazette, 28 September 1888, p. 1
  5. ^ "Faddimir, or the Triumph of Orthodoxy" in The Theatre, Volume 22 (Wyman & Sons, 1889), p. 335
  6. ^ J. P. Wearing, The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel (Scarecrow Press, 2013), p. 31
  7. ^ Wearing (2013), pp. 244, 291
  8. ^ Wearing (2013), p. 354
  9. ^ D. Forbes-Winslow, Daly's: the Biography of a Theatre (Allen, 1944), p. 92
  10. ^ Musical News, Volume 17 (1899), p. 497: "At the Theatre Royal "La Poupée" is paying its first visit there this week, it having before been heard at the Royalty. Miss Stella Gastelle and Mr. Eric Thorne, as Alesia and Hilarius, are still delightful in the two principal parts."
  11. ^ The Oxford Magazine, Volume 24 (The Proprietors, 1906), p. 16
  12. ^ a b "Death of Mr. E. Thorne" in Western Morning News (Devon, England), 29 November 1922, p. 5
  13. ^ "Mr. Eric Thorne" in the Yorkshire Evening Post (Yorkshire, England), 01 December 1908, p. 4
  14. ^ a b Forbes-Winslow (1944), p. 91
  15. ^ "The Dollar Princess Matinee" in Leeds Mercury (Yorkshire, England), 17 December 1909, p. 4; "Sidney Lewis Ransom" in Coventry Herald (Warwickshire, England), 25 March 1910, p. 1
  16. ^ The Count of Luxembourg (1912), at operascotland.org; W. J. MacQueen-Pope, Shirtfronts and sables: a story of the days when money could be spent (Hale, 1953), p. 59
  17. ^ Musical News and Herald, vol. 42 (1912), p. 194
  18. ^ "Eric Thorne" in Dundee Evening Telegraph (Angus, Scotland), 25 February 1913, p. 4; "Grand Theatre, Leeds, Next Week" in Leeds Mercury (Yorkshire, England), 20 September 1913, p. 4
  19. ^ London Reviews 1910–1914 Over the Footlights, p. 14, overthefootlights.co.uk, accessed 9 April 2020
  20. ^ The Stage Year Book, with which is Included the Stage Periodical Guide (Carson & Comerford, 1916), p. 142
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference theatricalia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ a b "Thorne, Frederick Thomas of 1a Castletown-road West Kensington", Probate Index for England and Wales 1923, at probatesearch.service.gov.uk, accessed 11 April 2020: "Probate London 30 January to Katie Seager Thorne widow. Effects £10,968 11s 2d."
  23. ^ "Eric Thorne" (obituary), Leeds Mercury (Yorkshire, England), 29 November 1922, p. 6
  24. ^ "Banns Published 13th, 20th, and 27th July 1884" in Banns book of Portsea Island, p. 214, www.ancestry.co.uk (subscription required)
  25. ^ "Alphamstone Marriage of the Rev. R. B. Earee" in The Bury and Norwich Post, and Suffolk Herald, 15 August 1876, p. 6
  26. ^ a b c Potted History No 2: Earlsferry House – Part 2 – The Glovers, eliehistory.com; David Stone, "Ada Dorée (1884-85)", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, at gsarchive.net, 6 May 2007, accessed 11 April 2020
  27. ^ a b "Doree-Thorne Gladys Edith H 17JE1885" in Deaths for Worthing, vol. 18 (1979), p. 2,496
  28. ^ "Gladys Edith Hilda Earee Thorne", Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1918, Alphamstone St Barnabas, Essex, ancestry.co.uk, accessed 9 April 2020 (subscription required)
  29. ^ Ada Dorée-Thorne, 1911 United Kingdom census return for 4, Wharfedale Street, Earl’s Court S.W., ancestry.co.uk, accessed 9 April 2020 (subscription required).
  30. ^ "Thorne Ada C E, 66" in Register of Deaths for Pancras Registration District, vol. 1b (1916), p. 9
  31. ^ "Doree-Thorne Ada otherwise Thorne (wife of Eric Thorne)", Probate Index for England and Wales, 1916, probatesearch.service.gov.uk, accessed 11 April 2020
  32. ^ "Murdoch Katie S and Thorne Frederick T" in Register of Marriages for Brentford Registration District, vol. 3a (1916), p. 372
  33. ^ "Thorne Katie Seager otherwise Sybil of 60a Gloucester Place Marylebone Middlesex widow", Probate Index for England and Wales 1936, probatesearch.service.gov.uk, accessed 11 April 2020
  34. ^ "Doree-Thorne, Gladys Edith Hilda Earee", Probate Index for England and Wales, 1980, probatesearch.service.gov.uk, accessed 11 April 2020

External links

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