Transcription
The new pantomime of Harlequin’s Exhibition of the Times, performed at Astley’s on Monday night, for the first time, was well received by a very respectable and crowded audience; the little prelude is commemoration of Dr. Arne was well executed, and gave great satisfaction; the country sports and real bear-baiting (never done before on any stage) were very diverting; the fury-dance was really awfully grand, and equal to any every performed at the Opera; the battle on the bridge afforded much entertainment, and was kept up with great spirit on both sides; the burlesque on the parachute was excellent, and well performed by Harlequin and Columbine; the last scene of the Siege of Porto Bello had a most noble appearance, and we do not remember to have seen a better representation of a battle; the heavy cannonadingfrom the ships general discharge of small arms, bombardment, and last of all the fiery rain, formed a coup d’œiel not to be equaled; and the audience shewed their approbation by repeated huzzas. We understand by Mr. Astley’s advertisement, in front of yesterday’s paper, that this piece is to be presented every evening this week only, on account of the extraordinary preparations required in the machinery, particularly the large ships of war in allegorical fireworks, which take much time to prepare for each representation, as well as the Fort and out-works of Porto Bello.
