Elsie Spain

Elsie Spain (1879 – 28 May 1970), born Elsie Rickets, was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1908 to 1910 and in operettas and Edwardian musical comedies. She was one of the last leading ladies in the Gilbert and Sullivan roles personally trained by W. S. Gilbert. Among her roles in musicals, she originated the part of Princess Mathilde in the long-running The Quaker Girl.

Spain was born in Reigate, Surrey. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music, after which, she began to perform on the concert stage. As an amateur with the Sydenham Operatic Society in 1897, she played Theresa in The Mountebanks by W. S. Gilbert and Alfred Cellier. She made her professional debut in 1907 as understudy to Isabel Jay as Sally in the musical Miss Hook of Holland at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, playing the role for two months in 1908.

Spain joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in July 1908 in its second repertory season at the Savoy Theatre, playing Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. In September of that year, she left the company to play Bridgette in the musical The Hon'ble Phil at the Hicks Theatre. The show was not a particular success; it closed in December, by which time Spain had returned to the Savoy, taking over from Clara Dow as Phyllis in Iolanthe from November. She then reprised the role of Josephine and next played Yum-Yum in The Mikado in December 1908. In January 1909, she first played Gianetta in The Gondoliers and in March of that year played Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard. The Billboard commented that Spain was "the greatest discovery [Helen Carte] has made for many years. She has a beautiful voice, and her charm of face and figure, coupled with some very dainty acting, are making her one of the big hits of the present season." A reviewer wrote of Spain in The Times: "Her voice is powerful and pleasing, and her high notes are effectively used." Spain and Clara Dow, the two sopranos who played leading roles in the 1908–09 season, were the last D'Oyly Carte principal sopranos personally trained by W. S. Gilbert.

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