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Mary ("as dainty a little maid as you'll find in a midsummer day's march") was born in Taunton, Somerset. She studied voice production in Bristol where she and her husband, Alan Barrett (a former member of the Company), lived. She joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1956 and took over some of the principal soprano roles in 1959. During her years on tour she played every minor and major soprano part with the exception of three - Kate in "The Yeomen of the Guard"; Casilda in "The Gondoliers" and the title role in "Princess Ida".
All Mary's performances were a delight and joy to watch and to hear, but I, personally, shall remember her particularly as Rose in "Ruddigore" She managed to project over the footlights just the right air of innocence and naivete and yet at the same time show that Rose had a shrewd eye to business when it came to matters concerning wealth and security!
Mary, however, was not only an extremely attractive and delightful actress with a lovely voice but also charming off stage. She took such an interest in her "fans" that they looked on her almost as a personal friend. She was indeed missed by countless "followers" of the D'Oyly Carte when she left the company in 1964.
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