THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Dorothy Vane as Pitti-Sing in The Mikado

Dorothy Vane (1891-98)

[Born Dunmow, Essex 12 Apr 1870, died Kensington 4 Mar 1947]

Dorothy Vane (real name Gertrude Amy Mackenzie) joined D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "C" in September 1891 as Iolanthe in Iolanthe and Fiametta in The Gondoliers. In December of that year she succeeded Alice Pennington as principal mezzo-soprano, swapping Fiamatta for Tessa in The Gondoliers and adding Pitti-Sing in The Mikado and Phoebe Meryll in The Yeomen of the Guard to her duties. From January to July 1892 The Nautch Girl was added to the Company "C" tour with Dorothy Vane appearing as Chinna Loofa. She left Company "C" in August to report to the Savoy.

At the Savoy Miss Vane created the roles of Dorcas in Haddon Hall (September 1892-April 1893) and Jane Annie in Jane Annie (May-July 1893). She then toured as Jane Annie from May to September. When the Jane Annie tour ended she rejoined Company "C" as principal mezzo. For the next three years, September 1893 to November 1896 she toured as Constance Partlett in The Sorcerer, Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore, Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, the Lady Angela in Patience, Iolanthe, Melissa in Princess Ida, Pitti-Sing, Phoebe, and Tessa.

From December 1896 to June 1897 she toured South Africa with a D'Oyly Carte company. Her roles were the same as with Company "C" except that she played Mrs. Partlett in The Sorcerer, and also played Princess Kalyba in Utopia Limited and the Princess of Monte Carlo in The Grand Duke for the first time. The company returned in July 1897 as Company "B" and that month appeared in Southport in The Sorcerer, Iolanthe, The Mikado, The Yeomen of the Guard, and The Gondoliers.

Miss Vane then rejoined Company "C" in August 1987. Over the next ten months she appeared as Mrs. Partlett, Hebe, Edith, Angela, Iolanthe, Melissa, Pitt-Sing, Phoebe, Tessa, and Princess Kalyba in Utopia Limited. She left the D'Oyly Carte organization in June 1898 and traveled to Australia.

In Australia between August 1898 and June 1900 Miss Vane appeared in H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, and The Yeomen of the Guard. She had another engagement in Australia in 1914 when she performed in The Mikado, The Yeomen of the Guard, and The Gondoliers.

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