Figurine of W. S. Penley
Figurine
ca.1913 (made)
ca.1913 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figurine represents W.S. Penley as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez in Charley's Aunt, a farcical comedy by Brandon Thomas. The original figurine by Albert Toft was reproduced in white metal, and as a porcelain figurine issued by Royal Doulton in 1913.
William Sydney Penley (1851-1912), a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury. He made his name as the Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre, 1884 and was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced Charley's Aunt at Bury St Edmunds. He starred as Lord Fancourt Babberley, the luncheon guest who finds himself obliged to impersonate Charley's aunt from Brazil, 'where the nuts come from'. It was produced at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, transferred to the Globe in 1893 and was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of its day of 1,466 performances. Several different souvenirs were produced as mementos of the play in general, and Penley as Charley's Aunt in particular.
William Sydney Penley (1851-1912), a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury. He made his name as the Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre, 1884 and was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced Charley's Aunt at Bury St Edmunds. He starred as Lord Fancourt Babberley, the luncheon guest who finds himself obliged to impersonate Charley's aunt from Brazil, 'where the nuts come from'. It was produced at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, transferred to the Globe in 1893 and was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of its day of 1,466 performances. Several different souvenirs were produced as mementos of the play in general, and Penley as Charley's Aunt in particular.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Figurine of W. S. Penley (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | White metal |
| Brief description | Figurine of W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the title role of the play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas. White metal by Albert Toft (1862-1949), ca.1913 |
| Physical description | Hollow white metal figurine of W.S. Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley impersonating Charley's Aunt in the play Charley's Aunt, standing on an integral octagonal base. He is dressed in a floor length gown, headdress, a shawl around his shoulders and a lace jabot. His arms are bent and his hands clasped together at waist height and his head is inclined forwards. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | This figurine represents W.S. Penley (1851-1912) as Lord Fancourt Babberley, dressed as Donna Lucia d’ Alvadorez, Charley's aunt from Brazil, in Charley's Aunt, the farce by Brandon Thomas that Penley first produced at Bury St. Edmunds in 1892. The play transferred to the Royalty Theatre in December 1892 and then to the Globe Theatre in 1893. It achieved the record-breaking run for its day of 1,466 performances. It was withdrawn in December 1896 but revived on several occasions. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This figurine represents W.S. Penley as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez in Charley's Aunt, a farcical comedy by Brandon Thomas. The original figurine by Albert Toft was reproduced in white metal, and as a porcelain figurine issued by Royal Doulton in 1913. William Sydney Penley (1851-1912), a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury. He made his name as the Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre, 1884 and was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced Charley's Aunt at Bury St Edmunds. He starred as Lord Fancourt Babberley, the luncheon guest who finds himself obliged to impersonate Charley's aunt from Brazil, 'where the nuts come from'. It was produced at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, transferred to the Globe in 1893 and was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of its day of 1,466 performances. Several different souvenirs were produced as mementos of the play in general, and Penley as Charley's Aunt in particular. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.14-1976 |
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| Record created | December 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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