ACTRESSES AS WORKING WOMEN 149

ACTRESSES AS WORKING WOMEN Children’s 1890 common law action against the Folly Theatre, Manchester, is a case in point Mr Hallifax’s objection to one of Peggy Pryde’s songs is described by an Era reporter: In the song Miss Pryde described herself as a servant [attending a couple on honeymoon] In the first verse he [Hallifax] noticed nothing particular The chorus, however, which was very frequently repeated, with the aid of every conceivable form of gesture, was as follows: — ‘It would make you feel so funny to hear them go kiss, kiss; It would make you feel so funny to see them go like this.’ And then the artist made a squeezing gesture ‘It would make you feel so funny if you saw them—’ And then there was a dead stop and a pause Mr Costello [prosecuting barrister] —Did she anything? Witness [Hallifax] —She made a gesture which I cannot describe just now…the chorus continued— ‘It would make you feel so funny to see the things I see, They think they’re on the strict Q.T., They don’t know I am peeping through the keyhole.’39 Peggy Pryde was requested to not sing the song again, but despite another performer’s ‘indecent manipulation’ of part of his baggy trousers in a Nubian Orator act, and evidence of solicitation in the lounge, the magistrate took no action against the theatre The wide latitude given to lyrical performers—honi soit qui mal y pense—must have been extremely frustrating for moral reformers, who felt their charges of lewdness of mind ricochet back toward themselves Campaigns against lascivious gestures theoretically stood a better chance of success when complaints could be supported by submissible visible evidence Costume provided such opportunities, but there are very few instances of such complaints and they are invariably unsuccessful Zaeo’s exposed armpits were a cause célèbre in 1890 when featured on posters advertising the gymnast’s performance at the Westminster Aquarium The controversy led to the creation of the Bill Posters’ Association as unofficial but effective censors of public hoardings, but the costume could not be legislated off the stage or public billboards Years later, when a newspaper alleged that Zaeo’s bare back threatened harm to public morals, she sued the publisher and was awarded considerable damages.40 120