Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Philip Martell conducting a performance of Love From Judy at the New Theatre Oxford, dated 12 May 1954

Pencil caricature of Philip Martell conducting a performance of Love From Judy, dated 12 May 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.

Given by Michael Sommerlad

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.

Philip Martell was the musical director of Love from Judy when it was originally produced at London's Saville Theatre in September 1952. The musical by Eric Maschwitz and Jean Webster with music by Hugh Martin was produced in London by Emile Littler who also produced the tour.

This caricature shows Philip Martell conducting a performance of Love From Judy at the Oxford New Theatre on 12 May 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.

Love From Judy, by Eric Maschwitz and Jean Webster with music by Hugh Martin, originally opened in London at the Saville Theatre in September 1952 with Jean Carson, Barbara Windsor and June Whitfield in the cast. It ran well into a second year and visited Oxford in 1954 as part of the post West End tour, with Philip Martell, the original musical director, conducting. Philip Martell composed music for films and was the musical director for several London musicals including The Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, and Free As Air.

S.130:26-2002