Marjorie Gordon
Encyclopedia
Marjorie Gordon was an English actress and singer.
Gordon was born in Southsea
as Marjorie Kettlewell. Her professional stage career began in 1915 on tour in the chorus of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
. The next season, she was given the roles of the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury
and Lady Psyche in Princess Ida
. She also understudied and occasionally played the title role in Patience
and Yum-Yum in The Mikado
. She left D'Oyly Carte in June 1916 to understudy the role of Sylvia Dale at the Adelphi Theatre
in London in the Rudolf Friml
musical High Jinks, sometimes appearing in the role until July 1917 and touring in the role later that year.
Gordon starred in the title role in the romantic comic opera Valentine at the St. James's Theatre from January to April 1918. She next starred as Grace in the hit musical Going Up
(1918–1919) at the Gaiety Theatre, London
. She then appeared in the Ivor Novello
musical Who's Hooper? at the Adelphi Theatre
(1919–1920). Next, she appeared in My Nieces at the Aldwych Theatre
, London, in 1921. She also recorded songs from Going Up and Who's Hooper? For the next two decades, she appeared in both musicals and plays. These included Stop Flirting (1923). She later appeared in a few films, playing Ruth Hopkins in Danger Trails (1935), Matron in All the Way to Paris
(1967) and Passenger in Golden Rendezvous
(1977).
Later stage roles included Midge in Tulip Time in 1935 at the Alhambra Theatre
. Her last appearance on stage in London was in the "revusical promenade" Let's All Go Down the Strand at the Adelphi in 1939.
She died one month shy of her 90th birthday in Eastbourne
, Sussex
.
Gordon was born in Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
as Marjorie Kettlewell. Her professional stage career began in 1915 on tour in the chorus of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
. The next season, she was given the roles of the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury is a comic opera in one act, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was first produced on 25 March 1875, at London's Royalty Theatre, where it initially ran for 131 performances and was considered a hit, receiving critical praise and outrunning its...
and Lady Psyche in Princess Ida
Princess Ida
Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen. Princess Ida opened at the Savoy Theatre on January 5, 1884, for a run of 246 performances...
. She also understudied and occasionally played the title role in Patience
Patience (opera)
Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride, is a comic opera in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. First performed at the Opera Comique, London, on 23 April 1881, it moved to the 1,292-seat Savoy Theatre on 10 October 1881, where it was the first theatrical production in the...
and Yum-Yum in The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
. She left D'Oyly Carte in June 1916 to understudy the role of Sylvia Dale at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London in the Rudolf Friml
Rudolf Friml
Rudolf Friml was a composer of operettas, musicals, songs and piano pieces, as well as a pianist. After musical training and a brief performing career in his native Prague, Friml moved to the United States, where he became a composer...
musical High Jinks, sometimes appearing in the role until July 1917 and touring in the role later that year.
Gordon starred in the title role in the romantic comic opera Valentine at the St. James's Theatre from January to April 1918. She next starred as Grace in the hit musical Going Up
Going Up (musical)
Going Up is a musical comedy in three acts with music by Louis Hirsch and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and James Montgomery. Set in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States at the end of World War I, the musical tells the story of a writer turned aviator who wins the hand of the high society girl...
(1918–1919) at the Gaiety Theatre, London
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
. She then appeared in the Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
musical Who's Hooper? at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
(1919–1920). Next, she appeared in My Nieces at the Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Aldwych in the City of Westminster. The theatre was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200.-Origins:...
, London, in 1921. She also recorded songs from Going Up and Who's Hooper? For the next two decades, she appeared in both musicals and plays. These included Stop Flirting (1923). She later appeared in a few films, playing Ruth Hopkins in Danger Trails (1935), Matron in All the Way to Paris
All the Way to Paris
All the Way to Paris is a 1965 South African comedy film directed by Jamie Uys and starring Uys, Bob Courtney and Reinet Maasdorf. International diplomats take part in a walking competition, heading towards a major conference in Paris.-Cast:...
(1967) and Passenger in Golden Rendezvous
Golden Rendezvous
Golden Rendezvous is a 1977 South African thriller film directed by Ashley Lazarus and starring Richard Harris, Ann Turkel and Gordon Jackson. A luxury cruise ship is hijacked by terrorists. It was based on the 1962 novel The Golden Rendezvous by Alistair MacLean.-Cast:* Richard Harris - John...
(1977).
Later stage roles included Midge in Tulip Time in 1935 at the Alhambra Theatre
Alhambra Theatre
The Alhambra was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built originally as The Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two years and reopened as the Alhambra. The building was...
. Her last appearance on stage in London was in the "revusical promenade" Let's All Go Down the Strand at the Adelphi in 1939.
She died one month shy of her 90th birthday in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
External links
- Gordon in Rose Marie, 1938
- Marjorie Gordon at the IMDB database
- 1928 photo of Gordon