Wikipedia

Bernard Manning (singer)

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

  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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