Gabrielle Ray – The Merry Widow – The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 31st October 1908
Gabrielle Ray (Aristophot E.1663)
Gabrielle Ray – The Merry Widow – The Daily Telegraph – Monday 9th September 1907
DALY’S THEATRE.
“The Merry Widow” has more than fulfilled the promise of her first appearance; dainty, winsome and graceful, she has captured the hearts of the play-going public. Crowded houses at Daly’s attest her popularity, which seems only to increase with every performance. But Mr. George Edwardes has a particularly large-handed way with his patrons; even when the measure appears to be full, he is intent upon adding to its contents. In this spirit, although visitors to Daly’s are already abundantly satisfied with the fare offered them, Mr. Edwardes introduced on Saturday night a delightful little novelty, which served materially to enhance the pleasure of the evening. It also secured the presence in the cast of Miss Gabrielle Ray, in the role of the much-talked-about Frou Frou. Two chances she afforded of distinguishing herself, and of both she makes the very best use. In the second act Miss Ray appears with Mr. W. H. Berry in a duet, entitled “Little Simpleton,” which is rounded off in unorthodox fashion by a dance. Miss Ray’s success was as emphatic as it was instantaneous. Anything more easy, more refined, or more fascinating than her movements could not be imagined. In her style there were touches that recalled those distant days when Kate Vaughan, young, lithe, exquisite, took the town by storm, moving the Gaiety “boys” to a frantic exhibition of enthusiasm. Her successor belongs, of course, to a more modern school, a school which, if we may so express ourselves, has just the merest suspicion of the gymnasium about it. How attractive it is, however, everyone knows. In thy third set of “The Merry Widow” Miss Ray has another “song and dance,” hardly so effective perhaps as the first one, but in this too she is seen to marked advantage. The applause showered upon the newcomer on both occasions showed how thoroughly the audience appreciated Mr. Edwardes’s latest happy thought. For the rest, if there is anything more refreshingly comic or inconsequentially droll than Mr. George Graves’s portrait the fatuous Baron Popoff we should be glad to learn of it. Nor does Mr. Graves stand alone, for to the feast of merriment Mr. W. H. Berry, Mr. Lennox Pawle, Mr. Fred Kaye, and Mr. William Spray contribute their full share. In the momentary absence of Miss Lily Elsie the title-part in “The Merry Widow” is now entrusted to Miss Gertrude Lester, the possessor of an exceptionally sympathetic and powerful voice and of acting talents of no mean order. Nor must the valuable assistance given by Mr. Robert Evett as Jolidon and by Mr. Joseph Coyne as Prince Danilo be forgotten.
The Daily Telegraph – Monday 9th September 1907
About
One of my main interests is a love of old pictures and postcards that give us a brief glimpse into a past and often forgotten age.
Collecting old postcard and pictures enables the viewer to glimpse a brief moment from that individual’s life; often far removed from their own either by the passage of time or social class. Social History, often described as “history from below” shows everyday people, their social structure and the interaction of different groups; like the wealthy and politicians these people helped shape and maintain society and so shape history.
Examining the images one can’t help but wonder how the individuals lived, were their lives hard compared with today and were they happy. Often the images come with little or no information that can answer these questions, one can only imagine.
With each image saved and seen by others, so that moment, that person is kept alive, our understanding is increased and so our lives are enriched.
A picture is often more descriptive than words can ever be, but how true is this, if a picture enables us to gain entry to another time, another world, will, like the view from a different window, even in the same house provide a different image?
These images allow a glimpse into another time, another era; but what preceded or followed this image? As the individuals were positioned and posed like an artist’s model is what we see truly reflective or like the slightly softened image of an aging beauty a less that truthful representation?
I am reminded of a documentary I watched several years ago regarding the returning troops from the front during the First World War. The camera images show a broken, demoralised sea of humanity, young men who having seen images that most of us hope never to witness had lost that sparkle; that zest which only youth has. But bring on the news camera and that battered returning group came to life, the smiles returned and even though muddied and bloodied their heads and bodies became erect, their arms swung in time and they demonstrated a swagger that spoke of courage, defiance and determination; an image that gave hope to the viewer.
It seems to me that even in the early days of photography all was not what it appeared and now in the advancing digital age a picture may paint a thousand words but will it be factual or fiction?
My interests And collections vary from Maids, Nuns, religious dress and the more risqué images of the French Maid. Often when searching for a particular subject the boundaries cross and as well as true Maids we find Edwardian actresses dressed as Nuns or Maids. During one of my searches I came across Gabrielle Ray dressed as a Maid, “Susan” in Lady Madcap and was instantly captivated by her.
Collecting the individual cards isn’t enough; I like to know more about the individual, which is easier when that person is an actress, although often the information is scarce
Searching for information about Miss Ray I discovered that she was one of the most photographed women of the Edwardian era and described in “Temps” as the most beautiful woman in the United Kingdom; but sadly her success, if measured by being visibly working or in the public eye was short-lived. She struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and her health declined. In 1936, she suffered a complete mental breakdown and was institutionalized for nearly forty years; dying in 1973 at Holloway Sanatorium at the age of 90.
There are several other sites and blogs dedicated to the memory of Miss Ray and my intention is to share my small but growing collection of pictures and postcards with anyone who shares my interest. Reading about Miss Ray I was saddened that this lady, like many others before and since, after a brief moment in the sun they are soon forgotten. Hopefully as people view and enjoy this blog her memory will remain alive for a little longer.
I have started to write a short Biography about Miss Ray which I will try to update as frequently as possible. The Index page will show any updates under the Biography catagory.
I have also tried to link the various postcards and pictures to the plays in which Miss Ray appeared, however I realise, after several errors that this isn’t an easy task as many are decorative studio poses rather than production images. The individual Rotary, Philco and other publishers numbers are included with any description which should make searching for a particular card or ones from the same set easier. If I have made any glaring errors please feel free to let me know.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I do.
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