Bessie Ray – The Belle of New York – The Era – Saturday 12th January 1901

AMUSEMENTS IN ABERDEEN

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

 Her Majesty’s Theatre. – Managing-Director, Mr Robert Arthur; Acting -Manager, Mr John Cavanah. – The Belle of New York, which is presented this week, is received with enthusiasm. Mr Arthur Ricketts’s impersonation of Iohabod Bronson stands out prominently, and shows himself a vocalist as well as comedian of the first order. Mr Charles Gervase is highly successful as Barry Bronson, and Mr. P. H. Gardner’s “polite lunatic” is most amusing. Miss Daisy Semon makes charming Violet Gray; Miss Nellie Bowman sings and acts admirably as Fifi Fricot; and Miss Ellaline Gryce has a most suitable part in the handsome Cora Angelique. Miss Bessie Ray (Mamie Claney) is an expert and graceful danseuse, and she and her partner, Mr William Pringle (Blinky Bill), are heartily applauded. Mr Tom Carling is an ideal Doc Snifkins, Mr James R. La Fane acts amusingly as Kenneth Mugg, and Messrs Clayton and Gifford create much hilarity by their portraiture of the peculiar Portuguese.

 

The Era Saturday – 12^th January 1901

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Empsie Bowman – The Belle of New York – The Tatler – Wednesday 21st August 1901

 

FROM “THE TEMPEST” TO “THE BELLE OF NEW YORK.”

The Variety of Miss Empsie Bowman.

How many of those who saw Miss Empsie Bowman playing the part of Ariel in “The Tempest” on the green sward of Regent’s Park with so much grace and such a sensitive appreciation of the value of Elizabethan English can imagine her in such a go-as-you-please olla podrida as “The Belle of New York”?  And yet Miss Bowman, acting in both cases under Mr. Ben Greet’s management, is equally at home as Ariel or as Violet Gray, the Salvationist lass, who captivated us all a year or two ago. Mr. Greet has no fewer than ten companies “on the road,” including four with “The Belle of New York.” Of course Miss Bowman is doing no more than the actors in our old stock companies used to do and what actors all over Germany do to this day but in England we have specialised acting to such an extent that people in musical comedy rarely appear in anything else. Miss Bowman, as noted in these pages of July 31, is one of four very clever sisters – Isa, Nellie, Maggie, and Empsie. One of the sisters was a great favourite of Lewis Carroll. The pictures of Miss Bowman as Ariel were taken for this journal by Mr. Alfred Ellis

 

MISS EMPSIE BOWMAN As “The Belle of New York”

Now is it not as well

To be a trifle swell,

Or is it necessary when you’re moral to be gawky?

And must a girl employ

The modes that come from Troy

Or is she not entitled to be stunningly New Yorkey?

Oh, mayn’t a girl be good and free from guile

And yet be quite a corker in her style?

A LYRIC BY HUGH MORTON, 1899

 

MISS EMPSIE BOWMAN As “Ariel”

Come unto these yellow sands,

And then take hands:

Courtsied when you have and kissed

The wild waves whist,

Foot it featly, here and there;

And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear

Bur. Hark, hark!

Bow-wow.

The watch-dogs bark,

Bow-wow.

Ari. Hark, hark! I hear

The strain of strutting chanticleer

Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow.

A LYRIC BY WILLIAM SHAKSPERE, 1611

 

MISS EMPSIE BOWMAN AS “ARIEL” IN SHAKSPERE’S COMEDY, “THE TEMPEST”

 

 Full fathom five thy father lies;

 Of his bones are coral made;

Those are pearls that were his eyes;

Nothing of him that doth fade,

But doth suffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell

Where the bee sucks, there suck I:

In a cowslip’s bell I lie,

There I couch when owls do cry

On the bat’s back I do fly

After summer merrily.

Merrily, merrily shall I live now

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough

 

 

The Tatler – Wednesday 21^st August 1901

 

Bessie / Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Richmond Herald – Saturday 14th December 1901

Miss Bessie Ray, with whose performance as a child in pantomime all Richmond was delighted is a big girl now and has taken unto herself the name of Gabrielle as a Christian appellation in place of the homely Bessie. As a rule, artistes who achieve any success stick to the name associated with their success to the end of their days. Miss Ray, however, has chosen to do otherwise, and who shall question the right of so saucy a damsel to please herself. There is one thing the young lady appears to be conservative about, and that is her wearing apparel – for Gabrielle’s frocks in “The Casino Girl” must surely have been made for Bessie when Bessie was a very little girl.

The Richmond Herald Saturday – 14th December 1901

Bessie / Gabrielle Ray – The Casino Girl – The Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26th July 1901

MR. BEN GREET’S “Casino Girl” Company is meeting with a hearty welcome on tour. Four of the principal performers, Miss Isa Bowman, who plays the title role, Mr. Joseph Wilson, Mr. Max Copland, and Little Ganty, have recently been appearing with success on the London music halls, and they, in conjunction with a sweetly pretty little lady who used to be known as Miss Bessie Ray, but who has now adopted the Christian name of Gabrielle, form the nucleus of a very strong company. The production is beautifully dressed by Messrs. Rayne.

