THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Ferdinand Theiler (1882-90)

[Born Einsiedln, Switzerland 1852]

After training at the Royal Academy of Music, an early career as bass concert singer, and a brief tour with Fred Archer's Opera Company, Ferdinand Joseph Theiler joined the D'Oyly Carte organization in 1882. He made his first appearance in a named part as Archibald Grosvenor on tour with Mr. D'Oyly Carte's No. 2 "Patience" Company in September 1882. He had succeeded Walter Greyling in the role but was himself replaced in October by Allen Morris. Theiler's was probably a chorister and understudy who eventually transferred to Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "E" ("Iolanthe" No. 2) Company. In February 1884 he was promoted to Private Willis in Iolanthe, succeeding Fred Billington. Theiler did not take a named part in Patience, which was added to the "E" Company repertoire in July 1884, but in May and June 1885 when that Company gave the first provincial production of The Mikado Theiler appeared for a while as Pish-Tush.

"E" Company played The Mikado exclusively until December 1887, but Theiler yielded Pish-Tush to Edward White early in the run (June 1885). For the next two-and-a-half years he appeared in the small bass part of Go-To. We are uncertain as to his whereabouts in 1888 and 1889 although it seems likely he was touring as a D'Oyly Carte chorister. He reemerges in February 1890 again in The Mikado with D'Oyly Carte Company "B" where he "is heard to advantage" as Go-To once more.

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