Dan Leno Junior, as Dame Durden in Puss in Boots
Caricature
ca. December 1935 to ca. January 1936 (dated)
ca. December 1935 to ca. January 1936 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature shows Dan Leno Jnr. as Dame Durden in Puss in Boots by Andrew Emm at the Brighton Theatre Royal, Christmas 1935. 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.
Andrew Melville was the producer of this spectacular pantomime, which starred Margaret Bannerman as the miller's son Jack, and a cast of over 100. Dan Leno Jr was the son of the legendary Dan Leno. His mother was Lydia Reynolds, the comedy vocalist whom Leno had married in 1883 when he was seventeen. Dan Leno Jr is sketched here as the dame, the pantomime role played with such acclaim by his famous father. Dan Leno Jr, went on to write pantomimes himself.
Andrew Melville was the producer of this spectacular pantomime, which starred Margaret Bannerman as the miller's son Jack, and a cast of over 100. Dan Leno Jr was the son of the legendary Dan Leno. His mother was Lydia Reynolds, the comedy vocalist whom Leno had married in 1883 when he was seventeen. Dan Leno Jr is sketched here as the dame, the pantomime role played with such acclaim by his famous father. Dan Leno Jr, went on to write pantomimes himself.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dan Leno Junior, as Dame Durden in <i>Puss in Boots</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil and ink on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Dan Leno Junior, as Dame Burden in Puss in Boots at the Theatre Royal Brighton, 24 December 1935. |
| Physical description | Pencil caricature of Dan Leno Junior, as Dame Durden in Puss in Boots at the Theatre Royal Brighton. Dated Christmas 1935. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | DAME DURDEN. PUSS-IN-BOOTS. XMAS 1935. (Pencil inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad.) |
| Credit line | Given by Michael Sommerlad |
| Object history | Puss in Boots was the Christmas pantomime at the Theatre Royal Brighton in 1935, starring Margaret Bannerman as the Miller's Son and Dan Leno Junior, as Dame Durden. Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This caricature shows Dan Leno Jnr. as Dame Durden in Puss in Boots by Andrew Emm at the Brighton Theatre Royal, Christmas 1935. 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. Andrew Melville was the producer of this spectacular pantomime, which starred Margaret Bannerman as the miller's son Jack, and a cast of over 100. Dan Leno Jr was the son of the legendary Dan Leno. His mother was Lydia Reynolds, the comedy vocalist whom Leno had married in 1883 when he was seventeen. Dan Leno Jr is sketched here as the dame, the pantomime role played with such acclaim by his famous father. Dan Leno Jr, went on to write pantomimes himself. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.131:35-2002 |
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| Record created | December 9, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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