THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

G. J. Lackner (1879-82)

[Born London 14 Feb 1843]

After a few years performing mostly on the concert stage, G. J. Lackner (born George Joseph Lack) appeared in his first D'Oyly Carte role as Bill Bobstay in Guernsey on tour with Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "B" Company in July 1879. He transferred to Carte's "Second London" Company in late October 1879, then (in December) to Carte's "Second 'Pinafore' Company," appearing as Bobstay with both. He was with "Second 'Pinafore'" in Paignton on December 30, and was the first artist to play Samuel in the copyright performance of The Pirates of Penzance.

Lackner continued as the Bo'sun until March 1880, when William Hogarth joined the Company as Captain Corcoran, and Frederick Federici was demoted to Lackner's role. It's unclear whether Lackner remained with the Company (by then known as "A" Company) as a chorister, but in December 1880 he took up Bobstay again upon Federici's departure.

"A" Company became "B" Company in March 1881 and about the same time took up The Sorcerer as well as Pinafore. Lackner appeared as Bobstay and The Notary in the two works for the duration of the run. When The Pirates of Penzance replaced Sorcerer in the repertoire in November 1881, Lackner swapped The Notary for the Sergeant of Police. He played the Bo'sun and the Sergeant until August 1882 when, it appears, he left the D'Oyly Carte organization.

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