Sunday, 31 August 2008

Faust, freely adapted from Goethe's dramatic poem by Stephen Phillips (1868-1915) and J. Comyns Carr (1849-1916), and performed at His Majesty's Theatre, in 1908 to 1909.

Faust, freely adapted from Goethe's dramatic poem by Stephen Phillips (1868-1915) and J. Comyns Carr (1849-1916), and performed at His Majesty's Theatre, in 1908 to 1909.





The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, September 12th, 1908, "Faust,' at His Majesty's Theatre."Miss Marie Lohr as Margaret.  Miss Madge Titheradge as Lisa.  Mr. Tree as Mephistopheles.


The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, September 19th, 1908, "Faust" at His Majesty's Theatre.
    a- Mr. Henry Ainley as Faust the Student.      b- Mr. Henry Ainley as Faust the Lover.
    c- Miss Marie Lohr as Margaret, and Miss Madge Titheradge as Lisa.
    d- Mr. Godfrey Tearle as Valentine, and Miss Marie Lohr as Margaret.
    e- Miss Elizabeth Valentine as a Heavenly Messenger.   f- Miss Rosina Filippi as Martha.
    g- Miss Winifred Fitch, Miss Pauline Brett, and Miss Mary Sumner.

Monday, 18 August 2008

Gaudeamus (comedy), written by Leonid Nikolaevich Andreyev (1871 - 1919 ), and premiered in 1908, probably in Moscow.

   Scenes from Gaudeamus (comedy), written by the Russian playwright Leonid Nikolaevich Andreyev (1871 - 1919 ), and premiered in 1908, probably in Moscow.

   Leonid Nikolaevich Andreyev (Леонид Николаевич Андреев, 1871 - 1919 ) was a Russian playwright who led the Expressionist movement in Russian literature. He was active in the period between the Revolution of 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917.



Friday, 15 August 2008

Le Foyer (Home or Charity, 1908) written by Octave Mirbeau and produced in Paris, in 1908

Scenes from Le Foyer (Home or Charity, 1908) written by the French playwright Octave Mirbeau (1848 - 1917) and produced at the Comédie-Française, Paris, on December 7, 1908, starring Julia Bartet, Maurice de Feraudy, and Félix Huguenet.









Thursday, 7 August 2008

Jack Straw (A Farce in Three Acts), written by W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and produced at Vaudeville Theatre, London, on 26th March 1908.

   Scenes from Jack Straw (A Farce in Three Acts), written by the British playwright W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), and produced at Vaudeville Theatre, (Strand) London, on 26th March 1908.

   This play is one of Maugham's most successful comedies. This comedic work revolves around themes of social class, deception, and the folly of pretentiousness, focusing particularly on the character Jack Straw, a clever and resourceful man who assumes the identity of a royal figure. 

   Jack Straw, a play by W. Somerset Maugham, first performed on 26 March 1908 at the Vaudeville Theatre, later revived in 1923, and more recently saw the light of day again at the Elmwood Theatre as a production of the Linden House Theatre Company, was written in 1905, after Lady Frederick was repeatedly turned down by managers and out of frustration Maugham changed his strategy of writing a part to attract a leading lady to a leading man instead.


 Jack Straw (1908), one of Maugham's most successful comedies: Charles Hawtrey seated and Lottie Venne centre



Jack Straw (1908) - Act I  W. Somerset Maugham



Jack Straw (1908) - Act III  W. Somerset Maugham




   In the United States, Jack Straw : "The New Comedy" by W. Somerset Maugham, produced by Charles Frohman at the Empire Theatre (NYC - 1908) starring John Drew, Mary Boland, Edgar L. Davenport, Jefferson Crane, etc.


Sunday, 3 August 2008

Paid in Full written by Eugene Walter (1874 – 1941), and performed at the Aldwych Theatre, London, in 1908.

   Scenes from Paid in Full written by the American playwright Eugene Walter (1874-1941), and performed at the Aldwych Theatre, London, on September 9, 1908.

   Paid In Full is a novel written by Eugene Walter that explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption. The story revolves around the life of a young man named Johnny who is struggling to find his place in the world. After a series of unfortunate events, Johnny finds himself in debt to a powerful drug lord who demands payment in full. 

   The New York Times :  1908/09/09  "PAID IN FULL" IN LONDON.; Eugene Walters's Play Gets Warm ...  LONDON, Sept. S.-" Paid in Full,” Eugene Walters's play, produced by Charles Frohman to-night at his Aldwych Theatre, met with a warm but not enthusiastic reception, and is unlikely to...



The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, September 19th, 1908, "Paid in Full," the American Drama, by Eugene Walter, at the Aldwych Theatre.


Wednesday, 30 July 2008

The Passing of the Third Floor Back written by erome K. Jerome (1859 – 1927), and performed at the St. James's Theatre, in August 1908.

   The Passing of the Third Floor Back written by the English writer Jerome K. Jerome (1859 – 1927), and performed at  the St. James's Theatre, London, in August 1908.
   The play was first seen at the Harrogate Opera House on 13 August 1908, and after some revision it opened at the St James's Theatre, London on 1 September, with the cast unchanged.





The Passing of the Third Floor Back by Jerome k. Jerome, with Johnston Forbes-Robinson (1853 – 1937) and Gertrude Elliott (1874-1950). London. Cover of Play Pictorial, 1908.



The Passing of the Third Floor Back by Jerome K. Jerome Play souvenir of the production at St James Theatre with Forbes-Robertson and Gertrude Elliott

1908 play – theatre cast:
Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson as The Stranger; Alice Crawford as Vivian; Gertrude Elliott as Stasia; Ian Robertson as Major Tompkins; Mr.H.Marsh Allen as Christopher Penny; Haidee Wright as Miss Kite; Wilfred Foster as Mr.Harry Larcom; Kate Bishop as Mrs.De Hooley; Agnes Thomas as Mrs.Sharp; Edward Sass as John Samuels;




The Masqueraders (a play in four acts) witten by Henry Arthur Jones (1851 -1929), and performed at the St. James's Theatre, Kings Street, London, probably in June, 1894,

Some scenes from The Masqueraders (a new and original play in four acts) witten by the  English dramatist Henry Arthur Jones (1851 -1929), who wrote over 40 plays in his time including such successful plays as ‘Mrs Dane’s Defence’ and ‘The Dancing Girl’, and performed at the St. James's Theatre, Kings Street, London, probably in June, 1894, starring Mr. George Alexander, Mr Herbert Waring, Mr H. V. Esmond, Mr A. Vane-Tempest, Miss Irene Vanbrugh, etc.



The Sketch, June 27th, 1894, The Masqueraders, at the St. James's Theatre.
      a- Mr. H. V. Esmond (Eddie Remon).  
      b- Miss Irene Vanbrugh and Mr. Elliot (Montagu Lushington).
      c- Miss Irene Vanbrugh (Charley Wishanger) and Mr. H. Waring (Sir Brice Skene).
      d- Miss Beryl Faber (Lady Clarice Reindean), Mr. Elliot, and Miss Irene Vanbrugh.



Mrs Saker (left) in The Masqueraders, 1894


Miss Granville as Helen Larondie in The Masqueraders at the St. James's Theatre. 1894


Photograph of George Alexander as David Remon in The Masqueraders, St James's Theatre


George Alexander in The Masqueraders at St James's Theatre, 1894