Not currently on display at the V&A

Cyril Ornadel conducting a performance of Pal Joey

Caricature
15 March 1954 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Cyril Ornadel (b. 1924) conducting a performance of Pal Joey at the Oxford New Theatre on 15 March 1954. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

Cyril Ornadel trained at the Royal College of Music and had a varied career covering a wide field of composing, recording and accompanying. As musical director in the West End his credits included the original productions of My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, Pal Joey, and the Yul Brynner revival of The King and I. He was musical director of the London Palladium for four years, where he was involved in the Sunday Night At The London Palladium weekly television series, and conducted three Royal Command Variety Performances. He is seen here conducting the try-out of the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey at the New Theatre before its London opening at the Princes Theatre on 31 March.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCyril Ornadel conducting a performance of <font -i>Pal Joey</font -i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on cream cartridge paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Cyril Ornadel conducting a performance of Pal Joey at the New Theatre Oxford, dated 15 March 1954
Physical description
Pencil caricature of Cyril Ornadel conducting a performance of Pal Joey, dated 15 March 1954, part of an artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called 'The Euston Sketch Book'. The pencilled sketch is drawn directly onto the page (cream cartridge paper). Titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.8cm
  • Width: 12.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • "PAL JOEY" 15.3.54 G.J.S (Pencil inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad)
  • Cyril Ornadel (Pen and ink signature)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
The artist of these caricatures, Gilbert Sommerlad, was by profession a musician who was born into a family that had a long tradition of professional musicians. In 1936 he moved to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist.

Gilbert was an exceptionally good and popular rehearsal pianist, and visiting companies and individual performers used to make sure that he would be available. He became well-known in the profession and his ability as a caricaturist became common knowledge. The volume that includes this drawing contains sketches mostly of musical directors and conductors working at the Oxford New Theatre with Gilbert Sommerlad.

Cyril Ornadel is depicted conducting Pal Joey in the pre-London try-out performance of the Rodgers and Hart musical at the New Theatre. It opened later that month, on 31 March 1954 at the Palace Theatre.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Cyril Ornadel (b. 1924) conducting a performance of Pal Joey at the Oxford New Theatre on 15 March 1954. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

Cyril Ornadel trained at the Royal College of Music and had a varied career covering a wide field of composing, recording and accompanying. As musical director in the West End his credits included the original productions of My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, Pal Joey, and the Yul Brynner revival of The King and I. He was musical director of the London Palladium for four years, where he was involved in the Sunday Night At The London Palladium weekly television series, and conducted three Royal Command Variety Performances. He is seen here conducting the try-out of the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey at the New Theatre before its London opening at the Princes Theatre on 31 March.
Collection
Accession number
S.130:23-2002

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Record createdDecember 12, 2003
Record URL
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