Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Sunday, 31 July 2022

Some scenes from The Big Drum (A Comedy in Four Acts) wirtten by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855 – 1934), and performed at the St. James's Theatre, London, in 1915.

Some scenes from The Big Drum (A Comedy in Four Acts) wirtten by the English playwright Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855 – 1934), and performed  at the St. James's Theatre, London, in 1915.



The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, September 25th, 1915, "The Big Drum," Sir Arthur Pinero's New Comedy at the St. James's Theatre."
   a- The former lovers, Ottoline, the Comtess de Chaumie (Miss Irene Vanbrugh) and Philip Mackworth (Sir George Alexander), about to embrace on meeting after an absence of ten years, during which time, Ottoline has married and become a widow.
   b- Ottoline's parents and brother, Sir Randle and Lady Filson, and Bertram Filson (Miss Helen Ferrers, Mr. Allan Aynesworth, and Mr. Nigel Playfair) having their morning hate at the hideous pretension  of Philip Mackworth, an unsuccessful author, to an alliance with the Filson family.
   c- Ottoline confesses to having secretly bought up the whole edition of Philio's new novel, "The Big Drum," so that his supposed success as an author should break down the only obstacle to their marriage.
   d- The Filson parents putting philip through his paces when Ottoline brings him home s her "young man." The absence of his name from "Who's Who" weighs heavily with Filson pere against the suitor.
   e- Sir George Alexander as Philip Mackworth, an author who refuses to court populatirt by beating 'the Big Drum."


Thursday, 29 July 2021

A scene from Araminta Arrives written by Dorothy Brandon, and performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, in 1921.

   A scene from Araminta Arrives written by the British writer Dorothy Brandon, and performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, in 1921.
   It premiered at the Winter Gardens Theatre in New Brighton before transferring for a West End run at the Comedy Theatre that lasted for 39 performances. The cast included Eileen Beldon in the title role, along with Herbert Bunston, Louise Hampton and Lady Tree.




Thursday, 6 August 2020

Some scenes from Go-Bang, produced by Fred Harris and opened at the Trafalgar Square Theatre on 10 March 1894.

Some scenes from Go-Bang, produced by Fred Harris and opened at the Trafalgar Square Theatre on 10 March 1894. The play ran for 159 performances. 

Go-Bang is an English musical comedy with words by Adrian Ross and music by F. Osmond Carr.



The Sketch, April 11th, 1894, "Go-Bang," at the Trafalgar Theatre.
   a- Mr. Sidney Howard (Guardian of the Golden Canopy).
   b- Mr. Harry Grattan (Jenkins) and Miss Adelaide Astor (Sarah Anne).
   c- Mr. Grattan, Mr. G. Grossmith, jun. (Lieut. the Hon. Augustus Fitzpoop), and Miss Astor.
   d- Mr. Arthur Playfair (Sir Reddan Tapeleigh, K.C.S.I.), Mr. J. L. Shine (The Boojam), and Mr. Frederick Rosse (Narain).



The Sketch, April 11th, 1894, Miss Jessie Bond as Helen Tapeleigh in "Go-Bang," at the Trafalgar Theatre."



The Sketch, April 11th, 1894, "Miss Letty Lind in "Go-Bang," at the Trafalgar Theatre.



The Sketch, June 12th, 1895, "Miss Maud Maude in "Baron Golosh," at the Trafalgar Theatre.




Saturday, 1 August 2020

Some scenes from A Woman Of No Importance written by Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900), and produced at His Majesty's Theatre, London, in 1907, running for 45 performances.

   Some scenes from A Woman Of No Importance written by the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900),  and produced at His Majesty's Theatre, London, in 1907, running for 45 performances.
   After its first run in London, the play went on tour around Britain in late 1893. Lewis Waller played Lord Illingworth in this tour. The play returned to London's West End in 1907, staged again by Herbert Beerbohm Tree at His Majesty's Theatre. Tree once again played Illingworth, and Marion Terry played Mrs. Arbuthnot. This production ran for 45 performances.



The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, June 8th, 1907, "A Woman of No Importance" at His Hajesty's Theatre.
   1- Mr. Tree as Lord Illingworth.
   2- Miss Kate Bichop as Lady Caroline Pontefract.
   3- Mr. Edmund Maurice as the Ven. James Daubeny, D. D.
   4- Miss Kate Cutler as Lady Stutfield.
   5- Miss Ellis Jeffreys as Mrs. Allenby.
   6- Miss Viola Tree as the young American Girl, Hester Worsley, with her lover Gerald Arbuthnot (Mr. Charles Quartermaine).
   7- Miss Marion Terry as Mrs. Arbuthnot, Lord Illingworth's Victim.



Viola Tree (Hester Worsley) and Charles Quartermaine (Gerald Arbuthnot), 1907 revival at His Majesty's






Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Some scenes from Milord Sir Smith (a musical comedy) performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, opening on December 15, 1898, with 82 performances.

Some scenes from Milord Sir Smith (a musical comedy) performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, opening on December 15, 1898, with 82 performances.








Three scenes fromThe Dictator (a play in three acts ) written by Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916), and performed at the Comedy Theatre, in 1905.

Three scenes fromThe Dictator (a play in three acts ) written by the American playwright Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916), and performed at the Comedy Theatre, in 1905.



(The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, June 3rd, 1905)