Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – The Referee – Sunday 28th December 1902

Those who wish to see a very nice “Little Red Riding Hood” should not fail to pay a visit to the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, where they will find the good little girl of the celebrated scarlet cloak most daintily embodied by Miss Gabrielle Ray. Her adventures are told by Mr. Brian Daly and Mr. John East in thoroughly up-to-date fashion, with plentiful allusion to topical and local matters, which were keenly a appreciated by the audience on Christmas Eve. Of course Red Riding Hood has a sweetheart, a perfectly irresistible Prince Silvanus, impersonated by Miss Gracie Whiteford, who to an engaging presence adds a charming voice and knowledge of how to use it effectively. It may not be generally known, but Bo-Peep and Boy Blue were companions of Little Red Riding Hood, and, severally portrayed by Miss Edwards and Miss Lucia Edwards, were very helpful to the heroine. Mr. Harry Buss was discreetly humorous and most amusing as Dame Hood, and Mr. John Gourlay, as the Baron de Lupas  – “a bold, bad man, who changes to a wolf on the slightest provocation” – was a fearsome creation. Messrs. Baroux and Bion were knockabouts of most laughter-moving kind, and Mr. Arthur Watts, who appeared as Simple Simon, seems to possess an India rubber face, so obliquely expressive was it. Special features of the entertainment were a Doll Dance by the Olive Trio and a Dance Japonaisa. In its entirety this year’s pantomime is one of the best that Mr. Acton Phillips (or, rather, Mr. J. M. East for him) has mounted.

The Referee – Sunday 28^th December 1902

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Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 10th January 1903

 

Miss Gabrielle Ray and Mr. Arthur Watts are in the front rank as Red Riding Hood and Simple Simon at the New Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 10th January 1903

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – Programme – 1902

Bessie Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – The Referee – Sunday 13 January 1895

After “coining money” at Richmond with “Little Red Biding Hood,” Mr. George B. Phillips has shifted that pantomime and his capitally organised company to the Lyric Hall, Ealing, where it is likely to attract and delight large audiences until Saturday next. The panto, written by Victor Stevens, is one of the brightest this Christmas season has brought forth. The libretto sparkles with wit; the music and songs are of the order A1; the scenery, by E. G. Banks, is picturesque; the costumes are pleasing to the eye, and every member of “the crowd” is well up to his or her work. At the head of the favourites stands Miss Lottie Brooks, whose Red Biding Hood is positively captivating. Miss Hettie Peel makes a fine “principal boy” as Prince Amoroso, and brings down the house with her song, “Best friends of all.” The house has been roaring since Monday at Mr. Benson’s serpentine dance, and everybody has been delighted with Little Bessie Ray as Cupid. The Three Rennies score well with their grotesque and agile antics. My happiness while sitting out “Little Red Riding Hood” was marred only by the coldness of the hall. The proprietor will be wise if he makes huts to prevent his patrons from shivering.

 

The Referee – Sunday13th January 1895

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – 1927

The Oldest Pantomime Producer

 The Castle Hotel at Richmond seems a strange place for a pantomime, but it was there, in 1891, that George Brydone-Phillips began his career as a producer. The cost of the pantomime was £l2O, and an obscure child actress who played the part of Cupid in “Little Red Riding Rood” subsequently became a great musical comedy favourite. It was none other than the beauteous Gabrielle Ray.

 

“Star” Nursery

Mr. Drydone-Phillips’s companies have long been a nursery for stars. I haven’t space to mention them all, but the list bristles with names as well known as Florrie Forde, Huntley Wright and HildaTrevelyan. He is producing two touring shows this year, and does not agree with the idea that pantomime is dead. “The children,” he says, “will have their fairy heroes in the flesh.”

The Daily Mirror Friday 9^th December 1927

 

GAIETY THEATRE, HASTINGS.

 

“Cinderella” Boxing Day and during the week.

Mr. George Brydon Phillips, who took the Blue Riband for his last year’s pantomime, will again produce the Christmas annual. He is known as the G.O.M. of Pantomime, having over 150 pantomimes to his credit, and he has for the last twenty years produced the pantomimes for Oxford and Cambridge. He has had a long list of famous artistes under his banner, including: Gabrielle Ray. H. A. Saintsbury, Hilda Trevelyan, Queenie Leighton, Huntley Wright, Will Bishop, Lyn Harding, Gertie Gitana, Florrie Ford and many others.

