Alice May: Gilbert & Sullivan's First Prima Donna (Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre) Review

Alice May: Gilbert and Sullivan's First Prima Donna (Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre)

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(More customer reviews)I must start off by admitting that I came into contact with this book only briefly, having been drawn to it by the title, and that was some time ago.
My general impression was that the book was a sound enough piece of work about a nearly forgotten figure of the Victorian-era stage. However, the title of the book, "Alice May: Gilbert & Sullivan's First Prima Donna," is basically misleading.
Alice May performed the part of Aline in G&S's first successful full-length comic opera, "The Sorceror." Aline is a soprano, the romantic lead of the piece, a typical soubrette part. She is definitely not the prima donna of the show. That honor went to the then-most famous player in the cast, Mrs. Howard Paul, who portrayed Lady Sangazure, a mezzo-soprano part and the forerunner of all the series of middle-aged ladies that followed, including Little Buttercup in "H.M.S. Pinafore" and Katisha in "The Mikado." "The Sorceror" also provided starting points for the careers of real Victorian stars George Grossmith and Rutland Barrington, whose quickly growing fame rapidly overshadowed that of Mrs. Paul.
Alice May was not included in the cast of the next G&S show, the international super-hit, "H.M.S. Pinafore," nor in any of the succeeding comic operas.
Far from being G&S's "first prima donna," Alice May did not even rate inclusion in the index of Leslie Baily's magisterial "The Gilbert and Sullivan Book." An engraving of Ms. May as Aline does, however, appear in the book, although without mention of her name. In his autobiography, "A Society Clown," George Grossmith referred to her only as "Miss ------" when he wrote of his first major stage triumph.

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This biography tells the story of Alice May, a touring prima donna in the nineteenth century who travelled from England to Australia, New Zealand, India and the US, taking part in pioneering performances of the popular light operas of the day. Along the way she took part in many premieres, including the first production of Gilbert and Sullivan'sThe Sorcerer and the first authorised American production of The Mikado . This colourful life story will appeal to theatre historians, fans of the melodrama, burlesque, and the musical stage.