The Sans Pareil Theatre Seasonal Digest for 1817-1818
Ed. Franklin Case
The new season began on 13 October 1817, with Miss Scott's The Lord of the Castle, Leclerq's The Woodman Prince, and The Sportsman and Shepherd; or, Where's The Wig?. The title of The Lord of The Castle was later changed to The Castle of Alberti; or, The Sacred Oath. For the 27th performance, the bill contains the following note: "No money returned nor orders admitted nor children suffered to pass on any account."
the Theatrical Inquisitor of October states:
This popular establishment re-opened for the season on Monday, the 13th.inst... after considerable embellishments in the decorations that have been long and much admired. A new melodrama has been produced from the ready pen of Miss Scott, called The Lord of the Castle, which was received throughout with long and loud applause till it terminated in a peal of protracted satisfaction. The ballet of The Woodman Prince is a pretty offering to Terpsichore and exhibits the graceful ability of Monsieur and Madam Leclerq to great advantage. The corps de ballet is particularly effective. We ... cannot conclude without expressing our pleasure at a continued acquaintance with many old favourites among whom Messrs. J. Jones and Huckel, in their devious walks are entitled to undiminished commendation (p. 319).
The British Stage was also taken with The Lord of the Castle, "a melo-drama ... in which serious and ludicrous incidents are very happily blended." This journal also praised The Widow's Tears, "a burlesque operetta founded on Bickerstaff's Ephesian Matron." It said this piece "bids fair to attain to considerable popularity; it is a very pleasant trifle, and extremely well performed." Additional praise was lavished upon the dancing in the person of Madam Charles Leclercq: "The principal female dancer at this house, Madam Leclercq, is one of the prettiest and most fascinating little creatures we ever witnessed; as a Columbine she would prove particularly serviceable at one of the winter theatres" (17 November 1817, p. 253). In December, Madam Leclercq did in fact dance Columbine in the pantomime The Necromancer.
This season was shortened because of a long mourning period for the deaths of Princess Charlotte and her child. The dark period lasted from 7 November 1817, through 21 November 1817. Adding to this period the regular dark dates in the season, the theatre was closed for 17 days.
The bill for 7 March 1818, which included Whackham and Windham and The Three Crumps, remarks that the theatre was "patronized by all the Royal Family." The British Stage (December 1817), notes "The comic songs of Mr. Huckel also afford much gratification":
Then I went to the Park and I saw the great gun Which a present, 'tis said, from the Spainiards did come: A very queer present, I swear by the Mass, For we lend them our gold, and they pay us in brass.
On 14 March 1818, the season ended with performances of The Fortunate Youth; The Woodman Prince; Love! Honour! and Obey! and The Three Crumps.
FC
The Sans Pareil Theatre Seasonal Digest for 1818-1819
Ed. Franklin Case
The 1818-1819 season was the last under the ownership and management of John Scott. The theatre was sold to James Rodwell and Willis Jones at the conclusion of the season. From then on, with occasional exceptions, it was known as the Adelphi Theatre.
This season opened on 19 October 1818, with Bachelor's Miseries; or, The Double Disappointment, Kiss in the Ring; or, Who Stole the Apples, The Inscription; or, The Indian Hunters. On the bill, Miss Scott is described as not related to "persons of that name now performing elsewhere." In British Stage on 19 October regarding Bachelor's Miseries, the following comment was made: "It is much to be regretted that in a piece so short, a great deal of room should have been found for some very indecent dialogue."
In this season, the Royal Family, as evinced by notations on the bills, admired a remarkable number of performances. Of course, visits occurred after the death of Queen Charlotte Sophia. The theatre was dark in mourning for her death from 18 November 1818, through 2 December 1818. The bill for The Prince of Persia; or, The Dog and the Assassin reveals that the actor Avery had received "reiterated bursts of applause from His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange, the Emperor Alexander, the King of Prussia, in Holland."
Master Bidder performed on 18 March 1819. His father exhibited him as "calculating phenomenon" and he also appeared in Stratagems; or, The Lost Treasure. George Parker Bidder became an engineer and was associated with George Stephenson and the construction of London's Victoria Docks. The bill proudly noted, "Master Bidder has had the approbation of the Royal Family and many persons of distinction."
Smollett gave an address on the closing of the theatre--3 April 1819. An advertisement states: "persons having any demands on this concern are desired to send in their accounts with all convenient speed, that the same may be discharged." And so the Strand Theatre, The Sans Pareil closed its doors for the last time before reopening under new management as the Adelphi Theatre.
FC
The Adelphi Theatre Seasonal Digest for 1819-1820
Ed. Franklin Case
The 1819-20 season was the first under the management of Willis Jones and James T. G. Rodwell who bought the theatre from John Scott. Lee, who had been employed by Robert W. Elliston, became stage manager. With Mrs. W. S. Chatterley, formerly of the English Opera House, he delivered an opening address written by William Moncrieff. The theatre was refurbished extensively. A new gas chandelier suspended from the dome was the "subject of universal admiration." The new owners' theatre was dark for 18 days because of the deaths of the Duke of York (1 day), King George III (16 days), and Ash Wednesday (1 day).
The newly purchased theatre opened its first season as the Adelphi on 18 October 1819, with performances of The Green Dragon; or, I've Quite Forgot and Tom Thumb. The company now included James P. Wilkinson, Joe Cowell (from Drury Lane), and Miss Eliza Scott of the Haymarket. The Misses Dennett were on hand to introduce, as E. L. Blanchard put it "graceful dances between the pieces."
One of the featured actresses this season was Mrs. Frances Alsop, a daughter of the famous Mrs. Dorothea [Dora] Jordan. Reviewers of her early Covent Garden performances found her inferior to her mother: "Her singing is sweetly expressive, and she sweeps the light chords of the harp with a truly tasteful finger. Her proportions are diminutive without neatness, and her features alike divested of grace and intelligence" (Theatrical Inquisitor, May 1817, pp. 323-24).
Rather extravagant staging took place, particularly in works such as The Fairy of the North Star; or, Harlequin at Labrador, first performed 27 December 1819. This pantomime involved 16 scenes with a view of the palace of Labrador, a view of Dover, a medical laboratory, and a country inn, the "Rose and Crown."
Some pieces were not greeted with the kindness of genteel applause. Love and Chase, performed 6 December 1819, was referred to as "an agreeable bagatelle ably supported by the talents of Messrs. Reeve, Wilkinson, and Chatterley, the last was less somnambulant than usual" (LTM Scrapbook).
The theatre was not devoid of charitable feelings towards those less fortunate outside its doors. For example, the performance on 19 January 1820, of Run For Your Life had the whole of its "receipts go to the City Charitable Fund for the houseless poor. The Lord Mayor attended as special patron" (LTM Scrapbook). In the British Stage, February 1820, the following cutting comment is recorded: "A benefit was appropriated to the aid of the fund for the houseless Poor, on the 19th of January, when the receipts were £101..7s..6d. Yet this is a minor Theatre, which the Drury-Lane Manager, whose vast contribution amounted to but little more, would willingly suppress, as a nuisance."
Again, there was royal interest in the theatre. The bill for The Fairy of the North Star; or, Harlequin at Labrador on 27 January 1820, announces: "The Prince Regent has been graciously pleased to command that this theatre shall be opened every evening, as usual, excepting that of the Royal Funeral."
The season closed on 25 March 1820, with Rochester; or, King Charles the Second's Merry Days and Ivanhoe; or, The Saxon Chief.
FC
Share with your friends: |
