173:
from 24 April to 24 May. Many playgoers sported tartan accessories on the final night as a compliment to Wilson. Adelaide followed on 31 May and Perth from 28 June and the company was back in
Melbourne playing
341:
to good but not glowing reviews. In 1947 Mr and Mrs Tait made a four-month visit to
Scotland, leaving their two little daughters in Melbourne. A third daughter, Sally, was born 16 July 1949.
182:'s husband Lieut.-Col. Richard Lister York gave the bride away, as her father could not make the trip. Viola's friend Sara Gregory was bridesmaid, and her singing teacher Francesca Duret sang
129:, hosted a party for the company after the last curtain. He announced that the company would be kept together for the duration of the war, though it might mean departing from the G.& S.
254:
followed, with Wilson again playing
Casilda, replaced by Elva Blair on several occasions when Wilson was indisposed, and again in June playing Phyllis for Wilson in
300:
For three years her appearances on stage were sporadic; on 31 May she gave birth to a daughter Isla
Frances Tait, Isla being also the name of Wilson's sister. When
55:
178:
from 2 August. Wilson was playing
Casilda on the eve of her marriage The wedding was a joyful, informal occasion, with all the G.& S. company taking part.
1409:
194:
took Wilson's place in the company while the couple was on their brief — taking a holiday was not in Tait's nature — honeymoon in
Brisbane, the
186:'s "I Love Thee" during the signing of the register. Both husband and wife made speeches at the reception, held at their home on Hopetoun Road,
334:
1414:
273:. In that year a G.& S. opera was broadcast for the first time in Australia, live and in full, though some dialogue was excised;
344:
Later activities include many years' adjudicating at finals of the £1,000 Mobil Quest talent show, whose winner in 1950 was
198:
and Sydney. Still billed as "Viola Wilson", she was back with the company in
Melbourne for a week from 6 September, playing
118:
170:
449:
23:
412:
393:
67:
166:
on the last leg of their tour, Wilson and Tait announced their engagement, their wedding set for 16 August.
873:
370:
Lady Viola Tait died on 6 February 2002. She left her large collection of theatrical memorabilia to the
788:
360:
1294:
592:
536:
228:, a favorite often included in Australian G.& S. seasons. Sydney followed with a double bill of
1371:
1070:
1042:
930:
901:
704:
564:
294:
312:, Wilson volunteered. She also participated in patriotic and charitable functions, appearing with
144:
89:
63:
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305:
155:
134:
126:
78:
71:
28:
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1399:
31:
162:
They left for New
Zealand on 26 December, for a four-month tour. In April 1941, while at
8:
364:
356:
246:
34:
company in
Australia during World War II. She married the widowed theatre businessman
408:
389:
329:
139:
51:
428:
1345:
877:. Vol. II, no. 42. New South Wales, Australia. 31 August 1941. p. 10
845:
816:
760:
453:
301:
187:
107:
27:(1 November 1911 – 6 February 2002) was a Scottish singer, the leading soprano for
1074:. Vol. LXXVI, no. 4667. Victoria, Australia. 4 February 1943. p. 17
363:
for service to the performing arts. She was instrumental in the foundation of the
1046:. Vol. LXXVI, no. 4666. Victoria, Australia. 28 January 1943. p. 9
849:. Vol. CLI, no. 4, 834. Victoria, Australia. 23 August 1941. p. 33
820:. Vol. CLI, no. 4, 833. Victoria, Australia. 16 August 1941. p. 44
345:
290:
203:
179:
349:
338:
270:
241:
87:, in which Wilson's (as Casilda) rendition of "There Was a Time" was praised.
