Maie Saqui (1880 – March 27, 1907) was an Australian actress, dancer, and

Gaiety Girl Gaiety Girls were the chorus girls in Edwardian musical comedies, beginning in the 1890s at the Gaiety Theatre, London, in the shows produced by George Edwardes. The popularity of this genre of musical theatre depended, in part, on the beautifu ...

in London.

Early life

May Vivian Saqui was born in the

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

neighborhood of

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 ...

, the daughter of John Isaac "Jack" Saqui and Ester Barnett "Stella" Saqui. Both of her parents were born in London. Her younger sisters Hazel and Gladys were also actresses. They studied dance in Melbourne with their aunt, Julia Saqui Green. "I started dancing when I was quite a child, and — well, I didn't stop, and I don't want to stop until I am old," Maie Saqui told a magazine in 1903. Saqui's father was a gambler who eventually lost the family's fortune and was institutionalized at Yarra Bend Asylum. MaieSaqui1901

Career

The Saqui sisters, Gladys, Maie, and Hazel, began their careers on the stage in Australia, then moved to England. Maie became a "Gaiety Girl", one of the musical performers connected to the Gaiety Theatre in London. She was in the original cast of ''

The Toreador ''The Toreador'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Harry Nicholls, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London, mana ...

'' (1901). She also appeared on the London stage in ''

The Circus Girl ''The Circus Girl'' is a musical theatre, musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Walter Apllant (Palings), with lyrics by Harry Greenbank and Adrian Ross, music by Ivan Caryll, and additional music by Lionel Monckton. ...

'' (1897), ''

The Geisha ''The Geisha, a story of a tea house'' is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James ...

'' (1897-1898), ''Harlequinade'' (1900), ''

The Messenger Boy ''The Messenger Boy'' is a musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Alfred Murray, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, with additional numbers by Paul Rubens (composer), Paul Rubens ...

'' (1900-1901),

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...

's ''

Trial by Jury A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are used in a significant ...

'' (1902) and ''The Linkman, or, Gaiety Memories'' (1903).

Personal life

Maie Saqui married stockbroker Arthur Hope Travers in 1903, and retired from the stage. She died in 1907, aged 27 years, in London.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saqui, Maie 1880 births 1907 deaths People from Melbourne 20th-century Australian actresses Australian emigrants to the United Kingdom