 The Gallery of Illustration was a 500-seat theatre with a small stage that only allowed for four or five characters with accompaniment by a piano, harmonium and sometimes a harp.After Gilbert's first offering for the Gallery of Illustration – "No Cards", with music by Reed, Gilbert paired with Clay on "Ages Ago", the first of a successful series of collaborations between the author and composer that would continue for the next seven years.In the eight months between the productions of "No Cards", and "Ages Ago", Gilbert's dramatic style had developed.