Miss Lily Elsie

Lily Elsie was an actress who became one of the biggest stars of Edwardian musical theatre. She was born on 8th April 1886 in Leeds, Yorkshire. In 1896/7, she played Princess Mirza in 'The Arabian Nights' at the Queen's Theatre, Manchester.  Then for Christmas 1896, at the age of ten, she played the title role of 'Little Red Riding Hood' for six weeks followed by six weeks touring.

Her most famous role was in 'The Merry Widow' in 1906. She became an overnight sensation, even though she was painfully shy off stage. She married Ian Bullough in 1911, and died on 16th December 1962, aged 76. Full biography here.

Cecil Beaton said about Lily Elsie: "To see her merely walk across the stage was a poem."

This is something I wrote a while ago, and on re-reading it I thought it suited Miss Lily Elsie perfectly. I'm not a master poet at all, but seeing as this is (mostly) a creative writing blog, thought I could put it in. Critiques and comments are welcome.

***

I am what they dream me to be.

A genie, a shimmer

Beauty, a glimmer

Following limitless imagination.

The expectations tug

Pulling, twisting

Through the fog of fantasy

Chasing me through the depths

to the debt

of transformation.

And then

The eyes have it

Seductions of dark glamour

Take the pit

Into damnation – or

Custody.

Which is more romantic? – your choice.

She’s smashed it.

The audience susurrate

Hypnotised by her gait; she has lit

The theatre

Alight.

I can hear the sirens.