- The Forty Thieves
"The Forty Thieves" is a "
Pantomime Burlesque" written byRobert Reece ,W. S. Gilbert ,F. C. Burnand andHenry J. Byron , created in 1878 as an amateur production for theBeefsteak Club of London. The Beefsteak Club still meets in Irving Street, London. It was founded by actorJohn Lawrence Toole in 1876, in rooms above theFolly Theatre , King William IV Street. It became an essential after theatre club for the bohemian theatre set, such asHenry Irving , Toole,John Hare ,W. H. Kendal ,F. C. Burnand ,Henry Labouchère ,W. S. Gilbert and two hundred of their peers. It soon moved to Green Street. [Stedman, p. 138] The Club occasionally performed amateur plays for their own amusement and to raise funds for charities.The entertainment was first produced at the Gaiety Theatre by its proprietor,
John Hollingshead (also a member of the Club), as the Wednesday matinee on13 February 1878 .Hollingshead, John. "Good Old Gaiety: An Historiette & Remembrance", pp. 39–41 (1903) London:Gaity Theatre Co] Robert Soutar (Nellie Farren 's husband) acted as director/stage manager, withJohn d'Auban choreographing the Harlequinade.Meyer Lutz conducted the music. [Elliot, p. 107] Hollingshead secured the services of the professional female actors, the male amateur actors, the distinguished writers, [Elliot, pp. 111–13] Hollingshead later remembered, "...the gem of the performance was the grimly earnest and determined Harlequin of W. S. Gilbert. It gave me an idea of whatOliver Cromwell would have made of the character." [Hollingshead, John. [http://books.google.com/books?id=j2NuebFfsScC&dq=%22john+hollingshead%22+my+lifetime "My Lifetime"] , vol 2, p. 124 (1895) S. Low, Marston: London]Proceeds from the first performance of the piece were 700 pounds sterling, owing to a sell-out charity crowd paying enhanced prices. The Prince and Princess of Wales and many other dignitaries attended. [Elliot, p. 125] Most of the proceeds were given to the Royal General Theatrical Fund and some to hospitals. The entertainment was presented again, with similar success, at Brighton on 9 March 1878 and again at the Gaiety on 10 April, to benefit wives and children of seamen killed in the sinking of
HMS Eurydice . [Stedman, p. 156]Roles and cast
The male cast members were amateur actors who were members of The Beefsteak Club. The female cast members were professional actresses.
*Ali Baba ("a Woodcutter") – Captain Arthur Gooch
*Ganem ("his Son") – W. F. Quintin (Quintin Twiss)
*Cassim ("his Brother") – Algernon Bastard
*Hassarac ("Captain of the Forty Thieves") – Joseph Maclean (the only male non-member of the Beefsteak Club)
*Abdallah ("his Lieutenant") – Mr. Colnaghi (Helen Barry in trousers)
*Mesrour – F. H. McCalmont
*Gentlemen of "The Forty" ("The Deserving Hanging Committee"): (portrayed by:) William Yardley,Leslie Ward , Gilbert Farquhar, Hon. F. Parker, W. Higgins, Major Rolls, Archibald Stuart-Wortley, E. Darell, J. Westropp, J. Cumming, C. Ringrose, C. Daly, Hugh Drummond, J. Graham, Cecil Chapman, A. B. Cook, Benson, Amphlett and Hon. C. Vivian
*Morgiana –Lydia Thompson
*Cogia – Eleanor Bufton
*The Good Fairy –Lucy Buckstone
*Twenty young ladies from theAlhambra Theatre ;Characters in The Harlequinade
*Clown – William Gerald Elliot
*Pantaloon – Thomas Knox Holmes
*Columbine – Mdlle. Rosa
*Harlequin –W. S. Gilbert
*Swell – Lord De Clifford
*Tailor – W. F. Quinton
*Butterman – C. Ringrose
*Baker – L. Ward
*Sweep – W. Higgins
*Waiter – J. Westropp
*Ung Mossoo – Algernon Bastard
*Policeman – Captain H. E. Colvile
*Artist –Leslie Ward
*Bricklayer – J. Graham
*Butcher – C. Chapman
*A Gent – A. B. Cook
*Old Woman – F. H. McCalmontynopsis
;Ali Baba
*Scene 1. Written byRobert Reece – Exterior of Ali Baba's House
*Scene 2. Written byW. S. Gilbert – The Wood
*Scene 3. Written byF. C. Burnand – Interior of Ali Baba's House
*Scene 4. Written byH. J. Byron – The Cave;The Transformation
;The Harlequinade
*Scene 1. A Quiet Street
*Scene 2. An Equally Quiet BedroomNotes
References
*Elliot, William Gerald. [http://books.google.com/books?id=joc0AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA127&lpg=PA127&dq=%22Forty+Thieves%22+%22Beefsteak+Club%22&source=web&ots=TqA5n3dc7G&sig=3NiMBN4HCHD6JPUbGS0kX7kpByY&hl=en#PPA107,M1 "The Amateur Pantomime of 1878", "Amateur Clubs and Actors", Chapter VI, pp. 107–31] (1898) London: E. Arnold
*cite book|last=Stedman|first=Jane W.|year=1996|title=W. S. Gilbert, A Classic Victorian & His Theatre|publisher=Oxford University Press|id=ISBN 0-19-816174-3
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