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328:
451:, which had been the traditional stock company theatre in Montreal, was transformed - like many others - into the Popular Talkie Playhouse. These significant sweeping changes to the cultural scene swiftly galvanized Montreal's elite into supporting Allan's initiative. The MRT's opening night performances were packed to the rafters with old Montreal's social elite, all of whom Miss Allan knew intimately, many of them being close friends of, or related to her parents. Other than her parents, among the other principal donators to the establishment of the MRT were
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186:
287:, dying after four weeks, on April 4, 1942. In 1935, her contribution to Canadian drama was recognized when she was given the Canadian Drama Award for outstanding service in the development of the Canadian theatre. Following Allan's death, having lost their leading spirit many feared the collapse of her Montreal Repertory Theatre, but her parents and other influential Montrealers were quick to jump in and the presidency was taken up by Charles Martin, son-in-law of
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300:
707:. The actor who was to play the leading role fell ill en route to London and some recommended that the play should be withdrawn. Allan would not hear of it. She studied the script in the few available hours and went on stage to play the priest. The adjudicator, who was unaware that the role had been learnt by Miss Allan in just a few hours, selected her for special mention. She was said to be an even better director. Thomas Archer of the
615:, and later served as a home for Protestant infants and as a dance academy. When the MRT took over the building it made many changes and constructed a little theatre with about 200 seats. As its productions ran for more than a week, the theatre gave more than a thousand Montrealers a chance to attend. The very smallness of the theatre gave it a sense of intimacy, creating a close bond between actors and audience.
487:- that kept subscribers up-to-date with all kinds of theatrical information. Allan was passionate about demanding the highest artistic standards at the MRT, and encouraged other local amateur groups to achieve the same level of artistic consistency. Moreover, the MRT was much more open than other significant
752:
Nevertheless, the war saw a huge decrease of spectator subscriptions, on which the company heavily relied to make money. About a month after Allen's death, the
Montreal Gazette reported "Before the war the MRT members bought 1,500 double subscriptions but it is reported that within the last two years
697:
The multi-lingual Allan founded a French theatre as well as the
English-speaking MRT. It did so well at the Dominion Drama Festival in 1934 that the adjudicators said they had almost given it the prize. It eventually left MRT, but it had been one of the earlier French-language theatre groups in
482:
Allan hated to have the word 'amateur' applied to the MRT; "amateur theatricals? I loathe them" she once said. By the mid-1930s, she had almost succeeded in her aim of making the MRT professional, and in its standards, it largely was. Unlike its predecessor, The
Community Players, the MRT had
277:
Immensely self-assured, forceful and resourceful, with all manner of charm yet determined to carry out her plans. She was a woman capable of bringing together a group, with varying degrees of talent, compatibility and dedication, and welding them into an effective, hard-working whole. She was
635:
In 1952, the Guy Street building blew up and all its contents were lost: the theatre, its equipment, the library, the museum, the costumes and the records. The MRT continued as it had done before, renting halls, until it acquired another theatre and headquarters in the old building of the
579:
and despite Allan's best attempts to rally local wealth and political support, the MRT had suffered from never having had a real headquarters. At first, rehearsals had taken place at the Allans' coach-house at
Ravenscrag. Plays were performed wherever a hall could be found, usually at
351:, who remained a close family friend and later married Jimmy Bryce Allan, her Scottish cousin. In 1921, along with Rupert Caplan, Akkab was among the founders of the Community Players, with W.A. Tremayne as their stage director. They disbanded after four years and Caplan joined the
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The MRT formed its own 'Tin Hat Revue' for the entertainment of the troops, and with a portable stage and equipment it declared itself ready to present its repertoire of songs, skits and dancing numbers anywhere, at any time. It once gave four shows within twenty-four hours at
715:"Miss Allan could walk in at the last moment, so to speak, and put a hopeless situation into what it ought to be for the 'customers' on the opening night. She was also an organiser with a remarkable way of making the right decision when every other decision had failed."
