Alfred Drake in Kismet
Caricature
11 April 1955 (dated)
11 April 1955 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Alfred Drake (1914–1992) as a Public Poet, later called Hajj, in Kismet, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, at the Oxford New Theatre in April 1955. 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.
Alfred Drake, American singer, actor, and director, was regarded as one of Broadway's finest leading men. He became a star in the 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!, which was followed by leading roles in Kiss Me Kate (1948) and Kismet (1953).
Alfred Drake, American singer, actor, and director, was regarded as one of Broadway's finest leading men. He became a star in the 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!, which was followed by leading roles in Kiss Me Kate (1948) and Kismet (1953).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Alfred Drake in <i>Kismet</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil caricature of Alfred Drake in Kismet, by Gilbert Sommerlad, 11 April 1955. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink and wash caricature of Alfred Drake in Kismet, New Theatre Oxford. Dated 11 April 1955. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Alfred Drake (1914–1992) as a Public Poet, later called Hajj, in Kismet, music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, at the Oxford New Theatre in April 1955. 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. Alfred Drake, American singer, actor, and director, was regarded as one of Broadway's finest leading men. He became a star in the 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!, which was followed by leading roles in Kiss Me Kate (1948) and Kismet (1953). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.132:50-2002 |
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| Record created | December 4, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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