Molly MacArthur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence Mary MacArthur
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| Born | Florence Mary "Molly" MacArthur 27 October 1893 London, England |
| Died | 12 January 1972 (aged 78) Oxford, England |
| Pen name | Molly MacArthur |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Illustration, theatrical design |
| Spouse |
James Sinclair Standish Anderson
(m. 1917) |
Florence Mary MacArthur (born October 27, 1893 – died January 12, 1972) was a talented artist and stage designer from England. She also illustrated many books. When she worked in the theatre, she was always known as Molly MacArthur. Her theatre career began in 1923 and continued until 1958.
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About Florence Mary MacArthur
Florence Mary MacArthur was born in Chelsea, London, on October 27, 1893. She was the second child of William Alexander McArthur, who was a Member of Parliament, and Florence Creemer Clarke. Florence studied art at the Westminster School of Art in 1915.
She married James Sinclair Standish Anderson on February 15, 1917. Her married name sometimes caused confusion with another children's illustrator, Florence Mary Anderson. However, Florence Mary MacArthur always used her maiden name for her professional art work.
Her Art and Book Illustrations
MacArthur was a very skilled artist. Her book illustrations were more than just pretty pictures. They captured the true feeling and mood of the stories they went with. She often used woodcuts in her art.
Her illustrations appeared in several books, including:
- Trevor Blakemore, China Clay (1922)
- Florence Mary MacArthur, Tribute (1925)
- Eleanor Farjeon, Come Christmas (1927)
- Helen Simpson, Mumbudget (1928)
- Ann Driver, Music and Movement (1936)
Designing for the Stage
Molly MacArthur's first designs for the theatre were seen at the Oxford Playhouse in 1923–24. Two years later, she designed her first London show, The Cradle Song, at the Fortune Theatre in 1926.
In 1931, she helped turn the St. James's Picture Theatre into the Westminster Theatre. She worked with another designer, Arnold Dunbar Smith, on this project. At the Westminster Theatre, she designed sets for famous director Tyrone Guthrie. Some of these plays included A Pair Of Spectacles and Six Characters In Search Of An Author.
Molly MacArthur designed many shows in London's West End. Some of her well-known designs were for plays like The Green Bay Tree (1933), Call It A Day (1935), and Love From A Stranger (1937). She also designed for Tyrone Guthrie at the Old Vic theatre throughout the 1930s. Her work there included The Cherry Orchard (1933–34) and Pygmalion (1937–38).
In 1937, she designed an 18th-century version of As You Like It at the Old Vic. This production was famous for the performance of Dame Edith Evans as Rosalind. She also designed for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), including John Gielgud's Romeo and Juliet (1932).
War Years and Children's Theatre
During World War II, Molly MacArthur helped her community by working as an air-raid warden. After the war, she continued her design work.
In 1949, she started working again with Esmé Church. Esmé Church had become the director of the Bradford Civic Playhouse in 1944. A very important part of Esmé Church's work was creating the Northern Children's Theatre. This theatre gave young actors in northern England real training. It also provided fun entertainment for children. Famous actors like Robert Stephens and Edward Petherbridge started their careers there. Molly MacArthur designed almost all the shows for the Northern Children's Theatre during its 12 years of existence.
Later Life
Florence Mary MacArthur passed away in Oxford on January 12, 1972. An article about her in The Stage magazine said she had an amazing eye for stage pictures. Her designs made a strong impression on the audience and were remembered for a long time.