209:
and
Marguerite Ethel Mackenzie (1873–1957), daughter of Hector Mackenzie (1843–1901), of Montreal. Both her parents enjoyed theatre. Her father, his cousin, and at least one of her aunts had been members of the Castanet Club of Montreal when they staged a production of
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Later, she lived in the
Ravenscrag coach-house and held many lively meetings there with theatre types, sinking her energy, money, connections and passion into the task of building a vital theatre industry in Montreal. Edgar Allen Collard of the
35:
483:
established a traditional subscription series of plays, an experimental studio wing, a French section, a school for theatre training, an extensive library collection of theatre books and memorabilia, and an organization magazine -
558:
At the same time that Allan was involved in promoting live theatre in
Montreal, she also played a role in supporting modern dance, most notably when she directed dance performances in Montreal by such international artists as
257:
that she had purchased in France at her own expense. After recovering in
England, she remained there until the end of the war, serving on the staff of a hospital that was being administered by her mother in London.
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appeared on the stage between the first and second acts with an impromptu speech: "MRT are three letters which have stood for very great distinction in the
Canadian theatre".
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in 1929, determined to establish a community theatre there at a time when 'live theatre' seemed in danger of extinction; the 'movies' having by then become the 'talkies'.
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scene. In 1935, she received the
Canadian Drama Award for outstanding service in the development of the Canadian theatre. At the annual Dominion Drama Festival the
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737:. Nobody seemed to know what the MRT should do, and many suggested it should be disbanded, but Allan insisted it should go on and made it a branch of the
367:, one of the most respected institutions of the kind on the continent. Under Allan's directorship, the Pasadena Playhouse drew such local support that
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The MRT had professional staff for its management and direction and an impressive number of MRT players went on to fame on the professional stage.
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many-gifted herself. Frequently she took the leading roles. Her powers of readiness and initiative were astonishing. Nothing daunted her.
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239:. Her parents out-lived all their children, including Allan, who never married. Allan's two teenage sisters died in the sinking of the
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420:, also spoke in support of local theatre. Allan, of course, spoke too, and one year later, with much local support, particularly from
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hotels. Unable to purchase an existing theatre or construct a new one, in 1932, the MRT obtained a space in a building on
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694:, becoming part of the London Little Theatre Company in 1934, and who were permanent fixtures at the Drama Festival.
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this dropped to about half." The five annual major productions were reduced from six to three representations each.
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in Moyse Hall, Montreal, with Lord Bessborough designing and superintending the stage settings, while his son,
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on Closse Street. On Guy Street, a skyscraper was built over where the characterful little theatre had stood.
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359:. Allan gained a reputation for herself as a successful theatrical producer in various art theatres in the
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before returning and becoming a major force in Canadian radio, producing the Radio Theatre Guild with the
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in 1927. Jackson's meeting had been held only a few months after Montreal's other main stage theatre,
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966:
Little Theatre only Temporary - Must Eventually become Professional Says Martha Allan in Interview
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131:. She almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the development of the professional modern
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An example of Allan's ability for quick improvisation was demonstrated at the outbreak of the
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291:. The MRT continued to run successfully up until 1961, and a trophy was donated in her name.
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Martha Allan's Acting Pleases - Montreal Amateur Scores with Los Angeles Community Playhouse
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511:, to make it accessible to all Montrealers, not just in the audience, but on the stage too.
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was used strictly for opera, and the Theatre Francais had burned down in 1900, as had the
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in 1886; and her maternal grandfather, Hector Mackenzie, had been President of Montreal
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of the West" referring to the city's enthusiasm for community theatre. She returned to
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is awarded in her memory for the best visual performance. She also wrote three plays:
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253:. Having trained as a nurse, Allan was injured in the same conflict while driving an
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Trophy for the best Canadian play at the Dominion Drama Festival in the early 1930s.
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674:, played the lead role. Trophies for the festival were donated by Lord Bessborough,
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both achieved world reputations - Colicos becoming the youngest actor ever to play
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Allan enjoyed an upbringing of unbridled wealth and privilege. She grew up between
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410:, then Canada's best-known stage actress, who happened to be in town performing
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542:. Among many others who became professionals of distinction were the likes of
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Martha's parents, Sir Montague and Lady Allan, at the Guy Street theatre, 1940
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931:"Escudero, Artist of Dance, Arrives", Montreal Gazette,9 April 1932, p. 11.
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with its own work-room. She turned the MRT itself into a wartime service.
