Louise Théo

Overview

Louise Théo (1854-1922; a French biography gives 1850), born Cécile (or Anne-Louise) Piccolo in Paris, operetta singer, one of the stars of the Paris stage from 1873, when she created the title role of Offenbach's La Jolie Parfumeuse at the Théâtre de la Renaissance; she later sang at the Bouffes-Parisiens and toured London and America (Wikipedia, "Louise Théo"; premiereloge-opera.com biography). Her photographs circulated widely in albums of actresses.

Identification

Marie writes only "Théo". The Mon Journal tome 4 index has "Théo, actrice". In 1876 Marie objects to being put "dans un album où il y avait Mmes Théo, Judic, Angèle" (065/1876-08-24), the operetta stars of the day, which fits Louise Théo (0.85).

Relevance to Marie

A byword for a pretty, coquettish pose. On 16 March 1875 Marie, posing before the mirror with asparagus and cucumbers, strikes "une pose que Théo n'eut pas désavouée" (030.0229), then corrects herself: "je ne puis me comparer à Théo, j étais beaucoup mieux" (030.0230).

References in Diary

• First mentioned: 1875-03-16 (030.0229-0230)
• 1876-08-24 (065): the album of actresses
• 1882-06-03 (095): "ressemblais à Théo"