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Donald Fergusson as the Prime Minister in The Queen's Husband
Sommerlad, Gilbert, born 1904 - died 1976 - Enlarge image
Donald Fergusson as the Prime Minister in The Queen's Husband
- Object:
Caricature
- Place of origin:
Brighton, England (made)
- Date:
2 March 1932 (dated)
- Artist/Maker:
Sommerlad, Gilbert, born 1904 - died 1976 (artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Pencil and ink on paper
- Credit Line:
Given by Michael Sommerlad
- Museum number:
S.129:4-2002
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This caricature shows Donald Fergusson as the Prime Minister in The Queen's Husband at the Brighton Theatre Royal during the week of 29 February 1932, advertised as coming to Brighton 'direct from the Ambassador's Theatre, London'. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.
The Queen's Husband, a comedy by Robert E. Sherwood, originally opened in London at the Ambassadors Theatre in October 1931, produced by Barry Jones and Maurice Colbourne. Barry Jones was a great success as King Eric VIII, the perplexed king of an imaginary island state who changes from hen-pecked husband to monarch after a revolution that happens when the Queen is in America. It transferred to the New Theatre in March 1932 with Jones as the King, but R. Lindsell Stuart took the part when it went to Brighton, and Donald Fergusson played the Prime Minister.
