Tuesday, 8 March 2005

Nero, written by Stephen Phillips, and produced at His Majesty's Theatre, London, 1905 – 1906.

Nero, written by the English playwright Stephen Phillips (1864-1915), and produced at His Majesty's Theatre, London, 1905 – 1906, with scenery by Joseph Harker and Henry Emden and designer Percy Macquoid. Fiftieth Performance at His Majesty's Theatre, on March 9th 1906.



Herbert Beerbohm Tree in title role as Nero at His Majesty's Theatre








Tree, Herbert Beerbohm, Sir, 1852-1917

Monday, 28 February 2005

Much Ado about Nothing, written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and performe at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, in1905.

Scenes from Much Ado about Nothing, written by the English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and performe at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, in March 1905.



Mr. Tree as "Benedict" in "Much Ado About Nothing" : As Played at His Majesty's Theatre. 1905.


Much ado about nothing, II, 3, as acted at His Majesty’s Theatre (1905)


In this painting by the Germany-born artist Charles Buchel (1872-1950) the actor is portrayed in his role as Verges in Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'. The play was staged at His Majesty's Theatre on 24 January 1905 and Brough is shown here in character, with an intense expression on his face. 


The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, March 4th, 1905, "Much Ado About Nothing," at His Majesty's Theatre.
1- Mr. Beerbohm Tree as Benedick :- "What, my dear ladt disdain, are you yet living?"
2- Mr. Beerbohm Tree as Benedick :- "Gallants. i am not as i have been."
3- Miss Winifred Emery, who appears as Beatrice.
4- Miss Viola Tree as Hero :-"He is the only man of Italy, always excepted my dear Claudio."
5- Mr. Basil Gill as Claudio :- "Silence is the perfectest herald of joy."


Saturday, 19 February 2005

A play written by Eusebio Blasco and produced at Teatro Manzoni, Milano, in February, 1905

Some scenes from a play Little Fountain?? written by the Spanish playwright Eusebio Blasco (1844 - 1903) and produced at the Teatro Manzoni, Milano, in February 1905.


First Act


Fourth Act







Wednesday, 19 January 2005

Three scenes from The Dictator (a play in three acts ) written by Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916), which opened on January 19, 1905, at the Grand Opera House, Seattle, USA.

Three scenes from The Dictator (a play in three acts ) written by the American playwright Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916), which opened on January 19, 1905, at the Grand Opera House, Seattle, USA.



 Including William Collier (third from Left).







 Including William Collier (hat raised).




Thursday, 13 January 2005

A photo of Violet Vanbrugh as Portia in The Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare and produced at Windsor Castle in 1905

A photograph of Violet Vanbrugh (1867-1942) as Portia in The Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)  and produced with Arthur Bourchier (as Shylock) at Windsor Castle in 1905.









Merchant of Venice, Portia as played by Miss Violet Vanbrugh William Hartherell. [graphic]


Violet Vanbrugh as Anne Boleyn

Sunday, 26 December 2004

A flying scene from Peter Pan written by James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.

   A flying scene from Peter Pan written by the Scottish playwright James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.



After the success of the original performance of Peter Pan in 1904, it toured every year for the next decade

   George Kirby had worked with the German troupe, the Grigolatis, whose flying effects needed four stage hands to raise and traverse one performer. Kirby was convinced that his system could be less cumbersome and in 1889 developed the first pendulum flying system with quick-release mechanism. One of the earliest productions for which Kirby supplied equipment was J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1904. Audiences were delighted when Wendy and her brothers were able to fly with Peter from their London home to Never Never Land. 



1907 production of Peter Pan, using Kirby’s apparatus.


The programmes for Peter Pan written by James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.

   The programmes for Peter Pan written by the Scottish playwright James M. Barrie (1860-1937) and first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904.

   The author J.M. Barrie had first conceived of the character of Peter Pan some years before it first appeared in the novel The Little White Bird in 1902, and the story of Peter and Wendy was then developed for the stage as Peter Pan: or, The Boy who Wouldn’t Grow Up. The play was first performed at Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on 27 December 1904 in a technically-ambitious production (which many thought was doomed to failure), and Peter Pan began its run somewhat uncertainly. After a couple of weeks, however, it gained an admiring juvenile audience that ensured large audiences until it closed on 1 April 1905, and the play ‘broke all previous theatrical records and proved Barrie’s most enduring success’