Talk:The Merry Zingara

Choice for a benefit

Patty-oliver-obit

Ainger says that "Pattie" Oliver included the piece in her benefit [1]. See Thespis (opera) for our description of a similar choice by an actress for her benefit on 24 June 1868. We could give the same sort of explanation here. BTW, he refers to P. Oliver here. Note that The 1912 edition of the DNB says that "Patty Oliver" was the producer". Maybe her little sister was M. Oliver, or could Patty be a nickname for, say, Margaret? -- Ssilvers (talk) 07:08, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

I have rummaged and established that the lady was Martha Oliver, known both as Pattie and Patty:

• Punch in 1897 published a reminiscence piece about London theatre, which included this: "Pray don't forget the merry companies at the Strand, the Royalty and the old Prince of Wales … There were Pattie Oliver, Charlotte Saunders, Rogers, James…." (Mr. Punch's Dramatic Dream, Punch, 19 June 1897, p. 310.)
• Classifieds, John Bull, 4 June 1870, p. 390: "St. James's Theatre – Mrs John Wood begs to announce her first London Benefit for Friday next, June 10. Miss Pattie Oliver and Mr J. L. Toole will appear."ic
• "Another Chirp from 'The Imported Sparrow'.", The Era, 5 June 1870, p. 6: Patty Oliver is reported as being in New York with Lydia Thompson's troupe, along with Marie Wilton and others.
• And – my pièce de résistance – the obit in The Era, 1 January 1881, p. 8

As she was always billed as "Miss M. Oliver", I think we had better leave her billing untampered with in the article, but I have added a footnote. Tim riley (talk) 09:47, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Oops! Sorry, I didn't see this until I had made the change. Let me see if I can persuade you: Our style in all of the Gilbert plays (58 of them to date) has been to list the actors' full name (or full stage name), to the extent that we know it, when the libretto/programme gives a short form. I don't see any advantage to listing "Mr. Riley", when we know very well that the blighter was the infamous Tim Riley, later infamous for being convicted on multiple charges. I think we should give the most informative information about each person, unless they were famously known by a shorter name like J. L. Toole, W. S. Gilbert, Hervé or Cher. Your footnotes make it crystal clear in this article, although I think that even this is not really necessary, because I don't think there's anything that magical about giving a partial name, even if that is how the person was usually billed. I also notice that, in these Victorian programmes, an actor's billing changed from show to show to include/exclude his/her first name. However, if you feel strongly about it, we can put it back. Especially where we have a blue link, we don't lose much by showing the shorter form. All the best! -- Ssilvers (talk) 16:17, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Very well, if you must. The price of thy silence is using the Era cutting to improve Miss Oliver's article. I shall be watching! Tim riley (talk) 16:56, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

Done! -- Ssilvers (talk) 18:34, 26 December 2010 (UTC)

And dusted! We are ad idem as the lawyers say. Tim riley (talk) 20:34, 26 December 2010 (UTC)