A Scene From “London Calling“ Duke Of York’s Theatre London (1924)

“There is a theory that what is said by an elocutionist is immaterial. It is the sound and inflection of the voice that matters. In this amusing scene, the “Whittlebot Family“ attempt to demonstrate the theory. The Edlin.“ M/S of a stage - patterned curtains are the backdrop. A droll looking fellow walks along and opens the curtains to reveal two musicians. They look at each other with wary expressions. Tubby Edlin does a very fey pose as if to say “Well, here they are.“ “The Elocutionist... Maisie Gay.“ Maisie comes onto the stage wearing a rather odd costume. She bows. C/U of Maisie - a very odd looking woman - reciting a poem. She pulls funny faces as she speaks (she could be singing actually). “Beloved, it is dawn, I rise to smell the roses sweet. Emphatic are my hips and thighs, Phlegmatic are my feet.“ reads the intertitle. Another C/U of her gurning. M/S shows that the musicians are playing and Tubby is holding his chest as if overcome with emotion. C/U of Tubby