C. Hayden Coffin


Hayden Coffin in The Geisha

Charles Hayden Coffin (April 22, 1862 – December 8, 1935) was an English actor and singer known for his performances in many famous Edwardian musical comedies, particularly those produced by George Edwardes.

Contents

Life and career

Coffin was born in Manchester. His parents were from Maine, and his father was a dentist. Coffin passed the preliminary examinations to enter the College of Surgeons, but decided instead to become an actor. In 1883, he performed at St. George's Hall in London as Tom Gilroy in H. J. Byron's "Partners for Life"[1] and as Vivid in "Monsieur Jacques"[2]

Coffin in Dorothy

Coffin made his professional debut as John Smith in Edward Solomon and Sydney Grundy's Pocahontas (1885). He rose to fame as Harry Sherwood in Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson's the record-setting hit Dorothy (1886), in which he introduced the popular song, "Queen of My Heart." Coffin's good looks and powerful voice made him one of the most popular stage baritones of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[3] Early in his career, he also had successes with the same team's Doris (1889), Solomon and Henry Pottinger Stephens' The Red Hussar (1889), F. C. Burnand's adaptation of Edmond Audran's La Cigale (1890), and Captain Therese (1890), among others. He spent the 1892–93 season in New York City co-starring in several productions with soprano Lillian Russell. He also starred in a number of pantomimes.

Coffin returned to London in 1893 to star in a series of hit Edwardian musical comedies produced by George Edwardes and composed by Sidney Jones and then Lionel Monckton, including A Gaiety Girl (1893), An Artist's Model, (1895), The Geisha (1896), A Greek Slave (1898), San Toy (1899), A Country Girl (1903) and The Cingalee (1904). He also starred in Veronique (1904) and The Girl Behind the Counter (1906) and played the title role in Tom Jones (1907). Coffin had a brief London run and tour in Two Merry Monarchs (1910) as Prince Charmis and then played Captain Charteris in The Quaker Girl (1910).

Drawing of Coffin in A Country Girl

In his later years, Coffin turned to serious drama, including Shakespearean roles, such as Feste in Twelfth Night at the Savoy Theatre in 1912.[4] He also made occasional appearances in musicals such as Young England (1916) and As You Were (1918).[5] He made several films until 1930 and also continued touring through the 1920s.

Coffin was first engaged to actress Hope Temple but married actress Adeline de Leuw, whose first husband was the composer Alberto Randegger. He died in London at the age of 73.

References

Coffin wrote an autobiography, Hayden Coffin's Book: Packed with Acts and Facts (London: Alston Rivers, 1930).

Recordings

Coffin made a small number of records for the Gramophone Company, as follows:[6]

  • 4-2834 When travelling days are over Young England (Hubert Bath) c. 1916, 10", coupled on E35. (speed 81)
  • 2-4385 Young Fresh England Young England (Hubert Bath) in ensemble, 10", coupled on E 35.
  • 02714 Who sings of England? Young England (G. H. Clutsam), 1916-17, 12", coupled on D200.

Notes

  1. ^ The Era, 13 January 1883
  2. ^ The Era, 23 June 1883
  3. ^ Profile at the Musicals101 website
  4. ^ Coffin, p. 274
  5. ^ [http://library.kent.ac.uk/library/special/icons/playbills/playdat2.htm Listing in Play Pictorial database
  6. ^ Bennett, J. R. Voices of the Past: Vol. I A Catalogue of vocal recordings from the English Catalogue of The Gramophone Company, etc. (Oakwood Press, 1955).

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