Berkeley Sutcliffe.
[1952.] Design in pencil, ink and gouache to grey card; original fabric swatch and sequin pinned to design, pencilled notations around design, list of actors noted in ink, 'Executed by St. John Roper' stamp. 325 x 175mm. 0.1kg. . Very good; some light wear, occasional pin-holes to top-edge.
Robert Berkeley Sutcliffe (1918-1979) was a leading theatre designer of the mid-twentieth century, designing costumes and scenery for Shakespeare plays, revues, pantomimes and musicals. He bought to his creations a sense of colour, fun and the carnival. Concurrently with his theatre career, he was head designer at Fortnum and Mason, for whom he designed their famous clock. The present costume design is for a production of the musical Love From Judy, which premiered at the New Hippodrome, Coventry in 1952 before transferring to the Saville Theatre, London. The musical was directed by Charles Hickman, adapted from the book by Jean Webster and Eric Maschwitz, and with music by Hugh Martin. The story revolves around an orphan Judy, lifted out of poverty by a mysterious benefactor. Judy must write to her benefactor once a month. Over time the two fall in love.
This design for a harlequin costume is titled 'Des. 64' and appeared in the opening 'Mardi Gras' chorus number in Act One. The carnival number allowed Sutcliffe to indulge in lavish and dramatic costumes. The drawing features the artist's notations to the design. The original white satin fabric and gold sequin for the costume are pinned to the design. Crossed out names denote that the actors that wore the costume and a note on the back reads 'Boy Dancer'. The costume was executed by costume designer and maker St. John Roper.
