Billie Taylor
Silk Programme
1881 (designed)
1881 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although Billee Taylor opened in New York after a successful run in London, American reviews compared it unfavourably to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. The comic opera, based on a poem and song by the eighteenth-century playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, follows the story of how a gardener and his sweetheart become embroiled in the romantic complications of a Captain and his crew.
The Standard Theatre in New York opened as the Eagle Theatre in 1875. After its re-naming in 1878, it played host to several American premieres of Gilbert & Sullivan's operas, earning $100,000 from its run of Patience. In 1898 William Brady and Florenz Ziegfeld took over management, re-christening the theatre once again as the Manhattan Theatre.
The Standard Theatre in New York opened as the Eagle Theatre in 1875. After its re-naming in 1878, it played host to several American premieres of Gilbert & Sullivan's operas, earning $100,000 from its run of Patience. In 1898 William Brady and Florenz Ziegfeld took over management, re-christening the theatre once again as the Manhattan Theatre.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Billie Taylor (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed silk |
| Brief description | Silk programme for Billie Taylor, Standard Theatre, 1881 |
| Physical description | Yellow silk programme printed with black typographical ink, mounted on cream cardboard. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte |
| Object history | This silk programme was produced to commemorate the opening of Billee Taylor on 19th February 1881 at the Standard Theatre, New York. R. D'Oyly Carte and E. E. Rice's comic opera company featured Mr J. H. Ryley as the Hon. Felix Flapper, Mr. W. H. Seymour as Sir Mincing Lane and Mr A. W. F. McCollin as Ben Barnacle. Mr. Arnold Breedon made his first appearance in America as Billee Taylor, the virtuous gardener. The 'new nautical comic opera' had a book by H. P. Stevens and music by Edward Solomon. The musical directors were Alfred Cellier and Ernest Neyer, the stage manager was Mr. Charles Harris, the scenery by Voegtlen and the costumes by Dazian and Mrs. Hill, after designs by Pilotell. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | Although Billee Taylor opened in New York after a successful run in London, American reviews compared it unfavourably to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. The comic opera, based on a poem and song by the eighteenth-century playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, follows the story of how a gardener and his sweetheart become embroiled in the romantic complications of a Captain and his crew. The Standard Theatre in New York opened as the Eagle Theatre in 1875. After its re-naming in 1878, it played host to several American premieres of Gilbert & Sullivan's operas, earning $100,000 from its run of Patience. In 1898 William Brady and Florenz Ziegfeld took over management, re-christening the theatre once again as the Manhattan Theatre. |
| Other number | THM/73/34 - Archive number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.349-2016 |
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| Record created | September 9, 2016 |
| Record URL |
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