{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86597"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86597/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9264/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9264/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9264","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86597","accessionNumber":"S.131:11-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Seymour Hicks as Richard Darnton in <i>The Gay Adventure</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Seymour Hicks (1871-1949) as Richard Darnton in <i>The Gay Adventure</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal on 21 May 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\nWalter Hackett's play <i>The Gay Adventure</i> opened in London at the Whitehall Theatre in December 1931, with Nora Swinburne as Fay d'Allary and Eric Maturin as George Aram. It ran for 350 performance and visited Brighton for the week commencing 21 May 1932 as part of the post-London tour, with the actor-manager and dramatist Seymour Hicks in the starring role and Elizabeth Vaughan as Fay. Seymour Hicks began as an actor in 1887 and during his long career he appeared with equal success in both straight plays and musical comedies. He was knighted in 1935.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Seymour Hicks as Richard Darnton in <i>The Gay Adventure</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 21 May 1932. 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"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil and ink 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":["2006AK9264"],"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":"21 May 1932","earliest":"1932-05-21","latest":"1932-05-21"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This production of  <i>The Gay Adventure</i> by Walter Hackett opened at the Theatre Royal Brighton on 21 November 1932, directed by Seymour Hicks, starring Seymour Hicks as Richard Darnton with Elizabeth Vaughan as Fay d'Allary and Matthew Boulton as Paul d'Allary.  There was a selection of music credited in the programme which Gilbert Sommerlad would have played as part of the residential orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he did this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Seymour Hicks as Richard Darnton in <i>The Gay Adventure</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 21 May 1932.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Hicks, Seymour","id":"N3134"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.131:11-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-02","availableToBook":true}}