The engagement is for six nights at 7.30 and six matinees at 2.30, the first matinee being on Boxing Day at 2.30. Large applications for seats are being received.

 The Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle – Saturday 17^th December 1927

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 3rd October 1903

The Lyric at Hammersmith relies on the attractions – and they are many – of yet another Little Red Riding Hood, the story here being set forth in fashion designed by Messrs. Brian Daly and J. M. East. Miss Gabrielle Ray admirably fulfils her duties as the heroine, and has excellent support from Miss Gracie Whiteford, a dashing Prince, Miss Lucie Edwards as Boy Blue, her sister as Bo-Peep, Mr. John Gourlay as the Baron, Mr. A. Watts as Simple Simon, and others.

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 3^rd October 1903

 

Gabrielle Ray – Red Riding Hood – Fulham Chronicle – Friday 16th January 1903

THE LYRIC – “Little Red Riling Hood” still holds her merry sway at the Lyric, where she is being visited by tremendous crowds. The old, old story of the ravenous wolf, of the wicked Baron, of Prince Sylvanus and other of her childhood acquaintances is being told with added fun and vigour; as week succeeds week the tale takes on some new phase, and becomes more laughable than ever. The putty-faced simple, simple Simon with his absurd pranks, is worth seeing; and his fond mother, as represented by Mr. Harry Buss, is overpoweringly droll. “Riding Hood” is capitally portrayed by Miss Gabrielle Ray, and Miss Gracie Whiteford adds charm to her interpretation of the Prince, her acting and singing being very fine. This week the Dagmar Troupe of acrobats give a performance, and new specialities are to be introduced next week.

 

Fulham Chronicle – Friday 16^th January 1903

 

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – Fulham Chronicle – Friday 9th January 1903

The Daily Telegraph wrote; Miss Gabrielle Ray proved a dainty and sprightly heroine, and at once captivated all hearts by her singing and dancing.

 

Fulham Chronicle – Friday 9^th January 1903

Bessie Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – The Referee – Sunday 13th January 1895

DRAMATIC & MUSICAL GOSSIP.

After “coining money” at Richmond with “Little Red Biding Hood,” Mr. George B. Phillips has shifted that pantomime and his capitally organised company to the Lyric Hall, Ealing, where it is likely to attract and delight large audiences until Saturday next. The panto, written by Victor Stevens, is one of the brightest this Christmas season has brought forth. The libretto sparkles with wit; the music and songs are of the order A1; the scenery, by E. G. Banks, is picturesque; the costumes are pleasing to the eye, and every member of “the crowd” is well up to his or her work. At the head of the favourites stands Miss Lottie Brooks, whose Red Biding Hood is positively captivating. Miss Hettie Peel makes a fine “principal boy” as Prince Amoroso, and brings down the house with her song, “Best friends of all.” The house has been roaring since Monday at Mr. Benson’s serpentine dance, and everybody has been delighted with Little Bessie Ray as Cupid. The Three Rennies score well with their grotesque and agile antics. My happiness while sitting out “Little Red Riding Hood” was marred only by the coldness of the hall. The proprietor will be wise if he makes haste to prevent his patrons from shivering.

The Referee – Sunday 13^thJanuary 1895

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – Middlesex & Surrey Express – Friday 2nd January 1903

PANTOMIME AT HAMMERSMITH.

