Principal boy costume worn by Bay Harrington, neé Florence Charlotte Harrington (1891-1983) in Dick Whittington, ca.1918

;S.238:1-2002
Short-sleeved tunic reaching to upper thigh with scoop neck to the front and v-neck to the back, of off white satin, embroidered in a trailing flower and foliage pattern in silver sequins highlighted with amethyst and diamanté 'jewels'; the flower 'petals' are padded. The stems are of fine steel beads. The neck, sleeves and back opening edges are all trimmed with silver metal sequins with the sleeves and lower edge having a hanging fringe of large silver metal disc sequins. The costume is lined with pink silk and fastens down the back with press studs.

S.238:2-2002
Belt of thin brown velvet belt overlaid with diamanté set in a chain. Fixed on the inside, a distance from one end, is a piece of elastic (perished) with a hook to fit into the eye at a similar distance from the other end.

S.238:3-2002
Short cloak of off white satin pleated into high collar at the right side, the left side being turned inwards, embroidered in a trailing flower and foliage pattern in silver sequins highlighted with amethyst and diamanté 'jewels'; the flower 'petals' are padded. The stems are of fine steel beads. The edges are lined inside and out with silver metal sequins. The cloak is lined with pink silk and inside to either side of the collar is a heavy duty hook with a pink silk loop.

S.238:4-2002
Tricorne hat with flat crown off white satin, embroidered in a trailing flower and foliage pattern in silver sequins highlighted with amethyst and diamanté 'jewels'; the flower 'petals' are padded. The stems are of fine steel beads. The upper edge of the brim is trimmed with silver metal sequins. The hat is lined in pale pink silk (replacement). A section of the brim and inner side of the crown have been replaced with pale pink silk.

S.238:5-2002
Curved palest pink ostrich feather.

S.238:6-2002
Pair of off white silk jersey tights with cotton jersey hips.

In memory of Bay Harrington, given by Mrs P. Farley

The costume is for a pantomime principal boy and was worn by Bay (neé Florence Charlotte) Harrington (1891-1983) in the pantomime, Dick Whittington, ca. 1918. It would have been worn in the finale 'walk down' when the principals take their individual calls.

Historical significance: The costume is for an aristocratic Principal Boy (such as the Prince in Cinderella) of the post 1915-early 1920s. It shows the transitional stage between the heavily boned, stylized costumes of the late 19th century, of which the Museum possesses a superb example in S.1351&B-1984, and the 18th century-based style which became traditional for princely Principal Boys in the 1930s.

Photographs show Bay Harrington wearing the tunic without the belt.

The costume is for an 'aristocratic' Principal Boy in pantomimes, dates from around 1918. By this time, the conventional Principal Boy costume, with the exaggerated hour-glass figure and padded thighs, had given way to the simpler, unstructured lines of the late 1910s/1920s, and this costume worn by Bay Harrington is a rare survivor of the style. By the 1930s, the fashion of the 'aristocratic' Principal Boy had changed to an 18th century coat and breeches.

Many theatrical performers of this period made their own costumes - it was a time when most women had been taught dressmaking - but Bay Harrington was fortunate to come from a family of tailors, which accounts for the excellent finish and style of her costumes. The tights, in shiny ivory silk jersey, would have emphasised her legs in the 19th century tradition.

Bay (a corruption of 'Baby', the name by which she was known to her family in which she was the only girl) trained at the Tree Academy as an opera singer and appeared in performances at Covent Garden and at Her Majesty's Theatre. She had the opportunity of continuing her singing studies at La Scala, but her family felt she was too young, and after a bout of TB affected her voice she abandoned grand opera for the variety stage, appearing with concert groups including The Seven Romps in 1912 and then in various double acts with other girls including The Trilbies with Eileen Lawler in 1913, touring the Near East and Asia as well as Britain, and with Evelyn Kirkby as Kirkby & Harrington. She appeared in pantomime in London and the regions as well as in variety.

S.238:1 to 6-2002