George C. Miln

George Crichton Miln (1850–1917) was an American actor and stage manager who was active in Australia 1888–1890.

George C. Miln

History

Miln claimed to have been born in England and attended Christ's Hospital Bluecoat School, moved to America and was further educated at Princeton University.[1] The historian Eric Irvin was doubtful about some details on his biography. Miln was a master of the tall tale, witness the note he sent to one Colonel J. S. Wilson, to whom he had given a large dog.[2]

He first came to public attention in 1882[3] when he left his position in Chicago as a Unitarian pastor, for the uncertain life of a Shakespearean actor.[4]

He first appeared on the Australian stage for George Rignold at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney playing a somewhat unconventional Hamlet on 6 October 1888 with his wife, Louise Jordan, as Ophelia and a local supporting cast.[5] This was followed by a vehement Richelieu[6] and thoughtful Richard III[7] with Jordan as Lady Ann. The originality of his interpretations brought a great deal of interest to the theatre though scorned by purists. The company moved to Brisbane, playing, amongst other works, Damon and Pythias at the Opera House with Miln and F. C. Appleton in the name parts, followed by the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle where they finished with Tom Taylor's The Fool's Revenge. They returned to Sydney, this time playing at the Opera House, then on to Melbourne for a short season, Launceston and Hobart and back to Melbourne, followed by the major towns in Victoria. In May 1890 he pleaded insolvency as a result of losses incurred playing Shakespeare in Melbourne and Ballarat.[8] They finished their tour with nine nights in Adelaide, where amongst others, he played Othello to the evident approval of theatregoers, such that he must have regretted not bringing it out (or playing Adelaide) earlier.[9] They left for India by the SS Valetta on 29 October 1890.[10]

Family

Miln was married to the actress Louise Jordan, who regularly appeared with her husband. She was also known as a writer of travel books, especially of China, and novels, several being based on popular stage plays.[11] Her novel Mr Wu (1918) was very popular.[12] Her When We Were Strolling Players in the East was published in 1900.[13]

At the time of their 1888–90 tour they had two infant children.[10]

See also

References
  1. Irvin, Eric (1991). "George Crichton Miln: an individualist on the Australian stage". Australasian Drama Studies (19): 94–106. doi:10.3316/ielapa.920404257 (inactive 31 October 2021).CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2021 (link)
  2. "A Tragedian's Dog". The Queenslander. XXVI (476). Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1884. p. 748. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Miscellaneous". The Evening News (Sydney) (4760). New South Wales, Australia. 15 November 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Our California Letter". The South Australian Advertiser. XXVII (8159). South Australia. 11 December 1884. p. 7. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Her Majesty's Theatre". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. XLVI (1475). New South Wales, Australia. 13 October 1888. p. 761. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Theatrical and Musical". The Australian Star (272). New South Wales, Australia. 15 October 1888. p. 7. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "George C. Miln as Richard the Third". The Sydney Morning Herald (15, 782). New South Wales, Australia. 22 October 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Tragedian Miln's Insolvency". The Advertiser (Adelaide). XXXII (9839). South Australia. 1 May 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Amusements". The Advertiser (Adelaide). XXXIII (9992). South Australia. 27 October 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Shipping Intelligence". South Australian Register. LV (13, 717). South Australia. 30 October 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Portrait from the Past". The Australasian. CXXV (4, 164). Victoria, Australia. 27 October 1928. p. 20. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Questions and Answers". The Australasian. CXLIX (4, 785). Victoria, Australia. 14 September 1940. p. 36. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Autolycus of the Bookshops". Table Talk (800). Victoria, Australia. 1 November 1900. p. 11. Retrieved 23 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.