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613:, and in other Shakespeare plays. His wife declined to join him on this tour. After disagreements with the Williamson company, his contract was abruptly terminated in June 1924. On his return to Britain, as a result of excessive gambling, tax debts and unwise investments, he was declared bankrupt in 1926.
426:, with Asche in the title role. They made their first tour in Australia in 1909–10, with Asche playing Petruchio, Othello and other roles. Asche was much touched by his reception at Melbourne. In his 1929 autobiography he said, "What a home-coming it was! Nothing, nothing can ever deprive me of that."
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Estate, which had an outstanding run of 1,352 performances. As a director, Asche was an innovator in stage lighting and one of the first to use it as a dramatic factor in productions rather than as mere illumination. He was also known for his use of colour and his sensitivity about the dividing line
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in London. Asche's biographer
Richard Foulkes writes, "When Benson brought his itinerant troupe to the Lyceum Theatre in the spring of 1900 Asche appeared in six of the eight productions, most notably as Pistol, Claudius, and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, raising that smallish part to one of
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and was glad to earn trifling tips for calling cabs. His salary was raised to £4 a week, and he was never in such straits again. Asche played more than a hundred roles with Benson's company including Brutus, Claudius and other important
Shakespearian parts. His resonant voice and his dignified,
205:, that he saw the performance six times in succession. More study followed in London, where he worked to lose his Australian accent. He was fortunate in having an allowance of £10 a week from his father, but could not obtain work. In December 1892 he went to Norway again to give a
168:. He returned to his parents and obtained a position in an office, but he had now decided to become an actor and made a beginning by getting up private theatricals at his home. He travelled to Fiji and on his return his father agreed to send him to Norway to study acting.
164:, which he left at 16. He then went on a holiday voyage to China, and after his return to Australia was articled to an architect who died soon afterwards. A few months later, he ran away and lived in the bush for some weeks and then obtained a position as a
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for him, with the understanding that Asche could revise it. He shortened and partly re-wrote it and produced it with much success, playing Hajj. The production ran for two years, and a successful tour in
Australia followed in 1911–12, with
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in the 1890s. The new record stood for decades. The show drew some criticism for the ladies' scanty costumes, which Tree described as "more navel than millinery", but it was just what war-weary audiences wanted. Asche played the part of
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This revue is sometimes cited as the shortest-running musical show in West End history, with less than one complete performance. The claim is not wholly correct: after a few days' additional work the revue re-opened later in March 1930.
136:; he did not pursue a legal career in Australia because he failed to master the English language. After being a digger, a mounted police officer and a storekeeper, Thomas Asche became a prosperous hotel-keeper and publican in
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company. As a result of his high-spending lifestyle, he was declared bankrupt in 1926. Though his success as a producer waned, he continued to direct and act, including in several films, until the mid-1930s.
187:, Asche was instructed in deportment, voice production and theatre arts. He found the Norwegian acting technique to be easy and natural. Two months later, he went to Christiania to study acting. There he met
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and confessed that "it got terribly boring going down those stairs night after night to go through the same old lines". But Asche was a perfectionist, and the performance was never allowed to get slack.
105:, starring himself and his wife, which ran for an unprecedented 2,238 performances, from 31 August 1916 to 22 July 1921. During the run, among other projects, he directed the hit London production of
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258:. He said that he owed his place in Benson's company as much to his cricketing as to his acting abilities: the Benson company fielded a cricket team wherever it toured in the summer months.
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remained unimpressed by the show: "The amusing hitches which varied the monotony of the first performance did not conceal the thinness of the humour and the lameness of the invention".
581:. It was not a huge success on either side of the Atlantic; in London it ran for 267 performances at His Majestys's. In 1922, Asche visited Australia again, under contract to
496:, starring himself and his wife, which ran for 2,238 performances, from 31 August 1916 to 22 July 1921. The run easily broke the existing record of 1,466 performances, set by
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In his final years, Asche became obese, poor, argumentative and violent. He and his wife separated, but, at the end, he returned to her and died at the age of 65 in
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for him; Asche revised and shortened it, and the production enjoyed great success in London and on tour with Asche in the leading role of Hajj.
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55:, where he remained for eight years, playing more than a hundred roles including important Shakespearean parts. He married the actress
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42:, was an Australian actor, director, and writer, best known for having written, directed, and acted in the record-breaking musical
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822:, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, January 2011, accessed 17 April 2019
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658:(1935). He also wrote several books, including his autobiography, but these ventures did not solve his financial troubles.
