Lilian La Rue (1879-80)

Lilian La Rue first appeared in a D'Oyly Carte program as Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore with Mr. D'Oyly Carte's "2^nd London" Company on tour in November-December 1879. In January-February 1880 she appeared at the Opera Comique as Hebe, while Jessie Bond was touring America. Miss La Rue then appeared as Mrs. Liverby in the Desprez & Cellier "vaudeville" In the Sulks, that played first as a companion piece with a juvenile H.M.S. Pinafore, beginning in February 1880, and then in April with the First London production of The Pirates of Penzance. Miss La Rue was also Kate in The Pirates of Penzance until July 1880 when Miss Bond returned from America. At that point, Julia Gwynne took over both Kate and Mrs. Liverby.

Miss La Rue then joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, for whom she eventually became a prima donna. She would tour with Rosa throughout Britain, best known for the title role in Carmen.