Charlotte Saunders in 'Aladdin'

A carte-de-visite portrait of the actress Charlotte Saunders (1825-1899), who first appeared as the character Aladdin in Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, a 'Burlesque Extravaganza' performed at the Queen's Theatre in Dublin in August 1853, with Frederick Robson as Abanazar and W.H. Payne as Kasrac.

The version in which she is seen here was titled Aladdin, or, the Wonderful Scamp. Written by H.J. Byron, it was performed at London's Strand Theatre at Easter in 1861. 'The plot has been altogether reconstructed, so as to employ the peculiar talents of members of this company to the best advantage; and the cast, besides comprising the aid of Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Oliver, and Miss Charlotte Saunders, receives an accession in Miss Fanny Josephs, from Sadler's Wells' (Morning Post, 1 April 1861).

Photographed by J.R. James of Liverpool Road, Islington.

[From an album compiled by the actor and author Charles Daly.]