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Louie René (c. 1872 - 9 March 1955) was an English singer and actress best remembered for her performances with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles at the turn of the 20th century. René performed with D'Oyly Carte touring companies from 1894 to 1903, except for one year, playing the principal contralto roles of the Savoy operas. For most of the period between 1906 and 1914, both in London and on tour, she served as the company's principal contralto, playing the roles of Little Buttercup in ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', Ruth in ''The Pirates of Penzance'' and Katisha in ''The Mikado'', among others. After this, she pursued a career in Edwardian musical comedy. ==Early life and career== Born in St Johns Wood in London, René appeared in 1892–93 with a touring company in ''The Mountebanks'' by W. S. Gilbert. ''The Era'' commented that she "sings and plays Ultrice in admirable style".〔''The Era'', 12 November 1892, p. 20; and 7 October 1893, p. 7〕 She joined a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company in March 1894, immediately playing the principal role of Lady Sophy in ''Utopia, Limited''. ''The Era'' commented, "Miss Louie René is seen to great advantage as Lady Sophy."〔''The Era'', 28 April 1894, p. 20〕 In December of that year, she began to play the role of Little Buttercup in ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', on tour, as well as Lady Sophy.〔Rollins and Witts, pp. 87 and 91.〕 René continued to tour with D'Oyly Carte until December 1901, playing all the principal Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles in repertory, as well as the Marquise de Montigny in ''Mirette'' (1895), Inez de Roxas in ''The Chieftain'' (1895), Lazuli in ''The Lucky Star'' (1899), Lady Vernon in ''Haddon Hall'' (1899), Dancing Sunbeam in ''The Rose of Persia'' (1900–1901), and the Countess of Newtown in ''The Emerald Isle'' (1901).〔Stone, David. ("Louie Rene", ) ''Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company'', 30 January 2002, accessed 25 November 2009〕 Her Savoy opera roles were Sophy, Buttercup, the Lady Jane in ''Patience'', the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in ''The Gondoliers'', Katisha in ''The Mikado'', Baroness von Krakenfeldt in ''The Grand Duke'', Lady Sangazure in ''The Sorcerer'', and Dame Carruthers in ''The Yeomen of the Guard''.〔Rollins and Witts, pp. 87, 91, 95, 99, 102, 105, 108, 111, and 119〕 An 1896 review said, "The singing of Miss Louie René as Katisha was most enjoyable".〔("The New Theatre: ''The Mikado''", ) ''The Cambridge review'', Volume 18, p. 116, 26 November 1896 (Cambridge: St. John's College, 1897), accessed 25 November 2009〕 During 1902 René did other work but again toured with D'Oyly Carte in 1903, playing Little Buttercup, Katisha, Dame Carruthers and the Duchess of Plaza-Toro.〔Rollins and Witts, p. 119〕 After this, she was absent from the company for three years. During the company's 1906–07 and 1908–09 London repertory seasons, René returned to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company to perform at the Savoy Theatre, playing all the lead Gilbert and Sullivan contralto roles, including Dame Carruthers, the Duchess of Plaza Toro, Jane, and the Fairy Queen in ''Iolanthe'', in the first season,〔Rollins and Witts, p. 21〕 and Katisha, Little Buttercup, the Fairy Queen, Ruth in ''The Pirates of Penzance'', the Duchess of Plaza Toro and Dame Carruthers in the second.〔Rollins and Witts, p. 22〕 ''The Times'' was not impressed by René, writing: "Miss Louie René makes a better Buttercup than was to be expected from her previous performances."〔"H.M.S. Pinafore", ''The Times'', 15 July 1908〕 Other reviews also expressed only modified rapture: ''The Penny Illustrated Paper'', said, "As Katisha ... Miss Louie René sings and acts well, though, at times, she seems a trifle lacking in humour."〔''The Penny Illustrated Paper'', 16 May 1908, p. 308〕 ''The Observer'' commented that she performed "adequately, though without any particular distinction."〔''The Observer'', 9 December 1906, p. 7〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Louie René」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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