A Collection of 236 Photographs Detailing The Production and Performance of The London Stage Production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in 1963. With images from rehersals, after show parties, and the production itself. Also London...
By David Sim, Dominic, Deryn Morton
A group of 236 photographs that document the making of the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum which first showed at The Strand Theatre, London, in October 1963. Written and set to music by Stephen Sondheim the play was first performed on Broadway in 1962 where it won several Tony awards. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Platus (251-183 BC) it tells the bawdy story of a slave named Psudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master win the love of the girl next door. The cast included Frankie Howerd, Kenneth Connor, Jon Pertwee, Robertson Hare, 'Monsewer' Eddie Gray, Isla Blair, John Rye, Linda Gray, Leon Greene, Norma Dunbar, Jacqui Milburn, Sandra Burville, Vyvyan Dunbar, Faye Craig and Sula Freeman. The photographs show portraits of individuals, rehearsals, London life behind the scenes, the production itself, the after show party with Princess Margaret in attendance, members of the public passing the theatre and looking through the doors, an exhibition of photographs on display in the foyer of the theatre that describes the making of the production and some outdoor scenes with chariots and real horses which might have been used in a later film production. Some are full page images, some smaller images on contact sheets. From a collection of 236 images 114 do not have photographer's stamps on the reverse. Fifteen of these are aftershow party images. Of those that have a photographer's stamp Deryn Morton of Marshall Street is most used (99 photographs). Also Dominic of Netherton Grove S.W.10 (40 photographs) and David Sim of 59 Shaftsbury Avenue (21 photographs). There is also a promotional portrait of Stephen Sondheim produced by Van Williams of 319 East 44th Street, New York. Size of photographs: The largest photographs measure 11/2 x 9 1/2 inches or 30 x 24.5 cms. Most measure 10 x 8 inches or 25 x 20.5 cms. The aftershow party photographs measure 16.5 x 17 cms or 6 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches. Condition: Near Fine. Some of the contact sheets have parts missing. they also have the usual marks - circles around preferred images and crosses over others. There are occasional creases to the corners of some of the photographs, the odd corner is missing, and one photograph has a piece of sellotape stuck to the edge, but they are otherwise fresh. The programme is still fresh as is the postcard. Please ask if you would like to see more images.
Publication year: 1963
Vendor: Bluebird Books
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By David Sim, Dominic, Deryn Morton
A group of 236 photographs that document the making of the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum which first showed at The Strand Theatre, London, in October 1963. Written and set to music by Stephen Sondheim the play was first performed on Broadway in 1962 where it won several Tony awards. Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Platus (251-183 BC) it tells the bawdy story of a slave named Psudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master win the love of the girl next door. The cast included Frankie Howerd, Kenneth Connor, Jon Pertwee, Robertson Hare, 'Monsewer' Eddie Gray, Isla Blair, John Rye, Linda Gray, Leon Greene, Norma Dunbar, Jacqui Milburn, Sandra Burville, Vyvyan Dunbar, Faye Craig and Sula Freeman. The photographs show portraits of individuals, rehearsals, London life behind the scenes, the production itself, the after show party with Princess Margaret in attendance, members of the public passing the theatre and looking through the doors, an exhibition of photographs on display in the foyer of the theatre that describes the making of the production and some outdoor scenes with chariots and real horses which might have been used in a later film production. Some are full page images, some smaller images on contact sheets. From a collection of 236 images 114 do not have photographer's stamps on the reverse. Fifteen of these are aftershow party images. Of those that have a photographer's stamp Deryn Morton of Marshall Street is most used (99 photographs). Also Dominic of Netherton Grove S.W.10 (40 photographs) and David Sim of 59 Shaftsbury Avenue (21 photographs). There is also a promotional portrait of Stephen Sondheim produced by Van Williams of 319 East 44th Street, New York. Size of photographs: The largest photographs measure 11/2 x 9 1/2 inches or 30 x 24.5 cms. Most measure 10 x 8 inches or 25 x 20.5 cms. The aftershow party photographs measure 16.5 x 17 cms or 6 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches. Condition: Near Fine. Some of the contact sheets have parts missing. they also have the usual marks - circles around preferred images and crosses over others. There are occasional creases to the corners of some of the photographs, the odd corner is missing, and one photograph has a piece of sellotape stuck to the edge, but they are otherwise fresh. The programme is still fresh as is the postcard. Please ask if you would like to see more images.
Publication year: 1963
Vendor: Bluebird Books
