| Main Performers | Madame Clara Butt - vocal
Lillah Mcarthy,
Viola Tree,
Ellen Terry,
Gerald Du Maurier,
Mabel Russell,
Olga Nethersole,
Martin Harvey,
Doris Keane,
H V Esmond,
Eva Moore,
Gertie Millar,
George Robey,
Violet Lorraine,
Matheson Lang,
Lily Brayton,
Courtice Pounds,
Delysia,
Allan Aynesworth,
Phyllis Monkman,
Teddie Gerard,
Nellie Taylor,
Herbert Waring,
Mary Gray,
Leah Bateman,
Ivor Novello,
Arthur Whitby,
Gertrude Elliot,
Marjorie Gordon,
The Aeroplane Formation,
Faith Celli,
Isobel Elsom,
Stella Campbell,
Nelson Keys,
Clara Butterworth,
Billy Merson
Madeline Seymour - performers |
| Orchestra or Band | The Massed String Bands of the Brigade of Guards |
| Set List | Songs for Dancing,
'Rule Britannia', Edward Elgar (Clara Butt),
Pageant of Plays and Players (dir. Mr J B Fagan):
'Mistress Page' (Ellen Terry),
'London Pride' (Gerald du Maurier, Mabel Russell, Olga Nethersole),
'Midsummer Night's Dream', W Shakespeare (Lilllan McCarthy),
'Oedipus Rex', W Shakespeare (Martin Harvey),
'Romance' (Doris Keane),
'The Three Musketeers' (H V Esmond, Eva Moore),
'The Quaker Girl' (Gertie Millar)
Alhambra - 'The Bing Boys on Broadway' (George Robey, Violet Loraine etc.),
Garrick - 'Charley's Aunt',
Scala - 'The Purple Mask' (Matheson Lang and Co.),
His Majesty's - 'Chu Chin Chow' (Lily Brayton, Coutice Pounds etc.),
Daly's - 'The Maid of the Mountains',
Pavilion - 'As You Were' (Delysia and Co.),
Comedy - 'Tails Up' (Allan Aynesworth, Phyllis Monkman, Teddie Gerard and Co.),
Adelphi - 'The Boy' (Nellie Taylor and Co.),
Court - 'Twelfth Night', W Shakespeare (Herbert Waring, Mary Gray, Leah Bateman, Arthur Whitby),
St James's - 'Eyes of Youth' (Gertrude Elliott and Co.),
Gaiety - 'Going Up' (Marjorie Gordon and the Aeroplane Formation),
New - 'Peter Pan' (Faiti Celli, Isobel Elsom, Stella Campbell),
Vaudeville - 'Buzz Buzz' (Nelson Keys and Co.),
Shaftesbury - 'Yes Uncle',
Empire - 'The Lilac Domino' (Clara Butterworth),
St Martin's - 'The Officers Mess',
Palace - 'Hullo America' (Billy Marson, Madeline Seymour etc.),
Apollo - 'Soldier Boy',
Criterion - 'School for Scandal',
Hippodrome - 'Box o' Tricks',
Prince's - 'Jolly Jack Tar',
Queen's - 'Luck of the Navy' (Percy Hutchinson and Co.)
Britannia and Her Allies:
Clara Butt (Britannia),
Madge Saunders (Peace),
Lillah McCarthy (Muse of Tragedy),
Viola Tree (Muse of Comedy)
'Rule, Britannia' (Clara Butt)
Dancing |
| Performance Notes | The Blinded Soldiers' Children Fund was set up by Sir Arthur Pearson to provide a weekly allowance of 5s, until the age of 16 for each child of every blinded soldier not otherwsie provided for by the Government.
Tickets included a buffet supper.
The event was originally scheduled for New Years Eve 1918.
"When the theatrical profession puts its hand to an undertaking there is never any doubt as to its ultimate success, so that there was very little reason to worry lest the great Stage Ball at the Albert Hall which began last night and went on well into the morning hours, should not come up to expectations. As a matter of fact, expectations were more than realized; the whole thing was a blaze of pre-war colour and gaiety: the 'Pageant of Plays' conceived and executed on the grand scale was a triumph for all concerned, and particularly for Mr Bernard Fagan, who carried out that most thankless of all tasks, 'master of the pageant'; and a deserving charity will benefit to a really substantial extent. Let us hope that some of those whose eyes were dazzled by last night's display reflected for a moment on the thought that those who will benefit are the children of those gallant soldiers who have given their eyes in their country's cause. The ball was intended as the stage's tribute to our blinded soldiers, and it was a generous tribute indeed.
The pageant of course, was the outstanding feature. Dancing had begun at 10 o'clock, and as players and playgoers flocked from the theatres to the Mecca of South Kensington the scene became brighter and brighter. Every corner seemed to be filled by the time the floor was cleared for the pageant, and Mr George Robey, as master of the ceremonies (with his now honours resting lightly upon him), made was for Mr Bernard Fagan as master of the pageant. Then for half an hour there passed before the delighted spectators a living epitome of the stage of the present and the past generation. A more varied panorama it would be difficult to imagine. Oedipus, the King (luckily he has not yet been deprived of his eyes), was cheek by jowl with Sir Peter Teazle; Peter Pan's pirates exchanged confidences with Chu Chin Chow's forty thieves; D'Artangan vied for popular favour with the Chevalier of the Purple Mask; Miss Prage 'Charley's Aunt', Miladi, Miss Mabel Russell (with donkey and barrow complete, from London Pride) - in fact, as Mr Robey would say, 'everybody who is everybody' was to be seen in the throng. It was a striking picture, admirably carried through by all concerned.
We had almost said that it was a pre-war evening, but there was one important difference. Last night introduced to us in the flesh two gentlemen of whom one has heard so much of late - Mr Dilly and Mr Dally. There they were, with tall hats, side whiskers, and Whitehall manners complete. Possibly they will begin to wonder, after seeing last night's lighthearted revelry, whether there ever was a war after all."
(The Times, 9 January 1919) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1919/3),
Illustrations (RAHE/9/1919/1)
Digital Poster (IWM) |