THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Charles Lang as Florian in Princess Ida

Charles Lang (1885-86)

[Born Canton, Ohio 1847, died St. Augustine, Florida 5 Mar 1914]

Charles F. Lang's first appearance on the New York Stage was in Balfe's The Bohemian Girl with Ruben's English Opera Company in April 1878. His Gilbert & Sullivan debut may have come at the Broad Street Theatre in Philadelphia as the "Prosecuting Attorney" and Ralph Rackstraw in a star-studded Trial by Jury/H.M.S. Pinafore double-bill with the American Comic Opera Company in February 1879.

He appeared frequently in New York and elsewhere over the next few years before taking the part of Florian in John Stetson's production of Princess Ida at the Standard Theatre in January 1884. It was America's first Princess Ida and, although not billed as a D'Oyly Carte production, it was authorized by Carte. One month into the run Lang switched roles, succeeding Wallace Macreery as Prince Hilarion.

Lang's only engagement under D'Oyly Carte auspices was as Nanki-Poo on tour in New England beginning in December 1885 with Carte's Fourth American Mikado Company, under the management of Stetson. He was replaced as Nanki-Poo by Harry Pepper in January or February 1886. Lang later toured with Rudolph Aronson's Company as Leonard Meryll in The Yeomen of the Guard, appearing in Boston in February 1889.

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