Charles Shirvell

#1 bananafrit

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Posted 13 September 2008 - 10:34 PM

Although I'm more of a lurker on WOS these days I'm surprised that nobody has picked up on the sad news that Charles Shirvell (original Mary Sunshine in the revival Chicago) passed away this week.

As well as his well-known roles in Chicago, Phantom Of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Carousel he was also a founder member of Westenders and ran his own entertainment company, 'Charles Shervell Entertainment'.

Shocking, tragic and sad news.

My thoughts and best wishes to all family and friends (a few of which I know and are VERY shocked and upset by this news).

RIP Charles and be at rest now.

BF

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#2 Matthew Winn

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Posted 14 September 2008 - 06:22 AM

QUOTE(bananafrit @ Sep 13 2008, 11:34 PM)

Although I'm more of a lurker on WOS these days I'm surprised that nobody has picked up on the sad news that Charles Shirvell (original Mary Sunshine in the revival Chicago) passed away this week.

Perhaps because nobody's seen an official announcement. I certainly haven't.

QUOTE

As well as his well-known roles in Chicago, [...]Les Misérables and Carousel

I saw him in those, and also in Hello Again and Jekyll and Hyde.

I remember the first time I saw Chicago: during the interval one woman who hadn't quite managed to get the point but who thought she was being knowing, said of his Mary Sunshine "I don't know what that is but I know it hasn't always been a woman". She was triumphant at the end.

In my opinion anyone interested in improving himself should not rule out becoming pure energy.
(Jack Handey)

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#3 Millie Dillmount

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Posted 14 September 2008 - 10:15 AM

gosh - it must have been sudden

i saw him earlier this year at the kings head in black and white ball

he was always good value in whatever he did

rip

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#4 theatrefan

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Posted 14 September 2008 - 03:33 PM

RIP Charles. Hopefuly now at peace. You will be missed.

The best of times is now,
Now, not some forgotten yesterday.
Now, tomorrow is too far away

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#5 Guest_Sarah Johnson_*

Group: Guests

Posted 15 September 2008 - 10:06 AM

This is truly sad and shocking news. We had booked Charles to host at a forthcoming Major UK dance event called Britrock. taking place in Brighton on 10 & 11 October 2008.

We believe he would have added a truly professional and entertaining value to this prestigious event. We also believe he would have greatly enjoyed being a part of this unusual opportunity and we would have very much enjoyed him.

It is with immense sadness that the show will go on without him. He will be sadly missed by us, and all those other lives that he touched.

Sarah Johnson

BritRock Limited

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#6 Guest_Guest_*

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Posted 15 September 2008 - 12:18 PM

Does anyone know the circumstances of his death?

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#7 Guest_Guest_Alison__

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Posted 15 September 2008 - 12:45 PM

I've just read this on my lunch break at work, what sad news. One of my strongest stage door memories is of seeing the Chicago tour at the Edinburgh Playhouse a couple of years ago. The principal Billy Flynn was on emergency leave, if I remember rightly, and the first cover was out. The second covers hadn't been rehearsed yet, so Charles went on as emergency cover Billy. I looked for the name in the program at the interval and couldn't find him anywhere, so when I was round at the stage door after the show, I asked somebody - "Who was on as Billy Flynn, I couldn't find him in the program?". The man I asked turned out to be Charles, he said, "Me," we had a bit of a laugh about me not recognising him - to be fair, I was sitting quite far away from the stage, so I couldn't make out faces properly - and he showed me where his name was listed in the program and explained why he'd been on. He couldn't have been nicer. A moment that could have been memorable for all the wrong reasons and turned out to be just the opposite.

He will be missed.

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#8 jeaniebee

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Posted 15 September 2008 - 01:47 PM

I was so shocked and saddened to learn about the sudden death of this wonderful performer. I only actually saw him as M. Andre in Phantom, but I remember how his ebullient personality just lit up the stage.

R.I.P. Charles. xx

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#9 Guest_Jane Milligan_*

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Posted 15 September 2008 - 03:38 PM

I worked with the very lovable and funny Charles on a few occasions, the most hysterical being Metropolis, which we renamed Metrolopiss, great score shame about the rest of it. Cant really understand why you are not on the planet anymore, I saw you at a wedding at the start of this year and you seemed your warm and funny self, I wish I had known that you were covering up. I will miss you and wherever you are I am sending you my love.xxxx