Dion Boucicault Jr. and Irene Vanbrugh depicted in a cartoon accompanying a review of a production of A. A. Milne's Mr. Dame Irene Vanbrugh DBE ( 2 December 1872 &ndash 30 November 1949) born Irene Barnes, was an English actress Alan Alexander Milne (ˈmɪln (18 January 1882 &ndash 31 January 1956 was an English Author, best known for his Books about the Teddy bear Pim Passes By --- Punch, 14 January 1920

Dion Boucicault Jr. Punch was a British weekly Magazine of Humour and Satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002 Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar , born Dionysius George Boucicault, (23 May 1859 – 25 June 1929) was an actor and stage director. Events 1430 - Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Early life

Boucicault was born in New York, the third child of Dionysius Lardner Bourcicault, the well-known actor and dramatist, and his wife, Agnes Kelly née Robertson (1833-1916), who was also well known on the stage. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot (born December 26, circa 1820 &ndash died September 18, 1890) was an Irish Actor and Playwright Boucicault was educated at Esher, Cuddington and Paris, and served briefly in the militia. Esher (iːʃə not /ɛʃə/) is a Town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city ^[1]

Theatrical career

Boucicault made his stage début in his father's play, Louis XI at Booth's Theatre in New York City on 11 October 1879. Booth's Theatre was a theatre in Manhattan built by actor Edwin Booth. The City of New York Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common His London début was in November 1880, when he played Andy in another of his father's plays, Andy Blake. From then he was constantly on the stage either playing himself or directing productions. In 1885 he went to Australia with his father and decided to remain there. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. He entered into partnership with Robert Brough in 1886, and at the Bijou Theatre in Melbourne and the Criterion in Sydney a long series of plays by Robertson, Pinero, Jones and other dramatists of the period was produced with great care and artistry. Robert Brough (1872 - 1905 was a Scottish painter born in Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty. The Bijou Theatre was a Broadway theatre built by the Shubert family in 1917 at 209 W Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Thomas William Robertson ( 9 January 1829 – 3 February 1871) usually known professionally as T Sir Arthur Wing Pinero ( 24 May 1855 - 23 November 1934) was an English Dramatist. A fine company was assembled which included Boucicault's. sister Nina, afterwards to make a reputation in London, G. S. Titheradge, and G. W. Anson. Though modern comedy was usually played there was one excursion into Shakespeare, a notable performance of Much Ado About Nothing with Titheradge as Benedick, and Mrs Brough as Beatrice. William Shakespeare ( baptised Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Boucicault had invaluable experience both as a producer and as an actor, and when he returned to London in 1896 he was capable of taking any part that his lack of height, 5ft 7ins (170 cm), did not disqualify him for. On 20 January 1898 he played one of his most successful parts, Sir William Gower, in Trelawney of the Wells, and a long succession of important parts followed, including many characters of 'crusty senility'^[1]. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He directed the first production of Peter Pan and other well-known plays by Barrie, Milne and various leading dramatists of the time.

Boucicault visited Australia again in 1923 with his wife Irene Vanbrugh, with a repertoire which included Mr Pim Passes By, Belinda, The Second Mrs Tanquerary, Trelawney of the Wells, His House in Order and Aren't We All. Two other visits followed in 1926, when he was accompanied by Brian Aherne, and 1927-28 when plays by J. M. Barrie, Milne and others were staged. Brian Aherne ( May 2, 1902 – February 10, 1986) was an Oscar -nominated English Actor of both stage and screen Sir James Matthew Barrie 1st Baronet OM ( 9 May, 1860 &ndash 19 June, 1937) more commonly known as J

Late life and legacy

Boucicault's health began to deteriorate in Australia, and returning to England via New Zealand, he in died Berkshire on 25 June 1929, survived by his wife. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Berkshire (ˈbɑːkʃə or /ˈbɑːkʃɪə/ say Baak-shuh/-sheer sometimes abbreviated to Berks) is a Home County in the South Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A portrait of him by Byam Shaw is at the National Gallery, Melbourne. John Byam Liston Shaw ( November 13, 1872 – January 26, 1919) commonly known as Byam Shaw, was an Indian born British Boucicault was a great producer of comedy and paid great attention to detail. In Australia he set a standard that has seldom, if ever, been surpassed. He was a most finished actor in a wide range of parts and in his later years became the legitimate successor of Sir John Hare in playing old men's parts. Sir John Hare ( May 16 1844 &ndash December 28 1921) born John Fairs, was an English actor and manager of the Garrick Theatre News of his death in Australia had critics mourning his death. ^[1]

References

• Serle, Percival (1949). "Boucicault, Dion". Dictionary of Australian Biography. The Dictionary of Australian Biography, published in 1949, is a reference work by Percival Serle containing information on notable people associated with Sydney: Angus and Robertson.