Corinne Malvern a character supposed to be three years old), a 1907 New York Evening Telegram article and ships' passenger records, make it clear she was born in 1901. Malvern performed in the Henry W. Savage New English Grand Opera Company in the American premiere of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly in the role of the child "Dolore" ("Sorrow," or "Trouble" in English), Butterfly's son, in front of an audience that included the Viscount Aoki, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, and John Luther Long, author of the novella on which the opera was based, on October 15, 1907, and subsequently toured with
Napier Operatic Society of several years throughout the 20th century during overseas conflict and the aftermath of natural disaster. The earliest known theatre company in Napier was the Napier Theatre Co., which in 1883, along with the Napier Musical Society and the Napier Amateur Drama Club combined to create the Theatre Royal. The Theatre Royal made its debut with the musical "Trial by Jury", and out of this the Napier Operatic Society was born. Most of the early productions were Gilbert and Sullivan plays, with the first production at the new Napier Municipal Theatre being "A Greek Slave" in 1912. The 1800 capacity