Harry Rignold

From The Sketch, 21 June 1893

Master Harry Rignold as Caddie in Jane Annie

"Mine is a very difficult part, and what I want the critics to say about it is that it would be nothing in less experienced hands." Such is the quaint comment with which Master Harry Rignold accompanies in a marginal note his song in the Savoy opera, "Jane Annie"; and he has hit the nail on the head exactly in this criticism, in which one traces the caustic touch of Mr. Barrie. Master Rlignold is a born actor. This may be said in all literalness, for he comes of one of our best known and oldest theatrical families. Except his appearance, there is nothing juvenile about him. He made his début in "Jane Annie," but even on the first night one could not trace a symptom of nervousness. His voice is round and full, except perhaps in his song, in which there is just a suggestion of overstraining. There can be no doubt that Caddie is the best drawn figure in "Jane Annie," rivalling Mr. Barrie's delightful creation of W. G. in "Walker, London." But Master Rignold makes the part far more notable than it would otherwise be, as he well knows — vide his marginal annotations.

Scott Fishe

From The Sketch, 28 June 1893

Scott Fishe as Jack in Jane Annie

The "dashing militaire," of whom Mr. Arthur Roberts used to sing with so much verve, has long been one of the stock characters in comic opera. One remembers vividly the chorus of heavy dragoons and the recipe for their creation in "Patience." There was a distinct raison d'être for their existence in that opera. In "Jane Annie" we are introduced to a troop of Lancers; why, I don't know; but that 's a detail. One does not stop to question their relevancy in presence of the infectious merriment of their gallant captain, Jack, who invaded a ladies' seminary, and all for the love of a "ladye." Mr. Scott Fishe is this jolly, jaunty Jack. Operatically, he has been a Jack of all Trades — that is to say, he started his theatrical career in the chorus; he mounted to the place of an understudy in "Ivanhoe" at the late lamented Royal English Opera, and then set out on his travels. He wandered all over South America, up to Peru, crossed the Andes, and was shipwrecked in the John Elder. On his return to this country he made another ascent, by getting a principal part, Tommy Merton, in "The Vicar of Bray" at the Savoy. This was followed by his appearance in "Ma Mie Rosette," where, but for illness, he would have taken the part played by Mr. Oudin. He has, however, won his good conduct prize in "Jane Annie," where he sings and plays with enormous "go."

Page modified 26 July 2019