Farce Collection

Theatre, A Cuckoo in the Nest 1925, Nerman
A scene from A Cuckoo in the Nest, a popular farce playing in London in 1925. Here, the impeccable husband is discovered by his wife and in-laws in a ladys bedroom (equally impeccable)

Actors on stage in the days of Shakespeare
Theatrical performance in the days of Shakespeare. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Bonar Colleano and Diana Dors in Maurice Elveys Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary (1953)

Diana Decker and Bonar Colleano in Maurice Elveys Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary (1953)

Wyndhams Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London. Showing at this time was The Candidate - a farce by Justin H. McCarthy. Date: 1908

Rookery Nook by Ben Travers
Promotional postcard for Rookery Nook by Ben Travers. First produced at the Kings Theatre, Southsea, 21st June and the Aldwych Theatre

The Farce by William Barribal
A young red-headed woman seated in a box at the theatre, feigns interest in what her older male companion has to say while secretly enjoying a kiss on the hand from a young, handsome beau. Date: 1917

Be Careful Baby, by Salisbury Field and Margaret Mayo. First produced in England at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, March 1918, then the Apollo Theatre, London, April 1918

Half Past Eight by P Rubens and C H Bovill
Promotional postcard for Half Past Eight, One of those Musical Things by Paul Rubens & C. H. Bovill; music Paul Rubens. First produced at the Comedy Theatre on 10th August 1916

One boy writes the alphabet with chalk on a blackboard while another finishes it by writing on his back
DUV4204051 One boy writes the alphabet with chalk on a blackboard while another finishes it by writing on his back. Cover of the album drolatic (abecedary) beg 20th century (chromolithograph)

people sleeping and posing on benches turned back, 1900 (b/w photo)
LUX4806121 people sleeping and posing on benches turned back, 1900 (b/w photo); (add.info.: France: Fantasy photo: people sleeping and posing on benches turned back, 1900); Photo © Lux-in-Fine

Bernard Blackmantle (Charles Molloy Westmacott) reading his Farce in the Green Room of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
FLO4619019 Bernard Blackmantle (Charles Molloy Westmacott) reading his Farce in the Green Room of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

France, Brittany, Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Saint-Lunaire (Saint Lunaire): August 1903
LUX4784926 France, Brittany, Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Saint-Lunaire (Saint Lunaire): August 1903, preparation for the return with wicker luggage and souvenirs, the end of the holidays

Toby stealing a jug of ale from Hodge and Roaf and leaving a pot of piss in its place
FLO4718094 Toby stealing a jug of ale from Hodge and Roaf and leaving a pot of piss in its place. Copperplate engraving after a satirical illustration by Timothy Bobbin (John Collier) (1708-1786)

Cover of a booklet of "pranks and catches", tricks of fun physics, circa 1910 (Baudot house founded in 1908)
PCT4267964 Cover of a booklet of "pranks and catches", tricks of fun physics, circa 1910 (Baudot house founded in 1908). Catalogue of articles for fun in society

American daily life: schoolchildren playing egg breaking, traditional Easter leisure, at school, around 1800
NWI4882873 American daily life: schoolchildren playing egg breaking, traditional Easter leisure, at school, around 1800. Colour engraving, based on an illustration by E. A

Lawyer pouring wine into the nose of a drunken vicar. Copperplate engraving after a satirical illustration by Timothy
FLO4718008 Lawyer pouring wine into the nose of a drunken vicar. Copperplate engraving after a satirical illustration by Timothy Bobbin (John Collier) (1708-1786) from Human Passions Delineated

April Fool Day card, little girl with a fish, c.1900 (photomontage)
PCT4257004 April Fool Day card, little girl with a fish, c.1900 (photomontage); © Patrice Cartier. All rights reserved 2023

Halloween tradition: boys frighten their friends with a pumpkin (Jack O'Lantern or Jack O'Lantern)
NWI4879969 Halloween tradition: boys frighten their friends with a pumpkin (Jack O'Lantern or Jack O'Lantern), 19th century

France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene, part of Colin-Maillard, 1860 - dry buffer: gaf photography
LUX4816761 France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene, part of Colin-Maillard, 1860 - dry buffer: gaf photography, depose in paris; (add.info.: France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene

The schoolmaster fell asleep. A student tickles his nose with a twig, en dof 19th century (lithograph)
DUV4823560 The schoolmaster fell asleep. A student tickles his nose with a twig, en dof 19th century (lithograph); 10, 5x7 cm; (add.info)

Mr. Henry Gattie as Monsieur Morbleu in the farce " Monsieur Tonson" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane
FLO4594874 Mr. Henry Gattie as Monsieur Morbleu in the farce " Monsieur Tonson" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

English dandies and belles pushing over a nightwatchman's box. Tom Getting the best of a Charley
FLO4661998 English dandies and belles pushing over a nightwatchman's box. Tom Getting the best of a Charley. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Isaac Robert Cruikshank

Brandon Thomas as John of Gaunt in King Richard II
3586095 Brandon Thomas as John of Gaunt in King Richard II'; (add.info.: Photograph of Brandon Thomas (1848-1914) an English actor, playwright, songwriter and author

Childhood games: the little devil. J. Langlume, publisher, Paris, c. 1840. Decoupted images. Dimensions: 5 x 5 cm
DUV4218222 Childhood games: the little devil. J. Langlume, publisher, Paris, c. 1840. Decoupted images. Dimensions: 5 x 5 cm.; 05x05 cm; (add.info.: Childhood games: the little devil. J)

