Agnes Fraser

Agnes Fraser Elder Fraser-Smith (8 November 1876 – 22 July 1968) was a Scottish actress and soprano, known as Agnes Fraser, who appeared in the later Savoy Operas and in Edwardian musical comedy. She married the Gilbert and Sullivan performer Walter Passmore, with whom she frequently appeared on stage. Early life and career Fraser was born in Springfield, Fife, Scotland as Agnes Fraser Elder Fraser-Smith in 1876. Her brother was the actor Alec Fraser. In 1911 her sister, Mary Smith, known by the stage name Mary Fraser, married the actor Huntley Wright. Fraser made her professional début with a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company in the chorus of The Vicar of Bray, The Lucky Star and Haddon Hall from December 1898 to September 1899. She then moved to the main D'Oyly Carte company at the Savoy Theatre in London, where she appeared in The Rose of Persia (1899–1900), taking over the small role of "Blush-of-Morning" from Isabel Jay, and occasionally playing the lead role of the Sultana during Jay's temporary absence; the 1900 revival of The Pirates of Penzance as Isabel, understudying Jay as Mabel and going on in that role in September 1900; the revival of Patience as Lady Ella (1900 – 1901); The Emerald Isle as Kathleen, occasionally going on for Jay as Lady Rose Pippin (1901); the first revival of Iolanthe as Celia (1901); and The Willow Pattern as Ah Mee (1901–1902). When Isabel Jay left the company, Fraser replaced her as the lead soprano, originating the role of Bessie Throckmorton in Merrie England at the Savoy Theatre in 1902 and then on tour. Her last role at the Savoy was Kenna in A Princess of Kensington, from January 1903, and on tour until September. Post-D'Oyly Carte and later years