THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Jessie Shirley

Jessie Shirley (1884)

[Born 1862, died Surbiton 20 Jan 1947]

Jessie Shirley appeared briefly on tour as Lady Psyche in Princess Ida with Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "A" ("Princess Ida" No. 2) Company in March 1884. It was her only role with the D'Oyly Carte organization.

Miss Shirley was married in 1882 to D'Oyly Carte tenor Frank Boyle. It's possible she toured as a Carte chorister before her role in Princess Ida. She and their two daughters accompanied Boyle to Australia after her D'Oyly Carte engagement but returned to England shortly thereafter.

Miss Shirley appeared in London at the Prince of Wales's Theatre as Araminta Robinson in Ivan Caryll & Henry J. Leslie's one-act "musical mixture" Jubilation in 1887-88, before touring in the title role in Cellier's Dorothy. She later toured in the "comedy opera" My Sweetheart with the Miller & Elliston Company, appearing as Tina often between 1890 and 1892.

Jessie's older sister Ellen Shirley appeared with the D'Oyly Carte at the Opera Comique in 1880-81.

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