The Ada Delroy Company

Ada Delroy was a member of Professor Baldwin’s Butterfly Company in the early 1890s [Pinang Gazette, January 4, 1892, p. 3; Straits Times, January 9, 1892, p. 2]. Later, she formed her own company with which she toured widely, including in Asia.

THE ADA DELROY COMPANY – A closer inspection of the press-cutting book of the Ada Delroy Company, which opens on Thursday night at the Town Hall Theatre, shows that the company has had great successes in the last two or three years. In India and Ceylon performances were given before Viceroys, Governors and other notabilities. Miss Ada Delroy is a danseuse of the first rank, one of her “creations” being The Lily, another The Fire of Life. But she is not merely a dancer, for with Mr. James Bell, himself an accomplished singer, she gives musical sketches, parodies and songs. Miss Maud Lita is described as the “distinguished young prima donna,” while Mr. Edward Ford has a good reputation as a facial artiste. [Singapore Free Press, April 1, 1900, p. 3]

THE ADA DELROY CO. – The Ada Delroy Company, whose entertainments have won the highest commendation from the press in all parts of the world, are expected to arrive in Singapore today, and will open their season at the Town Hall tomorrow evening. A good deal of interest is being evinced over the advent of this combination which has been highly spoken of everywhere… The principal star, of course, is Miss Ada Delroy, and it appears that her exposition of the art sacred to Terpsichore is most graceful… Mr. James Bell is a patter-merchant of a first-rate order, and may be trusted to bring in local topical hits in a very amusing manner… Mr. Ford is an eccentric comedian, who sings in an amusing style, as well as being a clever facial comedian. Other members of the Company are Miss Maud Lita, Miss L. Leslie, Miss C. Bell, Mr. H. Abrahams [pianist], Mr. W. Lesley, Mr. C. Morton, and the White Mahatma. [Straits Times, April 4, 1900, p. 2]

Advertisements for the troupe’s visit to Singapore state that they were “Lately from Europe,” but no details are known. Travelling from Europe, they definitely appeared in Colombo, Bombay, Calcutta (Theatre Royal), Rangoon, and Penang before reaching Singapore.

They performed for only one night in Penang:

THE DELROY COMPANY – Tonight will witness the one and only performance to be given in Penang by the celebrated Ada Delroy Company… Miss Ada Delroy, who pleased Port Elizabeth audiences several years ago when on tour with Professor Baldwin’s Company, has returned to the scene… A very pleasing and talented member of the troupe is Miss Maud Lita – a young Australian prima donna, who rendered in finished and artistic style the famous “Jewel Song” from Faust. [Pinang Gazette, April 2, 1900, p. 3]

First notices for their Singapore shows specified a season of “three nights only,” but their success seems to have resulted in that schedule being extended, and they actually played from April 5–11, 1900.

THE DELROY COMPANY – The members of the Ada Delroy Company arrived early this morning from Rangoon and Penang, where they have recently concluded successful seasons. The company makes their bow before a Singapore audience at the Town Hall tonight, playing here for a season of three nights only [their season ended up being extended]. A Calcutta exchange, in a lengthy paragraph, speaking of the company, says: “It may be said that the entertainment provided by the Ada Delroy Co. at the Theatre Royal last evening far excelled anything to which local patrons have been treated for years past. It was an entertainment abounding in mirth, grace, and wonder, and proved beyond a doubt that a Calcutta audience laugh with far greater zest when humour is void of vulgarity.” [Straits Times, April 5, 1900, p. 2]

When they eventually left Singapore, they sailed for Hong Kong [Singapore Free Press, April 11, 1900, p. 3].