Orientalism Gallery

Cairo at His Majestys Theatre, London

Cairo at His Majesty's Theatre, London - Hast thou been to Mecca? Musical by Oscar Asche, music by Percy Fletcher, first produced October 1921. In America the show was renamed Mecca. In the UK, the Lord Chamberlain (censor) objected to a scene containing a lot of bare flesh which appeared to be an orgy - the issue was solved by Asche with a change of costume. Date: 1921

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Afgar by Fred Thompson and Worton David

Afgar by Fred Thompson and Worton David, music by Charles Cuvillier, based on the operetta by Andre Barde and Michel Carre fils (Theatre des Capucines, Paris, 2 April 1909). This was a bowdlerised version of the French original. First produced at the London Pavilion, 17 September 1919, touring to the Theatre Royal, Blackburn, Lancashire, 7 March 1921.
1921

© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Playbill postcard for Alfs Button

The most popular manifestation of Orientalism after WWI seems to have been Alfs Button'. W.A Darlingtons novel appeared in1920, was filmed (silent movie) the same year, became a stage play in 1924 (as pictured here in this playbill by John Hassall), and was re-filmed as one of the first British talkies in 1930. The play deals with the dull routine of war - the hero, Alf, then receives a new uniform with a button made from Aladdins lamp, and from there the fun starts. A formidable genie appears, and when Alf orders Strike me pink! obeys, so that Alf gets a skin condition that confounds all the army doctors. Date: 1924

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection