Musician, entertainer, writer
Trained as a classical violinist and pianist, Peggy Mortimer began her career in entertainment as child, appearing in pantomimes and vaudeville. She made her first radio appearance at age eight (performing on the ABC) and two years later won a scholarship to attend classes at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. That same year she was also invited to perform as a guest soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In 1943 Mortimer was asked by theatre producer Bob Geraghty to appear in the vaudeville shows presented at the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane.
In 1947, Mortimer and her brother Geoff travelled to England. Signed by the Flanagan and Allen theatrical agency she established herself as an all-round entertainer and at one stage featured in a BBC television variety show. Two years after arriving in London Mortimer was booked to appear in the same ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) show in Vienna as Australian musician Enzo Toppano (the pair knew other from years earlier, having appeared on an Australian radio programme together). They married in 1950. While Enzo toured England on the Stoll Moss theatre circuit, Mortimer (as Peggy Toppano) appeared in concert performances and continued her work with the BBC. Their first child, Peta, was born in 1951.
The Toppanos returned to Australia in the early to mid-1950s and soon afterwards began toured Australia and New Zealand in such shows as Ice Parade, Ice Capades, and several Harry Wren productions. Among the among the first artists to appear on television in Australia in 1956 the pair was given their own segment on Ray Taylor's TV breakfast show (ATN-7). This continued through until 1961. The 1960s saw both performers working in the theatre (including revues, pantomime and musical comedies).
In 1968, Enzo (music) and Peggy (libretto) wrote the musical The Flintstones which successfully toured Australia and New Zealand with the Rudas Organisation. The following year they began working exclusively with Tibor Rudas as writers and composers for his organisation. This engagement saw them tour through more than 35 countries, including North America, the Bahamas and Europe.
After returning again to Australia in 1971, the Toppanos and Lorrae Desmond wrote the religious rock opera, The Jesus Christ Revolution for Harry Wren. When the producer heard that the Lloyd Webber/Rice production of Jesus Christ Superstar was imminent he pushed the trio to complete the libretto (which they did in six weeks) and it subsequently toured Australia and New Zealand (where it became one of the most popular musicals of its time). It also won the award for best new musical at the Edinburgh Festival in 1972. In 1973 and 1974, the Toppano family performed exclusively for the Hilton hotel nightclub circuit throughout Asia, and at casinos and nightclubs in Las Vegas, New York, the Bahamas and Montreal. From 1976 to the mid-1980s, they were a permanent fixture at the Manly Music Loft, appearing in a string of revues, including In the Family Way (written by Peggy), Once More With Feeling and Encore.
Toppano's final acting role was a cameo appearance in the television show Arcade. She continued working in the club scene until a stroke in 1991 brought about the end of her career. She began suffering from Alzheimer's in 1998, and died in Sydney in 2003.
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