George Dance (dramatist)
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George Dance (October 14, 1857 - 1932), was an English librettist in the 1890s and an important theatrical manager at the beginning of the 20th Century. His father was Isaac Dance (1824 - 1880) a pipe maker. His son Eric, who died in a prison camp during the World War II, was responsible for the building of the Oxford Playhouse, which opened in 1938.
[edit] Life and career
Dance was educated at the National School, Sneinton, Nottingham. Early in his career, he was a prolific song writer. Some of his most famous songs are "Girls are the Ruin of Men", one of Vesta Tilley's successes, "Come Where Me Booze is Cheaper", "Angels without Wings" (also sung by Tilly), and "His Lordship Winked at the Counsel" (sung by Harry Rickards).
In the 1890's Dance turned to writing libretti for light operas and musicals. His works included:
- The Nautch Girl, or, The Rajah of Chutneypore in 1891, with lyrics by himself and Frank Desprez and music by Edward Solomon (200 performances).
- The Girl from Paris in 1897, with music by Ivan Caryll (281 performances).
- The Lady Slavey - operetta in 2 acts; with lyrics by Hugh Morton and music by Gustave Adolph Kerker; Casino Theatre, New York 3 February, 1896 (128 performances)
- The Ladies Paradise with music and lyrics by Ivan Caryll.
- A Chinese Honeymoon in 1902, a musical comedy in two acts with music by Howard Talbot; Theatre Royal, Hanley, 16 October 1899; Royal Strand Theatre, London, 5 October 1901 (1,075 performances).
Dance made a fortune on A Chinese Honeymoon and became one of the most successful theatrical managers in the United Kingdom, often having as many as twenty-four companies on tour at once. He was behind the scenes financially at many of the big West-End theatres in the days preceding the World War I
Dance was knighted in 1923 in recognition of his services to the theatre, which included a gift of £30,000 for the reconstruction of the Old Vic and stabilization of that theatre as a permanent Shakespeare repertory theatre.
