Exhibit
Imagined East: Decorative Arts and the Imperial Gaze
Henry B. Plant Museum • 401 West Kennedy Boulevard
Program
Film Premiere: Gems from Olivette
Sunday, July 9th • 1:00 p.m.
Henry B. Plant Museum
401 West Kennedy Boulevard • Plant Hall, Grand Salon
The Plant Museum is pleased to premiere the short documentary film Gems from Olivette: The Sexual Politics of Audran’s The Marriage of Olivette. After the film, join Dr. Charles McGraw Groh for audience questions and a brief look at highlights from the Tampa Bay Casino’s 1923 theatrical season.
Gems from Olivette recreates performances of the most popular songs from Edmond Audran’s Olivette, the musical comedy sensation that took Tampa by storm in the 1890s. It also furnished the name of one of Henry Plant’s steamships. The film combines costumed reenactments, archival images, and expert commentary to explore the tensions in American popular culture at the turn of the century. The original French version of Olivette was quite risqué, and the challenge for touring productions in the United States was anticipating the sensibilities of local audiences and adjusting their performances accordingly.
Following the event, be sure to visit the Henry B. Plant Museum’s current exhibit Imagined East: Decorative Arts and the Imperial Gaze.
Complimentary admission. Light refreshments provided. Contact info: (813) 254-1891, ext. 7303 or scarter@ut.edu