I do adore this theatre poster. It reminds me of when Sydney used to shower me in gifts and attention. Although he made his intentions quite clear when he departed to Paris and abandoned finishing my portrait, I still wonder about what our relationship could have been. Oh, how I wish that things could have ended differently. I used to love receiving Sydney’s gifts of theatre tickets and the attention he gave me. Sydney’s attention provided me with a strange yet special sensation. Being with him made me feel unique among the other women. Looking back at this theatre poster reminds me of better times. When I first went to the theatre with Sydney to watch The Shaughraun, the viewing was absolutely stunning. The Shaughraun exceeded my expectations and filled me with wonders. I can still recall how the play’s comedy, romance, and drama unraveled right before me. Not only was the play one of my favorites to watch, but I also loved the theatre’s exhilarating atmosphere. During the beginning of the play, I remember going around the theatre with Sydney to greet different esteemed people. Although he kept mentioning my appearance and complimenting my attire in these polite conversations, I always thought that his flattery was entertaining. Whenever I was with Sydney, I constantly felt that there was some kind of attention on me, which I did appreciate. Just going out to these theatre events was pleasuring to me. I love the thrill of dressing up and meeting new people.
Editorial Commentary: This poster reveals how Victorian women were shown off in public events, specifically theaters. During the Victorian era, theaters were also used as gatherings for social interaction where women could flaunt their appearance. Like The Shaughraun, a widely successful play written by the Irish playwright Dion Boucicault, many plays were performed in theaters, which became commonly available to the general public during the Victorian era. During this time period, the theater became extremely popular because of its lack of restriction. Attendees no longer needed to be part of a certain class of society and any citizens could visit the theaters (Nicoll). Theaters not only provided a location for performing plays but also served as a place for social gatherings. Regarding gender, the theater allowed women to publicly show off their appearance and physical characteristics. Like how Sydney used to invite Phyllis to the theater, men often invited women to social gatherings to publicly display their appearance. Women were used as an almost trophy-like symbol in which their dress was flaunted, and their elaborate appearance became a focus in these social gatherings. The theater allowed women to be shown off, whether by their man or by themselves. As a result, Phyllis collects this item because of the nostalgia of dressing up. Phyllis enjoys dressing up and participating in these social gatherings because of the attention she receives. The theater allowed Phyllis to publicly display her physical appearance and be admired by the people around her. Like Phyllis, Victorian women also enjoyed dressing up and attending the theater because it allowed them to publicly display their appearance in these social gatherings.
Citation:
Nicoll, Allardyce. “The Audience.” A History of Late Nineteenth Century Drama, Cambridge University Press, 1949, pp. 7–26.
“Poster for ‘The Shaughraun’: Poster.” Wisconsin Historical Society, 1 Dec. 2003, www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM89173. Accessed 22 Nov. 2020.