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191:, who advised him to go to his own country and work in his own language. Asche then went to London and was so impressed by
1045:, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University , accessed 5 April 2013
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in 1907; he made his first tour of
Australia in 1909–10, and was much moved by his reception in his native land. In 1911
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was published in 1921, but the other plays of which he was author or part author have not been printed. Among these were
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and was unable to send him any allowance. At holiday times when he had no salary, Asche sometimes slept on the
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Though Asche had been making a large income for many years, he also spent largely. He was much interested in
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remarked that Asche had a difficult role but carried it off. He travelled to
America to repeat the role on
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After studying acting in Norway and London, Asche made his London stage debut in 1893 and soon joined the
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formal bearing are often mentioned in the reviews of his performances. He was a good athlete and a fair
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677:(1929), must be read with caution whenever figures are mentioned. He also wrote two novels: the
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and for eight years gained experience an actor. Among other venues, they played at the summer
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also played in New York City in 1917 and
Australia in 1920. Asche collaborated in 1919 with
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festivals. He started with small parts and was eventually cast as
Charles the Wrestler in
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Biography, bibliography, Australian tour information and resource listing for Oscar Asche
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in 1898, and the two were often paired onstage for many years. He played
Maldonado in
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Vol. XVIII, No. 106 (1911), accessed at the
Stagebeauty website on 22 December 2009
620:(1928), financed by his wife. He continued to direct shows. His 1930 production of
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that was a constant expense, and he eventually had to sell it to pay his debts.
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924:, 23 September 1901, p. 5; and "Mr. Pinero's New Play: "Iris" at The Garrick"
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in 1901, his first important part in modern comedy. He repeated the role on
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Further successes eluded Asche as he tried to mount musicals, including
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opposite the
Beatrice of Ellen Terry. Other parts were Bolingbroke in
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On 25 March 1893 Asche made his first appearance on the stage, at the
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as Tristram. In 1907 Asche and his wife took over the management of
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Oscar Asche's profile at the Emory University Shakespeare Project
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was a failure. In 1933 Asche made his last stage appearance in
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132:, Australia. His father, Thomas, born in Norway, studied law at
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was revived successfully, but in October 1914 Asche's own play
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302:'s theatre company in 1902, and in 1903 he played Benedick in
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recital, which was successful and brought him a little money.
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List of some of Asche's performances in Australia (AusStage)
144:. Asche's mother, Thomas Asche's second wife, Harriet Emma,
1140:(fourteenth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons.
1005:, Liveperformance.com.au, 2007, accessed 8 February 2018
38:(24 January 1871 – 23 March 1936), better known as
786:, National Library of Australia, accessed 5 April 2015
1157:(fifth ed.). London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons.
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Asche was discharged from bankruptcy two years later.
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described his appearance as the Prince of Morocco in
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and then in London the following year under the name
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sinister grandeur." Asche had another success at the
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Oscar Asche, Orientalism, and British Musical Comedy
705:(under the name Varco Marenes) and the libretto of
585:, and made successful appearances as Hornblower in
1282:20th-century Australian dramatists and playwrights
352:on a three-year lease. Their productions included
282:, his first important part in modern comedy. Both
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820:"Asche, (Thomas Stange Heiss) Oscar (1871–1936)"
1105:, British Film Institute, accessed 5 March 2013
16:19th/20th-century Australian actor and director
1043:"Asche, Thomas Stange Heiss Oscar (1871–1936)"
689:was published in 1931, and the vocal score of
681:(1930), an improbable but exciting story, and
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82:Asche and his wife became managers of the
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75:the following year, and then joined
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314:, Christopher Sly and Petruchio in
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1204:Australian Variety Theatre Archive
943:, Praeger Publishing (2004), p. 49
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386:. In 1906 he played King Mark in
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1121:Oscar Asche, his life: by himself
486:In 1916, Asche produced his play
1239:records of images of Oscar Asche
1123:. London: Hurst & Blackett.
565:Asche and his wife, Lily Brayton
542:between opulence and vulgarity.
36:John Stange(r) Heiss Oscar Asche
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1177:Works by or about Oscar Asche
1063:"Mr. Oscar Asche's Affairs",
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420:, with Asche as Jacques, and
826:UK public library membership
618:The Good Old Days of England
148:Trear, was born in England.
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1287:Australian male film actors
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644:Spirit of Christmas Present
516:on a musical adaptation of
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1223:Internet Broadway Database
1190:Performing Arts Collection
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1307:Australian male novelists
1292:Australian film directors
1136:Gaye, Freda, ed. (1967).
