Not currently on display at the V&A

Drury Lane Design Collection

Costume Design
c.1923 (designed)
Artist/Maker

Costume design by Comelli for Augustus Bowerman as Pietro in the Prologue, Picture I of a production of Angelo, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923. Bowerman also played the role of the Baron Della Torre in Act II of the same production.

Angelo: The Romance of a Great Composer is a play in a Prologue and Three Acts. It was first performed in the Apollo Theatre, New York before being produced by Arthur Collins at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in March and April of 1923. The story is set in the early 1800s and was inspired by The Life of Hoffman. This adaptation was written by Louis N. Parker, with music composed by E.N Reznicek. The play is set largely in Italy and centres upon the Angelo and his love for a beautiful girl named Giulia. Alongside the flashbacks to their doomed romance the audience learns of Angelo’s latest composition, an opera inspired by his love for Giulia and entitled Undine. Various locations, time periods and characters interweave as Angelo anxiously waits to see his new opera will be received. Much to the dismay of Angelo’s rival, the envious Cipriano, Angelo’s opera is hailed as a masterpiece and the play concludes with Angelo’s vision of the apotheosis of his work.

The complexity of the plot and range of locations involved called for at least 18 scene changes, many of which were interspersed with ‘Pictures’ to develop the story. As a result the designer chose to create a set on which 6 scenes could be displayed on one stage with lighting being used to illuminate the relevant scene. The stage hands also had to dress in elaborate black headdresses and tunics when moving the scenery to prevent them distracting from the action. The scenery used in this production was built by R. Andrews and painted by Bruce Smith and Humphries & Watson. The ‘electrical effects’ were overseen by H. Mather.

The costumes were designed by Comelli and were made by B.J. Simmons &Co, Morris Angel & Sons Ltd, Mary E. Fisher Ltd and Mrs. F. Field. The Boots and Shoes were made by A.L. Gamba & Co and the wigs were by Clarkson. Comelli (1858-1925) was the house designer of the Royal Opera House from the late 1880s to the early 1920s. During this period he also worked for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and also designed costumes from a number of Gilbert&Sullivan productions.

This design comes from a collection of costume designs (some of which are costumier's copies) which were originally part of the Archives of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleDrury Lane Design Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Costume design by Comelli for Pietro in Prologue, Picture I of a production of Angelo, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923. Drury Lane Design Collection.
Physical description
Costume design by Comelli for Pietro in Prologue, Picture I in a production of Angelo, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923. A watercolour costume sketch showing a man dressed in a black frock coat worn over pale grey trousers and a white shirt and neckcloth. In his left hand he holds a tall glass vase or drinking vessel. The design is signed and dated Comelli, 1922.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36.2cm
  • Width: 26.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Pietro (Handwritten annotation in ink at the bottom right hand side of the design)
  • Comelli 1922 (Handwritten signature in pen at the left hand side of the design)
  • PROLOGUE/PICTURE I (Handwritten annotation in ink in bottom right hand corner)
  • 17 1/2 (Handwritten annotation in pencil in the top right hand corner of the design)
  • Angel/ A Bowerman (Handwritten annotation in pencil on the rear of the design)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by George Hoare, Archivist of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Literary referenceAngelo
Summary
Costume design by Comelli for Augustus Bowerman as Pietro in the Prologue, Picture I of a production of Angelo, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923. Bowerman also played the role of the Baron Della Torre in Act II of the same production.

Angelo: The Romance of a Great Composer is a play in a Prologue and Three Acts. It was first performed in the Apollo Theatre, New York before being produced by Arthur Collins at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in March and April of 1923. The story is set in the early 1800s and was inspired by The Life of Hoffman. This adaptation was written by Louis N. Parker, with music composed by E.N Reznicek. The play is set largely in Italy and centres upon the Angelo and his love for a beautiful girl named Giulia. Alongside the flashbacks to their doomed romance the audience learns of Angelo’s latest composition, an opera inspired by his love for Giulia and entitled Undine. Various locations, time periods and characters interweave as Angelo anxiously waits to see his new opera will be received. Much to the dismay of Angelo’s rival, the envious Cipriano, Angelo’s opera is hailed as a masterpiece and the play concludes with Angelo’s vision of the apotheosis of his work.

The complexity of the plot and range of locations involved called for at least 18 scene changes, many of which were interspersed with ‘Pictures’ to develop the story. As a result the designer chose to create a set on which 6 scenes could be displayed on one stage with lighting being used to illuminate the relevant scene. The stage hands also had to dress in elaborate black headdresses and tunics when moving the scenery to prevent them distracting from the action. The scenery used in this production was built by R. Andrews and painted by Bruce Smith and Humphries & Watson. The ‘electrical effects’ were overseen by H. Mather.

The costumes were designed by Comelli and were made by B.J. Simmons &Co, Morris Angel & Sons Ltd, Mary E. Fisher Ltd and Mrs. F. Field. The Boots and Shoes were made by A.L. Gamba & Co and the wigs were by Clarkson. Comelli (1858-1925) was the house designer of the Royal Opera House from the late 1880s to the early 1920s. During this period he also worked for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and also designed costumes from a number of Gilbert&Sullivan productions.

This design comes from a collection of costume designs (some of which are costumier's copies) which were originally part of the Archives of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Other number
Angelo File
Collection
Accession number
S.2172-2010

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2010
Record URL
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