1878, London

1878, London

Identifier
S.5007-2009
Acquisition
Given by Antony Collieu on behalf of Charles Lepper.
Collection
Material
Depiction
Dimension
27 cm (height)
30 cm (height)
33 cm (width)
36.7 cm (width)
Production time
Production place
Type of object

Description

Silk programme, landscape format, divided into two 'pages', black typography on cream silk with integral cream fringe all round. Produced for 'the oriental musical extravaganza' The Happy Man with music by Planquette, written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, followed by the comic opera Les Cloches de Corneville, written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, Globe Theatre, 31 August 1878. Headed 'GLOBE THEATRE, Licensed by the Lord Chamberlain to Mr. Fairlie, Lessee and Manager, Newcastle Street, Strand. Under the direction of Mr. Alex Henderson, Stage Manager Mr. H.B. Farnie'. The right side of the programme is mostly occupied with a description of the acts and scenes of Les Cloches de Corneville. Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres in the 19th century would have had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War however the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than any other theatres. This silk programme was produced for a performance of Les Cloches de Corneville adapted by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece from the original French version with music by Planquette, preceded by The Happy Man, described as an 'Oriental Musical Extravaganza'. Les Cloches de Corneville was a huge hit for its producer Alex Henderson, at the Folly Theatre where it had opened on 28 February 1878, and later at the Globe, where it was transferred on 31 August 1878. Silk programme produced for Les Cloches de Corneville written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, Globe Theatre, 31 August 1878, starring Shiel Barry and Kate Munroe, preceded by The Happy Man, also starring Shiel Barry and Kate Chorley. Letterpress on silk.