THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Betty Grylls as Leila in Iolanthe

Betty Grylls (1913-17)

[Born c.1885, died Walmer, Kent, 1956]

Edith Elizabeth (Betty) Grylls was with the D'Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company from February 1913, when she joined as a chorister, until October 1917. Her first named part came in November of that year when she deputized as Vittoria in The Gondoliers. She replaced Anna Bethell in March 1914 as Kate in The Pirates of Penzance, Leila in Iolanthe, and Chloe in Princess Ida, and Evelyn Griffiths as Giulia in The Gondoliers.

Miss Grylls appeared as Kate, Leila, Chloe, and Giulia for the next three full seasons (1914-17), adding Lady Saphir in Patience and Peep-Bo in The Mikado to her duties in February 1916, following the departure of Ella Milne. In July 1917, however, Leila, Chloe, Saphir, and Peep-Bo were all assumed by Ivy Page, and Betty Grylls was left with just Kate and Giulia. She left the D'Oyly Carte in October of that year, due to ill health.

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