THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Mary Morison (1891-96)

[Born Glasgow 26 May 1862, died Epsom 4 Dec 1944]

Soprano Mary Morison (stage name for Primrose Henrietta Aitken) toured with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "C" from March 1891 to July 1896. For the bulk of her career she played smaller named parts: Celia in Iolanthe, Kate in The Yeomen of the Guard, Casilda in The Gondoliers (all for her entire career), Peep-Bo in The Mikado (from January 1892), the Lady Ella in Patience (beginning in August 1892), Isabel (in 1893) and Kate (from 1893 forward) in The Pirates of Penzance, the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury (from January 1894), Lady Psyche in Princess Ida (beginning in December 1895), and possibly Banyan in The Nautch Girl (January-July 1892).

Miss Morison also deputized in the leading soprano roles on numerous occasions. In 1891-92 she filled in as Phyllis in Iolanthe, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Elsie Maynard in Yeomen , Gianetta in The Gondoliers, and Hollee Beebee in The Nautch Girl. In May and June 1893 she played the same roles in the Gilbert & Sullivan operas plus Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Patience in Patience.

In 1894 she occasionally played all the principal soprano parts:Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Mabel, Patience, Phyllis, Yum-Yum, Elsie, and Gianetta; and in 1895 she filled in from time-to-time as Josephine, Yum-Yum, and Gianetta. In March and April 1896 she took over all the leading soprano roles for another spell:Josephine, Mabel, Patience, Phyllis, Yum-Yum, Elsie, Gianetta, plus Aline in The Sorcerer, and Princess Ida in Princess Ida. Miss Morison left the Company "C" and the D'Oyly Carte in May 1896.

She was married to D'Oyly Carte baritone Tom Redmond. She toured with him in musical comedy for a time after leaving the Company.

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