 

The Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26^th July 1901

 

Bessie Ray – The Belle of New York – Richmond Herald – Saturday 4th May 1901

The return visit of “The Belle of New York” will doubtless be welcomed by Richmond playgoers, and especially so when they know that it has been arranged that two old favourites are to appear in it. Miss Empsie Bowman as the Belle, and Miss Bessie Ray as a Bowery Girl. The Company is Mr. Ben Greet’s, and nothing more need be said to satisfy the public that the quality of the artistes and the mounting of the play will be all that it should be.

 

The Richmond Herald – Saturday 4^th May 1901

Edna May – The Belle Of New York

Edna May – The Belle Of New York by Sir John Lavery – 1907

Bessie Ray – The Belle of New York – Halifax Evening Courier – Tuesday 20th March 1900

HALIFAX THEATRES

 “THE BELLE OF NEW YORK.”

 

A Crowded at the Grand last night to welcome a return visit of the musical comedy, “The Belle of New York.” The company (Mr. Ben Greet’s) is different in cast from the artistes who were last here, but on the whole the present one is somewhat superior, and from the frequent applauses the audience was perfectly satisfied with the efforts of each individual member. Principals and chorus all worked hard, and with deserved success. As Ichabod Bronson, Mr. Harry Gribben proved an undoubtedly versatile comedian, and acted with great gusto throughout, although suffering from a severe cold. Mr. D. O’Regan came well to the front as “Doc Skifkins,” and Mr. Peter H. Gardner put in some ludicrously droll eccentric work as Karl, the polite lunatic, while Mr. Mack Olive gave a smart rendering of the nondescript “Blinky Bill,” his whistling solo, its expressive pantomime action, being remarkable clever. Mr. Riley is also an admirable acrobatic dancer. Mr. James R. La Fane was quietly humorous the operatic low comedian Mugg and the fanny antics of the Bros Helm the twin Portuguese Counts pleased the house immensely. Mr. Charles Gervase made an acceptable Harry Bronson; he sung nicely, and his acting in the love scenes with Fifi were particularly good. Miss Daisy Baldry, who has a fine presence, made a brilliant appearance  as the prima donna Cora Angelique, and Miss B. Esse was a fresh and fascinating Kissie Fitzgarter. Miss Lucie Fitzroy acted with conspicuous ability as Violet Grey, the Salvation lassie, and presented a dexterous study in demure simplicity and engaging archness that was altogether delightful. She also slang with taste and refinement. Miss May Hellett played the lovesick Fifi Fricot with a dainty prettiness and teaching tenderness unusual in pieces of this character, and Miss Bessie Ray, a smart little comedian, worked hard and successful as Mamie Clancy, a Pell-street girl, her dancing being notably clever. The picturesquely attired chorus sang splendidly, and the staging is adequate in every degree.

 

Halifax Evening Courier – Tuesday 20^th March1900

 

Bessie Ray – The Belle of New York – The Era – 1900

 

Bessie Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – The Referee – Sunday 13th January 1895

DRAMATIC & MUSICAL GOSSIP.

After “coining money” at Richmond with “Little Red Biding Hood,” Mr. George B. Phillips has shifted that pantomime and his capitally organised company to the Lyric Hall, Ealing, where it is likely to attract and delight large audiences until Saturday next. The panto, written by Victor Stevens, is one of the brightest this Christmas season has brought forth. The libretto sparkles with wit; the music and songs are of the order A1; the scenery, by E. G. Banks, is picturesque; the costumes are pleasing to the eye, and every member of “the crowd” is well up to his or her work. At the head of the favourites stands Miss Lottie Brooks, whose Red Biding Hood is positively captivating. Miss Hettie Peel makes a fine “principal boy” as Prince Amoroso, and brings down the house with her song, “Best friends of all.” The house has been roaring since Monday at Mr. Benson’s serpentine dance, and everybody has been delighted with Little Bessie Ray as Cupid. The Three Rennies score well with their grotesque and agile antics. My happiness while sitting out “Little Red Riding Hood” was marred only by the coldness of the hall. The proprietor will be wise if he makes haste to prevent his patrons from shivering.

The Referee – Sunday 13^thJanuary 1895

Bessie Ray – Casino Girl – Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26th July 1901

MR. BEN GREET’S “Casino Girl” Company is meeting with a hearty welcome on tour. Four of the principal performers, Miss Isa Bowman, who plays the title role, Mr. Joseph Wilson, Mr. Max Copland, and Little Ganty, have recently been appearing with success on the London music halls, and they, in conjunction with a sweetly pretty little lady who used to be known as Miss Bessie Ray, but who has now adopted the Christian name of Gabrielle, form the nucleus of a very strong company. The production is beautifully dressed by Messrs. Rayne.

Music Hall and Theatre Review – Friday 26th July 1901