Editing Ronald Colman (section)

===Concert parties and amateur stage===

[[File:The Popinjays.jpg|thumb|The Popinjays with Ronald Colman (far right), ca. 1913]] About the same time when he joined the London Scottish, Colman took to the stage and soon established himself as a member of the performing community in Ealing. Between 1909 and 1914, he appeared solo and with various [[concert party (entertainment)|concert parties]] and amateur dramatics groups. He began with banjo solos at benefit concerts<ref>He was said to have made his first appearance on the stage at the age of seventeen in a masonic smoker, see Steele 1937, p. 94. The first recorded performance took place at the Chiswick Town Hall in aid of the Chiswick Soup kitchen: "… and a banjo solo by Mr. R. C. Colman, each of which were much appreciated." ''Chiswick Times'', 16 April 1909, p. 6.</ref> and two years later joined the short-lived Pierrot troupes The Tangerines<ref>"Lifeboat Concert", ''Northampton Mercury'', 10 February 1911, p.12: "… a party of entertainers from Ealing, London, who dress attractively in black with orange coloured trimmings, pierrot fashion."</ref> and The Summer 'Uns, who only had one performance.<ref>''Middlesex County Times'', 4 May 1912, p. 7.</ref> In 1912, while on the Isle of Wight, he and some friends formed The Mad Medicos,<ref> R. O. Mackay, "Ronald Colman - Pierrot", ''Picturegoer'', 1 July 1930, p. 17; P. L. Mannock, "They all came from Concert Parties", ''Britannia and Eve'', 1. July 1937, p. 17.</ref> who performed under his direction.<ref>"Our Amateurs", ''The Era'', 2 November 1912, p. 13.</ref> A part of this troupe then became The Popinjays, again under Colman’s direction, until George Denby (c. 1889-1951)<ref>"Death of George Denby", ''The Stage'', 8 February 1951, p. 3.</ref> took over.<ref>In the early months of 1913, Colman's sister Freda accompanied the Popinjays at the piano. ''Forest Hill & Sydenham Examiner'', 28 March 1913, p. 3. In January 1916, [[Noel Coward]] appeared with the Popinjays at the Park Pavilion in Eastbourne. ''Eastbourne Gazette'', 19 January 1916, p. 8. In April and July of the same year, [[Goodie Reeve]] was a member of the Popinjays under the name of Goodie Cotton. ''Munster News'', 26 July 1916, p. 3.</ref> Besides banjo solos and duets, Colman's repertoire included songs and duets like "Two Little Sausages" ([[Lionel Monckton]]) and musical monologues, recitals of poems like ''[[The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God]]'', funny stories and above all character sketches from Dickens such as Uriah Heep, John Brodie and Martin Chuzzlewit. At "An Evening With Dickens", he played Charles Darnay in three scenes from ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]''.<ref>"An Evening With Dickens", ''Middlesex County Times'', 6 April 1912, p. 5.</ref> He also staged three pieces of his own: the duologues "My Pierrot"<ref>"Amateur Dramatics at Hayes. Fine Performance for the Cottage Hospital", ''The Uxbridge & Drayton Gazette'', 29 April 1911, p. 3.</ref> and "A Knotty Problem"<ref>"A Triple Bill. Mrs. Hodges' Dramatic Entertainment", ''Middlesex County Times'', 16 December 1911, p. 1.</ref> and the miniature revue "Come Inside".<ref>''Hampstead News'', 23 October 1913, p. 4.</ref> When Colman rejoined the Popinjays in July 1916 for performances at the Pavilion in Derby, between theatre engagements, there was a marked change in his repertoire: The character sketch was now of a Chelsea Pensioner, and he recited ''Spotty, a Tale of the Trenches''.<ref>"Amusements in Derby", ''Derby Daily Telegraph'', 11 July 1916, p. 2.</ref>

Besides these performances, Colman also appeared on the amateur stage. He made his debut as Freddy Fitzfoodle in ''Rich Miss Rustle'' at Victoria Hall, Ealing, on 11 November 1909.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/stageyearbo1910londuoft/page/152/mode/2up?q=''The Stage Year Book''], London 1910, p. 152.</ref> In 1910 followed the one-act plays ''Barbara'' and ''Lights Out''<ref>Both at the same evening. "Tribute to Mr. Box. St. Saviour’s Musical and Dramatic Entertainment", ''Acton Gazette'', 6 May 1910, p. 3.</ref> and ''Spoiling the Broth''.<ref>"Mr. Ronald Colman left nothing to be desired in his portrayal of 'David Wells', the steady, respectable lodger." "Ealing Shakespearean Bazaar", ''Bayswater Chronicle'', 19 November 1910, p. 5.</ref> In October and November of the same year, he sang and danced as Bill Bobstay in ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'' with the West Middlesex Operatic Society.<ref>Acton Gazette, 4 November 1910, p. 3.</ref> In 1911 he appeared in the farcical comedy [https://archive.org/details/janeafarceinthr00lestgoog/page/n4/mode/2up) ''Jane'']<ref>''Acton Gazette'', 13 January 1911, p. 6.</ref> and in the next year as Samson Quayle in ''A Tight Corner''.<ref>''Uxbridge & W. Drayton Gazette'', 27 January. 1912, p. 6.</ref> Around this time Colman joined the Bancroft Dramatic Club, which had been founded in 1892 by Sir [[Squire Bancroft]] and performed mainly at the King’s Hall Theatre on the premises of the [[National Sporting Club]] in [[Covent Garden]]. Among its vice presidents were actors like [[George Alexander (actor)|George Alexander]], [[Johnston Forbes-Robertson]] and [[Ellen Terry]].<ref>"Bancroft Dramatic Club. Festival Dinner of Successful Organisation", ''London Evening Standard'', 1 December 1910, p. 7.</ref> With the Bancroft D. C., Colman appeared in six plays between 1911 and 1914: ''The Admirable Crichton'',<ref>''The Era'', 18 November 1911, p. 13.</ref> ''Priscilla Runs Away'',<ref>''The Stage'', 29 February 1912. p. 23: "As Prince Henry of Lucerne Mr. Ronald Colman was excellent - easy and unaffected."</ref> ''The Dancing Girl'',<ref>''Musical News and Herald'', Vol. 43, 1912, p. 450: "Ronald Colman is a jeune premier of great promise, having youth, a good presence, and clear diction in his favour. He made a manly lover, playing with strength and pathos."</ref> ''The Passing of the Third Floor Back'',<ref>"Our Amateurs", ''The Era'', 26 April 1913, p. 17.</ref> ''Fanny’s First Play'',<ref>"Mr. Ronald Colman quite caught the inflated style and the ultra-artistic mannerisms of Count O’Dowda, and wore his costume with quite an air", ''Musical News'', Bd. 46, 1914, p. 135.</ref> and ''Sowing the Wind''.<ref>"No less excellent was Mr Ronald Colman as the young lover Ned Annesley, playing his part with an easy air of assurance that immediately made him a favourite." ''The Queen'', 11 April 1914, p. 48.</ref> He also performed in ''Mr. Steinman’s Corner''<ref>"The defaulting stockbroker was powerfully played by Mr. Ronald Colman." "St. Saviour’s Lads’ Club Entertainment", ''Middlesex County Times'', 11 May 1912, p. 7.</ref> and as Douglas Cattermole in ''[[The Private Secretary]]'' with Vivian Parrott’s Amateur Dramatic Society.<ref>''The Middlesex & Buckinghamshire Advertiser'', 3 May 1913, p. 5.</ref>