This costume representing the concept of Valkyrie was worn by a gloriously exaggerated Germanic showgirl in the musical The Producers which opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in November 2004 and ran for over two years. This was one of four similarly outrageous showgirl costumes on Germanic themes designed by William Ivey Long, the others representing the German sausage, German beer and the pretzel.
Based on the classic 1968 Mel Brooks film, The Producers was originally produced on Broadway where it won twelve Tony awards. The story concerns the failing Broadway producer Max Bialystock who aims to make millions by raising over-investment in Springtime For Hitler, a tasteless musical by an ex-Nazi storm-trooper which Max considers to be a guaranteed flop. In its scandalous closing number, the outrageously 'camp' Fuhrer took centre stage with four showgirls who paraded in the four unwieldy but hilarious costumes, including this 'essence of Valkyrie'.
Physical description
[theatre costume] T-strap high-heeled left shoe with silver leather toe and straps and 'silver' panels.
[theatre costume] T-strap high-heeled right shoe with silver leather toe and straps and 'silver' panels.
[theatre costume] Silver organza cape decorated with diamanté and edged with a wide band of silver lamé fabric trimmed with white ostrich feathers shot with metallic strands. Attached armbands of flesh-coloured stockinette decorated with stripes of silver beads, clear plastic beads and bugle beads.
[theatre costume] Pannier made of two circular domed shields, each with a pointed central boss. The shields moulded of fibreglass and painted silver, the edges covered in silver foil and decorated with diamanté, the centre moulded to suggest beaten metal, the boss decorated with diamanté with a ring of diamanté round the circumference. The shield attached to a belt of flesh-coloured stockinette decorated with diamanté.
[theatre costume] Diamanté-studded horned helmet in silver plastic with artificial pearls on wires at front edge and white ostrich feathers at back. An integral blonde wig with curled fringe, two plaits woven with iridescent plastic ribbon to back and to each side twisted braids.
[theatre costume] Choker of padded flesh-coloured stockinette, the bottom edge coming to a point at front. At centre front a large artifical diamond in the shape of an inverted teardrop with lines of small clear plastic beads and bugle beards radiating from it, three to either side, the line including diamanté circles and ovals. At centre top a short fringe of beads and bugle beards, each strand ending a clear paillette.
[theatre costume] Body of flesh-coloured stockinette with integral padded bra and at crotch scallops of flesh-coloured stockinette, flesh-coloured chiffon decorated with diamanté, and iridescent organza, the body decorated with diamanté drops.
Date
2004 (made)
Artist/maker
Barrow, Amanda (maker)
Mar, Kam Chu (maker)
Adams, Martin (helmet, maker)
Mawby, Richard (wig, maker)
Sparks, Ann (maker)
Wall, Keith (maker)
Long, William Ivey (costume designer)
Academy Costumes Ltd (theatrical costumiers)
Materials and Techniques
Stockinette, organza, chiffon,. lamé, diamanté, artificial jewels, beads, plastic, hair, ostrich feathers, foil, leather, paint and fibreglass
Dimensions
Height: 200 cm, Width: 124 cm, Depth: 50 cm
Object history note
Costume designed by William Ivey Long for a showgirl dressed as a Valkyrie in the London production of Mel Brooks's musical The Producers, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 2004. The showgirl is one of four girls who appear in the closing number, Springtime for Hitler, dressed to symbolise Germany. The others are a sausage, a beer stein and a pretzel.
Descriptive line
Costume for a showgirl dressed as a Valkyrie, designed by William Ivey Long for the London production of Mel Brooks's musical The Producers, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 2004
Exhibition History
Theatre and Performance (Victoria and Albert Museum, Galleries 103 -106 01/01/2009-31/12/2009)
Materials
Plastic; Paint; Leather; Beads; Wire; Ribbon; Hair; Chiffon; Diamanté; Foil; Organza; Lamé; Bugle beads; Ostrich feathers; Fibreglass; Artificial jewels; Imitation pearls; Padding (material); Stockinette
Techniques
Painting; Sewing; Glueing; Forming; Shoe-making; Plaiting; Beading (process)
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Stage costumes; Hats & headwear
Collection code
T&P
