A satire on the theatre; an aspiring actor is shown in eight separate scenes
Description:
Title from item., Statement of responsibility and dimensions from impression in the British Museum online catalog (Registration no. 1948,0214.339)., Description based on imperfect impression; individual images and title trimmed, rearranged and remounted, with loss of printmaker signature and portion of imprint., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
Pub. by W. Holland Feb. 11, 1793 No. 50 Oxford Street
An allegorical representation of the nationalistic riot occasioned by a troupe of French comedians in London. This satirical print refers to the controversy and protest surrounding a French theatrical company, nicknamed the 'French Strollers', who applied for and were granted a licence to perform at the Haymarket in the winter of 1749. Their arrival occasioned much discontent; as the Scots Magazine reported, they were 'bitterly pelted in the news-papers'. Asserting their right to perform, they persisted in a show on 14 November, but were met by an audience intent on sabotage. An eyewitness account of the incident appeared in the Monthly Review some years later (July 1761): 'People went early to the Theatre, as a crouded House was certain ... I soon perceived that we were visited by two Westminster Justices, Deveil and Manning. The Leaders, that had the conduct of the Opposition, were known to be there; one of whom called aloud for the song in praise of English roast beef, which was accordingly sung in the gallery, by a person prepared for that purpose; and the whole house besides joining in the chorus, saluted the close with three huzzas! This, Justice Deveil was pleased to say, was a riot'. Despite the Justice's assertions that the play was licensed by the King's command, the crowd had come prepared to produce disruption. They were equipped with instruments which they played discordantly as an accompaniment to their jeers, catcalls, and Francophobic songs: 'as an attempt at speaking was ridiculous, the Actors retired, and opened instead with a grand dance of twelve men and twelve women; but even that was prepared for, and they were directly saluted with a bushel or two of peas, which made their capering very unsafe'. Unable even to dance, and following another abortive attempt by the magistrates to assert the King's authority, the curtain fell for the final time. The eyewitness evidently relished the outcome, venturing 'that at no battle gained over the French, by the immortal Marlborough, the shoutings could be more joyous than on this occasion'. The print embodies similar sentiments; the French strollers attack British theatrical establishment--represented by an affronted Britannia--who stands between them and British theatre-goers. In the foreground stands a perplexed Othello, lamenting the loss of his occupation, and an injured man a man lies on the floor 'Almost kill'd for not understanding French'.
Alternative Title:
Modern cramers
Description:
Title etched below image., Date of publication based on date of the depicted event., and Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and London.
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Foreign public opinion, French, Theater, Actors, Actresses, Fighting, and Riots
Caption title., Publication date from Foxon., Verse begins: 'Tis well we live in such a fickle place, Where Novelty was ever follow'd more than Grace ... One Foll makes many, if't be really so, Monkies and Monsters are the best to show., "Price 2 d."--Following imprint., "Beware of wretched halfpenny wooden cuts."--Below imprint., and With a large woodcut below the title and preceding the letterpress text: Madamoiselle Javellot is shown on stage flanked on either side by chandeliers wtih her performing dogs in costumes in front and a musician in the background, left, behind the curtain.
Publisher:
Printed and sold by J. Morphew, near Stationers Hall
Subject (Name):
Pinkethman, William, -1725 and Bartholomew Fair.
Subject (Topic):
Opera, Theater, Animals in human situations, Dogs, Fairs, Musicians, Theater curtains, and Trained animals
Playbill advertising a performance at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham which principally takes the form of an apology announcing that the lead of the evening's entertainment, Italian opera singer Angelica Catalani (1780-1849), is unable to attend due to ill health. The soprano's appearance had been much publicised by the local press, hence the need to justify her absence by publishing a communication by the attending doctor
Alternative Title:
Mr. Bartley most respectfully begs leave to inform the public ...
Description:
Caption title. and For further information, consult library staff.
Publisher:
Theatre Royal and [J]onathan Knott, printer, Birmingham
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Theatre Royal (Birmingham, England), Catalani, Angelica, 1780-1849., Centlivre, Susanna, 1667?-1723., and Birch, Samuel, 1757-1841.
