Hamlet for the Toy Theatre - what I had really remembered...
Well, it seems that memory forgets colour. I had been struck by the "greyness" of the play: was this realy the (black and white) film I was remembering?
At least I remembered the scenery correctly - the battlements back-cloth, the only one remaining in the "loft copy", is indeed grey and forbidding.
The publisher ("fledgling Penguin") was in fact Benjamin Pollock (I had confused another toy theatre production - J.B. Priestley's "High Toby", published by Puffin) which makes it perhaps more remarkable. The play was adapted for presentation in fourteen scenes (tableaux) with a synopsis of the plot for reading aloud.
Some flavour of the enterprise is caught by the foreword to the book and the presentation directions, reproduced below.
There are more notes and observations here.
Foreword
This book is not only a unique record of one of the greatest films of modern times, but it has also been specially designed so that the scenery and characters can, if desired, be mounted and displayed upon the stage of a Model Theatre. Each scene may be represented by a tableau of characters, according to the directions given in the text. The size of the scenery has been adjusted to fit into Benjamin Pollock's Miniature Theatres, and so to enable adults and children to reenact this famous story in their own homes. Many film-goers, and lovers of Shakespeare, however, will find this book a delightful record of the film, and an introduction to the complete play, even if it is never actually performed upon the stage of a model theatre.
DIRECTIONS FOR MOUNTING THE PLAY.
The Scenery and Characters must first be stuck onto thin cardboard. The scenes should be trimmed so that there is enough card left at the top to go through the scenery grid on the model stage; a size of 8 in. by 8 in. is ideal. The characters must be carefully cut out with a pair of scissors or a sharp penknife, and the name of each character, and its fig. no. should be written on its back. When cut out they can be made to stand on the stage, very easily, with Pollock's Wire Slides.
The two framing arches should have their centres cut away, so that they act as wings; they should be arranged one behind the other, with whichever back scene is required in the third or fourth scene position. The characters should be arranged on the stage so as to compose an attractive picture, illustrating the action that is being described. The effect of the tableaux can be greatly increased by varying the lighting, and with Pollock's Miniature Stage Lighting Set you will be able to obtain many subtle effects with three different colours and a dimmer. Pollock's Theatres, together with all the accessories needed for successful model theatre productions, can be purchased at almost all good toy shops and stores, or direct from Benjamin Pollock, Ltd., 1 John Adam Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.2. A full catalogue will be sent on request.
HOW TO SET THE SCENES IN A MODEL THEATRE.
The illustration shows Pollock's " Regency Theatre," with the scenery grid for supporting the back scenes and wings. Other stages available are the " Adelphi Theatre," with a proscenium of modern design, and the "Victorian Theatre," made of cardboard.
