Lois Du Cane
Lois was born Louise Florence Cane in Southampton in early 1867 but before apparently taking to the stage her mother, Augusta, a confectioner, went by the name Du Cane when they were living at 5 Cambridge Terrace, Paddington in 1881.
Her father was Richard W Cane who in 1871 was a professor of music but he died by 1881. Somewhat confusingly there was a Richard Du Cane who for some years was a professor of music but was latterly a solicitor.
Lois appeared in amateur dramatics as early as 1884 as Lulu Du Cane and had turned professional by 1886. On 24 April 1887 she married Frederick William Maxwell, an actor, born in Aldershot in 1864, and on 7 November 1887 their daughter, Bernice, was born in Bayswater.
She seems to have dropped Lulu about 1892 but continued with her long career until the 1920’s I think.
Lulu and all but one of her fellow amateurs at a piece in North London in October 1884 had been with Mrs HW Darby, nee Lydia Pearce, at her stage school in Notting Hill. Mrs Darby had been a vocalist under her maiden name and in 1857 married William Henry Darby. Lydia petitioned for divorce in 1865 but I do not know if it was granted. In 1867 she provided dramatic and vocal classes on Tuesday & Friday afternoons at 38 Russell Street, Covent Garden under ‘ The Alexandra Dramatic & Vocal Class ‘ .
The following year The Notting Hill Dramatic Club appeared at the Bijou Theatre, Bayswater under Miss Amy Florestini and Lydia was the promptress. Over the coming years Lydia ran a dramatic school and produced many pieces monthly at the Ladbroke Hall, Ladbroke Grove, next to the station, as well as other venues perhaps.
Eight of her pupils appeared en masse under her pupil Frank Craig’s Company at the North London Working Mens Club & Institute, 9 Cumming Street, Pentonville on Wed 8 October 1884 [ The Stage 24 Oct 1884 ] . The ERA of Sat 11 October 1884 gave a hilarious description of the performance and it’s circumstances and slated it adding that it was extremely unlikely that any of the actors would get anywhere in the profession. However, several of them went on to have long professional careers.
Lydia was born c1826/32 and lived at 8 Chapel Road, Notting Hill in the early 1880’s and for many years at 76 Tavistock Road at which, after her death in 1895, her daughter, Lydia Darby, continued to live until at least 1911.
Lois died in the Kensington area aged 60.
Obviously some confusion over this person given her ‘ appearance ‘ in 1932/33!?
