MAURICE EVANS
as Mr. Sullivan

Maurice Evans, born in Dorchester, Dorset, made his name in the original Journey's End in 1929, but his first stage appearance occurred at the age of eight. He was called upon to take over a small boy's part in Far From the Madding Crowd which was put on by the local theatrical group called the Wessex Players of which Maurice's father was the manager, besides also being an analytical chemist and local Justice of the Peace.

Maurice was eleven when his family moved to London and after being educated at the Grocer's Company School and becoming a choir boy at St. Andrews, Stoke Newington in 1917 he joined Chappell's Music Publishers where he rose from office boy to assistant cashier in the following eight years. His spare time was spent acting at the St. Pancras People's Theatre where he was spotted by a newspaper critic and given a chance at the Old Regent Theatre, Cambridge.

The following year he tried for work on the West End stage and succeeded in securing a "walk on" and the job of understudy to nine roles! The producer took an interest in his talent and gave him the role of Raleigh in the original performance of Journey's End. He appeared in subsequent successes but he tired of the unoriginal plays in which he starred and turned to a musical, Ball at the Savoy at Drury Lane which was followed by an engagement at Sadlers Wells, later becoming attached to the Old Vic Theatre where he was seen in Shakespearean roles.

In 1935 Maurice went to America to co-star with Katharine Cornell in Romeo and Juliet. Then St. Joan further entrenched Evans in the American theatre and St. Helena increased his reputation which reached complete renown in 1937 with his amazing interpretation of Richard II. He appeared in numerous Shakespearean plays, all with equal success.

During the second World War he enlisted in the Army, serving for three years in the Pacific where he established an Entertainment Section. After the war he produced on Broadway Man and Superman which received rave press notices. In 1929 he made his first screen debut in one of Britain's first talking films White Cargo, followed by appearances in several of the quota quickies of the old days. In 1951 M.G.M. persuaded him to appear in Kind Lady and last year he starred in Pascal's Androcles and the Lion opposite Jean Simmons. Now he portrays, with his ususal excellence, Arthur Sullivan in the Launder-Gilliat Technicolor production, Gilbert and Sullivan.

Page modified 16 April 2009