Arthur Law

Infobox Writer
name = Arthur Law


imagesize =
caption = Poster for "The Great Tay-Kin" by Law and Grossmith
pseudonym =
birthdate = Birth date|1844|3|22|df=yes
birthplace = Northrepps, Norfolk, England
deathdate = Death date and age|1913|4|2|1844|3|22|df=yes
deathplace = Parkstone, Dorset
occupation = Playwright, actor, scenic designer
nationality = British
period = 1872–1909
genre = Comic theatre
subject =
movement =
spouse = Fanny Holland
partner =
children =
relatives =
influences =
influenced =


website =

Arthur Law (22 March 1844 – 2 April 1913) was an English playwright, actor and scenic designer.

Life and career

Law was born in Northrepps, Norfolk, England. From 1864 to 1872, he served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Early career

Law began to act, making his professional stage debut in 1872 at the Edinburgh Royal Theatre. He then toured the British provinces for two years, after which joined the German Reed Entertainments in London. While performing with the German Reeds, he wrote nineteen short comic theatre works performed by the company. Law was married to actress Fanny Holland, with whom he appeared with the German Reeds at the Gallery of Illustration and St. George's Hall.

Some of Law’s plays for the German Reeds include "A Night Surprise" in 1877 (under the pseudonym, "West Cromer"), "A Happy Bungalow" (1877), with music by Charles King Hall; and "Nobody’s Fault" (1882), with music by Hamilton Clarke. [ [http://www.gabrielleray.150m.com/ArchivePressText2003/20030426.html Review of ’’Nobody’s Fault’’] ] In 1881, he wrote "Uncle Samuel", a curtain raiser for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company played at the Opera Comique, with music by George Grossmith. It played, together with "Patience", in 1881, and Law appeared in the role of John Bird. Law later appeared on stage at the Savoy Theatre as Mr. Wranglebury in the companion piece "Mock Turtles" in 1882, and as Major Murgatroyd in "Patience" in 1882, filling in for Frank Thornton.

During a two-year period, Law and Holland performed on tour as "Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Law's Entertainment," but the venture proved unsuccessful.

Later years

After this, Law devoted himself to playwriting. His first "serious" drama, "Hope", was produced at the Standard Theatre in 1882. That year he also wrote a musical farce, "Mr. Guffin's Elopement", in collaboration with George Grossmith, for Toole's Theatre, starring J. L. Toole. [cite book|last=Grossmith|first=George|year=1888|title=A Society Clown: Reminiscences|location=Bristol/London|publisher=Arrowsmith Chapter 8 [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/books/grossmith/gg08.html Available online here] ] In 1885, Grossmith and Law wrote "The Great Tay-Kin", produced at Toole's. [ [http://www.savoyoperas.org.uk/people/gg.html Review that mentions "The Great Tay-Kin"] ]

Law wrote dozens of other plays. His best known include an adaptation of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab", produced at the Princess's Theatre in 1888; "The Judge", produced at Terry's Theatre in 1890; "The Magic Opal", played at the Lyric Theatre and the Prince of Wales's Theatre in 1893; "The New Boy" at Terry's and the Vaudeville Theatre in 1894; "The Sea Flower" at the Comedy Theatre in 1898, "A Country Mouse" at the Prince of Wales's in 1902; "The Bride and Bridegroom" at the New Theatre in 1904; and "Artful Miss Dearing" at Terry's in 1909.

A few of Law’s plays were also produced on Broadway, including "The New Boy" in 1894 at the Standard Theatre and "A Country Mouse" in 1902 at the Savoy Theatre. He also created the scenic design for "The Bachelor" in 1909 at Maxine Elliott's Theatre.

Law died in Parkstone, Dorset, England at the age of 69.

Notes

References

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/L/LawArthur.htm Arthur Law at the WhoWasWho in the D’Oyly Carte website]
*cite book
title=A Dictionary of the Drama
author=William Davenport Adams
year=1904
publisher=Chatto & Windus
isbn=
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=TzwOAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA273&lpg=RA1-PA273&dq=%22arthur+law%22+playwright&source=web&ots=6k082tj-0t&sig=A6zavm3dKVpnvFEQRwlji-_Bd40
*Gänzl, Kurt. "The British Musical Theatre" (1986) Macmillan, vol.I, London.

External links

*ibdb name|id=4309

Persondata
NAME= Law, Arthur
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Playwright, actor, scenic designer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1844-3-22
PLACE OF BIRTH= Northrepps, Norfolk, England
DATE OF DEATH= 1913-4-2
PLACE OF DEATH= Parkstone, Dorset