George Lacy (27 January 1904 – 11 January 1989) was a British entertainer and actor, best known for his groundbreaking performances as a pantomime dame, particularly "Mother Goose".
Biography Born in Newington, London, he made his first stage appearance as a comedian aged 14, and soon started appearing in pantomimes. He first appeared as a pantomime dame aged 19, and featured as Mother Goose in a show in Leeds in 1929. He made the role his own, and introduced the tradition of the Dame changing her costume throughout the show, each change becoming increasingly flamboyant."The 'Dame'", The History of Pantomime, Limelight Scripts. Retrieved 12 December 2020 He designed and made his costumes himself – for one show performing in a costume designed as a billiard table, complete with balls and cues – and wrote many of his scripts and songs.Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, , p.100
As well as performing in pantomimes for over 60 years, Lacy also starred in other travelling musical theatre shows around the country, and in variety programmes in which he would sometimes interpose his increasingly well-known Dame persona. "Mother Goose, Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool", V & A Museums. Retrieved 12 December 2020 Part of his success was due to his ability to deliver "working class gags with a posh accent". "George Lacy (1904 - 1989)", BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2020 He took the lead role in the 1934 Lupino Lane comedy film My Old Duchess (also known as Oh! What a Duchess), "My Old Duchess", Collections Search, BFI. Retrieved 12 December 2020 in which he "was able to remain convincingly feminine with just the right degree of eccentricity to be funny, but not grotesque." Review of Oh! What a Duchess, TheLostLaugh.com. Retrieved 12 December 2020
Widely regarded as "the finest Dame of his generation", "Bring on those Wonderful Dames!: George Lacy", It's Behind You!. Retrieved 12 December 2020 he continued to perform each year in pantomimes until his final shows, aged 80, at Southsea in 1984. He died in Wrexham, north Wales, in 1989, aged 84.
References
External links
The Art Of The Pantomime Dame: George Lacy, 1982 short film