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Louie René

January 01, 1970

Louie René (c. 1872 - 9 March 1955) was an English opera singer and actress best remembered for her performances with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles at the turn of the 20th century.

Louie René

René performed with D'Oyly Carte touring companies from 1894 to 1903, except for one year, playing the principal contralto roles of the Savoy operas. For most of the period between 1906 and 1914, both in London and on tour, she served as the company's principal contralto, playing the roles of Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore, Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance and Katisha in The Mikado, among others. After this, she pursued a career in Edwardian musical comedy.

Early life and career edit

Born in St John's Wood in London, René appeared in 1892–93 with a touring company in The Mountebanks by W. S. Gilbert. The Era commented that she "sings and plays Ultrice in admirable style".[1] She joined a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company in March 1894, immediately playing the principal role of Lady Sophy in Utopia, Limited. The Era commented, "Miss Louie René is seen to great advantage as Lady Sophy."[2] In December of that year, she began to play the role of Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore, on tour, as well as Lady Sophy.[3]

 
René (r.) as Jane, with Dow and Workman

René continued to tour with D'Oyly Carte until December 1901, playing all the principal Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles in repertory, as well as the Marquise de Montigny in Mirette (1895), Inez de Roxas in The Chieftain (1895), Lazuli in The Lucky Star (1899), Lady Vernon in Haddon Hall (1899), Dancing Sunbeam in The Rose of Persia (1900–1901), and the Countess of Newtown in The Emerald Isle (1901).[4] Her Savoy opera roles were Sophy, Buttercup, the Lady Jane in Patience, the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers, Katisha in The Mikado, Baroness von Krakenfeldt in The Grand Duke, Lady Sangazure in The Sorcerer, and Dame Carruthers in The Yeomen of the Guard.[5] An 1896 review said, "The singing of Miss Louie René as Katisha was most enjoyable".[6] During 1902 René did other work but again toured with D'Oyly Carte in 1903, playing Little Buttercup, Katisha, Dame Carruthers and the Duchess of Plaza-Toro.[7] After this, she was absent from the company for three years.

During the company's 1906–07 and 1908–09 London repertory seasons, René returned to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company to perform at the Savoy Theatre, playing all the lead Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles, including Dame Carruthers, the Duchess of Plaza Toro, Jane, and the Fairy Queen in Iolanthe, in the first season,[8] and Katisha, Little Buttercup, the Fairy Queen, Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, the Duchess of Plaza Toro and Dame Carruthers in the second.[9] The Times was not impressed by René, writing: "Miss Louie René makes a better Buttercup than was to be expected from her previous performances."[10] Other reviews also expressed only modified rapture: The Penny Illustrated Paper, said, "As Katisha ... Miss Louie René sings and acts well, though, at times, she seems a trifle lacking in humour."[11] The Observer commented that she performed "adequately, though without any particular distinction."[12]

Later years edit

René left D'Oyly Carte again for a year, rejoining on tour in March 1910.[13] During this time, she appeared in her old roles, as well as in the part of Lady Blanche in Princess Ida, until December 1914.[14] After this, she left the company for the last time (succeeded in her roles by Bertha Lewis) and pursued a career in Edwardian musical comedy. Among other productions, she appeared in Mark Blow's musical comedies Trouville[15] and Toto, in 1919,[16] and in a revival of A Waltz Dream late in her career.[4]

Her brother-in-law was fellow D'Oyly Carte artiste Scott Russell.[4]

René died in Malvern in 1955, aged about 83.

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Era, 12 November 1892, p. 20; and 7 October 1893, p. 7
  2. ^ The Era, 28 April 1894, p. 20
  3. ^ Rollins and Witts, pp. 87 and 91.
  4. ^ a b c Stone, David. "Louie Rene", Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 30 January 2002, accessed 25 November 2009
  5. ^ Rollins and Witts, pp. 87, 91, 95, 99, 102, 105, 108, 111, and 119
  6. ^ "The New Theatre: The Mikado", The Cambridge review, Volume 18, p. 116, 26 November 1896 (Cambridge: St. John's College, 1897), accessed 25 November 2009
  7. ^ Rollins and Witts, p. 119
  8. ^ Rollins and Witts, p. 21
  9. ^ Rollins and Witts, p. 22
  10. ^ "H.M.S. Pinafore", The Times, 15 July 1908
  11. ^ The Penny Illustrated Paper, 16 May 1908, p. 308
  12. ^ The Observer, 9 December 1906, p. 7
  13. ^ Rollins and Witts, p. 126
  14. ^ Rollins and Witts, pp. 126–31
  15. ^ The Manchester Guardian, 6 May 1919, p. 1
  16. ^ The Manchester Guardian, 27 September 1919, p. 1

References edit

  • Rollins, Cyril; R. John Witts (1962). The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Gilbert and Sullivan Operas: A Record of Productions, 1875–1961. Michael Joseph.

