{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86562"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86562/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9257/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9257/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9257","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86562","accessionNumber":"S.131:2-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Jack Melford as Logan and Diana Warner as Lady Mere in <i>Counsel's Opinion</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Jack Melford (1899-1972) and Diana Warner in <i>Counsel's Opinion</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal on 8 February 1932. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.\r\n\r\n<i>Counsel's Opinion</i>, a farce by Gilbert Wakefield, was originally produced at London's Strand Theatre in 1931. It starred Owen Nares as the barrister Logan and Isabel Jeans as Lady Mere, who find themselves spending the night together in his hotel room after a fancy dress ball. The caricature shows two of the tour cast at Brighton. Jack Melford, as the barrister Logan who had a sleepless night on a sofa, is seen here confronting Lady Mere, played by Diana Warner, who spent a comfortable night in his bed.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Jack Melford and Diana Warner in <i>Counsel's Opinion</i> at Brighton Theatre Royal. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sommerlad, Gilbert","id":"A5980"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil on paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AK9257"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356599"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Brighton","id":"x31136"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"8 February 1932","earliest":"1932-02-08","latest":"1932-02-08"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"COUNSEL'S OPINION 8/2/32","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Pencil inscription by Gilbert Sommerlad"},{"content":"Good Luck  Jack Melford   Yors sincerely Diana Warner","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Pen and ink signatures on green  paper attached to the album below the caricature"}],"objectHistory":"This production of <i>Counsel's Opinion</i> took place at the Theatre Royal Brighton in February 1932.  Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1974) of Jack Melford and Diana Warner in <i>Counsel's Opinion</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 8 February 1932.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Melford, Jack","id":"N3125"},{"text":"Warner, Diana","id":"N3126"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:2-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-02","availableToBook":true}}