1027:, 10 September 1919, p. 8
928:, 22 September 1901, p. 5
784:"Oscar Asche (1871-1936)"
607:, the title character in
530:The Maid of the Mountains
459:A Midsummer Night's Dream
358:A Midsummer Night's Dream
323:A Midsummer Night's Dream
108:The Maid of the Mountains
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1155:Who's Who in the Theatre
1138:Who's Who in the Theatre
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683:The Joss Sticks of Chung
639:Two Hearts in Waltz Time
595:, Maldonado in Pinero's
162:Melbourne Grammar School
1080:27 February 1930, p. 12
1003:"Oscar Asche 1871–1936"
911:, 17 January 1901, p. 3
673:Asche's autobiography,
523:Also during the run of
433:Caricature of Asche in
362:The Taming of the Shrew
354:The Prayer of the Sword
317:The Taming of the Shrew
242:The Taming of the Shrew
152:Early life and training
1093:, 31 March 1930, p. 12
732:The Merchant of Venice
634:Duke of York's Theatre
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305:Much Ado About Nothing
225:. He then joined the
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134:Christiania University
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1194:Arts Centre Melbourne
1153:Parker, John (1925).
1119:Asche, Oscar (1929).
675:Oscar Asche: His Life
655:The Private Secretary
599:, his usual roles in
583:J. C. Williamson Ltd.
569:After the success of
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404:His Majesty's Theatre
374:(which he wrote with
340:In 1904 Asche became
300:Herbert Beerbohm Tree
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88:His Majesty's Theatre
77:Herbert Beerbohm Tree
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1067:, 5 April 1928, p. 4
481:A Child of the Storm
464:Antony and Cleopatra
227:F. R. Benson Company
1089:"Duchess Theatre",
920:"Garrick Theatre",
838:Asche pp. 16 and 21
679:Saga of Hans Hansen
467:. Back in London,
392:Tristram and Iseult
367:Measure for Measure
336:Actor-manager years
329:Measure for Measure
969:The Play Pictorial
937:Singleton, Brian.
907:"Comedy Theatre",
818:Foulkes, Richard,
622:The Intimate Revue
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384:The Virgin Goddess
376:F. Norreys Connell
276:Arthur Wing Pinero
247:a financial crisis
213:Early stage career
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124:Asche was born in
61:Arthur Wing Pinero
53:F R Benson Company
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1237:Picture Australia
1202:biography at the
1076:"Entertainments"
889:Parker, pp. 29–30
824:(subscription or
735:as "magnificent".
699:The Good Old Days
685:(1931). His play
646:in the 1935 film
630:The Beggar’s Bowl
251:Thames Embankment
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1181:Internet Archive
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1023:"Theatres",
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998:
977:
967:
962:
957:
948:
939:
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898:Asche, p. 72
894:
861:
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847:Asche, p. 26
843:
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755:
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535:Robert Evett
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320:, Bottom in
315:
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291:The Observer
289:
283:
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263:Lily Brayton
260:
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234:
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200:
193:Henry Irving
189:Henrik Ibsen
182:
177:The Two Pins
176:
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106:
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100:
95:
86:in 1904 and
81:
64:
57:Lily Brayton
50:
43:
39:
35:
34:
26:
18:
1267:1936 deaths
1262:1871 births
1243:Oscar Asche
1219:Oscar Asche
546:Later years
519:Eastward Ho
492:, music by
346:Otho Stuart
207:Shakespeare
197:Ellen Terry
40:Oscar Asche
1256:Categories
1078:The Times,
768:References
505:Abu Hassan
479:'s novel,
342:co-manager
311:Richard II
202:Henry VIII
1188:, in the
1091:The Times
1065:The Times
1025:The Times
922:The Times
909:The Times
828:required)
757:The Times
727:The Times
652:, and in
475:based on
285:The Times
256:cricketer
231:Stratford
175:Asche in
158:Dandenong
138:Melbourne
25:Asche in
1163:10013159
697:(1914),
669:Writings
552:coursing
537:and the
390:'s play
296:Broadway
166:jackaroo
160:and the
130:Victoria
73:Broadway
69:West End
1230:in the
1221:at the
1179:at the
1146:5997224
1129:1968577
1113:Sources
695:Mameena
649:Scrooge
632:at the
624:at the
473:Mameena
423:Othello
394:at the
348:of the
126:Geelong
67:in the
1161:
1144:
1127:
963:Kismet
663:Bisham
469:Kismet
461:, and
455:Kismet
449:Kismet
436:Kismet
412:Attila
378:) and
185:Bergen
179:, 1908
142:Sydney
96:Kismet
31:, 1916
1192:, at
713:Notes
707:Cairo
691:Cairo
605:Cairo
579:Cairo
575:Mecca
344:with
1247:IMDb
1159:OCLC
1142:OCLC
1125:OCLC
603:and
597:Iris
533:for
288:and
280:Iris
195:and
140:and
65:Iris
1245:at
966:in
589:'s
410:’s
382:'s
278:'s
199:in
183:At
146:née
63:'s
1258::
1032:^
986:^
870:^
791:^
776:^
709:.
701:,
457:,
370:,
364:,
360:,
356:,
332:.
128:,
1196:.
1165:.
1148:.
1131:.
521:!
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