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Huntley Wright (7 August 1868 – 10 July 1941)〔Many sources give the birth year as 1869, but his birth certificate from the General Register Office, registered in January 1869, is clear.〕 was an English stage and film actor, comedian, dancer and singer, best known for creating roles in many important Edwardian musical comedies. His career spanned more than half a century, beginning with performances in his family's touring theatre company. He then toured extensively in burlesque and other comedies and also appeared in London. In 1895, he toured in South Africa in a musical comedy, ''The Shop Girl''. Beginning in 1896, he spent ten years creating roles in some of the era's most popular musical comedies for George Edwardes at Daly's Theatre. He continued playing in musicals in the West End and on Broadway until World War I, when he served in the British Army. After this, he continued to play in comedies, musical theatre and drama, also broadcasting frequently on the radio and appearing in several films later in his career. Wright's daughter, Betty Huntley-Wright, had a successful television and film career. ==Early years== Born Walter Thomas Curtis Wright〔Many sources say that Wright's birth name was "Frederick", but his birth certificate is clear. Note that he had an older brother named Frederick.〕 in London, he was one of five children of Frederick Wright, Sr. (1828–1911) and his wife Jessie, ''née'' Francis (born 1841), both actors and comedians.〔 His brother, Fred Wright Jr. (1865–1928), was also a successful actor in musical comedy,〔(Information about Fred Wright's career, although giving an incorrect birthdate )〕 and his sisters, Maria "Marie" Wright (born 1864) and Ada "Haidee" Wright (1867–1943),〔''The Times'', 30 January 1943, p. 6〕 and brother, Albert "Bertie" Wright (born 1871),〔Sheet music cover depicting Bertie Wright singing "I'm waiting here for Minnie" in J. C. Williamson's production of (''Our Miss Gibbs'', 1910 )〕 were all actors.〔The ''Tatler'', 1 January 1902. See also 1871 London census data〕 Wright was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, where he became a fine footballer at both forms of the game. He continued to play until his sporting injuries put his stage career at risk.〔''The Times'', obituary, 14 July 1941, p. 6〕 He wished for a naval career, but his eyesight precluded it, and, despite his parents' disapproval, he pursued a career in the theatre.〔 Apart from an appearance as a baby in his mother's arms in a melodrama,〔 his stage début was as a teenager in the role of Dr Winsley Andrewes in ''False Lights'' at the Royal Edinburgh Theatre with his family's touring theatre company, the Frederick Wright Dramatic Company.〔''The Manchester Guardian'', obituary, 12 July 1941, p. 4〕〔Lipton, Martina. ("Ada Reeve: A 'True Artist' of Pantomime" ), It'sBehindYou.com-Ada Reeve 19 March 2008〕 Ada Reeve performed as a child with this company and also performed with Wright in 1896 in ''Dick Whittington and His Cat'' in Leeds.〔 He performed under the name Walter Huntley before taking on his better-known stage name of Huntley Wright in 1889.〔''The Era'', 26 October 1889, p. 9. There was already an established comic actor in the English provinces with the name Walter Wright: see, e.g., ''The Era'', 18 October 1884, p. 6 and 14 March 1885, p. 16, and so Wright used the stage names Walter Huntley, Huntley Wright and occasionally W Huntley-Wright: see ''The Era'', 4 January 1890, p. 15〕 In 1887, aged 18, Wright appeared in ''The Artist's Model'' at the Lyric Theatre, London. After four more years playing a variety of roles on tour, including Danny Man in Dion Boucicault's ''The Colleen Bawn'',〔 he again performed in London's West End in 1891 as Springe the birdcatcher in ''Fate and Fortune.''〔''The Times'', 27 July 1891, p. 8〕 He toured for three years in his own burlesque, ''Dashing Prince Hal''.〔 In 1894, he had a short engagement at Terry's Theatre, where he played in ''King Kodak'', a topical burlesque, and ''The Foundling'', a farce.〔''The Times'', 3 May 1894, p. 8, and 4 September 1894, p. 6〕 He played Dr. Montague Brierly during part of the run of ''A Gaiety Girl'' at Daly's Theatre. He then went to South Africa with one of George Edwardes's companies, playing Miggles in ''The Shop Girl''.〔 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「Huntley Wright」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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