Dion Boucicault, Jr.

Dion Boucicault Jr. (born Darley George Boucicault; 23 May 1859 – 25 June 1929) was an actor and stage director. Son of the well-known playwright Dion Boucicault, he followed his father into the theatrical profession and made a career as a character actor and a director. In addition to extensive work in the West End of London, he spent considerable time in Australia, where he went into management in the 1880s.

As an actor, his greatest successes included Trelawny of the 'Wells' and Mr. Pim Passes By. His best-known success as a manager was Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, of which he presented the premiere and many revivals. His last big success was Lilac Time in 1922.

Darley George Boucicault, later known as Dion Boucicault Jr., was born in New York, the third child of Dion Boucicault, the well-known actor and dramatist, and his wife, Agnes Kelly née Robertson (1833–1916), who was also well known on the stage. He had two elder siblings, Dion William (1855–1876), Eva (1857–1909), and three younger siblings, Patrice (1862-?1890), Nina (1867–1950), the first actress to play Peter Pan, and Aubrey (1868–1913) a handsome and dashing matinee idol. Boucicault was educated at Esher, Cuddington and Paris, and served briefly in the militia. After his elder brother died, Boucicault adopted his name Dion.

Boucicault made his stage début in his father's play, Louis XI at Booth's Theatre in New York City on 11 October 1879. 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 acting or directing productions. In 1881 and 1882 he appeared at the Court Theatre, and in 1883 he went on tour as the original Harry Marsland in The Private Secretary. He also adapted two plays, My Little Girl (1882) and Devotion (1884), both of which were produced at the Court. In 1885 he went to Australia with his father, and decided to remain there. 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. 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. The Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company inaugurated their lesseeship and management of Her Majesty's Opera House, Melbourne, on 9 October September, 1886, by the first production in Australia of "Turned Up" by Mark Melford. 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.

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