Jack Tripp
Encyclopedia
Jack Tripp MBE was an English
comic actor, singer and dancer who appeared in seaside variety shows and revues and became best-known for his many performances as a pantomime dame
.
Born in Plymouth
, Devon
, Tripp was the only son of a baker
, William Tripp, and his wife Lillian. At a very young age he attended dancing classes and entered tap dancing competitions; leading to appearances in local clubs where his was billed as Plymouth’s Fred Astaire
. When war
broke out, Tripp joined up to serve in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
. Whilst in the army, he joined Stars in Battledress
where he performed in Europe
and the Middle East
.
After the war, Tripp took up acting professionally and appeared as a singer and dancer in variety shows and revues. He made his debut in the West End
understudying Sid Field
in Piccadilly Hayride at the Prince of Wales Theatre
in 1946. Tripp was with the Fol-de-Rols concert party for fourteen years, and this led to his own seaside show Take a Tripp.
Tripp is best known for his appearances as a pantomime dame in which he excelled. He appeared in at least 35 pantomimes wearing the most elaborate costumes. The Stage
once described him as "the John Gielgud
of pantomime dames". In 1982 he appeared in a television documentary The Pantomime Dame. During the 1990s he often teamed up with Roy Hudd
. In 1996 he was made a MBE
for his “services to pantomime”. His last performance was in Mother Goose
in Plymouth in 1996. His last stage appearance was in the revival of Sandy Wilson
s pastiche 1930’s musical Divorce Me, Darling!
at the Chichester Festival Theatre
in July 1997.
Off stage. Tripp was modest and quiet. He became disenchanted with modern pantomime and retired in 2000 in his home in Hove
. On 10 July 2005 he was taken ill in his home and died a few hours later in the Brighton General Hospital..
His lifelong partner on and off stage was Australian-born Allen Christie.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
comic actor, singer and dancer who appeared in seaside variety shows and revues and became best-known for his many performances as a pantomime dame
Pantomime dame
A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British pantomime. It is a continuation of en travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing...
.
Born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Tripp was the only son of a baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
, William Tripp, and his wife Lillian. At a very young age he attended dancing classes and entered tap dancing competitions; leading to appearances in local clubs where his was billed as Plymouth’s Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
. When war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Tripp joined up to serve in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
. Whilst in the army, he joined Stars in Battledress
Stars in Battledress
Stars in Battledress ' was an organisation that produced entertainment during World War II for and by military personnel- History :In Britain, during the Second World War, entertainment was considered an essential to keep morale high. In 1939 ENSA was organised by Basil Dean to send groups of...
where he performed in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
After the war, Tripp took up acting professionally and appeared as a singer and dancer in variety shows and revues. He made his debut in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
understudying Sid Field
Sid Field
-Early Years:Sid Field was an English comedy entertainer. He was born Sidney Arthur Field in Ladywood, Birmingham, son of Albert and Bertha . Field spent most of his childhood at 152 Osborn Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham.Field had entertainment in his blood from an early age...
in Piccadilly Hayride at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
in 1946. Tripp was with the Fol-de-Rols concert party for fourteen years, and this led to his own seaside show Take a Tripp.
Tripp is best known for his appearances as a pantomime dame in which he excelled. He appeared in at least 35 pantomimes wearing the most elaborate costumes. The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
once described him as "the John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
of pantomime dames". In 1982 he appeared in a television documentary The Pantomime Dame. During the 1990s he often teamed up with Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd, OBE is an English comedian, actor, radio host and author, and an authority on the history of music hall entertainment.- Early life :...
. In 1996 he was made a MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his “services to pantomime”. His last performance was in Mother Goose
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
in Plymouth in 1996. His last stage appearance was in the revival of Sandy Wilson
Sandy Wilson
Sandy Wilson is an English composer and lyricist, best known for his musical The Boy Friend .-Biography:Wilson was born Alexander Galbraith Wilson in Sale, Greater Manchester, and was educated at Harrow School and Oriel College, Oxford. During the war he served in the Royal Ordnance Corps in Great...
s pastiche 1930’s musical Divorce Me, Darling!
Divorce Me, Darling!
Divorce Me, Darling is a musical written by Sandy Wilson. Set ten years after the events depicted in Wilson's much better known The Boy Friend, it is a pastiche of 1930s musicals rather than the "Roaring Twenties" shows that inspired the earlier show.-Productions:Divorce Me, Darling ran for 91...
at the Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, was designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, and opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Martin in 1962. Subsequently the smaller and more intimate Minerva Theatre was built nearby in 1989....
in July 1997.
Off stage. Tripp was modest and quiet. He became disenchanted with modern pantomime and retired in 2000 in his home in Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
. On 10 July 2005 he was taken ill in his home and died a few hours later in the Brighton General Hospital..
His lifelong partner on and off stage was Australian-born Allen Christie.