Comic Opera in Tavistock Local History


By Roderick Martin


FROMabout 1900 until the start of the First World War was a time when members of the Pearce family were active photographers. They were Thomas Ellery Pearce, chemist and druggist with premises in West Street, and his sons Sydney Chenhall Pearce and Arthur Thomas Pearce. Their forte was the photographing of local events, and selling the images as postcards. One such event was a 1912 performance of de Blois Rowe’s


Comic Opera ‘Dido’, the subject of a postcard attributed to Arthur Pearce, probably one of a very small number photographed at the dress rehearsals and printed both to publicise the performance, and as souvenirs for the cast. Arthur Pearce’s older brother, Sydney Pearce, who apparently had a good baritone voice, was in the chorus. I believe the postcard shows Emma Oxburgh, a music teacher from Plymouth, as Mrs. Quickeye, singing her waltz songs in ‘Dido’.


Now I must admit to


knowing nothing whatsoever about comic opera, or even opera, but I found in the Tavistock Gazette a review of ‘Dido’ or ‘The Tale of a Gem’ which was performed in the Tavistock Town Hall on the 10 and 11th April 1912. The opera in two acts was written and composed by Mr. de Blois Rowe, a very


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Believed to be Emma Oxburgh, as Mrs. Quickeye, singing her waltz songs in ‘Dido’.


talented musician, composer, and local tradesman. The newspaper reviewer is supportive of all concerned but


“..story line somewhat weak...”


considered the story line somewhat weak and in need of ‘more musical dressing’. A group of young ladies, including the principal lady, Dido, are suffering from disastrous relationships and in order to mend


their broken hearts they have arrived on an island in the Mediterranean where they intend to relax and recover. They are accompanied by their chaperons, and Dr. and Mrs. Quickeye. Then unexpectedly a group of male students on an expedition to capture rare butterflies, and led by their guide Professor Buzzard, arrived at the same island. Well, as you can guess, no butterflies are harmed, and the broken hearts of the ladies start to flutter. In the manner of good old fashioned Edwardian


“..broken hearts of the ladies start to flutter...”


morality the young couples pair and all ‘leave the island to get married’. No ‘holiday flings and farewell’ in those days!


The reviewer was complementary of the performance of the sixty or so performers, but did make some subtle criticisms such as ‘the general impression gained was that all concerned were in


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