THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Lucy McLeod (1894-96)

Contralto Lucy McLeod began her D'Oyly Carte career as understudy to principal contralto Kate Forster with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "C" in 1893 or 1894. Beginning in February 1894, when Trial by Jury was introduced to the Company's repertoire, she played the First Bridesmaid in the dramatic cantata. Miss McLeod also filled in briefly for Miss Forster in October 1894 as Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore, the Queen of the Fairies in Iolanthe, Katisha in The Mikado.

In April 1895 The Sorcerer was added with Lucy McLeod in the second contralto role of Mrs. Partlett. That year she also shared Kate in The Pirates of Penzance with Mary Morison. She transferred to D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "E" in September 1895, deputizing that month for Louie Rene as the Lady Jane in Patience and the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers, before moving on to Carte's Company "B" later that month. With Company "B" she appeared in the principal contralto roles of Buttercup, Katisha, and the Duchess, but by the end of the year was replaced in all by Alice Weathersby.

Her last roles with the Company were in The Grand Duke. She played Bertha when D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "B" toured the ultimate Gilbert & Sullivan opera from March to November 1896, except for two weeks in the summer when she filled in for Kate Talby as Baroness von Krakenfeldt. When Company "B" was disbanded in November 1896, it appears Lucy McLeod's association with the D'Oyly Carte ended as well.

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