The Co-Optimists is the title of a stage variety revue which opened in London on 27 June 1921at the Royalty Theatre but quickly transferred to the much larger Palace Theatre. The Co-Optimists ?pierrotic entertainment? went through six editions between 1922 and 1927. They could be considered the successors to ?The Follies?. The best known member of the original company was Stanley Holloway who achieved international fame in the film of ?My Fair Lady?. The artist of this striking image is Hugh Willoughby (1891-1973).