W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt
Figurine
ca.1913 (made)
ca.1913 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This small plastic souvenir celebrates the famous part played by W.S. (William Sydney) Penley (1852-1912) in the farce Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, which opened at London's Royalty Theatre in December 1892. It shows Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley, or 'Babbs', disguised as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil - 'where the nuts come from'. It is modelled on a ceramic figurine designed by Albert Toft and made by Royal Doulton in 1913.
Penley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre. He was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in Charley's Aunt at Bury St. Edmunds. The play was staged at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1,466 performances. Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run.
Penley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre. He was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in Charley's Aunt at Bury St. Edmunds. The play was staged at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1,466 performances. Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Moulded and painted plastic |
| Brief description | Figurine of W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the title role of the play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, a role which Penley first played at Bury St Edmunds, February 1892, and later in a record-breaking run in London. Based on a figure designed by Albert Toft. Plastic, ca.1913 |
| Physical description | Tiny plastic figurine of W.S. Penley dressed as Charley's Aunt, wearing a cream shawl and a painted black dress, his hands crossed in front of him. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Literary reference | Charley's Aunt |
| Summary | This small plastic souvenir celebrates the famous part played by W.S. (William Sydney) Penley (1852-1912) in the farce Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, which opened at London's Royalty Theatre in December 1892. It shows Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley, or 'Babbs', disguised as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil - 'where the nuts come from'. It is modelled on a ceramic figurine designed by Albert Toft and made by Royal Doulton in 1913. Penley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, first appeared on stage in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre. He was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in Charley's Aunt at Bury St. Edmunds. The play was staged at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1,466 performances. Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1056-1996 |
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| Record created | April 7, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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