Not currently on display at the V&A

Drury Lane Design Collection

Costume Design
1923 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design by Attilio Comelli for the five Imps in Angelo at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923.

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 ‘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

Categories
Object type
TitleDrury Lane Design Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and watercolour
Brief description
Costume design by Attilio Comelli for the Imps in Angelo at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923, Drury Lane Design Collection.
Physical description
Costume design for the Imps in Angelo at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Female figure in a brown outfit decorated with leaves, wearing a red wig and gold headdress. Signed. A length of gauze has been pinned around the millboard to form a frame. Piece of paper with actresses's measurements stuck on reverse.
Dimensions
  • Height: 37.0cm
  • Width: 26.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '8' (Written in top right hand corner)
  • ACT I / PICTURE VIII' (On a piece of paper stuck to reverse)
  • (Sticker advertising West's Fashion Boards on reverse)
  • 'SK 8 Children 5 Imps / Waist Bust Length Hips Head / Gervasse 27 34 1/2 40 39 21 1/2 / K Harvey 26 1/2 32 1/2 37 1/2 37 21 / Mahoney 25 1/2 30 1/2 39 1/2 35 21 / Sewell 26 32 36 1/2 37 21 1/2 / Dance 28 32 35 37 21' (Written on a piece of paper stuck to the reverse)
  • (Sticker advertising West's Fashion Boards on reverse)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by George Hoare, Archivist of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Literary referenceAngelo
Summary
Costume design by Attilio Comelli for the five Imps in Angelo at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1923.

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 ‘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.
Collection
Accession number
S.2245-2010

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2010
Record URL
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