Agreement
1930 (typed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This letter of agreement, kept by Norah Blaney, refers to an engagement with Gwen Farrar in The House that Jack Built,a revue originally produced at London's Adelphi Theatre, London, 8 November 1929, with Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge. Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar joined the production for its transfer to London's Winter Garden Theatre, opening on 14 April 1930.
Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats, starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944.
Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats, starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Typed letter |
| Brief description | Letter of agreement between Jack Hulbert and Paul Murray engaging Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar to appear in The House That Jack Built, opening at London's Winter Garden Theatre, 14 April 1930. Typed letter dated 27 March 1930. |
| Physical description | Typed letter on brown paper, dated 27 March 1930, with the printed address: ADELPHI THEATRE, STRAND, LONDON WC2, and the letter-heading: JACK HULBERT & PAUL MURRAY PRESENT 'THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT'. With the logo of the Theatrical Managers' Association and the red stamp of the theatrical agent W. Foster Horsfield Ltd, 38 Sackville Street, London W1. Addressed to Miss Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar agreeing that they appear in The House That Jack Built from the 14th or 15th April at the Winter Garden Theatre for a joint salary of £150 weekly for eight shows and 10% over weekly receipts of £2000. The letter states that they are to provide their own dresses, that a grand piano will be provided for them, and that the engagement is to be exclusive. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by the British Theatre Association |
| Object history | This came to the museum as part of a small collection compiled by Norah Blaney, mainly consisting of cuttings and photographs relating to the careers of Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This letter of agreement, kept by Norah Blaney, refers to an engagement with Gwen Farrar in The House that Jack Built,a revue originally produced at London's Adelphi Theatre, London, 8 November 1929, with Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge. Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar joined the production for its transfer to London's Winter Garden Theatre, opening on 14 April 1930. Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats, starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.5031-2009 |
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| Record created | January 6, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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