THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Elaine Gryce

Elaine Gryce (1894)

Elaine Gryce appears to have performed first in Milan before coming to North America. She made her New York debut in October 1893 in Lecocq's The Pretty Persian following a Canadian tour. She subsequently appeared in New York as a "character vocalist" in a variety program at Proctor's Twenty-third Street Theatre in November-December 1893.

When Kate Rolla was forced to abandon the title role in Mirette at the Savoy in October 1894, the part was taken for a week by Miss Gryce, then assumed by Florence St. John. It was Miss Gryce's only role with the D'Oyly Carte organization.

Miss Gryce returned to the London Stage the following year, appearing as Pattie Buttre in the burlesque The Babes; or W(h)ines from the Wood (Strand, February 1895), and as Frasquita in Bizet's Carmen with the Carl Rosa Opera Company (Daly's, February 1896).

Miss Gryce was back in New York the following year where she played Psyche, Queen of Iscalia, in a "grand elaborate spectacle in four acts" called Nature (Academy of Music, August-October 1897). The original vocal and instrumental music for Nature was composed by former D'Oyly Carte baritone Fred Clifton.

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