Elcia May’s Opera Bouffe Company

English opera singer who spent several years touring the East in the late 1870s, first with her own company and later with a newly formed group, the Royal English Opera Company.

April–May 1876 – Elicia May’s Opera Bouffe Company at the Royal Theatre, Singapore. Advertisements on 12 May state “positively leaving by the English mail for Shanghai” but this did not happen. The company continued to perform until 14 May when it was announced “they leave today for Hongkong” [Straits Times Overland Journal, May 27, 1876, p. 11].

May–August 1876 – In Hong Kong (and elsewhere?).

August–September 1876 – Returned to Singapore where the troupe performed at the Town Hall with the first half of the programme featuring classical piano performance by Madame Carlotta Tasca and the second half an opera performance by Elcia May’s troupe.

September–November 1876 – Java.

November 1876 – Elcia May’s troupe performed in Singapore at the Town Hall. “It will be seen in our advertisement columns that Elcia May’s troupe have returned from Batavia, and will perform in the Town Hall on Thursday night.” [Singapore Daily Times, November 22, 1876, p. 2]

December 1876–May 1878 – The troupe performed in India and Burma. Arrived back in Singapore “per Asia from Rangoon” on 8 June 1878 as per passenger listing in the Singapore Daily Times, June 8, 1878, p. 3.

June–July 1878 – Performed in Singapore at the Town Hall 8 June–20 July, advertised as a “grand farewell benefit.” By this time the troupe was billed as Elcia May’s Comic Opera Company.

August 1878 – Still performing in Singapore, but Elcia May had apparently disbanded her troupe and joined “a newly formed Troupe” [Singapore Daily Times, August 13, 1878, p. 3] called the Royal English Opera Company. Some performances by this group were heavily criticised in the contemporary press as a “failure” due to inadequate staging and inexperienced performers.

“The performance given last night by the Elcia May Opera Company was very good indeed, and the piano performances of Madame Tasca, in the first part, were a special treat. This lady possesses a firmness and delicacy of touch, and a brilliancy of execution unsurpassed by any artist who has visited these Settlements… Balfe’s opera of ‘Satanella’ formed the second part of the programme, introducing Miss Elcia May in the title role. Miss May possesses a beautiful soprano voice of good register, and she sang the exacting music of her part with great taste and power. Her reading of the ‘Power of Love’ was particularly pleasing and received a well-deserved encore. Miss May has improved very much in her singing since her last visit here. Mr. Vernon, as ‘Rupert,’ sang the music of his part with much vigour, and his spirited acting contributed not a little to the success of the opera. The part of ‘Lelia’ was very well maintained by Miss Howe. The closing trio was very effectively sung, and Miss May in the last scene deservedly received the prolonged applause of the audience.” [Straits Times, August 30, 1876, p. 4]

“Miss Elia May’s Company performed last night in the Town Hall the opera ‘Satanella’ before His Excellency the Governor, Lady and the Misses Jervois and His Highness the Maharajah of Johore. The acting on the whole was very fair, and Miss May especially executed her part with success, while Madame Tasca’s pianoforte performances left nothing to be desired.” [Straits Times, September 9, 1876, p. 2]

“Mr. Fairclough, a tragedian of excellent repute, will, assisted by Miss Elcia May and other members of her troupe, give selections from ‘Hamlet’ in the Town Hall this evening. The London press is enthusiastic in praise of Mr. Fairclough’s acting… Miss Elcia May, we may mention, has lately won golden opinions in Bombay and Rangoon for her able interpretations of Ophelia and other characters.” [Straits Times, June 8, 1878, p. 3]

“ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY – Under the above title a newly formed Troupe announced the performance on Saturday night at the Town Hall of Lecocq’s opera bouffe, ‘Girofle-Girofla’… In the double role of Girofle-Girofla Miss Elcia May showed herself worthy of her high reputation as an artiste; more especially when consideration is given to the great difficulties which opposed her success. In all that depended wholly on herself Miss May acted and sang with her usual attractiveness… but in nearly every instance, whether in stage business or singing, when associated with other characters, her best efforts were marred by the feebleness of her supporters… The failure (for we regret that we can call it nothing else) of the opera was chiefly attributable to a Mr. Suttoni… His every appearance was the signal for shouts of laughter and ironical cheers… The hall was well filled, and at the conclusion of the performance Miss May was heartily called before the curtain to receive the applause she so well merited.” [Singapore Daily Times, August 13, 1878, p. 3]