Silk playbill for the matinée performance of <i>Pygmalion & Galatea</i> and <i>Comedy and Tragedy</i> by W.S. Gilbert (1836-1911), Lyceum Theatre, 12 February 1884.This silk playbill was printed for a matinée performance at the Lyceum Theatre, 12 February 1884, of two plays by W.S.Gilbert. Silk playbills were often issued in the 19th century for special evenings at the theatre and this was one of two issued for this performance, identical apart from the colours of the print and the fringe. They may have been printed in different colours for the different parts of the theatre, but the playbills themselves give no clue to why they were printed in alternative colours.
The Lyceum was Irving's theatre at the time, but as he was on tour in America in the winter and spring of 1883 to 1884, Charles Abud was the acting manager. W.S.Gilbert was best known by 1884 for the operas he had written with Sullivan, although their most famous work <i>The Mikado</i> was not produced until 1885. <i>Pygmalion & Galatea</i> was a revival, originally seen at the Haymarket Theatre in 1871, but this was the first production of <i>Comedy & Tragedy</i>, which had opened at the Lyceum on 26th January. The playbill shows that Gilbert was the director for both of his plays at the Lyceum which starred the popular American actress Mary Anderson.Cream silk playbill printed in green typeface edged with a cream silk fringe, for the matinée performance of 'Pygmalion and Galatea' and 'Comedy and Tragedy', Lyceum Theatre, 12 February 1884. Headed 'Royal Lyceum Theatre Sole Lessee - Mr. Henry Irving'This silk playbill was printed for a matinée of two plays by W.S.Gilbert at the Lyceum Theatre, 12 February 1884, during Henry Irving's management. Silk playbills were often issued in the 19th century for special evenings at the theatre. This was one of two silk playbills issued for this performance, identical apart from the colours of the print and the fringe. They may have been printed in different colours for the different parts of the theatre, but the playbills themselves give no clue to why they were printed in alternative colours.
Irving himself was on tour in America in the winter and spring of 1883 to 1884 but he had left Charles Abud as acting manager at the Lyceum in his absence. W.S.Gilbert was best known by 1884 for the operas he had written with Sullivan, although arguably their most famous work <i>The Mikado</i> was not produced until the following year. <i>Pygmalion & Galatea</i> was a revival, originally seen at the Haymarket Theatre in 1871, but this was the first production of <i>Comedy & Tragedy</i>, which had opened at the Lyceum on 26th January. The playbill shows that Gilbert was the director for both of his plays at the Lyceum which starred the popular American actress Mary Anderson.Cream silk playbill printed in brown typeface edged with a gold silk fringe, for the matinée performance of 'Pygmalion and Galatea' and 'Comedy and Tragedy', Lyceum Theatre, 12 February 1884. Headed 'Royal Lyceum Theatre Sole Lessee - Mr. Henry Irving'