Leo Sheffield (15 November 1873 – 3 September 1951), born Arthur Leo Wilson, was an English singer and actor best known for his performances in

baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...

roles of the

Savoy Operas Savoy opera was a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which imp ...

with the

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. The ...

. He made his first stage appearances under the direction of

W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most fam ...

in 1906, remaining with the D'Oyly Carte company for three years. After touring in musical theatre for the next five years with other managements, he rejoined D'Oyly Carte from 1915 to 1928 in the principal baritone roles, appearing in London seasons and on tour in Britain and, in one of his last seasons, Canada. He recorded many of these roles. After leaving D'Oyly Carte, Sheffield worked in a wide variety of theatre, including musical comedy, straight plays,

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment, generally combining gender-crossing actors and topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or ...

, and in radio and films. He continued to tour during the Second World War while in his seventies.

Life and career

Early years

Sheffield was born Arthur Leo WilsonLeo Sheffield
Ancestry.com, accessed 18 January 2014 (subscription required) to James Walker Wilson (1839–1907), a painter and later a vocalist, and Alice (''née'' Sheffield) (1844–1911). His brothers, Edward Sheffield Wilson (1864–1903) and Robert Thorpe Wilson (1866–1908) appeared under the stage names Wilson and Thorpe Sheffield with the

in the 1890s. and raised in Malton, Yorkshire.''The Times'' obituary, 4 September 1951, p. 6Stone, David
"Leo Sheffield"
''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Company'', accessed 27 December 2009 Sheffield joined D'Oyly Carte in 1906, appearing at the

Savoy Theatre The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy ...

under the direction of

in the first repertory season of

Savoy Opera Savoy opera was a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which imp ...

s. During this season, he played the roles of Second Yeoman and then Lieutenant of the Tower in ''

The Yeomen of the Guard ''The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid'', is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888 and ran for 423 performances. This was the eleventh ...

'', and Annibale and later Luiz in ''

The Gondoliers ''The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria'' is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances (at that time t ...

''. From 1907 to 1909, he toured with D'Oyly Carte, playing the Counsel for the Plaintiff in ''

Trial by Jury A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial, in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are increasingly used ...

'', Boatswain in ''

H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London on 25 May 1878, and ran for 571 performances, w ...

'', Samuel in ''

The Pirates of Penzance ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 3 ...

'', Archibald Grosvenor in ''

Patience or forbearance, is the ability to endure difficult or undesired long-term circumstances. Patience involves perseverance or tolerance in the face of delay, provocation, or stress without responding negatively, such as reacting with disrespect ...

'', Strephon in ''

Iolanthe ''Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri'' () is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, first performed in 1882. It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert ...

'', Arac in ''

Princess Ida ''Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant'' is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was their eighth operatic collaboration of fourteen; the next was ''The Mikado''. ''Princess Ida'' opened at the Savoy Thea ...

'', Pish-Tush in ''

The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...

'', Sergeant Meryll in ''Yeomen'', and Luiz. In the second repertory season at the Savoy, from April 1908 to March 1909, he played Pish-Tush, the Boatswain, Private Willis in ''Iolanthe'', Samuel, Luiz and the Lieutenant, and Owen Rhys in '' A Welsh Sunset'' a short sentimental piece which was given as a

curtain raiser A curtain raiser is a performance or performer that opens a show or event for the main attraction; it is usually shorter than the main attraction, but not always. The term is derived from the act of raising the stage curtain. The fashion in th ...

. Sheffield then left the D'Oyly Carte company but returned to the Savoy Theatre later in 1909, under the management of C. H. Workman, creating the role of Sir Phyllon in Gilbert and

Edward German Sir Edward German (born German Edward Jones; 17 February 1862 – 11 November 1936) was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur S ...

