THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Ivy Bonheur (1887-88)

[Born 18 May 1865]

Ivy Bonheur, whose real name was Eveline Medora Elise Gunning, was the younger half-sister of D'Oyly Carte baritone Frank Wyatt, the original Duke of Plaza-Toro at the Savoy. Miss Bonheur studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Sir George MacFarren, and in June 1886, as "Miss Medora Gunning," was featured at an evening concert at London's Steinway Hall.

She joined Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "D" Company the following year as principal soprano, and from September 12 to December 10, 1887, appeared as Patience in Patience and Yum-Yum in The Mikado. When "D" Company disbanded, she transferred to Carte's "E" Company on December 19, as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. She played Josephine with "E" Company through June 1888, adding Mabel when the Company began playing The Pirates of Penzance in April. From June until November 1888, she toured, still with "E" Company, as Mabel and Yum-Yum. She left the D'Oyly Carte, and the stage, in November 1888 and was replaced as principal soprano by Rhoda Maitland. She was married the following year.

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