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Frank Wyatt (7 November 1852 – 5 October 1926) was an English actor, singer, theatre manager and playwright. After beginning his career as an illustrator and painter, in 1877 Wyatt began a stage career in comedy, Victorian burlesque, pantomime and operetta. In 1884 he had success in a Shakespeare role in Henry Irving's company, and in 1885 he created the role of Ravennes in the comic opera ''Erminie'', which went on to become an international sensation. In this production he met Violet Melnotte, who also appeared in ''Erminie'' and who managed the theatre where it premiered; they married in 1886. In his more than two-decade career on stage Wyatt is best remembered for his roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1889 to 1891, and in particular for creating the role of the Duke of Plaza-Toro in Gilbert and Sullivan's hit comic opera ''The Gondoliers''. Wyatt continued to perform in comic operas and comedies until about 1900. From the 1890s Wyatt and his wife owned and managed the Trafalgar Square Theatre, known after 1895 as the Duke of York's Theatre. He also wrote plays and a grand opera. ==Early life and career== Wyatt was born Francis Nevill Gunning in Greenwich in London, the son of Thomas Wyatt Gunning (1813–1884), a barrister, and Lucy Latour (''née'' Jenkins; 1819–1858). He was christened on 29 December 1852 in St Alfege church in Greenwich.〔(London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813–1906 ) for Francis Nevill Gunning, Ancestry.com〕 His sisters were Charlotte Augusta Gunning (1851–1927) and Lucy Matilda Constance Gunning (1858–1871). He studied art at the Royal Academy, became an illustrator on the ''Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News'' and successfully exhibited and sold paintings.〔''The Times'' obituary, 6 October 1926, p. 14〕 In 1877 Wyatt began a stage career in a one-line part in the farce ''On Bail'' by W. S. Gilbert at the Criterion Theatre, where he continued to play in farces for three years under the management of Charles Wyndham. Over the next two decades, Wyatt appeared regularly before London audiences in burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre, London, and character roles in plays and operettas in various West End theatres. In 1879 he appeared with Selina Dolaro in the "melodramatic burlesque" ''Another Drink'' at the Folly Theatre, caricaturing William Rignold and dancing a can-can with Dolaro.〔"Our Captious Critic", ''The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News'', 19 July 1879, p. 441〕 In 1880 he played Punch in the pantomime ''Mother Goose and the Enchanted Beauty'' at Drury Lane Theatre with Arthur Roberts and Kate Santley.〔''The Times'', 28 December 1880, p. 4〕 In 1884 he was praised for "by far the best piece of comic character-drawing" in creating his role of Captaine Coqueluche in H. B. Farnie's adaptation of Edmond Audran's operetta ''The Grand Mogul'', starring Florence St. John, Fred Leslie and Roberts.〔''The Times'', 19 November 1884, p. 6〕 Also in 1884 he had a success in a Shakespeare role in Henry Irving's company, playing Andrew Aguecheek in ''Twelfth Night'' at the Lyceum Theatre, London.〔 In 1885 he created the role of Ravennes in the popular comic opera ''Erminie'', with music by Edward Jakobowski, at the Comedy Theatre in London, then under the management of Violet Melnotte, whom Wyatt married in London the following year.〔Stone, David. ("Frank Wyatt" ) at ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'' (2006), accessed 25 April 2014〕〔Stone, David. ("Violet Melnotte" ) at ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'' (2006), accessed 25 April 2014〕 He appeared in the 1888 burlesque of ''Atalanta'' at the Strand Theatre with Willie Warde and Tom Squire.〔''Pall Mall Gazette'' 26 December 1888, p. 12〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Frank Wyatt」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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