THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Charles J. Campbell

Charles J. Campbell (1875, 1878, 1887-88)

[Born London 13 March 1849, died New York 27 Feb 1918]

Charles James Campbell (born Charles James Cleaver) was on the program in all three works of the first D'Oyly Carte production at the Royalty Theatre, London, March 25, 1875. He was a juryman in Trial by Jury, Sam in Charles Collette's Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata, and the Marquis of Tarapo in Offenbach's La Perichole.In April 1875 he would be promoted to Foreman of the Jury in Trial, and in May he would leave the jury box to serve as Counsel to the Plaintiff. He also appeared as Mr. Snobbington in A Good Night's Rest and Valare in The Secret, two farces that, in succession, replaced Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata as curtain-raiser on the Royalty bill.

In 1876-77 Campbell toured with Emily Soldene, playing a wide variety of leading roles in America, Australia, and New Zealand with the bill that frequently included Trial by Jury with Campbell as Counsel. He returned to England and joined D'Oyly Carte's Comedy Opera Company on tour from September to December 1878, appearing as Alexis in The Sorcerer and Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore.

A versatile singer who could perform tenor and baritone roles, he returned to the American Stage in 1879. His New York roles included Archibald Grosvenor in Patience (Standard Theatre, June 1882), the same role with Lillian Russell (Bijou Opera House, September 1882), and Alexis in The Sorcerer with Miss Russell (Bijou, October 1882-January 1883, and later at the Casino, April-May 1883).

His third engagement with D'Oyly Carte was for a lengthy tour of Germany, Austria, and Holland, from April 1887 to February 1888.He appeared as Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, Archibald Grosvenor in Patience, and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, the latter role shared with George Hirwen. He then returned to America where he toured in 1889 with Rudolph Aronson's Comic Opera Company as Colonel Fairfax in a D'Oyly Carte-sanctioned production of The Yeomen of the Guard.

Campbell remained in America, later turning to writing for the stage. He collaborated with Julian Edwards in the productions of His Honor the Mayor, The Gay Musician, and The Motor Girl.

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