Robert Evett

Robert Evett (16 October 1874 – 15 January 1949) was an English singer, actor, theatre manager and producer. He was best known as a leading man in Edwardian musical comedies and later managed the George Edwardes theatrical empire.

In 1892, at age 18, Evett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on tour in leading tenor roles. Six years later, he was starring in the company's London cast at the Savoy Theatre, where he stayed until the company left the Savoy in 1903. He soon began to appear in Edwardian musicals in the West End, first in The Earl and the Girl (1903). He continued to star in musicals and operettas for the next decade, including in The Little Michus (1905), The Merry Widow (1907), A Waltz Dream (1908) and The Girl in the Train (1910). In 1913 and 1914, he performed on Broadway. He also lent his voice to early acoustic recordings of songs.

Upon the death of the famous producer George Edwardes in 1915, Evett returned to England; there he became the managing director of Daly's Theatre, the Gaiety Theatre and Edwardes' other theatres. He produced such hits as The Maid of the Mountains (1917), sometimes directing and even writing shows. His last production was in 1925.

Life and career Robert Evett was born in Warwickshire, England.

Acting career

In 1892 Evett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on tour in The Vicar of Bray, playing the Reverend Henry Sandford, the tenor lead. In 1893, Evett added the role of Oswald in Haddon Hall. In 1894, the company toured with Gilbert and Sullivan's Utopia Limited, with Evett playing the smaller role of Lord Dramaleigh and also Sandford and Oswald in repertory. In 1895, Evett next played the roles of Bertuccio in Mirette, Count Vazquez (and sometimes Pedro Gomez) in The Chieftain, Mr. Box in Cox and Box, and Prince Hilarion in Princess Ida. He also took over the leading tenor role of Captain Fitzbattleaxe in Utopia. and in the pantomime Little Hans Andersen. Evett continued to perform in West End musicals and operettas for a decade, appearing at Daly's Theatre, Drury Lane, the Hicks Theatre and the Vaudeville, The Merveilleuses (1906), The Merry Widow (1907, creating the role of Camille de Rosillon), A Waltz Dream (1908), and The Girl in the Train (1910). In 1912, he returned to the Adelphi in Autumn Manoeuvres, which was managed by the famous producer George Edwardes, and later toured in that production.

Directing and management career When George Edwardes died in 1915, Evett returned to England, where he managed the Edwardes estate, which was then in debt and close to bankruptcy. Evett became the managing director of Daly's Theatre and George Edwardes Enterprises. Evett produced shows for Daly's and other Edwardes theatres. At Daly's, he first directed and produced The Happy Day (1916). In 1917, Evett produced and had a creative hand in The Maid of the Mountains. He engaged José Collins to star in, and Oscar Asche to direct, this musical. The show ran for a record-breaking three years and saved the Edwardes estate. This was followed by A Southern Maid (1917; revived 1920) and Our Peg (later adapted into Our Nell). He also directed revivals of The Dollar Princess.

At the Gaiety Theatre, Evett produced Theodore & Co (1916) and Going Up (1918), an English adaptation of The Last Waltz (both in 1922), the latter of which he co-authored. There in 1924, he produced Our Nell, the revised version of Our Peg, at the Gaiety. His final production was Frasquita, in 1925, at the Prince's Theatre.

Recordings Evett recorded many songs for Odeon between 1906 and 1908, including songs from West End musicals such as The Little Michus, The Geisha, and The Merry Widow. He also recorded two songs from The Yeomen of the Guard ("Is Life a Boon?" and "Free From His Fetters Grim"). These were re-released on the Pearl CD, The Art of the Savoyard. He also recorded one song from each of Merrie England ("The English Rose") and A Princess of Kensington ("A Sprig of Rosemary").