's '' Fallen Fairies''. Gilbert praised him as a "fine baritone" and an "excellent actor". He then toured for five years, beginning with another of Workman's Savoy operas, '' The Mountaineers'', and in musicals, including ''

The Chocolate Soldier ''The Chocolate Soldier'' (German: ''Der tapfere Soldat'' he courageous soldieror ''Der Praliné-Soldat'') is an operetta composed in 1908 by Oscar Straus based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play, '' Arms and the Man''. The German language li ...

'', '' The Girl in the Taxi,'' and ''The Girl Who Didn't''. He appeared in London only once during this period, as Feste in ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

'', in 1913.

D'Oyly Carte principal baritone

In 1915, Sheffield rejoined D'Oyly Carte, remaining with the company until 1928 as its principal baritone. During this period, he appeared as the Learned Judge in ''Trial'', Doctor Daly in ''

The Sorcerer ''The Sorcerer'' is a two-act comic opera, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It was the British duo's third operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaboration. The plot of ''The Sorcerer'' is based on a Christmas stor ...

'', Dick Deadeye and then Captain Corcoran in ''Pinafore'', the Sergeant of Police in ''Pirates'', Grosvenor in ''Patience'', Willis and sometimes Strephon in ''Iolanthe'', King Hildebrand and sometimes Florian in ''Princess Ida'', Pooh-Bah in ''The Mikado'', Sir Despard Murgatroyd in ''

Ruddigore ''Ruddigore; or, The Witch's Curse'', originally called ''Ruddygore'', is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas and the tenth of fourteen comic operas written tog ...

'', Wilfred Shadbolt in ''Yeomen'', and Don Alhambra in ''The Gondoliers''. Comparing Sheffield's Pooh-Bah with that of his predecessor, Fred Billington, the critic of ''

The Manchester Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'',

Samuel Langford Samuel Langford (1863 - 8 May 1927) was an influential English music critic of the early twentieth century. Trained as a pianist, Langford became chief music critic of ''The Manchester Guardian'' in 1906, serving in that post until his death. ...

, wrote, "Mr. Leo Sheffield finds his resource in a more yielding variety, a greater urbanity of appeal to the audience, and in affectionate emulation of his predecessor's genial condescensions." Sheffield's only overseas tour with the company was in 1927, playing a five-month tour of Canada. He left D'Oyly Carte in June 1928, appearing in 1929 in a revival of the musical comedy ''The Lady of the Rose''. He returned to D'Oyly Carte for the London season at the Savoy from October 1929 to March 1930, after which he left the company permanently. In 1906 Sheffield married Claire (born c. 1880), an actress from Sydney in Australia, with whom he had a child. He was later married to a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorister, Dorothy Gates (1897–1977), who joined the company in 1923. Their daughter, Patience, married the D'Oyly Carte principal comedian of the 1950s, Peter Pratt.

Later years

In 1930, Sheffield appeared in "a new all-British musical comedy", ''Little Tommy Tucker'', with music by

Vivian Ellis Vivian John Herman Ellis, CBE (29 October 1903 – 19 June 1996) was an English musical comedy composer best known for the song " Spread a Little Happiness" and the Paul Temple theme " Coronation Scot". Life and work Ellis was born in Hampste ...

, at

Daly's Theatre Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937. The theatre was built for and named after the American impresa ...

. In 1931, after appearing with

George Grossmith, Jr. George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was an English actor, theatre producer and Actor-manager, manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also a ...

in ''My Sister and I'', at the

Shaftesbury Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. It opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, with a capacity of 2,500. The current capacity is 1,416. The title "Shaftesbury Theat ...

, he was in a revival of Sheridan's '' The Duenna'' at the

Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street, Hammersmith, London."About the Lyric" > "History" ''Lyric'' official website. Retrieved January 2024. Background The Lyric Theatre ...

. ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' commented, "Mr. Leo Sheffield's Don Jerome will be better when he is surer of his lines," but ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'' thought him a "ripe purveyor … of fatherly fun." Also in 1931 he played in a revival of '' The Geisha'' at Daly's, which was followed by a provincial tour. ''The Geisha'' was succeeded at Daly's in 1932 by a revival of '' San Toy'', in which he played Yen How. In 1933, he played in a non-musical comedy, ''Mother of Pearl'', by A. P. Herbert, in a cast including

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...

, and

Richard Murdoch Richard Bernard Murdoch (6 April 1907 – 9 October 1990) was an English actor and entertainer. After early professional experience in the chorus in musical comedy, Murdoch quickly moved on to increasingly prominent roles in musical comedy and ...

. ''The Geisha'' was revived again in 1934. ''The Times'' wrote, "Mr. Leo Sheffield plays the Marquis Imari with an easy mastery." Sheffield also appeared in a number of films, beginning in 1928 with '' The Valley of Ghosts'', followed by ''Lord Richard in the Pantry'' (1930); '' Compromising Daphne'' (1930); ''Rodney Steps In'' (1931); ''High Society'' (1932); '' Falling for You'' (1933); and others. On stage in 1935, he appeared in a musical farce, ''Twenty to One''. For the Christmas season of 1936, he appeared in the

''Aladdin'' with

Stanley Holloway Stanley Augustus Holloway (1 October 1890 – 30 January 1982) was an English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles Stanley Holloway on stage and screen, on stage and screen, especially t ...

. In 1938, he toured as Captain Hook in ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical ...

'', with

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in British cinema for 2 ...

in the title role, and reprised the part the following year with Jean Forbes-Robertson as Peter. His last role in London was Popoff in ''

'' in 1940, which also toured the provinces. He later toured in ''

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of sati ...

'' in 1941 and served with

Entertainments National Service Association The Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) was an organisation established in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, ...

in 1942. Now 70 years old, he toured in ''The Chocolate Soldier'' and '' Blossom Time'' in 1943. In 1944, Sheffield played Sir Lester Dedlock in a serialisation of ''

Bleak House ''Bleak House'' is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, first published as a 20-episode Serial (literature), serial between 12 March 1852 and 12 September 1853. The novel has many characters and several subplots, and is told partly by th ...

'' for

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

radio, and in 1945 he toured in '' Naughty Marietta'', with Derek Oldham, ''

The Gypsy Baron ''The Gypsy Baron'' () is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II which premiered at the Theater an der Wien on 24 October 1885. Its German libretto by Ignaz Schnitzer is based on the unpublished 1883 story ''Saffi'' by Mór Jókai. Jokai ...

'', and ''The Melody of Love''. In 1947, he appeared as himself and as Pooh-Bah in the original radio biography, ''Gilbert and Sullivan'', written by Leslie Baily. He died suddenly in

Kingsbury Kingsbury may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Kingsbury, London, a district of northwest London in the borough of Brent ** Kingsbury tube station, London Underground station * Kingsbury, Warwickshire, a village and civil parish in Warwickshi ...

, London, in 1951, aged 77.

Recordings

With the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Sheffield recorded Sir Despard (1924), King Hildebrand (1925), Pooh-Bah (1927), Don Alhambra (1927), the Learned Judge (1928), the Sergeant of Police (1929) and Wilfred Shadbolt (1929). He participated in a 1926 BBC radio broadcast of ''The Mikado'', and as Pooh-Bah in a four-minute promotional silent film made to publicise the new production of ''The Mikado''. A 1924 photograph of Sheffield and D'Oyly Carte colleagues with the huge recording horn used in the

acoustic recording A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English) or a vinyl record (for later varieties only) is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The g ...

process can be see
here
Later, Sheffield made recordings of comic songs with

Cicely Courtneidge Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge (1 April 1893 – 26 April 1980) was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West End ...

.''The Times'', 30 June 1933, p. 17

References

Sources

External links

Profile of Sheffield
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield, Leo 1873 births 1951 deaths English actors English opera singers Male actors from North Yorkshire People from Malton, North Yorkshire