Theatre Costume thumbnail 1
Not on display

Theatre Costume

1969 (Made)
Artist/Maker

Drop waisted long sleeved round necked dress in gold and synthetic fabric printed with a floral and foliage design, overwoven in gold thread with floral and foliage design. Around the hips a band of the same fabric with to centre front a fixed bow. Below the left shoulder a spade in brown velvet with the monogram 'MB' embroidered in gold thread. The dress fastens down the back with a zip fastener and hook and bars, and is weighted at the hem. Labelled 'Miss Keith'.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Synthetic fabric, gold thread and velvet
Brief description
Costume worn by Sheila Keith in the Salon Pour Messieurs scene of Jerry Herman's musical Mame, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1969.
Physical description
Drop waisted long sleeved round necked dress in gold and synthetic fabric printed with a floral and foliage design, overwoven in gold thread with floral and foliage design. Around the hips a band of the same fabric with to centre front a fixed bow. Below the left shoulder a spade in brown velvet with the monogram 'MB' embroidered in gold thread. The dress fastens down the back with a zip fastener and hook and bars, and is weighted at the hem. Labelled 'Miss Keith'.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 0.4kg
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'ELIZABETH CURZON / LTD / 79 ST. MARTIN'S LANE. W.C.2. / TEMPLE BAR 3813 / MISS KEITH' (Label; Back neck left)
  • 'ELIZABETH CURZON / LTD / 79 ST. MARTIN'S LANE. W.C.2. / TEMPLE BAR 3813' (Machine embroidery)
  • 'MISS KEITH' (Typewriting)
Credit line
Given by Harold Fielding
Object history
This is one of the costume designed by Robert Mackintosh for Jerry Herman's musical Mame, produced at Drury Lane, London, in 1969. Ginger Rogers wore a similar costume to this in Act I scene 8, Salon Pour Messieurs. This costume was worn by Sheila Keith.
The costume was put up for sale at Sotheby's on 21 August 1990, Lot 36.

Historical significance: Mame is an example of a major Hollywood musical star appearing on stage in Britain. Mame in the musical version by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman was produced by Harold Fielding at Drury Lane in 1969 starring Ginger Rogers in her first appearance on the English stage.
Collection
Accession number
S.111-2000

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Record createdDecember 20, 2000
Record URL
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