Emelie Melville (c. 1852 – 8 July 1932), also known as Emelie Melville Derby, was an American actress, a star of

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

, who had a considerable career in Australia.

History

She was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

and first appeared on stage at the age of 10 in several juvenile parts. At age 16 she played

Ophelia Ophelia () is a character in William Shakespeare's drama ''Hamlet'' (1599–1601). She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and potential wife of Prince Hamlet, who, due to Hamlet's actions, ends up in ...

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. She was the first in America to play the title role in '' The Grand Duchess'', in San Francisco. Around this time she married Thomas Derby; they were divorced by 1884. She first arrived in Australia in 1875 under engagement to W. S. Lyster to play in a series of operettas in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, followed by

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Opera House An opera house is a theatre building used for performances of opera. It usually includes a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and building sets. While some venues are constructed specifically for o ...

, to packed houses. She made a return tour of Australia in 1882. A dispute over her contract led to her suing the J. C. Williamson organisation in 1883. Costs involved led to her declaring insolvency in Melbourne. In September 1884 she left Melbourne for India, heading a large company of performers as the Emelie Melville Opera Company. Around 1930 she had a small part in

Margaret Anglin Mary Margaret Warren Anglin (April 3, 1876 – January 7, 1958) was a Canadian-born Broadway actress, director and producer. Encyclopædia Britannica calls her "one of the most brilliant actresses of her day." Biography Anglin was born in O ...

's revival of ''

A Woman of No Importance ''A Woman of No Importance'' by Oscar Wilde is "a new and original play of modern life", in four acts, first given on 19 April 1893 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. Like Wilde's other society plays, it satirises English upper-class society. It ...

'', which was greatly appreciated by the audience. Returning to San Francisco a few months before her death in 1932, she told an interviewer: "I've had a long life with much in it. I longed for glory and life and I got it. I saw the world and met royal people. Now I'm back in good old San Francisco—with my heart back to those old days."

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Melville, Emelie American musical theatre actresses 19th-century American actresses 1850s births 1932 deaths