{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86856"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86856/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK7104/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK7104/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK7104","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86856","accessionNumber":"S.129:13-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[{"title":"Basil Bartlett as Joseph Schindler, and Meriel Forbes-Robertson as Irene Baumer in <i>Musical Chairs</i>","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This caricature shows Basil Bartlett as Joseph Schindler and Meriel Forbes-Robertson as Irene Baumer in <i>Musical Chairs</i> at the Brighton Theatre Royal on 23 September 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\nThe comedy <i>Musical Chairs</i> by Ronald Mackenzie opened in London at the Criterion Theatre in April 1932, starring John Gielgud as Joseph Schindler and Carol Goodner as Irene Baumer. Advertised as 'direct from the Criterion, London', it ran in Brighton for the week of 19 September but with a different cast, as was often the case with post-London tours.","physicalDescription":"Pencil caricature of Basil Bartlett as Joseph Schindler, and Meriel Forbes-Robertson as Irene Baumer in <i>Musical Chairs</i> at the Theatre Royal Brighton. Dated 23 September 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":["2006AK7104"],"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":"23 September 1932","earliest":"1932-09-23","latest":"1932-09-23"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Michael Sommerlad","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Gilbert Sommerlad would have played as part of the resident orchestra at the Theatre Royal Brighton when he drew this caricature.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Basil Bartlett as Joseph Schindler, and Meriel Forbes-Robertson as Irene Baumer in <i>Musical Chairs</i>, Brighton Theatre Royal. Dated 23 September 1932.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Bartlett, Basil","id":"N3252"},{"text":"Forbes-Robertson, Meriel","id":"N3253"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.129:13-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"129","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-08","availableToBook":true}}