34:
686:. Meredith was the uncle of J. Stanley Meredith, who in 1932 had founded
380:
245:. Two years later, her only brother Hugh, a Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the
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52:
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When the MRT celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a performance of
428:, which came to be known as the Montreal Repertory Theatre, or the MRT.
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In the finals of 1938, held at London, Ontario, the MRT was presenting
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controlled institutions of the city, which were still firmly closed to
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was being threatened by the rapid expansion of the American-influenced
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Following a serious illness, Allan took a trip with her parents to
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given by the Castanet Club of Montreal in 1886. Martha's father,
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and urged Montrealers to establish their own community theatre.
193:, where Allan had held private performances when she was younger
922:"Kreutzberg is Booked", Montreal Gazette, 21 Nov. 1931, p. 10
398:, in which he emphasised the success of the theatres at both
386:
In 1929, Allan organised a meeting at Montreal to be led by
749:. The 'Tin Hats' were a forerunner of the famed Army Show.
181:, can be seen waving a fan in the bottom right-hand corner.
648:
Allan worked closely with the Governor-General of Canada,
443:, had been purchased by an American motion-picture chain,
913:. By Herbert Whittaker & Jonathan Rittenhouse (1999)
96:(August 5, 1894 – April 4, 1942) was the founder of the
335:, where Allan held meetings and rehearsals for the MRT
249:, was shot down on his first service flight over the
892:"The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search"
499:and others. The MRT determined to produce plays in
79:
60:
41:
25:
853:
812:(September 23, 1772). Retrieved September 3, 2014.
972:Martha Allan, Prominent in Little Theater, Passes
824:"Shipping heiress kept theatre alive in Montreal"
607:The building that the MRT eventually acquired on
1058:20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
993:Origins of the National Theatre School of Canada
954:Shipping Heiress kept Theatre Alive in Montreal
713:
275:
983:Setting the Stage: Montreal Theatre 1920-1949
911:Setting the Stage: Montreal Theatre 1920–1949
447:. The very week after Jackson's meeting, the
8:
111:, but her energies spearheaded the Canadian
777:St.Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Montreal
347:and came to know among others the actress
33:
22:
1043:Canadian women dramatists and playwrights
227:, the Allan family mansion in Montreal's
940:The Montreal Gazette, May 13th, page 3.
762:
860:. Cambridge University Press. p.
682:, and her father's cousin-in-law, Sir
650:Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
363:, most notably as the director of the
357:Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission
978:Montreal's Great Women - Martha Allan
7:
575:In the 1930s, Montreal was in heavy
197:Martha Allan was born in Montreal's
1063:20th-century Canadian women writers
806:The MRT on Guy Street: Martha Allan
570:
14:
1038:Canadian women theatre directors
822:KALBFLEISCH, John (2009-03-29).
441:Her Majesty's Theatre, Montreal
856:The Cambridge Guide to Theatre
652:, in helping to establish the
235:, the Allans' summer house at
201:. She was the eldest child of
1:
728:
611:, had in the 1870s been the
392:Birmingham Repertory Theatre
343:, Allan studied theatre in
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1033:Canadian theatre directors
988:Montreal Repertory Theatre
295:Montreal Repertory Theatre
285:Victoria, British Columbia
72:Victoria, British Columbia
15:
830:. Canwest. Archived from
590:Montreal Academy of Music
461:General Sir Arthur Currie
32:
1023:Anglophone Quebec people
968:, Montreal Gazette, 1933
962:, Montreal Gazette, 1928
956:, Montreal Gazette, 2009
704:Father Malachy's Miracle
656:with Colonel Osborne of
571:MRT's Guy Street Theatre
303:Palace Theatre, Montreal
141:What Fools We Mortals Be
16:Not to be confused with
1018:Actresses from Montreal
773:Marguerite Martha Allan
654:Dominion Drama Festival
644:Dominion Drama Festival
604:, but more was needed.
465:Edward Wentworth Beatty
365:Pasadena Little Theatre
247:Royal Naval Air Service
113:Little Theatre Movement
105:Dominion Drama Festival
94:Marguerite Martha Allan
46:Marguerite Martha Allan
974:, Ottawa Citizen, 1942
726:
660:. In 1932, she staged
518:was to be renowned at
426:Montreal Theatre Guild
336:
324:
316:
304:
280:
194:
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103:and co-founder of the
83:Pioneer of the modern
1053:Writers from Montreal
638:Navy League of Canada
457:Madame Athanase David
445:Consolidated Theatres
417:Lady Windermere's Fan
330:
322:
310:
302:
188:
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149:All Of A Summer's Day
810:The Montreal Gazette
723:, September 23, 1972
688:The Meredith Players
353:Provincetown Players
311:Concert Hall at the
268:described Allan as,
207:Ravenscrag, Montreal
171:of a performance of
1048:Canadian socialites
852:Banham, M. (1995).