External links edit

  • Postcard photos of René
  • Additional postcard photos of René
  • Photos of René
  • Photo of René as the Duchess in The Gondoliers

January 01, 1970
louie, rené, 1872, march, 1955, english, opera, singer, actress, best, remembered, performances, with, oyly, carte, opera, company, gilbert, sullivan, contralto, roles, turn, 20th, century, rené, performed, with, oyly, carte, touring, companies, from, 1894, 19. Louie Rene c 1872 9 March 1955 was an English opera singer and actress best remembered for her performances with the D Oyly Carte Opera Company in the Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles at the turn of the 20th century Louie Rene Rene performed with D Oyly Carte touring companies from 1894 to 1903 except for one year playing the principal contralto roles of the Savoy operas For most of the period between 1906 and 1914 both in London and on tour she served as the company s principal contralto playing the roles of Little Buttercup in H M S Pinafore Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance and Katisha in The Mikado among others After this she pursued a career in Edwardian musical comedy Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Later years 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editBorn in St John s Wood in London Rene appeared in 1892 93 with a touring company in The Mountebanks by W S Gilbert The Era commented that she sings and plays Ultrice in admirable style 1 She joined a D Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company in March 1894 immediately playing the principal role of Lady Sophy in Utopia Limited The Era commented Miss Louie Rene is seen to great advantage as Lady Sophy 2 In December of that year she began to play the role of Little Buttercup in H M S Pinafore on tour as well as Lady Sophy 3 nbsp Rene r as Jane with Dow and Workman Rene continued to tour with D Oyly Carte until December 1901 playing all the principal Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles in repertory as well as the Marquise de Montigny in Mirette 1895 Inez de Roxas in The Chieftain 1895 Lazuli in The Lucky Star 1899 Lady Vernon in Haddon Hall 1899 Dancing Sunbeam in The Rose of Persia 1900 1901 and the Countess of Newtown in The Emerald Isle 1901 4 Her Savoy opera roles were Sophy Buttercup the Lady Jane in Patience the Duchess of Plaza Toro in The Gondoliers Katisha in The Mikado Baroness von Krakenfeldt in The Grand Duke Lady Sangazure in The Sorcerer and Dame Carruthers in The Yeomen of the Guard 5 An 1896 review said The singing of Miss Louie Rene as Katisha was most enjoyable 6 During 1902 Rene did other work but again toured with D Oyly Carte in 1903 playing Little Buttercup Katisha Dame Carruthers and the Duchess of Plaza Toro 7 After this she was absent from the company for three years During the company s 1906 07 and 1908 09 London repertory seasons Rene returned to the D Oyly Carte Opera Company to perform at the Savoy Theatre playing all the lead Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles including Dame Carruthers the Duchess of Plaza Toro Jane and the Fairy Queen in Iolanthe in the first season 8 and Katisha Little Buttercup the Fairy Queen Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance the Duchess of Plaza Toro and Dame Carruthers in the second 9 The Times was not impressed by Rene writing Miss Louie Rene makes a better Buttercup than was to be expected from her previous performances 10 Other reviews also expressed only modified rapture The Penny Illustrated Paper said As Katisha Miss Louie Rene sings and acts well though at times she seems a trifle lacking in humour 11 The Observer commented that she performed adequately though without any particular distinction 12 Later years editRene left D Oyly Carte again for a year rejoining on tour in March 1910 13 During this time she appeared in her old roles as well as in the part of Lady Blanche in Princess Ida until December 1914 14 After this she left the company for the last time succeeded in her roles by Bertha Lewis and pursued a career in Edwardian musical comedy Among other productions she appeared in Mark Blow s musical comedies Trouville 15 and Toto in 1919 16 and in a revival of A Waltz Dream late in her career 4 Her brother in law was fellow D Oyly Carte artiste Scott Russell 4 Rene died in Malvern in 1955 aged about 83 Notes edit The Era 12 November 1892 p 20 and 7 October 1893 p 7 The Era 28 April 1894 p 20 Rollins and Witts pp 87 and 91 a b c Stone David Louie Rene Who Was Who in the D Oyly Carte Opera Company 30 January 2002 accessed 25 November 2009 Rollins and Witts pp 87 91 95 99 102 105 108 111 and 119 The New Theatre The Mikado The Cambridge review Volume 18 p 116 26 November 1896 Cambridge St John s College 1897 accessed 25 November 2009 Rollins and Witts p 119 Rollins and Witts p 21 Rollins and Witts p 22 H M S Pinafore The Times 15 July 1908 The Penny Illustrated Paper 16 May 1908 p 308 The Observer 9 December 1906 p 7 Rollins and Witts p 126 Rollins and Witts pp 126 31 The Manchester Guardian 6 May 1919 p 1 The Manchester Guardian 27 September 1919 p 1References editRollins Cyril R John Witts 1962 The D Oyly Carte Opera Company in Gilbert and Sullivan Operas A Record of Productions 1875 1961 Michael Joseph External links editPostcard photos of Rene More postcard photos of Rene Additional postcard photos of Rene Photos of Rene Photo of Rene as the Duchess in The Gondoliers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Louie Rene amp oldid 1214038889, 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