83:
59:
1298:. Vol. 93, no. 28, 677. South Australia. 7 September 1950. p. 7
1261:
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671:
587:
531:
405:
Dames, Principal Boys . . . and All That: a history of pantomime in
Australia
313:
191:
35:
386:
A Family of Brothers: the Taits and J.C. Williamson : a theatre history
1177:
324:
286:
266:
220:
183:
113:
66:, touring South Africa, and played Gilbert and Sullivan (G.& S.) with
540:. No. 31, 889. New South Wales, Australia. 14 March 1940. p. 21
317:
596:. No. 31, 892. New South Wales, Australia. 18 March 1940. p. 3
309:
122:
101:
70:
in London and on Broadway. In 1940 she was brought out to Australia by
50:, Austria/Hungary, youngest daughter of Violet Hogg and Gavin Hogg of
1214:. No. 21, 091. Victoria, Australia. 21 December 1944. p. 11
1158:. No. 21, 006. Victoria, Australia. 13 September 1944. p. 9
962:. No. 20, 067. Victoria, Australia. 6 September 1941. p. 15
764:. No. 1984. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1941. p. 23
568:. No. 2674. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1941. p. 22
47:
1270:. No. 22, 599. Victoria, Australia. 27 October 1949. p. 17
1130:. No. 27, 669. Victoria, Australia. 24 December 1943. p. 3
680:. No. 29, 428. Victoria, Australia. 16 December 1940. p. 6
652:. No. 19, 834. Victoria, Australia. 7 December 1940. p. 27
323:
She returned to the popular stage in June 1946 as Maria Ziegler in
149:
95:
736:. No. 26751. Victoria, Australia. 11 January 1941. p. 10
1126:
986:
934:. Vol. LXXIV, no. 4595. Victoria, Australia. p. 26
732:
484:. No. 26, 924. Victoria, Australia. 2 August 1941. p. 7
480:
163:
1242:. No. 21, 564. Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1946. p. 12
624:. No. 19, 702. Victoria, Australia. 6 July 1940. p. 23
1186:. No. 30, 845. Victoria, Australia. 9 July 1945. p. 5
1102:. No. 30, 191. Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1943. p. 8
1018:. No. 29, 886. Victoria, Australia. 8 June 1942. p. 5
990:. No. 27, 184. Victoria, Australia. 4 June 1942. p. 3
897:"Great Opportunity For Australian Writers Says J.C.W. Director"
792:. No. 2148. Queensland, Australia. 25 May 1941. p. 24
320:. A second daughter, Viola Anne, was born on 20 December 1944.
261:
In February 1943 they were back in Melbourne with the promised
512:. No. 22, 135. Victoria, Australia. 1 May 1948. p. 8
206:
attracting particular praise. Then followed the old favorites
117:(both in the name parts). A similar program then followed at
812:"A Critic Makes a Discovery: Promising New Musical Play"
54:. She trained as a pianist, then studied singing at the
348:. She was also on the judging panel for the inaugural
708:. Queensland, Australia. 10 December 1940. p. 17
700:"J.C.W. Opera Company to be Retained for War Period"
1318:"The Judges Who Will Choose "Miss Australia 1954""
905:. Queensland, Australia. 22 August 1941. p. 4
1369:
74:as leading soprano for their G.& S. company.
1391:
923:
240:and the rest. In April 1942 the company played
169:The company returned to Australia, playing at
121:, running for 22 weeks, an Australian record.
1326:. Victoria, Australia. 18 May 1954. p. 7
1410:20th-century Australian women opera singers
431:includes his second family with Viola Tait.
402:
383:
285:in February. The principal performers were
1334:– via National Library of Australia.
1306:– via National Library of Australia.
1278:– via National Library of Australia.
1250:– via National Library of Australia.
1222:– via National Library of Australia.
1194:– via National Library of Australia.
1166:– via National Library of Australia.
1138:– via National Library of Australia.
1110:– via National Library of Australia.
1082:– via National Library of Australia.
1054:– via National Library of Australia.
1026:– via National Library of Australia.
998:– via National Library of Australia.
970:– via National Library of Australia.
942:– via National Library of Australia.
913:– via National Library of Australia.
885:– via National Library of Australia.
857:– via National Library of Australia.
828:– via National Library of Australia.
800:– via National Library of Australia.
772:– via National Library of Australia.
744:– via National Library of Australia.
716:– via National Library of Australia.
688:– via National Library of Australia.
660:– via National Library of Australia.
632:– via National Library of Australia.
604:– via National Library of Australia.
576:– via National Library of Australia.
548:– via National Library of Australia.
520:– via National Library of Australia.
492:– via National Library of Australia.
407:. Macmillan. pp. 239 (illustrated).
388:. Heinemann. pp. 303 (illustrated).
644:"Old Operas to be Staged Here Next Year"
616:"Gilbert and Sullivan as Bright as Ever"
552:
308:, due to commitments with the troops in
1392:
46:Wilson was born Violet Wilson Hogg in
924:Gregory Parable (11 September 1941).
442:
62:was a fellow-student. She joined the
1372:"Hall of Fame: Frank Tait 1883–1965"
304:was unable to appear at that year's
77:They opened on 16 March 1940 at the
1150:"Matinee to Help Limbless Soldiers"
13:
14:
1426:
1415:Members of the Order of Australia
560:"Frank Tait to Marry a Red-head"
357:Member of the Order of Australia
119:His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
1363:
1338:
1310:
1282:
1254:
1226:
1198:
1170:
1142:
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1086:
1058:
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1002:
974:
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171:His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane
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1:
1094:"Daughter for Mrs Frank Tait"
435:
316:at a concert for soldiers at
1374:. Live Performance Australia
1010:"Opportunity for Elva Blair"
218:, with a planned revival of
7:
1290:"Mobilquest Won by Soprano"
532:"'We Have a Song to Sing!'"
