Topsy Sinden and Lily Elsie on tour in See-See, early 1907

Topsy Sinden (1877-1950) and Lily Elsie (1886-1962), as they appeared respectively as So-Hie and See-See, with ladies of the chorus, on tour in the United Kingdom during the first few months of 1907 with George Edwardes’s Company‘ in the ‘New Chinese Comic Opera,’ See-See. So-Hie and See-See were originally played by Gabrielle Ray and Denise Orme when See-See was first produced at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre, London, on 20 June 1906.
(photo: Foulsham & Banfield, London, late 1906/early1907; postcard no 3283F in the Rotary Photographic Co Ltd’s Rotary Photographic Series, published London, early 1907)

”’SEE SEE” AT HAMMERSMITH.
‘Miss Lily Elsie, who played the title rôle in ”The New Aladdin” at the Gaiety, gave a charming performance of ”See See” at the King’s, Hammersmith, last night. Miss Elsie has an engaging presence and a charming voice, and altogether gives promise of a brilliant future. Mr. George Edwardes has staged the popular Chinese comic opera very handsomely, both as regards scenery and company. Mr. Frank Danby and Mr. W.H. Rawlins keep the fun going, and the singing, acting, and dancing of Miss Amy Augarde, Mr. Leonard Mackay, and Miss Topsy Sinden are delightful. The production was enthusiastically received by a full house.’
(The Standard, London, Tuesday, 30 April 1907, p. 4f)

Topsy Sinden’s music hall appearances during 1908

Topsy Sinden (1877-1950), English musical comedy, pantomime and variety theatre dancer, actress and singer
(photo: Foulsham & Banfield, London, circa 1908)

The Hippodrome, Richmond, Surrey, week beginning, Monday, 30 November 1908
‘The first appearance here of Topsy Sinden is another popular item. Her soldier song makes a very favourable impression, and is followed by a striking success in her second song as a demure schoolgirl, where her vivacious and graceful dancing is seen to its best advantage and gains her continual recalls.’
(The Stage, London, Thursday, 3 September 1908, p. 13c)

Holborn Empire, London, week beginning Monday, 26 October 1908
‘Another popular item is the turn of Topsy Sinden, who gives two songs. The first is delivered in good style by Miss Sinden, dressed in a becoming soldier’s costume, while the second, which is of poor quality, serves as an introduction to some of Miss Sinden’s magnificent dancing. Her work is greatly to the liking of the house, and one cannot help feeling that the daintiness and charm of her movements afford a far better expression of the art of dancing that the so-called ”Salome” and similar efforts, a view that is shared by the spectators, if one may judge by the applause.’
(The Stage, London, Thursday, 29 October 1908, p. 12c)

Topsy Sinden as the principal dancer in The Cingalee, Daly’s Theatre, London, 1904

Topsy Sinden (1877-1950), English musical comedy, pantomime and variety theatre dancer, actress and singer, as she appeared as the principal dancer in The Cingalee, a musical play with music by Lionel Monckton and additional numbers by Paul Rubens, which was produced at Daly’s Theatre, London, on 5 March 1904.
(photo: F.W. Burford, 109 Great Russell Street, London, WC, 1904)

The Four Amaranths, acrobatic dancers

the Four Amaranths
(Mary, Tina, Jennie and Hannah, fl. early 20th Century),
acrobatic dancers (photo: unknown, circa 1915)

This hand tinted real photograph postcard, photographer and publisher uncredited, dates from about 1910. For reference to the Four Amaranths’ appearances in New York between 1915 and 1920, see the Internet Broadway Database.

‘FOUR AMARANTHS
‘A quartette of graceful lady acrobatic dancers. Some act.’
(The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin, 23 February 1915, p. 6f, advertisement)

Keith’s, Philadelphia, PA, week beginning 23 April 1917
‘… The pretty dancing turn of Hooper and Marbury got something more than usual in the opening position. Both are good dancers, and pretty stage setting and costuming help get the act over in good shape. A dancing act of another kind – that of the Four Amaranths, who mix acrobatics with their stopping, closed the vaudeville bill, and the girls did very well without showing anything new.’
(Variety, New York, Friday, 27 April 1917, pp. 48D/49a)

The Amaranths troupe was originally composed of three sisters, known as the Three Amaranths (otherwise the Sisters Amaranth). They appeared in the musical play, The Cingalee; or, Sunny Ceylon, which was produced at Daly’s Theatre, London, on 5 March 1904. Their Perahara Dances were intended to enrich the exotic setting of the piece. ‘One of the most striking features in The Cingalee is the devil dancing by the Sisters Amaranth, who were greatly applauded by the Queen [Alexandra] on the first night.’ Other members of the cast included Hayden Coffin, Rutland Barrington, Fred Kaye, Huntley Wright, Sybil Arundale, Gracie Leigh, Carrie Moore and Isabel Jay, together with the dancers Loku Banda, Willie Warde and Topsy Sinden.