Viva Birkett
Encyclopedia
Viva Birkett was a British stage actress active on both sides of the Atlantic over the early decades of the twentieth century.
in the south west of England
. She was the daughter of William Henry and Myra M. Birkett, both natives of Exeter where her father worked as a wollen merchant. Viva studied acting under the American thespian Kate Bateman (1843–1917) and made her London stage debut on 28 June 1906 as a guest performer at the Lyric Theatre in a revival of Monsieur Beaucaire
and her New York
debut at the Hudson Theatre on 30 August of that same year playing Helen Plugenet in Hypocrites. For the remainder of her career she would continue to perform in London and New York and tour with companies headed by George Arliss
, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
and Henry Jowett. Her last Broadway
appearance was in June 1930 playing the Princess of San Luca in Death Takes a Holiday.
at St Marylebone Parish Church in London. The couple became the parents of two daughters and two sons, Rosamund, Valentine, John
and Philip.
. She was survived by her husband and children.
Viva
Valentine (originally recorded as Valentina) Viola Birkett was born on Saint Valentine's Day, 1887 at the historic coastal town of ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in the south west of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She was the daughter of William Henry and Myra M. Birkett, both natives of Exeter where her father worked as a wollen merchant. Viva studied acting under the American thespian Kate Bateman (1843–1917) and made her London stage debut on 28 June 1906 as a guest performer at the Lyric Theatre in a revival of Monsieur Beaucaire
Monsieur Beaucaire (operetta)
Monsieur Beaucaire is a romantic opera in three acts, composed by André Messager. The libretto, based on the 1900 novel by Booth Tarkington, is by Frederick Lonsdale, with lyrics by Adrian Ross...
and her New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
debut at the Hudson Theatre on 30 August of that same year playing Helen Plugenet in Hypocrites. For the remainder of her career she would continue to perform in London and New York and tour with companies headed by George Arliss
George Arliss
George Arliss was an English actor, author and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award.-Life and career:...
, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was an English actor and theatre manager.Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre, winning praise for adventurous programming and lavish productions, and starring in many of its productions. In 1899, he helped fund the...
and Henry Jowett. Her last Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
appearance was in June 1930 playing the Princess of San Luca in Death Takes a Holiday.
Marriage and family
On 23 July 1912 Viva married British actor Philip MerivalePhilip Merivale
Philip Merivale was an English film and stage actor and screenwriter....
at St Marylebone Parish Church in London. The couple became the parents of two daughters and two sons, Rosamund, Valentine, John
John Merivale
John Herman Merivale , also known as Jack Merivale, was a British theatre actor, and occasional supporting player in British films.-Biography:...
and Philip.
Death
Viva Birkett died from cancer on 27 June 1934, less than a month after leaving New York to return to her home on Seymour Road in the London Borough of Richmond upon ThamesLondon Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
. She was survived by her husband and children.
Selected performances
- (1906) Monsieur BeaucaireMonsieur Beaucaire (operetta)Monsieur Beaucaire is a romantic opera in three acts, composed by André Messager. The libretto, based on the 1900 novel by Booth Tarkington, is by Frederick Lonsdale, with lyrics by Adrian Ross...
adapted from the book by Booth TarkingtonBooth TarkingtonBooth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams...
performed at the Lyric Theatre, London - (1906–07) Hypocrites by Henry Arthur JonesHenry Arthur JonesHenry Arthur Jones was an English dramatist.-Biography:Jones was born at Granborough, Buckinghamshire to Silvanus Jones, a farmer. He began to earn his living early, his spare time being given to literary pursuits...
performed at the Hudson Theatre, New York - (1911) Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
performed at the His Majesty's Theatre, London. - (1911) Merry Wives of Windsor (Anne Page) by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
performed at the His Majesty's Theatre, London. - (1911) MacBeth (Lady MacDuff) by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
performed at the His Majesty's Theatre, London. - (1911–12) Peter PanPeter PanPeter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
Mrs. Darling) by J. M. BarrieJ. M. BarrieSir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright...
performed at the Duke of York's Theatre, London - (1915) As You Like It (Rosalind) by William ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
performed at the Boston Opera House, Boston, Massachusetts - (1914) Trilby (Trilby O'Farrell) by George L. Du Maurier Motion Picture
- (1914) Evidence by J. duRocher MacPherson performed at the Lyric Theatre, New York
- (1916) Caroline by W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset MaughamWilliam Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
performed at the Empire Theatre, New York - (1919) The Mollusc (Mrs. Baker) by Hubert Henry DaviesHubert Henry DaviesHubert Henry Davies was a leading British playwright of the early twentieth century, following in the tradition of Arthur Wing Pinero and Henry Arthur Jones, but influenced profoundly by Thomas William Robertson...
performed with the George Arliss Company - (1922) The Life of Lord Byron (Lady Jersey) by Alice Ramsey Motion Picture
- (1929–30) Death Takes a Holiday (Princess of San Luca) by Written by Alberto Casella; adapted by Walter Ferris performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York