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Lot Essay
Charles Herbert Workman (1874-1923), Singer and Entertainer, was born in Liverpool. From an early age, he was fascinated by theatre and his father, at first disapproving of his son's chosen career in entertainment, stipulated that Charles should either join the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company or none at all. This he did, making his stage debut in 1894 as Calynx in 'Utopia Limited'. In 1895, he joined the Savoy where he became famous for his roles in Gilbert & Sullivan's operettas, especially his rendition of Ko-ko in 'The Mikado'. In 1909, Workman produced Gilbert & German's 'Fallen Fairies'. The production was a failure and led to a falling-out between Workman and Gilbert, with Workman being prohibited from appearing in Gilbert's works again at the Savoy. However, Workman was free to make recordings of his music, and did so, in 1910, for Odeon with 'The Art of the Savoyard'. From 1914 to 1923, Workman toured Australia and India. He died at sea on his way to Hong Kong in 1923.
The only part of him which gets tired is his tongue, and occasionally the oft-repeated lines have got muddled. 'Self-constricted ruddles', 'his striggles were terruffic', and 'deloberately rib me' are a few of the spoonerisms he has perpetrated. Success has not spoilt him. He is a professional humourist, who has been known to make an Englishman laugh at breakfast.
Vanity Fair, 'Men of the Day', No. 1222, 1910.
The only part of him which gets tired is his tongue, and occasionally the oft-repeated lines have got muddled. 'Self-constricted ruddles', 'his striggles were terruffic', and 'deloberately rib me' are a few of the spoonerisms he has perpetrated. Success has not spoilt him. He is a professional humourist, who has been known to make an Englishman laugh at breakfast.
Vanity Fair, 'Men of the Day', No. 1222, 1910.