Original caricature of opening night at the Duke of York's Theatre

1897. Original caricature done in ink on paper. The caricature celebrates the opening night of The Happy Life, a play by Louis N. Parker and Murray Carson, staged at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in 1897. It depicts Parker (standing atop the Duke of York's column), Carson, and Max (top hat and wasp-waisted coat) himself drinking champagne. Both Parker and Carson were important dramatists at the turn of the century; Beerbohm would later collaborate with Carson on a one-act "curtain-raiser" in 1914, The fly on the wheel. Inscribed "Best wishes in a great success. December 6 '97" and signed "Max." Unrecorded; not in Hart-Davis's catalogue of Beerbohm's caricatures. In near fine condition and nicely framed. 20 x 25.4 cm. ORIG/011216. (Inventory #: 28895)