Description
Date: 1873-4
Theatre: Rotunda Theatre, Liverpool
Performance: Little Red Riding Hood
Main Actors: Mr Basil Henry, Miss Alice Dodd
The programme consists of a turquoise blue paper front and back cover pages printed in black ink and the internal pages are made of a white paper and are also printed in a black ink.
Under the title on the front cover page there is a charmingly detailed illustration by artist and wood engraver C.D. Harrison. The Illustration depicts a bridge over a river with houses each side of it; on the bridge stands Little Red Riding Hood also known as Poppy and a short distance to her right on the bank by a house stands The Very Wicked Wolf of Knowsley Wood.
This fascinating theatre programme has many advertisements and illustrations which have as much historical significance as the play! They promote luxury goods for the festive season including an advertisement for Dinner Party Wine Hampers and treats to make the Christmas season a merry one At McOstrich, Son & Co. There are advertisements for drapers and outfitters for fashionable frivolity and winter warmth including Frisby, Dyke & Co. J. Page 8 has a charming illustration and full-page advertisement promoting ‘The Shakespear’ sewing machine with their slogan above the illustration which reads ‘not for an age, but for all time’.
Page 9 holds the programme’s title page which introduces Little Red Riding Hood (also named Harlequin Jack Horner and Grandam Good and the Very Wicked Wolf of Knowsley Wood) as ‘An Entirely New and Original, Grand and Gorgeous Comic Christmas Pantomime, especially invented and written for the Rotunda Theatre, Liverpool and was written by Mr John F. McArdle. The Pantomime was directed by and music composed and arranged by Mr C Wood.
The Cast List is presented across page 10 and includes Mr Basil Henry as Lupus – The Very Wicked Wolf of Knowsley Wood and Miss Alice Dodd plays Poppy – Little Red Riding Hood.
From page 11 the programme contains the actual script of the pantomime within its pages.
36 pages including front and back cover pages; approx 16cm x 10cms.
