THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Hilda Cross in Patience

Hilda Cross (1910-14)

[Born Moss Side, Manchester 27 Mar 1879, died London Nov 1935]

Soprano Phoebe Hilda Cross appeared with the D'Oyly Carte Principal Repertory Opera Company from July 1910 to December 1914.During her first season she appeared regularly as the Lady Ella in Patience, Celia in Iolanthe, Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, Kate in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Gianetta in The Gondoliers.She also filled in on occasion for Marjorie Stone as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Elsie Maynard in Yeomen.

In July 1911 she yielded Gianetta to Clara Dow, assuming the smaller part of Fiametta in The Gondoliers instead.At the same time, she added the role of the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury.For the next two years her roles were the Plaintiff, Ella, Celia, Psyche, Kate (Yeomen), and Fiametta.Miss Cross reclaimed Gianetta in July 1913, appearing in that role as well as her small parts in Trial, Patience, Iolanthe, Ida, and Yeomen for the remainder of her career.

Before joining the D'Oyly Carte she reportedly toured with George Edwardes' Gaiety Company and with C. B. Cochran. Later in life she played small parts in film.

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