T H E A T R E    M U S E U M ,     C O V E N T – G A R D E N

 On Friday June 30th 2006

F O R    O N E    N I G H T    O N L Y ! 

S P E A I G H T ’ S    J O Y S

A    R E G E N C Y    E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Humbly and Affectionately Dedicated to the Memory of

 M r.  &  M r s.   G e o r g e    S p e a i g h t

ROBERT LLOYD, Proprietor of a Juvenile Dramatic Repository on the Surry Side WILLIAM WEST, the Old and Original Theatrical Print Publisher

Mr. PETER CHARLTON Mr. DAVID DRUMMOND

T H E   M I L L E R   A N D   H I S   M E N
An Explosive Melo-Drama
Re-ignited by YOUNG BLOOD

The Script by Mr. Pocock
The Overture and Music, entirely new in 1813, composed by Mr. Bishop
Played on the pianoforte by Mr. OLIVER DAVIES
The Action Arranged by Mr. BARRY CLARKE
The Scenery by Mr. West and Mrs. Stokes. Likewise the Dresses

GRINDOFF, the Miller COUNT FREDERICK FRIBERG KARL, his Servant KELMAR, an Old Cottager CLAUDINE, his Daughter LOTHAIR, a Young Peasant RAVINA RIBER, a Robber GOLOTZ, a Second Robber ZINGRA, a Third Robber

Mr. PETER BALDWIN Mr. JOE GLADWIN Mr. DAVID POWELL Mr. DAVID ROBINSON Mrs. GABRIELLE SPEAIGHT Mr. ANTHONY SPEAIGHT Miss CATHERINE HAILL Mr. ROBERT POULTER Mr. LAURIE WEBB Mr. BARRY POINTON

S O N G S    O F    T H E    C I D E R    C E L L A R
by Mr. CHARLTON   (The Ratcatcher’s Son)

 

The Doors to Open at Half-past Six. The curtain to rise at Seven o’clock sharp.

V I V A T    R E G I N A .

And Heaven Help the Enterprise!

S P E A I G H T’ S  J O Y S

at the

Theatre Museum, Royal Paintings Gallery

on Friday 30^th June, 6.30 for 7pm

 

To celebrate the life and work of George Speaight, the champion of popular entertainment whose passion and enthusiasm kept the toy theatre alive throughout the twentieth century, we proudly announce a special performance of the romantic melodrama The Miller and his Men.

The Miller was first performed at Covent Garden on Trafalgar Day 1813 to unbounded applause. Such was its success that it was quickly taken up by the toy theatre publishers and soon established itself as the most popular piece in the entire juvenile drama repertoire. This play was a particular favourite of George’s who made it his own with his famous shows of Webb’s version with which he appeared before the public for seventy years until his farewell performance in 2003.

In honour of George for one night only the Regency stage in miniature will be recreated with an historic presentation of the earliest surviving complete juvenile drama edition published by William West, the original and finest theatrical print publisher. Due to its erratic printing history (the various sheets appeared between 1815 and 1833) and the formidable challenge of procuring the original engravings we believe this is the first time West’s Miller has been seen on any stage since at least 1854, the year of his death.

The picturesque Bohemian scenery and elegantly delineated characters have been specially enlarged for this production and will be enacted upon a theatre (expressly built for the occasion) incorporating West’s proscenium ornaments of 1829. The amusing script by Isaac Pocock, concerning the dangers of dyed in the wool villainy masquerading behind an apparently respectable façade, will be prodigiously rendered by a live cast of esteemed players and accompanied by Henry Bishop’s original music on the pianoforte.

The proceedings will be overseen by William West himself and the evening will conclude with a selection of bawdy songs. Wine and refreshments will be served.