Not currently on display at the V&A

Figurine

1894 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This souvenir was produced to mark the 100th performance on 20 March 1894 of an American production of the farce Charley's Aunt at the Park Theatre, Boston. The play by Brandon Thomas was first produced in England in February 1892 at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds by the actor W.S. Penley (1851-1912) with Penley starring as Lord Fancourt Babberley, the luncheon guest who finds himself obliged to impersonate Charley's aunt from Brazil, 'where the nuts come from'. It was produced in London at the Royalty Theatre that December, transferring to the Globe Theatre in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of its day of 1466 performances, and making Penley's name as a star. It opened on Broadway in October 1893 where it ran for four years.

Several different souvenirs were produced in England and the United States as mementos of the play in general, and W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt in particular, including ceramic and metal statuettes of Penley, pill and trinket boxes embossed with images of him, and this cat statuette which related to the play's advertising slogan: 'Enough to make a cat laugh'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Base metal
Brief description
Souvenir figurine of a laughing cat, made to mark the 100th performance of Charley's Aunt in Boston's Park Theatre, USA, 20 March 1984. White metal.
Physical description
Base metal souvenir figurine of a laughing cat on an integral base, sitting on its hind legs, its front paws straight in front of him. He has a ribbon around his neck.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.3cm
  • Of base width: 9.4cm
  • Of base depth: 9.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 100TH PERFORMANCE IN BOSTON CHARLEY'S AUNT TUESDAY MARCH 20TH 1894 PARK THEATRE (Incised around the base)
  • C.M (?) 1894 BY C.P.Karo (Incised on the back on the ribbon around its neck.)
Credit line
Given by Donald Price
Subject depicted
Summary
This souvenir was produced to mark the 100th performance on 20 March 1894 of an American production of the farce Charley's Aunt at the Park Theatre, Boston. The play by Brandon Thomas was first produced in England in February 1892 at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds by the actor W.S. Penley (1851-1912) with Penley starring as Lord Fancourt Babberley, the luncheon guest who finds himself obliged to impersonate Charley's aunt from Brazil, 'where the nuts come from'. It was produced in London at the Royalty Theatre that December, transferring to the Globe Theatre in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of its day of 1466 performances, and making Penley's name as a star. It opened on Broadway in October 1893 where it ran for four years.

Several different souvenirs were produced in England and the United States as mementos of the play in general, and W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt in particular, including ceramic and metal statuettes of Penley, pill and trinket boxes embossed with images of him, and this cat statuette which related to the play's advertising slogan: 'Enough to make a cat laugh'.
Collection
Accession number
S.1432-1986

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 15, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSON