Evelyn Gardiner (12 March 1894 – 13 June 1970), bornEnid Mary Griffin, was an English opera singer and actress known for her work as principalcontralto in theGilbert and Sullivancomic operas with theD'Oyly Carte Opera Company andJ. C. Williamson, as well as for other stage acting. In 1933, Gardiner earned a pilot's licence and claimed to be only the second British actress ever to do so.[1]
Gardiner was born inShepherd's Bush,West London, the daughter of Jane and Charles George Griffin,[2] a manager atLiberty's, the London department store.[3] She was educated in London and Paris.[4]
Gardiner joined theD'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1921 singing in the chorus of theirGilbert and Sullivan operas. Within months, she was cast as the understudy for the company's principalcontralto,Bertha Lewis. Her first principal role with the company was Inez inThe Gondoliers in 1923, and the following season, she occasionally filled in as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro in that opera. She left the Company in 1925.[5] Gardiner next appeared in films and inpantomime and variety. She appeared in plays in London at theRegent Theatre from 1928 to 1931.[4][5]
In 1931, Gardiner joined theJ. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, appearing with them for the next three seasons, and also in 1935, in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro inThe Gondoliers, Ruth inThe Pirates of Penzance, Dame Carruthers inThe Yeomen of the Guard and other Gilbert and Sullivan contralto parts.[5] In the meantime, briefly in 1934, she played the Slave of the Lamp in a pantomime production ofAladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in London at thePrince Edward Theatre.[5]
She became interested in flying and, while in Australia in 1933, she earned a pilot's licence. She claimed to be only the second actress in the British empire ever to do so.[1][4] In 1936, she returned to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for their American tour and then, over the following three years, she played the contralto roles in all their productions: Lady Sangazure inThe Sorcerer, Little Buttercup inH.M.S. Pinafore, Ruth inPirates, Lady Jane inPatience, the Fairy Queen inIolanthe, Lady Blanche inPrincess Ida, Katisha inThe Mikado, Dame Hannah inRuddigore, Dame Carruthers inYeomen, and the Duchess inThe Gondoliers.[5]
Gardiner returned to Australia in 1939[6] and continued to perform in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the Williamson company until 1951. She married Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. York,DSO in 1940[7] and enjoyed horseback riding, hunting and fishing, as well as drawing and interior decoration.[4][8] Gardiner was awarded an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services in raising support in Australia for relief efforts such as "Bundles for Britain". She retired from the stage in 1960 and then directed Gilbert and Sullivan operas for such amateur groups as the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Sydney.[5]
Gardiner died suddenly at the age of 76 inHonolulu, Hawaii, while on a visit there.[5]
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