page_title: The Forty Thieves
section_title: Roles and cast
hierarchical_section_title: The Forty Thieves / Roles and cast
caption_attribution_description: English: 1878 Photo of W.S. Gilbert as harlequin in The Forty Thieves.
context_page_description: The Forty Thieves is a "Pantomime Burlesque" written by Robert Reece, W. S. Gilbert, F. C. Burnand and Henry J. Byron, created in 1878 as a charity benefit, produced by the Beefsteak Club of London. The Beefsteak Club still meets in Irving Street, London. It was founded by actor John Lawrence Toole and others in 1876, in rooms above the Folly Theatre, King William IV Street. It became an essential after theatre club for the bohemian theatre set, such as Henry Irving, Toole, John Hare, W. H. Kendal, F. C. Burnand, Henry Labouchère, W. S. Gilbert and two hundred of their peers. It soon moved to Green Street. The Club occasionally performed amateur plays for their own amusement and to raise funds for charities.
  The story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was a popular subject for pantomime. This entertainment was first produced at the Gaiety Theatre by its proprietor, John Hollingshead, as the Wednesday matinee on 13 February 1878. Robert Soutar acted as director/stage manager, with John D'Auban choreographing the Harlequinade that was played at the end of the pantomime. Meyer Lutz conducted the music.
context_section_description: The male cast members were amateur actors who were members of The Beefsteak Club.  The female cast members were professional actresses.
  Ali Baba (a Woodcutter) – Captain Arthur Gooch
  Ganem (his Son) – W. F. Quintin (Quintin Twiss)
  Cassim (his Brother) – Algernon Bastard
  Hassarac (Captain of the Forty Thieves) – Joseph Maclean (the only male non-member of the Beefsteak Club)
  Abdallah (his Lieutenant) – Mr. Colnaghi (Helen Barry in trousers)
  Mesrour – F. H. McCalmont
  Gentlemen of "The Forty" (The Deserving Hanging Committee): (portrayed by:) William Yardley, Leslie Ward, Gilbert Farquhar, Hon. F. Parker, W. Higgins, Major Rolls, Archibald Stuart-Wortley, E. Darell, J. Westropp, J. Cumming, C. Ringrose, C. Daly, Hugh Drummond, J. Graham, Cecil Chapman, A. B. Cook, Benson, Amphlett and Hon. C. Vivian
  Morgiana – Lydia Thompson
  Cogia – Eleanor Bufton
  The Good Fairy – Lucy Buckstone
  Twenty young ladies from the Alhambra Theatre
  Characters in The Harlequinade
  Clown – William Gerald Elliot
  Pantaloon – Thomas Knox Holmes
  Columbine – Mdlle. Rosa
  Harlequin – W. S. Gilbert
  Swell – Lord De Clifford
  Tailor – W. F. Quinton
  Butterman – C. Ringrose
  Baker – L. Ward
  Sweep – W. Higgins
  Waiter – J. Westropp
  Ung Mossoo – Algernon Bastard
  Policeman – Captain H. E. Colvile
  Artist – Leslie Ward
  Bricklayer – J. Graham
  Butcher – C. Chapman
  A Gent – A. B. Cook
  Old Woman – F. H. McCalmont
caption: Photograph of the Harlequinade, with W. S. Gilbert as Harlequin
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