Daisy Fisher


Daisy Fisher, born Daisy Gertrude Fisher; was an English novelist and playwright. 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. After the Second World War they worked together on some plays.

Early life

Daisy Gertrude Fisher was born in 1888 to William Edgar Fisher and Emma Louisa Beasley. After Brampton Park burned down 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. Fisher and the composer Eric Coates starred in The Punch Bowl, which Herbert Mason stage managed and choreographed. Fisher's comedy play Lavender Ladies was performed at the Comedy Theatre from 29 July – 21 November 1925. 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. 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, which was shown at Embassy Theatre 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 by taking a lover. 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.
In 1967, Daisy Fisher died in London at the age of 79.

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. She survived Mason with their daughter and son. Their son Michael Mason became a Radio producer at the BBC and wrote several books.

Publications

GenreYearTitle
Comedy1925Lavender Ladies A Comedy in Three Acts
1930Pie Crust
1931Memory of Grange
1932The Gate Swings Open
1933The Hill Beyond
1936A Heart Was Lost
Comedy1948A Ship Comes Home A Play in Three Acts

Lyricist

GenreYearTitleComposerNotes
Stage1920Mary's OrchardEric CoatesOperetta
Vocal1920The White Winding RoadEric Coates
Vocal1920You Come No MoreEric Coates
Vocal1920Autumn LoveEric Coates
Vocalcirca 1921–24Everything is Simply Fine and Life is Completely Jolly
circa 1921–24The Inconstant Lover
circa 1921–24Why I sigh for the Moon
Vocal1922Coloured FieldsEric Coates
Vocal1923Nobody Else but YouEric Coates
Stage1924Ullo Co wrote with Henry Creamer, Clifford Seyler and Jack Stachey
The Challenge
Purple Heather

Filmography

Film

YearFilmCreditNotes
1935Things Are Looking UpScriptwriterCo wrote with Stafford Dickens, Con West and Albert de Courville

Theatre

YearTitlePlaywrightActressTheatreNotes
1912The FolliesRoyal Lyceum Theatre and Apollo Theatre
1914–15CinderellaBirmingham Repertory Theatre
1923–26Lavender LadiesStrand Theatre, Comedy Theatre, London and Lyric Theatre, London
1924Our CabaretThe Victorian Theatre
1924–25The Punch BowlDuke of York's Theatre, London and His Majesty's Theatre, London
1927The Cave ManThe Theatre Royal, Portsmouth and Savoy Theatre, London
1936–37A Ship Comes HomeSt Martin's Theatre, London
1948Lend Me RobinEmbassy Theatre, London
1951Dangerous WomanWimbledon Theatre, London

Secondary sources