THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Charles Cecil (1921-22)

[Born Longsight, Manchester 10 Apr 1898, died Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells 26 Apr 1968]

Charles Cecil Webster Millar joined the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company in June 1921. For the next six months he took the small tenor parts of First Yeoman in The Yeomen of the Guard and Francesco in The Gondoliers. He then transferred to the main (Repertory) Company, where he toured as a chorister until August 1922 when he left the Company. During this time he filled in on occasion for Leo Darnton as Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe.

His father, Charles Henry Webster Millar, enjoyed a stellar career as tenor vocalist between 1911 and his untimely death in 1924, under the name Webster Millar. After his father's death Cecil called himself Cecil Webster-Millar. Under that name, he played the part of Sid-el-Kar in the tour of The Desert Song (1928-29). He next played the leading role of Carl Linden on tour in Coward's operetta Bitter Sweet, for over three years (1932-1935). During this time his stage name evolved from Cecil Webster-Millar, to C. Webster-Millar and finally to simply Webster Millar. Following Bitter Sweet he took on the role of Albert Porter in a new musical called The Two Bouquets which toured for two years (1937-38).

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