THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Laura Elliston (1885, 1896-1901)

[Born Paddington 1859, died 1904]

Laura Elliston (whose real name was Laura Adeline Alderton) was a chorister who appeared in the small part of Sacharissa in Princess Ida with D'Oyly Carte's "A" Company in November 1885.In 1886, she was in the chorus of Ivan Caryll's comic opera The Lily of Leoville.It was produced at the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, on May 3, 1886, under the management of Violet Melnotte, and brought to the Comedy Theatre, London, a week later for a run of 41 perfomances, ending June 25 of that year.

In 1890, and again in 1891-92, she visited South America as a chorister and small part player with Edwin Cleary's English Comic Opera Company, appearing in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

Later Miss Elliston was back with the D'Oyly Carte, this time with the main Company at the Savoy, filling in for Jessie Bond as Pitti-Sing in February 1896 during the second London revival of The Mikado. She remained in the Savoy chorus at least until 1898 when she was in the original production of The Beauty Stone.At some point she returned to touring, appearing with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "E" as a chorister from June 1900 to June 1901.

While in London, Miss Elliston also appeared in two benefit matinee productions of Trial by Jury in 1896 and one in 1898.

She was married to D'Oyly Carte comic baritone John Wilkinson. Their young daughter, Poppie Wilkinson accompanied them to South America in 1890 and 1891-92, and later appeared with the D'Oyly Carte in her own right.

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