Not currently on display at the V&A

Robert Lowe conducting a performance of Oklahoma!

Caricature
19 August 1954 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Robert Lowe conducting a performance of Oklahoma! at the Oxford New Theatre on 19 August 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.

Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein, was a huge hit when it was first produced in England in April 1947 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it ran for over three years. In America it had opened in 1943 and broke all records for the longest-running production. Robert Lowe (1901-1988) was a musical director and conductor who conducted the 1955 recording of the West End musical The Pyjama Game.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRobert Lowe conducting a performance of <font -i>Oklahoma!</font -i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on cream cartridge paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Robert Lowe conducting a performance of Oklahoma! at the New Theatre Oxford, dated 19 August 1954
Physical description
Pencil caricature of Robert Lowe conducting a performance of Oklahoma!, dated 19 August 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: 16.6cm
  • Width: 12.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • "OKLAHOMA" 19.8.54 G.J.S (Pencil inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad)
  • Robert Lowe (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.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Robert Lowe conducting a performance of Oklahoma! at the Oxford New Theatre on 19 August 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.

Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein, was a huge hit when it was first produced in England in April 1947 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it ran for over three years. In America it had opened in 1943 and broke all records for the longest-running production. Robert Lowe (1901-1988) was a musical director and conductor who conducted the 1955 recording of the West End musical The Pyjama Game.
Collection
Accession number
S.130:28-2002

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Record createdDecember 15, 2003
Record URL
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