Emmy Wehlen – The Merry Widow – The Sketch – Wednesday 31st March 1909
MADE A MERRY WIDOW BY THE “FLU.”: MISS EMMY WEHLEN, WHO IS PLAYING SONIA AT DALY’S.
When last we published some portraits of Miss Wehlen it was uncertain when Londoners would see her. The uncertainty no longer exists, for the young actress is playing Sonia, Miss Lily Elsie’s part, in “The Merry Widow,” at Daly’s. Miss Elsie is out of the cast for a fortnight, that she may have opportunity to recover from a sharp attack of “flu,” and Miss Wehlen is appearing in her stead for that time. On Miss Elsie’s return Miss Wehlen will understudy her. The new Merry Widow was born at Mannheim, has acted with much success in musical plays at Munich and other places on the Continent, and made her greatest “hit” as a comedienne in “Mitternachtsmadchen.” In five months she has learned to speak English well.
The Sketch – Wednesday 31st March 1909
Daisy Irving – The Merry Widow – The Tatler – Wednesday 10th July 1907
The Talk of the Town
PRINCE DANILO (MR. JOSEPH COYNE) AND SONIA (MISS LILY ELSIE) DANCING THE MUCH-TALKED-OF WALTZ
This scene, the most important of the second act, sees the delightful waltz which from the first performance has evoked scenes of extraordinary enthusiasm on the part of the audience
BARON POPOFF (MR. GEORGE GRAVES) TELLS A FUNNY STORY
Mr. Graves’s sayings throughout the piece are irresistible and evoke roars of laughter.
Seated on his right are: Frou-Frou (Miss Daisie Irving), Margot (Miss Margot Erskine),
To-To (Miss Mabel Munroe), and on his left Jou-Jou (Miss Dolly Dombey)
In “The Merry Widow” Mr. George Edwardes has found a comic opera which will fill Daly’s Theatre for many months to come. In every way in music, in lyrics, in acting a genuine success has been found, and it is hard to say to whom should he awarded the honours of the occasion. Never have the famous band of drolls Mr. Joseph Coyne, Mr. George Graves, Mr. W. H. Berry, and Mr. Fred Kaye acted better, and if only for the introduction of Miss Lily Elsie is Mr. Edwardes to be cordially thanked for “The Merry Widow.”
The whole town is now ringing with the haunting strains of the beautiful dance in the second act of “The Merry Widow,” charmingly interpreted by Mr. Coyne and Miss Elsie, and the music which has delighted a continent is giving equal delight here. In M. Franz Lehar is the true successor to Offenbach, and it is to be hoped that London will soon see further examples of his true musical talent. A word is due to our contributor, Mr. Adrian Ross, for his very pleasing lyrics for this most successful piece.
SCENE FROM ACT III. – SONIA TO THE PRINCE: “I LOVE YOU I I LOVE YOU! I’VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU!”
The names of the characters, reading from left to right, are: Nisch, messenger to the legation (Mr. W. H. Berry); Sylvaine (Miss Irene Desmond);
M. de St. Brioche Mr. Gordon Cleather); Natalie, wife of Baron Popoff (Miss Elizabeth Firth); Baron Popoff (Mr. George Graves); Prince Danilo (Mr. Joseph Coyne);
Sonia (Miss Lily Elsie); General Novikovich (Mr. Fred Kaye); Olga, wife of Novikovich (Miss Nina Sevening)
M. Khadja (Mr.V. 0’Conncor and the Marquis de Cascada (Mr. Lennox Pawle)
The Tatler – Wednesday 10th July 1907
Daisy Irving – The Tatler – Wednesday 24th July 1907
In June 1907 Daisy Irving created the role of Frou Frou in The Merry Widow at Daly’s when Gabrielle Ray, for whom the role of Frou Frou was intended, was taken ill. She reverted to a slightly smaller role of Lo-Lo when Gabrielle Ray had recovered, then briefly played the title role in 1909
Frost, C. (2016) “The Female Stars of Musical Theatre in Edwardian England,” The
Lavenham Press, Lavenham, Suffolk. (p 161)
Daly’s Theatre – E. F. A; London Theatre Series no 1004 – 16th December 1907
The reverse shows that the sender attended the 279th performance and their comment was correct at the show ran for a total of 778 performances
Amy Webster – The Merry Widow – The London Daily News – Tuesday 11th June 1907
DALY’S THEATRE
THIS EVENING at 8.30. THE MERRY WIDOW
Messrs Robert Evett, W H. Barry, Lennox Pawle, Gordon Cleather, Fred Kaye, V. O’Connor, R. Roberts and Joseph Coyne and George Graves;
Misses Elizabeth Firth, Nina Sevening, Irene Desmond, K Welch, A Webster, D. Dunbar, D. Dombey, D. Irving, P. le Grand, M. Munroe, M. Erskine, G. Lester, M. Russell and Lily Elsie.
The London Daily News – Tuesday 11th June 1907
Gabrielle Ray – The Merry Widow – The Manchester Evening News – Monday 2nd August 1909
“THE MERRY WIDOW.”
Remarkable Scenes.
Remarkable scenes were witnessed at Daly’s Theatre, London, on Saturday night, when the 778th and final performance of “The Merry Widow” was given. Miss Lily Elsie (“The Merry Widow”), Mr. Joseph Coyne (her partner in the waltz), Miss Gabrielle Ray, Mr. W. B. Berry, Mrs. Robert Evett, and others were much applauded, and at the close each was recalled and the ladies were presented with bouquets.
The Manchester Evening News – Monday 2nd August 1909
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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