422:
10:
1431:
1370:Frank Van Straten (2007).
1234:"Brilliant Musical Comedy"
789:Truth (Brisbane newspaper)
361:1990 Australia Day Honours
93:(as Elsie) followed, then
41:
1295:The Advertiser (Adelaide)
593:The Sydney Morning Herald
537:The Sydney Morning Herald
1346:"Lady Viola Wilson Tait"
1071:The Advocate (Melbourne)
1043:The Advocate (Melbourne)
1038:"Good Broadcasting Week"
931:The Advocate (Melbourne)
902:The Telegraph (Brisbane)
728:"Stage Outlook for 1941"
705:The Telegraph (Brisbane)
565:Truth (Sydney newspaper)
476:"Of Theatrical Interest"
265:with Wilson as Lilli to
250:, with Wilson as Adele.
672:"The Life of Melbourne"
238:The Yeomen of the Guard
125:, managing director of
90:The Yeomen of the Guard
64:Carl Rosa Opera Company
1267:The Herald (Melbourne)
1211:The Herald (Melbourne)
1155:The Herald (Melbourne)
959:The Herald (Melbourne)
649:The Herald (Melbourne)
621:The Herald (Melbourne)
588:"Gilbert and Sullivan"
509:The Herald (Melbourne)
214:(as Rose Maybud), and
1323:The Argus (Melbourne)
1262:"Singer and Daughter"
1183:The Argus (Melbourne)
1178:"Puckapunyal Concert"
1099:The Argus (Melbourne)
1015:The Argus (Melbourne)
869:"News from Melbourne"
677:The Argus (Melbourne)
372:Victorian Arts Centre
355:Tait was appointed a
306:Carols by Candlelight
79:Theatre Royal, Sydney
56:Glasgow Royal Academy
841:"A Melbourne Letter"
756:"Theatrical Romance"
429:Frank S. Tait#Family
403:Tait, Viola (2001).
384:Tait, Viola (1971).
32:Gilbert and Sullivan
982:"G.& S. Season"
874:The Daily Telegraph
365:Tait Memorial Trust
38:, later Sir Frank.
954:"Stage and Screen"
127:J. C. Williamson's
72:J. C. Williamson's
29:J. C. Williamson's
1352:. 26 January 1990
456:. 7 February 2002
330:The Dancing Years
224:(as Aline), plus
153:and the operetta
140:The Bohemian Girl
52:Paisley, Scotland
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454:The Weekly Times
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302:Gladys Moncrieff
289:, Viola Wilson,
277:in January with
133:to play such as
105:(Yum Yum), then
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352:Quest in 1954.
346:Joan Sutherland
295:Bernard Manning
291:Evelyn Gardiner
204:Evelyn Gardiner
180:Evelyn Gardiner
44:
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17:
16:Scottish singer
12:
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1350:It's an Honour
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1066:"The Onlooker"
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350:Miss Australia
339:Leontine Sagan
337:, produced by
275:The Gondoliers
252:The Gondoliers
176:The Gondoliers
99:(as Phyllis),
84:The Gondoliers
60:Sydney MacEwan
43:
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450:"My Tributes"
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36:Frank S. Tait
33:
30:
25:
21:
1376:. Retrieved
1365:
1354:. Retrieved
1349:
1340:
1328:. Retrieved
1321:
1312:
1300:. Retrieved
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1209:
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1188:. Retrieved
1181:
1172:
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1153:
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1132:. Retrieved
1125:
1122:"Amusements"
1116:
1104:. Retrieved
1097:
1088:
1076:. Retrieved
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1048:. Retrieved
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1020:. Retrieved
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879:. Retrieved
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851:. Retrieved
844:
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830:Irony alert.
822:. Retrieved
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507:
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486:. Retrieved
479:
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458:. Retrieved
444:
404:
385:
378:Publications
369:
354:
343:
328:
325:Ivor Novello
322:
299:
287:Ivan Menzies
282:
278:
274:
267:John Fullard
262:
260:
255:
251:
245:
244:'s operetta
237:
236:followed by
233:
229:
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221:The Sorcerer
219:
215:
211:
207:
200:Princess Ida
199:
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114:Princess Ida
112:
106:
100:
94:
88:
82:
76:
68:D'Oyly Carte
45:
20:Viola Wilson
19:
18:
1405:2002 deaths
1400:1911 births
335:Max Oldaker
318:Puckapunyal
1394:Categories
1356:2022-09-01
1239:The Herald
436:References
414:187683224X
395:0855610115
310:New Guinea
263:Lilac Time
247:Nightbirds
226:Lilac Time
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