THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

W. O. Jones (1886-89)

[Born 10 Jan c.1861, died Nottingham 13 Feb 1890]

William Owen Jones spent approximately four years as a chorister and occasional small part player with touring D'Oyly Carte companies between 1886 and 1889.He was with a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Europe beginning in August 1887, then played Bob Beckett when H.M.S. Pinafore was added to the tour in Germany (December 1887-February 1888).He later played the Carpenter and with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "C" (February-June 1888), and was Piscator in the curtain raiser The Carp with Company "C" (July-December 1888).He was married to D'Oyly Carte chorister Alice Lorraine.

By January 1890 he had left the D'Oyly Carte organization and was appearing in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Grand Theatre, Nottingham, with J. B. Mulholland's Company.He appeared as usual on Saturday, February 8, although he was not feeling well.Unable to perform on Monday the 10th, he was hospitalized on Wednesday the 12th with acute pneumonia, and died the following day.He was only 29 years old, and left a widow and two children.Mulholland organized a subscription list for their welfare, and many D'Oyly Carte members (both performing and management) contributed during the next year.

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