CARTON, R. C. (1853-1928), English playwright, whose real name was RICHARD CLAUDE CRITCHETT, was born in London, the son of a well-known ophthalmic surgeon. He began to play in the provinces at the age of 22, making his first real hit in 1888 at St. James's hall in a play called Such is the Law, and from that time had considerable success as an actor. He presently entered into partnership with Cecil Raleigh in writing plays, the first of their joint productions being the Great Pink Pearl (1885) with Mrs. Carton (Katherine Mackenzie Compton) as the Russian princess. In 1891 Carton began to write regularly for Sir George Alexander. Many of his later pieces were written for Miss Comp ton, a good example of these being Lady Huntworth's Experiment. The Carton plays were a clever mixture of comedy and farce. One of the best of these light pieces was Lord and Lady Algy (1898). Carton died at Acton, London, on April i, 1928.
Miss Compton's most successful parts were those portraying the imperturbable great lady, although she also played a num ber of parts in classic comedy. She made her name in the pieces written for her by her husband. Miss Compton, always known under her maiden name, died on May 16, 1925, at Acton.