Poster advertising The Boarding School followed by Robinson Crusoe, or, Friday and the Fairies. Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 26th December 1868. Letterpress printed by J. Miles & Co.

Typographic poster printed in black, green and red letterpress typeface on white paper. It features the descriptions of each scene and scene designer in large print, whilst the names of the performers are hardly visible.

Associated Productions: The Boarding School (farce by Bayle Bernard) performed by Misses Harris, Lavine, Tatton, Edgar and Nelly Harris (Miss Maria Harris as Caroline Blyth, Miss Lavine as Miss Biggs, Miss Edgar as Mrs. Grosnap, and Miss Nelly Harris as Mary Myte) and Messrs Dalton, Higgie, Willmot, Ross, Paulo, Woodfield and J.D. Stoyle (Mr. Dalton as Captain Harcourt, Mr. T.H. Higgie as Cornet Kavanagh, Mr. Ross as Lieutenant Varley, Mr. Paulo as Farmer Holly, Mr. W.H. Woodfield as the Sergeant, and Mr. J.D. Stoyle as James the paige).

Robinson Crusoe, or, Friday and the Fairies (pantomime by Henry Byron), composer: Mr. Betjemann; choreographer: Monsieur Desplaces; appointments and masks: Mr. Labhart; machinery: Mr. H. Sloman; sets: Mr. W. Telbin, Hawes Craven, Days, Caney, W. Cuthbert, Wygney and Matt Morgan; costumes: Monsieur Hennier, Mr. S. May, Mrs. James; jewellery: Mons. Leblanc Granger; actors: Nelly Power (Elf), Maria Harris (Sedate Fairy), W.H. Payne (Robinson Crusoe), Mr. Willmot (Mrs. Crusoe), Fred Payne (Friday [and] Harlequin), Harry Payne (Clown), Mlle. Esta (Columbine), Signor Paulo (Pantaloon), Mlle. Lambertini (Dancer), Mr. Ross (Quashebungo), Mr. J.D. Stoyle (Hokeypokywankyfum), Miss Lavine (Favourite Squaw). Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, Bow Street, London. 26.12.1868. This production featured 'Rimmels' Costume Crackers', another example of the perfumiers Rimmel using theatre as an opportunity for advertising. There was also a parade of 'Fashions of 1869' organised by Grant and Gask whose shop was at 62, Oxford Street.

122 Wardour Street, Oxford Street

This poster advertising Covent Garden's 1868 Christmas pantomime Robinson Crosoe, or Friday and the Fairies by H.J. Byron, preceded by Bayle Bernard's farce The Boarding School gloriously demonstrates the importance placed on the popularity of the magnificent scenes conjured on stage in the spectacular pantomimes produced by Augustus Harris. Robinson Crusoe opened on Boxing Day 1868 so the lack of date on this poster indicates that the pantomime was into its run and already a well known attraction when the poster was printed, probably in early 1869.

The pantomime included some big names of the day including the Music Hall star Nelly Power (1854-1887) and the great Payne brothers, the Harlequin Fred (1841-1880) and the Clown Harry (1833-1895), but their names can hardly be seen o the poster, printed in tiny typeface in contrast to that advertising the scenes and their designers. Audiences could be transported to places as varied as Crusoe's Enchanted Isle, Wapping in the Olden Time, The Mermaid's Haunt and Lord's Cricket Ground.

S.713-1995