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The Lions Comiques were the true monarchs of the early music hall, epitomising a sometimes startling freedom of expression that characterised these new entertainment venues. What's more, every Lion -every Lioness - was an original, their turns unique to each performer, each singing only the best songs by the best writers.
As a result, these stars of Victorian England's nascent variety stage - Alfred Vance, George Leybourne, G.H. Macdermott, Arthur Lloyd, Bessie Bellwood, Jenny Hill and Nelly Power - had unique powers over their audiences.
They were not play acting. Their carefully graded candour and forthrightness was focussed directly upon their audiences, especially the gallery.
Working class audiences felt that the Lions spoke for them. They were always poised for laughter and when the Lion roared, the gallery responded in kind. Thus, they were aped and admired, they set the fashions in the streets and they lived life to the full, both on and off the stage.
A fourth generation performer himself, Peter Honri traces the story of these inimitable performers - the Lions Comiques of the music hall stage.
ISBN 9781871551174
The Lions Comiques were the true monarchs of the early music hall, epitomising a sometimes startling freedom of expression that characterised these new entertainment venues. What's more, every Lion -every Lioness - was an original, their turns unique to each performer, each singing only the best songs by the best writers.
As a result, these stars of Victorian England's nascent variety stage - Alfred Vance, George Leybourne, G.H. Macdermott, Arthur Lloyd, Bessie Bellwood, Jenny Hill and Nelly Power - had unique powers over their audiences.
They were not play acting. Their carefully graded candour and forthrightness was focussed directly upon their audiences, especially the gallery.
Working class audiences felt that the Lions spoke for them. They were always poised for laughter and when the Lion roared, the gallery responded in kind. Thus, they were aped and admired, they set the fashions in the streets and they lived life to the full, both on and off the stage.
A fourth generation performer himself, Peter Honri traces the story of these inimitable performers - the Lions Comiques of the music hall stage.
ISBN 9781871551174