The pantomime season is now in full swing and the various fairy tales are being presented at most of the London and out-lying theatres. One need not travel further than the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, to see the old favourite children’s story of “Red Riding Hood” illustrated with mirth and merriment. The joint authors are Messers Brian Daly and J. M. East, who have written six previous pantomimes for this theatre. The music is by Mr. Henry W. May and the scenic effects by Mr. Herbert Wallis. The plot shows that Little Red Riding Hood (the handsome foster daughter of Dame Hood) is beloved of her companions, Bo-Peep, Boy Blue and all the children of the village. Prince Sylvanus, ruler of Merryville, is in love with Red Riding Hood, as also is Baron Lionel de Lupus, a bold bad old man, who changes to a wolf upon the slightest provocation, and tries his utmost to frighten and entice away the pretty Red Riding Hood, but was eventually found in his wolf’s disguise, as Prince Sylvanus and the villagers appear on the scene and save her from the wicked baron. The scene of Dame Hood’s village school (licensed for larks) is a very amusing one, and introduces the celebrated Olive Trio in their impersonation of dolls. The old dame, with her many peculiar questions to her scholars, and the various punishments they have to undergo for inefficiency in answering cause roars of laughter. Rex Fox, the celebrated wire walker, who appears in the scene at the festivities at the king’s palace, is an exceedingly clever artiste, and his daring performance on the wire on roller skates and stilts elicits well deserved applause. The comic element is in the hands of Mr. Harry Buss (Dame Hood) and Mr. Arthur Watts (Simple Simon), whose sayings and comicalities provoke great hilarity. The character of Rest Riding Hood is ably represented by Miss Gabrielle Ray, a juvenile actress of considerable talent, whose singing and dancing is greatly admired. Miss Gracie Whiteford, as Prince Sylvanus, played with a briskness which is well suited to the character, and in her song, “Sweet Susanne,” she was twice recalled. The production throughout is admirably mounted, as there are eleven scenes, all of which are tastefully designed, especially the transformation scene, “The four elements.” Lively music, pretty costumes, popular songs, and good dancing make the Lyric pantomime one of the successes of the season.

 

Middlesex & Surrey Express – Friday 2nd January 1903

 

Gabrielle Ray – Little Red Riding Hood – Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) – Friday 26th December 1902

LYRIC, HAMMERSMITH.

If the residents of Hammersmith are at all dissatisfied with the Yuletide entertainment provided for them they must be extremely difficult to please. Mr. Acton Phillips, who has received the warm congratulations of his theatrical friends upon attaining the mayoral dignity in the riverside borough, presented his twelfth annual pantomime to a large and enthusiastic audience at the Lyric Opera House on Christmas Eve. It was an artistic production, full of glow and colour, and promises to be as bright and exhilarating as any of its predecessors. Upon Red Riding Hood the Broadway management rely for inspiration on the present occasion, and Mr. Brian Daly and Mr. John M. East, experienced hands at this class of work, have furnished a “book” which deftly mingles the traditional story with topics of the moment, and supplies numberless stage pictures of considerable effectiveness and beauty. The topical allusions were apt and up-to-date, and the local hits in particular were instantly caught up by the audience, evoking the heartiest merriment. Imperial politics were, of course, touched upon, and the spectators cheered to the echo the references to Mr. Chamberlain and his mission to South Africa, as well as to the plight of our gallant Reservists. When one the characters exclaimed, “That’s the way we treat our heroes!” the applause demonstrated where the sympathy of the audience lay. The subject of Red Riding Hood lends itself to generous stage treatment, but, besides being tastefully mounted, the pantomime was capitally interpreted by a band of capable artists. Miss Gabrielle Ray proved a dainty and sprightly heroine, and at once captivated all hearts by her singing and dancing. Her honours, however, were fairly by Mr Gracie Whiteford, who brilliantly sustained the part of Prince Sylvanus. To say nothing of a comedy presence, Miss Whiteford possesses a charming voice, and knows how to use it; and it may be justly declared that between them these young ladies did much to secure unqualified excess for the Lyric pantomime. Miss Edwards and Miss Lucia Edwards were acceptable as Bo-Peep and Boy Blue. Among the male characters the palm was carried off by Mr. Harry Buss. Dame Hood is a part which requires judicious handling, and the acting of her impersonator was humorous and in good taste throughout. Mr. John Gourlay ran him close with an admirable portrayal of the Baron de Lupus, “a bold, bad man, who changes to a wolf on the slightest provocation.” Messers Baroux and Bion were knockabouts who created endless amusement by their antics, while the facial contortions of Mr. Arthur Watts as Simple Simon were something to be remembered. Among the “selected spirits” who did real service were Miss Vera Schlesinger as the Fairy of Progress, and Mr. George Traverner as the Demon. A doll dance by the Olive Trio was undoubtedly one of the features of the evening, but it was quite equalled, if not actually surpassed, by a Dense Japonaise in the Bat Masque at the Royal Palace to celebrate the union of the hero and heroine. This, in accordance with pantomime law, led the way to the transformation scene, entitled “The Four Elements – Earth. Air, Fire, and Water,” which deservedly won the admiration of the house.  “Red Riding Hood,” in fact, starts upon her journey at Hammersmith with the fairest hopes.

Daily Telegraph & Courier (London) – Friday 26^th December 1902