Menzies, Ivan, 1896-

Elsie Griffin was born on December 6, 1895 in Bristol. She made her stage debut during World War I with Lena Ashwell's Company, formed at the request of King George V to entertain Britain's troops in France. The lyricist Fred E. Weatherby, impressed by her voice, brought her his song, "Danny Boy". Her singing resulted in one of the most popular hits of the era.

Griffin joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1919, immediately appearing on tour as Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Kate in Yeomen of the Guard, and Gianetta in The Gondoliers. In 1921, she added the roles of Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Rose Maybud in Ruddigore . In 1927, she left the company but returned from time to time to participate in recordings. Between 1934 and 1937 she joined with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, singing the leading soprano roles in Die Fledermaus, The Barber of Seville, Carmen, The Tales of Hoffman, Pagliacci and Elixir of Love .

Ivan Menzies was born on March 23, 1896 in Bristol. He joined D'Oyly Carte on Easter 1921 as an understudy to Sir Henry Lytton. Menzies became the principal comedian in 1925, playing Reginald Bunthorne in Patience, Lord Chancellor and Ko-Ko in The Mikado and Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore . In 1927 Menzies left the company. In 1931 Menzies accepted an offer with the J. C. Williamson organisation in Australia. There he toured extensively as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore and also as General Stanley, Bunthorne, the Lord Chancellor, Ko-Ko, Jack Point and the Duke of Plaza Toro. He returned to England and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company briefly in 1939 as a wartime replacement. He then returned to Australia again as principal comedian in the Gilbert & Sullivan tours in 1941, 1944, 1949 and 1951.

Menzies and Griffin met when Menzies joined the D'Oyly Carte Company in 1921. They married in Sheffield March 9, 1921 at a registry office in Workhouse Lane, between performances. Their last stage appearance was in the Moral Re-Armament musical The Vanishing Island, in which they toured the world from 1955 until 1957. Ivan Menzies died April 19, 1985 and Elsie Griffin died December 21, 1989.

From the guide to the Elsie Griffin and Ivan Menzies, opera singers and actors: papers, 1905-2007, (V&A Museum: Department of Theatre and Performance)