The Wizard of Oz - 1903 Cynthia Cynch

The 1903 stage version of The Wizard of Oz included a number of new characters who were added to the story, and only exist in that production. Tryxie Tryfle, Sir Wylie Gyle, Dashemoff Daily, General Riskett, Imogene the cow, etc…. Among these is Cynthia Cynch, the lady lunatic who is searching through Oz for her lost love. In the end this turns out to be the Tin Man, who forgot her when he was turned to tin and lost his heart. She wanders through the show like a comic Ophelia, searching for her love and getting tangled in the proceedings.

This is Caroline Siedle's design for Cynthia's Act 1 costume. She first appears after Dorothy’s house lands in the Land of the Munchkins, which had a color scheme of blue. The drawing easily indicates the humorous aspect of this character, from the unkempt hair filled with straw and flowers to the variety of vegetables she carries. According to the libretto, she and her lover would woo in a vegetable garden, explaining the presence of the produce! There may have been a note at the bottom of the board at one time, but over the years it seems to have either rubbed away or been erased. But the dress is unmistakable, when compared to a photo of the costume on stage. The photo on the left shows a later Cynthia, Allene Crater, wearing the costume.

Helen Byron originated the role on Broadway, and her last name is found at the top of the back of the drawing, along with "Sketch no. 16". There are also several notes concerning the construction of the dress. These read:

"Over dress of crepe de chin 
or something equally soft & thin
the under dress might be of
china silk. 

The design on over dress
could be done in thin blue
ribbon & tucked in. 

Necklace of red peppers
possibly real ones?"

I would think a real red pepper necklace might have been an irritant over time. Judging from the photos I’ve seen, it doesn’t appear to have made it into the show.

This is another drawing that has been stamped for the Metropolitan Opera Company. Edward Siedle worked as Prop Master at the opera, and Caroline had an office across the hall from her husband. Many of her drawings were archived by the company, regardless of their original use.