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George Grossmith, Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also an important innovator in bringing "cabaret" and "revues" to the London stage. Born in London, he took his first role on the musical stage at the age of 18 in ''Haste to the Wedding'' (1892), a West End collaboration between his famous songwriter and actor father and W.S. Gilbert. Grossmith soon became an audience favourite playing "dude" roles. Early appearances in musicals included George Edwardes's hit ''A Gaiety Girl'' in 1893, and ''Go-Bang'' and ''The Shop Girl'' in 1894. In 1895, Grossmith left the musical stage, instead appearing in straight comedies, but after a few years he returned to performing in musicals and Victorian burlesques. Early in the new century, he had a string of successes in musicals for Edwardes, including ''The Toreador'' (1901), ''The School Girl'' (1903), ''The Orchid'' (1903), ''The Spring Chicken'' (1905), ''The New Aladdin'' (1906), ''The Girls of Gottenberg'' (1907), ''Our Miss Gibbs'' (1909), ''Peggy'' (1911), ''The Sunshine Girl'' (1912) and ''The Girl on the Film'' (1913). The lanky Grossmith was often comically paired with the diminutive Edmund Payne. At the same time, he developed a reputation as a co-writer of musicals and revues, usually adding jokes. Grossmith soon established himself as a major producer, together with Edward Laurillard, of such hits as ''Tonight's the Night'' (1914), ''Theodore & Co'' (1916) and ''Yes, Uncle!'' (1917). He wrote the long-running revue series that began with ''The Bing Boys Are Here'' (1916), scheduling these projects around his naval service in World War I. He then produced ''Eastward Ho!'' (1919) and produced, co-wrote, directed and sometimes starred in, ''Kissing Time'' (1919), ''A Night Out'' (1920), ''Sally'' (1921), ''The Cabaret Girl'' (1922), ''The Beauty Prize'' (1923) and ''Primrose'' (1924), many of these featuring Leslie Henson. He also continued to appear in other producers' shows, including ''The Naughty Princess'' (1920) and ''No, No, Nanette'' (1925). Later, he performed in such pieces as ''Princess Charming'' (1926) and appeared in at least ten films for London Film Productions Ltd., among other films, in the 1930s. He produced ''The Land of Smiles'' and ''Cavalcade'' (both in 1931), and in 1933, he played Touchstone in a production of ''As You Like It''. ==Life and career== George Grossmith was born in Haverstock Hill, London, the eldest son of the writer and Gilbert and Sullivan star George Grossmith, and his mother was Emmeline Rosa, née Noyce. His grandfather was also named "George Grossmith", and even though he was the third George Grossmith, he was credited on stage as "George Grossmith Jnr". His brother was the actor Lawrence Grossmith. Grossmith studied at University College School in London, and in Paris, and his parents hoped that he would follow an army career, but that was not to be. In 1895, Grossmith married burlesque and musical comedy actress Gertrude Elizabeth "Cissie" Rudge (1873–1951), whose stage name was Adelaide Astor, and who was one of five actress Rudge Sisters. Letty Lind was the most famous of these. Grossmith and his wife had three children, Ena Sylvia Victoria (1896–1944), who became a stage and film actress; George (1906–c.2000), who became a theatrical manager; and Rosa Mary (1907–1988; she married Col. Edward Harry George 1904–1957, and they had three sons, including John C. G. George).〔Gänzl, Kurt. "Grossmith, George (1874–1935)" in the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press (2004) (accessed 21 Oct 2007 )〕 Grossmith was known for "speaking" songs and for his easy comic grace on stage.〔Obituary in ''The Times'', 7 June 1935; p. 9〕 He was tall and gangling, with a "face hardly less extraordinary than his curious legs and a humour as unctuous as his father's at his best."〔Hicks, Seymour ''Hicks: Twenty-Four Years of an Actor's Life'' (1910), p. 188〕 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「George Grossmith, Jr.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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