THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Margery Abbott as the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury

Margery Abbott (1935-45)

[Born Nottingham 20 Oct 1910, died London 7 Jan 1991]

Margery Abbott joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in May 1935, appearing in the chorus for the remainder of the season. When a new season began in August of that year she assumed the roles of Lady Ella in Patience, Chloe in Princess Ida, and Giulia in The Gondoliers (with occasional appearances as Casilda). Also in June 1936 she made a single appearance as Kate in The Yeomen of the Guard.

In the 1936-37 season she added Kate to her regular duties, but yielded Lady Ella to Brenda Bennett. She also made occasional appearances that year as Phyllis in Iolanthe, Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, and Casilda in The Gondoliers.

In 1937-38 she appeared as Lady Ella in Patience (a role she reclaimed from Brenda Bennett in January 1938), Celia in Iolanthe (with occasional appearances as Phyllis), Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, Zorah in Ruddigore (with occasional appearances as Rose Maybud), Kate in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Casilda in The Gondoliers (with occasional appearances as Gianetta).

Next season she replaced Ann Drummond-Grant as the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury and assumed the role of Aline in The Sorcerer when that opera was briefly revived in June 1939. Her other roles in the 1938-39 season were Lady Ella in Patience (while occasionally substituting in the title role), Celia in Iolanthe (with occasional appearances as Phyllis), Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore (a role she assumed from Brenda Bennett who had left the Company), Kate in The Yeomen of the Guard, Casilda in The Gondoliers (with occasional appearances as Gianetta), and Yum-Yum in The Mikado (which she assumed toward the end of the season when Viola Wilson departed).

In the 1939-40 and 1940-41 seasons Miss Abbott held down the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury, Patience in Patience, Celia in Iolanthe (with occasional appearances as Phyllis in 1940-41), Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, and Casilda in The Gondoliers. She was off ill for a couple of months spanning December 1940 and February 1941.

In 1941-42 she yielded Celia to Brenda Thompson, while Ruddigore was dropped from the repertoire. Miss Abbott continued with her four soprano leads (Plaintiff, Patience, Yum-Yum, and Casilda) for the balance of her D’Oyly Carte career, which ended when she left the Company in November 1945.

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