After entertaining troops in France during the First World War, Gill toured for three years in The Beggar's Opera as Lucy Lockett. She joined a touring cast of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1925 to 1927, playing the contralto roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. She then appeared in a musical adaptation of The Rose and the Ring in the West End for two holiday seasons and toured in Australia and New Zealand in Gilbert and Sullivan. She returned to D'Oyly Carte from 1931 to 1936 and was so popular in the company's visit to New York City in 1934 that US fans petitioned for her return to America.[1]
She joined one of the touring casts of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1925 and one month later was promoted to principal contralto. Her roles included Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, Lady Jane in Patience, The Fairy Queen in Iolanthe, Katisha in The Mikado, Dame Hannah in Ruddigore and the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers. In June 1927, that touring company closed. Gill next appeared in London in a musical adaptation of The Rose and the Ring at the Apollo Theatre and the Playhouse Theatre from November 1928 to February 1929, and again, at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, from December 1929 to January 1930.[1] She later toured in Australia and New Zealand playing the same contralto Gilbert and Sullivan roles as she had with D'Oyly Carte.[1][3]
After returning to England, she joined the main D'Oyly Carte company in September 1931 after the accidental death of Bertha Lewis.[3] Until her retirement in June 1936, she was the company's principal contralto, playing the roles of Lady Sangazure in The Sorcerer, Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore, Ruth, Lady Jane, the Fairy Queen, Lady Blanche in Princess Ida, Katisha, Dame Hannah, Dame Carruthers in The Yeomen of the Guard and the Duchess of Plaza Toro.[1] When the company visited New York City in 1934, Gill made a strong impression upon American audiences.[4] American fans dedicated to her a book of their tributes to the company, "Nothing But Toffee" (1934) and petitioned Rupert D'Oyly Carte, unsuccessfully, to bring Gill back to New York in 1936.[1][3]
Gill's recordings with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company included Dame Carruthers in Yeomen (1928), Ruth in Pirates (1929), Dame Hannah Ruddigore (1931), Lady Blanche in Princess Ida (1932) and Lady Sangazure in the abridged 1933 Sorcerer.[1][5]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghStone, David. "Dorothy Gill", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 27 August 2001, accessed 8 October 2016
^ abcPrestige, Colin. "Dorothy Gill", Memories of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, accessed 8 October 2016
^Zellnik, Laurie. "Fifty Years Ago – The Birth of a Society", The Palace Peeper, The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of New York, October 1986, pp. 3–4
^Shepherd, Marc. Artist Index, Gilbert and Sullivan Discography, accessed 8 October 2016
Sourcesedit
Ayre, Leslie (1972). The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London: W.H. Allen & Co Ltd.
External linksedit
Postcard photos of Gill in costume
Photo of Gill
January 01, 1970
dorothy, gill, 1891, april, 1969, british, opera, singer, actress, best, known, performances, contralto, roles, savoy, operas, with, oyly, carte, opera, company, after, entertaining, troops, france, during, first, world, gill, toured, three, years, beggar, ope. Dorothy Gill 1891 7 April 1969 was a British opera singer and actress best known for her performances in the contralto roles of the Savoy Operas with the D Oyly Carte Opera Company After entertaining troops in France during the First World War Gill toured for three years in The Beggar s Opera as Lucy Lockett She joined a touring cast of the D Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1925 to 1927 playing the contralto roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas She then appeared in a musical adaptation of The Rose and the Ring in the West End for two holiday seasons and toured in Australia and New Zealand in Gilbert and Sullivan She returned to D Oyly Carte from 1931 to 1936 and was so popular in the company s visit to New York City in 1934 that US fans petitioned for her return to America 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Recordings 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksLife and career editGill was born in Mhow India in 1891 to Irish parents She lived in India Ceylon and South Africa and entertained British troops in France during the First World War In the early 1920s she toured for three years in Nigel Playfair s production of The Beggar s Opera as Lucy Lockett 1 including a run at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith 2 She joined one of the touring casts of the D Oyly Carte Opera Company in December 1925 and one month later was promoted to principal contralto Her roles included Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance Lady Jane in Patience The Fairy Queen in Iolanthe Katisha in The Mikado Dame Hannah in Ruddigore and the Duchess of Plaza Toro in The Gondoliers In June 1927 that touring company closed Gill next appeared in London in a musical adaptation of The Rose and the Ring at the Apollo Theatre and the Playhouse Theatre from November 1928 to February 1929 and again at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith from December 1929 to January 1930 1 She later toured in Australia and New Zealand playing the same contralto Gilbert and Sullivan roles as she had with D Oyly Carte 1 3 After returning to England she joined the main D Oyly Carte company in September 1931 after the accidental death of Bertha Lewis 3 Until her retirement in June 1936 she was the company s principal contralto playing the roles of Lady Sangazure in The Sorcerer Little Buttercup in H M S Pinafore Ruth Lady Jane the Fairy Queen Lady Blanche in Princess Ida Katisha Dame Hannah Dame Carruthers in The Yeomen of the Guard and the Duchess of Plaza Toro 1 When the company visited New York City in 1934 Gill made a strong impression upon American audiences 4 American fans dedicated to her a book of their tributes to the company Nothing But Toffee 1934 and petitioned Rupert D Oyly Carte unsuccessfully to bring Gill back to New York in 1936 1 3 Gill died in London in 1969 at the age of 78 1 Recordings editGill s recordings with the D Oyly Carte Opera Company included Dame Carruthers in Yeomen 1928 Ruth in Pirates 1929 Dame Hannah Ruddigore 1931 Lady Blanche in Princess Ida 1932 and Lady Sangazure in the abridged 1933 Sorcerer 1 5 References edit a b c d e f g h Stone David Dorothy Gill Who Was Who in the D Oyly Carte Opera Company 27 August 2001 accessed 8 October 2016 Ayre p 94 a b c Prestige Colin Dorothy Gill Memories of the D Oyly Carte Opera Company accessed 8 October 2016 Zellnik Laurie Fifty Years Ago The Birth of a Society The Palace Peeper The Gilbert amp Sullivan Society of New York October 1986 pp 3 4 Shepherd Marc Artist Index Gilbert and Sullivan Discography accessed 8 October 2016Sources editAyre Leslie 1972 The Gilbert amp Sullivan Companion London W H Allen amp Co Ltd External links editPostcard photos of Gill in costume Photo of Gill Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy Gill amp oldid 1176385593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