628:, Governor-General
620:W. Somerset Maugham
582:McGill's Moyse Hall
528:Christopher Plummer
520:Stratford-upon-Avon
422:Sir Andrew MacPhail
369:George Bernard Shaw
137:Martha Allan Trophy
787:. p. 16 of 21
739:Canadian Red Cross
729:MRT's wartime work
672:Viscount Duncannon
548:Madeleine Sherwood
424:, she founded the
390:, director of the
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325:
317:
305:
229:Golden Square Mile
203:Sir Montague Allan
199:Golden Square Mile
195:
183:
179:Sir Montague Allan
676:Sir Barry Jackson
625:The Constant Wife
561:Harald Kreutzberg
388:Sir Barry Jackson
153:Sir Barry Jackson
101:Repertory Theatre
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90:
18:Martha Meir Allen
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771:"Baptism act of
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721:Montreal Gazette
709:Montreal Gazette
684:Vincent Meredith
565:Vicente Escudero
493:French-Canadians
289:Richard B. Angus
265:Montreal Gazette
189:The ballroom at
133:Canadian theatre
85:Canadian theatre
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55:, Quebec, Canada
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692:London, Ontario
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613:West-End School
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449:Orpheum Theatre
408:Margaret Anglin
331:The stables at
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251:English Channel
167:A composite by
161:
151:, that won the
145:Summer Solstice
115:at a time when
109:amateur theatre
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808:. Sketchbook.
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630:Vincent Massey
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544:Richard Easton
489:Anglo-Montreal
477:Lord Atholstan
469:Herbert Molson
467:, Lt.-Colonel
453:Athanase David
437:Palace Theatre
433:Rialto Theatre
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169:William Notman
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107:. She loathed
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80:Known for
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68:(aged 47)
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49:August 5, 1894
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588:(home of the
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129:movie theater
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64:April 4, 1942
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906:
895:. Retrieved
886:
875:. Retrieved
855:
847:
836:. Retrieved
832:the original
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817:
809:
801:
789:. Retrieved
782:
776:
772:
765:
751:
743:
735:World War II
732:
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708:
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696:
687:
665:
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623:
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602:Union Avenue
594:Ritz-Carlton
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557:
554:Modern dance
538:at London's
532:John Colicos
513:
484:
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430:
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385:
349:Rita Jolivet
338:
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222:
218:Philharmonic
211:
196:
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148:
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136:
117:live theatre
93:
92:
66:(1942-04-04)
27:Martha Allan
1013:1942 deaths
1008:1894 births
662:Shakespeare
431:Montreal's
412:Oscar Wilde
341:World War I
123:and across
1002:Categories
897:2015-04-01
877:2015-04-01
838:2009-03-29
791:August 14,
757:References
698:Montreal.
680:Birmingham
609:Guy Street
516:Leo Ciceri
404:Manchester
400:Birmingham
333:Ravenscrag
315:, Montreal
225:Ravenscrag
213:The Mikado
191:Ravenscrag
174:The Mikado
577:recession
255:ambulance
220:Society.
159:Biography
718:—
596:and the
381:Montreal
373:Pasadena
233:Montrose
121:Montreal
98:Montreal
74:, Canada
53:Montreal
711:wrote,
598:Windsor
592:), the
540:Old Vic
522:and in
501:English
396:England
371:dubbed
339:Before
237:Cacouna
868:
667:Hamlet
658:Ottawa
509:German
505:French
463:, Sir
377:Athens
231:, and
147:; and
125:Canada
375:"the
345:Paris
87:scene
866:ISBN
793:2024
784:BAnQ
563:and
546:and
536:Lear
530:and
507:and
497:Jews
475:and
402:and
61:Died
42:Born
862:161
775:on
690:at
678:of
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485:Cue
414:'s
394:in
205:of
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