GEORGE
ROBEY must be considered as one
of the most successful stars of music hall
and theatre. Unlike many of those before
him, Robey did not come from a working class
background.
Born in 1869 of a good middle-class family,
he had a good education in England and Germany,
and was at Cambridge when his father, like
many another good middle-class parent, went
broke, and young George was thrown on his
own devices. He disliked his training as
an engineer, and when he was at the Westminster
Aquarium one day was asked to assist 'Professor'
Kennedy, a professional hypnotist. He entered
into the act so well, it seems, that he
was thereafter welcomed as an assistant
-. unpaid, of course. A little later, presumably
while he was hypnotised, he suddenly burst
into song and so impressed the manager of
the theatre that he promptly offered him
a paid engagement. From this modest beginning
he went on to become one of the greatest
stars of all time, and receive a knighthood.
Although he became known as 'The Prime Minister
of Mirth', Robey was multi-talented, being
just as successful as a pantomime dame,
as Falstaff in Olivier's film of 'Henry
V, as Menelaus in Offenbach's comic opera
'Helen', and as Sancho Panza in Chaliapine's
'Don Quixote'. But it was as a purveyor
of suggestive naughtiness that made him
such a legend and so in demand that he could
appear at four theatres in one night, travelling
from one to another in his own carriage.
Indeed, George could do more with his eyebrows
than most people could with their whole
face, and make the most innocent lines sound
like something wicked.
He was also responsible, with the help of
Violet Loraine, for the huge success of
'If You Were The Only Girl In The World',
still such a great favourite. He died in
1954. |