Letter J, K and L (juggling, judge and kepi then moon, rabbit, lamp, spear), c.1920 (print)
DUV4202560 Letter J, K and L (juggling, judge and kepi then moon, rabbit, lamp, spear), c.1920 (print); 16x24.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: ABC de Guignol by Griff (French illustrator)

Letter U: A bad dream. Engraving of "The soldier's alphabet". E.R. Stop!, publisher, Paris, circa 1916
DUV4209468 Letter U: A bad dream. Engraving of "The soldier's alphabet". E.R. Stop!, publisher, Paris, circa 1916

Letters E and F: Cheeky and Fierce. Engraving in " Usual alphabet "
DUV4207408 Letters E and F: Cheeky and Fierce. Engraving in " Usual alphabet ". Illustrations on the theme of qualities and defects in children. A. Quantin, printer-publisher, 1885

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. From almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. From almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. From almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. From almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

The unexpected twins, 1763. Creator: Jacobus Buys
The unexpected twins, 1763. Scene from "'t Koffyhuis: Kluchtspel", (The Coffeehouse Farce), by Willem van der Hoeven

Scene from Mr. Brougham's comedy of "Romance and Reality", at the Hammersmith Theatre, 1860. London stage production. Act IV

Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. Creator: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki
Blumauer's Aeneide, 1789. From almanac: Konigl. Grosbritannischer Historischer Genealogischer Calender, 1790. Aloys Blumauer's Vergils Aeneis travestirt (1783)

Scene from "Pefroen with the sheep head", 1740. Creator: Cornelis Troost
Scene from "Pefroen with the sheep head", 1740. "Pefroen met het schaapshoofd", farce by Y. Vincent

A Flemish Kermis with a Performance of the Farce ‘Een cluyte van Plaeyerwater, c.1570. Creator: Peeter Baltens
A Flemish Kermis with a Performance of the Farce Een cluyte van Plaeyerwater, c.1570

Mooy-Aal and her Suitors, c.1630-c.1640. Creator: Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert
Mooy-Aal and her Suitors, c.1630-c.1640. Scene from Bredero's farce, "Moortje", staged for the first time in 1615 in Amsterdam

Tons of Money, New York, [1930s]. Creator: Unknown
Tons of Money, New York, [1930s]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

The Best Cure, New Orleans, 1938. Creator: Unknown
The Best Cure, New Orleans, 1938. St. Charles Theatre...The Best Cure - An Uproarius Farce Comedy'. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S

Horse Eats Hat?, New York, 1936. Creator: Unknown
Horse Eats Hat?, New York, 1936. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Help Yourself, [193-]. Creator: Unknown
Help Yourself, [193-]. The Federal Theatre Presents A Hilarious Farce by Paul Vulpius - "Help Yourself"...'. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S

Help Yourself, [193-]. Creator: Unknown
Help Yourself, [193-]. Santa Maria High School Auditorium...Sponsored by Associated Students & Faculty..."Help Yourself" - A 3-Act Comedy - Road Attraction - Federal Theatre Project - Div

Help Yourself, (Palm Springs?), [193-]. Creator: Unknown
Help Yourself, (Palm Springs?), [193-]. Plaza Theatre..."Help Yourself" - A 3-Act Comedy - Road Attraction - Federal Theatre Project - Div. of W.P.A.'

Help Yourself, [193-]. Creator: Unknown
Help Yourself, [193-]. Mt. Park Casino, Holyoke, Mass...The Federal Theatre presents "Help Yourself" - A Rollicking Farce by Paul Vulpius - Staged by Willard Dashiell - Music by Federal

Help Yourself, [193-]. Creator: Unknown
Help Yourself, [193-]. Savoy Theatre...."Help Yourself" - A 3-Act Comedy - Road Attraction - Federal Theatre Project - Div. of W.P.A.'. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S

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Comedy and Farce at the Theatre: A Journey Through Time In the days of Shakespeare, actors on stage brought to life tales filled with laughter and absurdity. The theatre was a place where farce reigned supreme, captivating audiences with its wit and humor. One such memorable production was "A Cuckoo in the Nest" in 1925, performed by Nerman. This uproarious play had theatergoers rolling in their seats as they witnessed hilarious misunderstandings and mistaken identities unfold before their eyes. Bonar Colleano and Diana Dors graced the stage in Maurice Elveys' "Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary. " Their impeccable comedic timing left spectators doubled over with laughter, proving that farce still held its charm even in more modern times. At Wyndhams Theatre on Charing Cross Road in London, William Barribal's farcical masterpiece took center stage. Audiences were treated to an evening of side-splitting antics as characters found themselves entangled in outrageous situations that defied all logic. Ben Travers' "Rookery Nook" further showcased the brilliance of farce. With each twist and turn, this play pushed boundaries of absurdity while keeping viewers hooked until the very end. Other notable productions included "Be Careful Baby" by Salisbury Field and Margaret Mayo, "Half Past Eight" by P Rubens and C H Bovill, "Hanky Panky" by Hartley Carrick and Wortley David, as well as "The Girl in the Taxi" by F Fenn and A Wimperis. These plays continued to tickle funny bones across generations. Throughout history, comedy has always been intertwined with farce at the theatre, and is a genre that allows us to escape reality for a brief moment while reveling in exaggerated situations that bring joy to our hearts. So next time you find yourself craving laughter-filled entertainment, remember the timeless allure on stage.