Daisy Fisher, born Daisy Gertrude Fisher; (7 November 1887 – 2 April 1969) was an English novelist and playwright.Telegraph Obituary: Michael Mason, The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2014 She was the writer of several romantic novels, a lyricist, scriptwriter, actress and singer. In the 1920s she wrote the lyrics for some of Eric Coates' compositions. In 1926 she published her first book Lavender Ladies A Comedy in Three Acts followed by more in the 1930s. Fisher authored some plays with the song writer Harold Simpson, Ronald Jeans and Clifford Seyler. She was the wife of Herbert Mason the film director and producer who previously acted on stage (including several productions at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre). After the Second World War they worked together on some plays.

Early life

Daisy Gertrude Fisher was born on 7 November 1887 to William Edgar Fisher (an accountant) and Emma Louisa (née Beasley) daughter of Benjamin Beasley. After Brampton Park burned down in 1907 she turned to the theatre and joined as a chorus girl.

Career

One of Fisher's earliest plays was Cinderella performed at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (26 December 1914– 29 January 1915).Kemp, 1943, p. 132 Fisher and the composer Eric Coates starred in The Punch Bowl, which Herbert Mason a stage actor stage managed and choreographed. Fisher's comedy play Lavender Ladies was performed at the Comedy Theatre from 29 July – 21 November 1925.Gale, 1996, p. 205 The play starred Herbert Marshall and Louise Hampton. Additionally it was Lydia Sherwood's debut on stage. Fisher and Harold Simpson were authors of The Cave Man, which Mason also presented, produced and had a role in. Louise Hampton also had a part in the play.

In 1933 The Hill Beyond was published. It acts as a sequel to The Gates Swings Open and is about a girl from between settling down in the countryside with her husband or an exciting life in the theatrical world in London. In 1935 Fisher wrote the story for Things Are Looking Up with Albert de Courville, Stafford Dickens and Con West. It was the film debut for Vivien Leigh who had an uncredited role as a school girl.Reid, John Howard, 2005, p. 205 In 1937 Fisher's A Ship Comes Home was performed at St Martin's Theatre, London. The play starred Michael Redgrave who later had a role in Mason's A Window in London. Mason and Fisher financed and were authors of Lend Me Robin (1948), which was shown at Embassy TheatreWearing, 2014, London Stage 1940–1949, p. 485 a few years before it was sold to the Central School of Speech and Drama. It was a comedy about a wife who tries to win back her philandering husband (portrayed by Charles Goldner) by taking a lover.Hobson, 1950, p. 89 The play also starred William Mervyn who later had a part in Conflict of Wings produced by Mason. Three years later they worked on an eternal triangle thriller Dangerous Woman.

Personal life and family

Fisher first met her future husband when they were in a play about David Garrick with Mason taking the lead. In 1914 they married before Mason and her brother fought in the First World War. Her brother Leslie Fisher was killed in action at the age of 30 on 14 August 1915.Massue, Melville Henry. (1916). The Roll of Honour: A Biographical Record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, Volume 1. The Standard Art Book Company Limited She survived Mason with their daughter and son. Their son Michael (b. December 1924) became a radio producer at the BBC and wrote several books.

Daisy Fisher died on 2 April 1969 in London.

Publications

Genre Year Title Comedy 1925 Lavender Ladies A Comedy in Three Acts 1930 Pie Crust 1931 Memory of Grange 1932 The Gate Swings Open 1933 The Hill Beyond 1936 A Heart Was Lost Comedy 1948 A Ship Comes Home A Play in Three Acts

Lyricist

Genre Year Title Composer Notes Stage 1920 Mary's Orchard Eric Coates Operetta Vocal 1920 The White Winding Road Eric Coates Vocal 1920 You Come No More Eric Coates Vocal 1920 Autumn Love Eric Coates (unpublished) Vocal circa 1921–24 Everything is Simply Fine and Life is Completely Jolly (unpublished) circa 1921–24 The Inconstant Lover (unpublished) circa 1921–24 Why I sigh for the Moon Vocal 1922 Coloured Fields Eric Coates Vocal 1923 Nobody Else but You Eric Coates Stage 1924 Ullo (revue) Co wrote with Henry Creamer, Clifford Seyler and Jack StacheyMajor and Mrs Holt, 1990, p. 123 (undated) The Challenge (unpublished) (undated) Purple Heather (unpublished)

Filmography

Film

Year Film Credit Notes 1935 Things Are Looking Up Scriptwriter Co wrote with Stafford Dickens, Con West and Albert de Courville

Theatre

Year Title Playwright Actress Theatre Notes 1912 The Follies Royal Lyceum Theatre and Apollo Theatre (with H. G. Pelissier's Follie's Company)Wearing, 1982, London Stage 1910–1919, p. 286 1914–15 Cinderella Birmingham Repertory TheatreD'Arcy Mackay, 1927, p. 37 1923–26 Lavender Ladies Strand Theatre, Comedy Theatre, London and Lyric Theatre, London 1924 Our Cabaret The Victorian Theatre (with Ronald Jeans and Clifford Seyler) 1924–25 The Punch Bowl Duke of York's Theatre, London and His Majesty's Theatre, London 1927 The Cave Man The Theatre Royal, Portsmouth and Savoy Theatre, London (with Harold Simpson) 1936–37 A Ship Comes Home St Martin's Theatre, London 1948 Lend Me Robin Embassy Theatre, London (with Herbert Mason) 1951 Dangerous Woman Wimbledon Theatre, London (with Herbert Mason)

References

Bibliography

Secondary sources

Gale, Maggie. (1996). West End Women and the London Stage 1918–1962. Routledge Reid, John Howard. (2005). Hollywood's Miracles of Entertainment. Lulu.com Wearing, J.P. (1982). The London Stage 1910–1919: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Education Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1920–1929: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Education (2nd edition) Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1940–1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Education (2nd edition) Payne, Michael. (2013). The Life and Music of Eric Coates. Ashgate Publishing Ltd D'Arcy Mackay, Constance. (1927). Children's Theatres and Plays. D. Appleton & Company Barranger, Milly S. (2004). Margaret Webster: A Life in the Theater. University of Michigan Press Hobson, Harold. (1950). Theatre – Volume 2. Longmans, Green and Co Kemp, Thomas C. (1943). Birmingham Repertory Theatre: The Playhouse and the Man. Cornish Brothers Limited Major and Mrs Holt. (1990). The Biography of Captain Bruce Bairnsfather: In Search of the Better Ole. Pen and Sword

External links

A Ship Comes Home by Daisy Fisher at The Spectator Archive Daisy Fisher on Great War Theatre website Daisy Fisher at Theatricalia