The Biograph Girl
by David Heneker, Warner Brown

Name: The Biograph Girl
Brand: David Heneker
SKU: 9780573180019
Rating: 4.5 (3 reviews)

The Biograph Girl Book Cover — The Biograph Girl Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

1920s Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes British

Synopsis

Book by Warner Brown and David Heneker.

Music by David Heneker.

Characters: 4 male, 4 female This British salute to Hollywood's glorious era of silent pictures is ideal for stock and community theatres.

Characters include D. W. Griffith, Mack Sennett, Mary Pickford, and Lillian Gish.

"This delightfully unassuming show contains the same naive charm as those early flicks.... [It's a] minor miracle."-- The Daily Mail "A joyous celebration."-- International Herald Tribune

Themes Biograph Company. Gish, Lillian , 1893-1993 LQ 65900 ML50.H503 B5 1983 LU 95900 Musical plays in EnglishHeneker, David - Librettos Musicals

Press Reviews

"This delightfully unassuming show contains the same naive charm as those early flicks.... [It's a] minor miracle."
— The Daily Mail

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Dorothy Gish Her younger sister and an equal success in silent films, though in a lighter vein.	female	—	Her younger sister and an equal success in silent films, though in a lighter vein.
Mrs. Mary Robinson Gish Actress mother of Lillian and Dorothy. Her close friend was Mrs. Charlotte Smith, mother of Gladys Smith.	female	—	Actress mother of Lillian and Dorothy. Her close friend was Mrs. Charlotte Smith, mother of Gladys Smith.
Gladys Smith Aka Mary Achieved international fame and considerable fortune as Mary Pickford, “the world’s sweetheart.” Although not the original “Biograph Girl,” she inherited the title when Florence Lawrence left Griffith to go to another studio.	female	—	Achieved international fame and considerable fortune as Mary Pickford, “the world’s sweetheart.” Although not the original “Biograph Girl,” she inherited the title when Florence Lawrence left Griffith to go to another studio.
David Wark Griffith Greatest of the pioneer film directors. His classic, The Birth of a Nation, is still frequently shown in specialist cinemas.	male	—	Greatest of the pioneer film directors. His classic, The Birth of a Nation, is still frequently shown in specialist cinemas.
G.W. “Billy” Bitzer Griffith’s cameraman for 16 years. Primitive camera obliged him to improvise, which accidentally gave Griffith some of his finest efects, among them the fade-out.	male	—	Griffith’s cameraman for 16 years. Primitive camera obliged him to improvise, which accidentally gave Griffith some of his finest efects, among them the fade-out.
Johannes Charlemagne Epping Griffith’s accountant, who secretly invested D.W.’s money in non-revocable annuities, saving him from spending his last years in penury.	male	—	Griffith’s accountant, who secretly invested D.W.’s money in non-revocable annuities, saving him from spending his last years in penury.
Rose Smith Griffith’s long-time assistant, but the character as presented in this play is a compilation of several different people.	—	—	Griffith’s long-time assistant, but the character as presented in this play is a compilation of several different people.
Adolph Zukor One of the small-time salesmen (mostly from central Europe) who became the big-time bosses of Hollywood. He died in 1976, aged 103.	male	—	One of the small-time salesmen (mostly from central Europe) who became the big-time bosses of Hollywood. He died in 1976, aged 103.
Mack Sennett The king of silent film comedy, who introduced Charlie Chaplin to the screen and created the Keystone Kops.	male	—	The king of silent film comedy, who introduced Charlie Chaplin to the screen and created the Keystone Kops.
Walter L. Hall Nicknamed “Spec” (short for perspective), this pioneering scenic designer was largely responsible for the famous set design of Babylon. It was often thought Griffith produced his own designs on an ad hoc basis, but Hall’s plans exist to prove the contribution he made to Intolerance.	male	—	Nicknamed “Spec” (short for perspective), this pioneering scenic designer was largely responsible for the famous set design of Babylon. It was often thought Griffith produced his own designs on an ad hoc basis, but Hall’s plans exist to prove the contribution he made to Intolerance.
Lillian Gish A major star of silent films and a greatly respected figure of the American theatre to this day.	—	—	A major star of silent films and a greatly respected figure of the American theatre to this day.