'The Princess's Rifles'
at the Princess's Theatre
Three entertainers who appeared as part of ‘The Princess’s Rifles,’ an act which is probably best understood as a tribute to the Volunteer movement which was then sweeping the country. They were featured in the ‘new grand Comic Christmas Burlesque Pantomime’ Jack the Giant Killer (with the alternative title Harlequin, King Arthur, and ye Knights of ye Round Table), written by H.J. Byron and produced by Augustus Harris at the Royal Princess’s Theatre in London’s Oxford Street at Christmas 1859, ‘on parade at Ten o’clock Every Evening.’
According to a lengthy advertisement in The Era (25 December 1859), the ‘Princess’s Rifle Corps’ appeared in a ‘Harlequinade’ towards the end of the evening. ‘The Arms and Accoutrements for the occasion have been courteously supplied by Messrs. E.M. Reilly and Co., the eminent contractors for Volunteer Rifles.’
‘The harlequinade is full of allusions to events of the day, conspicuous amongst which are the drinking fountains and the volunteer rifle movement, the latter being entrusted to the Princess’s Rifle Corps, who execute their exercises, which have been arranged for them by Mr Oscar Bryne [sic] with so much precision and effect, that their movements alone make a visit to the Princess’s a desirable object’ (Morning Herald, 27 December 1859).
According to review of the pantomime in The Era (1 January 1860), ‘a great hit is made in a scene of a Young Lady’s Boarding Establishment […] in which the Princess’s Rifle Corps, drilled into perfect precision by Sergeant Oscar Byrne, go through some elaborate evolutions. Their dance was enthusiastically encored, and proved one of the great hits of the evening.’
According to the Dictionary of National Biography, ‘In 1850 Charles Kean, in his memorable series of performances at the Princess’s Theatre, engaged Oscar Byrne, who arranged the ballets for the principal revivals. […] In his own line Oscar Byrne showed both invention and resource. He died rather suddenly on 4 Sept. 1867 at the reputed age of seventy-two, leaving a young wife and seven children.’
The following brief tribute appeared in the Leicester Journal (12 September 1867): ‘The death is announced of Mr Oscar Bryne [sic], who was for a long series of years the chief teacher of the terpsichorean art in England. He had the teaching of most of the English dancers who during his professional career gained distinction on the English stage. Mr Bryne [sic] was one of the founders of the Provident Fund, which has been of such great use to disabled members of the profession. He was 71 years of age at the time of his death.’
He left an estate valued at £8000, a phenomenal sum for a dancing master to have amassed.