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Bernard Manning (singer)

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For the English stand-up comedian, see Bernard Manning.

Bernard Manning (c. 1886[1] – 5 May 1962) was an English singer and actor who had a career in Australia, notably in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. After retiring from the professional stage, he promoted amateur productions in Perth, Western Australia.

History

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Manning was born in Melbourne, Derbyshire,[a] the youngest son of farmer Robert Manning Smith.[2] He began singing in the cathedral choir in Lichfield in Staffordshire, living and studying at a college attached to the cathedral. When his voice broke he lost his place in the choir, so returned to the farm.[3] He spent a year as a jackaroo on a cattle station near Maryborough, Queensland. Some reports attribute this move to a search for a healthier climate,[4] others to his interest in veterinary science,[1] though it may have simply been "colonial experience". While in Queensland he joined the choir of the Anglican cathedral, Brisbane, as a tenor.[4] Returning to England, he studied for four years at the Guildhall School of Music, London where, though his voice encompassed a wide range (low D to top A), Sir Landon Ronald insisted on him singing bass. He won a scholarship for singing German folksong, and studied oratorio. Rather than relying on his voice for a living he also studied medicine, qualifying as a veterinarian.[5] When the war came he enlisted and fought in France, where he suffered from a poison gas attack but was otherwise uninjured. In 1919 he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, singing Gilbert and Sullivan, then in 1925 left for Australia[3] under contract to J. C. Williamson, remaining with his troupes for 25 years.

Roles

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Manning played 23 roles in G & S, but was famous for four, several of which he played over 1,000 times:[6]

  • Possibly his greatest role was as the Emperor, the name part in The Mikado.[7] As with every other role, he played the part with total sincerity, insisting that "playing it straight" made the farcical situations more enjoyable to the audience.
  • The Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance was another speciality. He knew three parts in each opera, so he could step in at a moment's notice, but was careful to emulate the other actor's style so as not to upset the dynamics of the play — sometimes other cast members were unaware of the substitution.[8]
  • He was praised also for his Grand Inquisitor in The Gondoliers. Manning made a hobby of sitting in on criminal trials, sometimes being invited to sit on the Bench, and used these experiences to inform his acting.[9]
  • Dick Deadeye in Pinafore

Mountararat in Iolanthe and Roderick Murgatroyd in Ruddigore have also been mentioned as memorable roles.

Last years

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Manning retired in December 1950 and moved to Perth, where he married Mildred Hagenauer Le Souef, a biology teacher at Wesley College[1] and daughter of zoologist E. A. Le Souef.[10] In 1940 he was engaged to Margaret "Madge" Miller of South Yarra,[2] but nothing further has been found. His marriage to Le Souef was the culmination of a friendship which began in 1930, when Manning visited Col. Le Souef at his home in South Perth.[11]

Once settled in Perth, Manning set about formation of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of W.A. for the benefit of the many enthusiasts in the city.[12] The society was formed in May 1951, with Manning elected president, with Marie Bremner and William Beecham vice-presidents.[13] One early activity of the Society was to play recordings from one or other of the operas, and for members to take the spoken lines between the songs.[14] Their first production was HMS Pinafore at the Assembly Hall, co-produced by Nita Pannell and Manning, who also played Dick Deadeye. The critic "Fidelio" thought the play creditably performed.[15] Beecham succeeded Manning as president of the Society,[16] which played The Pirates of Penzance for two weeks at His Majesty's Theatre in November 1953 to critical acclaim.[17] In August 1954 the Society played The Mikado,[18] again to excellent reviews.[19] Earle Nowotny was musical director for the Society's productions.

Manning died in Royal Perth Hospital.[20]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ This is the village which gave Lord Melbourne his name, hence the Australian city.
  1. ^ a b c "About People". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. XII, no. 4. New South Wales, Australia. 17 December 1950. p. 43. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b ""Mikado" Engaged". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 19, 708. Victoria, Australia. 13 July 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b "The Playhouse". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXVIII, no. 18, 802. Tasmania, Australia. 9 February 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b "Has Played Many Roles". Daily News (Sydney). Vol. 2, no. 463. New South Wales, Australia. 24 May 1940. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Teaching The Duke to Make-up". Table Talk. No. 3511. Victoria, Australia. 22 August 1935. p. 18. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "The Playhouse". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXVIII, no. 18, 802. Tasmania, Australia. 9 February 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "'The Mikado' at His Majesty's". The Mirror (Perth). Vol. 14, no. 754. Western Australia. 10 October 1936. p. 17. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "King Of The Pirates". The Age. No. 26, 608. Victoria, Australia. 27 July 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ ""Grand Inquisitor" on Adelaide Police Court Bench". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XX, no. 3, 044. South Australia. 21 April 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Wedding in Perth". The West Australian. Vol. 67, no. 20, 124. Western Australia. 17 January 1951. p. 11. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Return of a Savoyard". The West Australian. Vol. 66, no. 20, 089. Western Australia. 6 December 1950. p. 23. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ William Beecham (4 May 1951). "Bubble & Squeak". The Narrogin Observer. Vol. XXXXVI, no. 2387. Western Australia. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia. A clever article
  13. ^ "Bubble & Squeak". The Narrogin Observer. Vol. XXXXVI, no. 2389. Western Australia. 18 May 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Music and the Theatre". The West Australian. Vol. 67, no. 20, 318. Western Australia. 1 September 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "'H.M.S. Pinafore' Capably Played". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20, 835. Western Australia. 1 May 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Bubble & Squeak". The Narrogin Observer. Vol. 49, no. 2513. Western Australia. 16 October 1953. p. 21. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Savoy Opera Revival Scores a Big Hit". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20, 994. Western Australia. 3 November 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Bubble & Squeak". The Narrogin Observer. Vol. 50, no. 2551. Western Australia. 9 July 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ ""The Mikado" Scores A Popular Success". The West Australian. Vol. 70, no. 21, 244. Western Australia. 24 August 1954. p. 11. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Le Souef Family" (PDF). State Library of Western Australia. p. 13. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
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