Opera Comique
- This article is about the London opera house. For the Paris opera house associated with the premieres of operettas by Berlioz and Debussy, see Opéra-Comique. For the opera style, see opéra comique.
The Opera Comique was a 19th-century opera house located in London, on the East Strand between Wych Street and Holywell Street, opened in 1871, followed shortly by construction of the adjoining Globe Theatre (not Shakespeare's Globe Theatre). The two theatres, both owned by Parry, were back to back, and were known as the "Rickety Twins". The Opera Comique was rebuilt in 1895 and closed in 1899, to be demolished in 1902 when the maze of slums in the area was redeveloped to create Aldwych and Kingsway. The theatre, built partly underground, had three entrances through long narrow tunnels from three streets (including the Strand) and was nicknamed the "Theatre Royal, Tunnels". It was reportedly hastily built and draughty, and its long flight of stairs leading down to the level of the stalls was a dangerous fire hazard. However, it was nicely decorated.[1] The cheap and rapid construction of the theatre was likely in anticipation of compensation when the site was redeveloped.[2]
The first production at the theatre was a musical play in 1871, based on a Moliere work, and called The Doctor in Spite of Himself, with music by Richard D'Oyly Carte, which was a failure. The Parisian company of the Comedie-Francaise played there during the Franco-Prussian War. In 1873 Ristori appeared there. In November 1877, Carte premiered Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer at the theatre, followed by H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and Patience, which was later transferred to Carte's larger new theatre, the Savoy Theatre. During this period, Carte presented various companion pieces with the G&S operas, including, Dora's Dream (1877), by Arthur Cecil and Alfred Cellier, The Spectre Knight (1878), Trial by Jury, Beauties on the Beach, by George Grossmith (1878), A Silver Wedding, by Grossmith (1878), Five Hamlets, by Grossmith (1878), Cups and Saucers (1878), After All! (1878), Children's Pinafore (1878), In the Sulks (1880), and Uncle Samuel (1881).
Later productions includied farces and burlesque, such as Mother-In-Law (1885, by George R. Sims), which was paired with Vulcan, by Rose and Harris.
The theatre was demolished in 1902 when London's Aldwych, named after old Wych Street, began construction.
See also
Reference
- ^ Information from the Arthur Lloyd website accessed 01 Mar 2007
- ^ Information about theatres of The Strand accessed March 20 2007