Transcription
ASTLEY’S THEATRE.
This Theatre commenced its summer season on Monday night with the production of a new drama, entitled Chevy Chace, or the Battle at Otterburn. It would be superfluous for us to detail the plot of this piece, as the chief incidents on which it is founded are taken from the old English ballad of the same name, which is familiar to every child. The object of the author appears to have been to bring forth the peculiar resources of the Theatre, and the scenery, processions, cavalcades, &c., are certainly managed in a way to produce the most splendid and gorgeous effect. Nor is there wanting a sufficient quantity of single-handed combats and general engagements, to make the piece popular with the young and old visitors of this Theatre. This piece was, at its conclusion, announced for repetition with the approbation of an overflowing audience; and was followed by the unusual exhibition of equestrian feats in the Circle. The whole concluded with a piece called The Kentucky Rifle, in which neither a Yankee nor a rifle, as might be presumed, played the principal part, but an extremely sagacious horse. The story is pretty much the same as that of The Dog of Montargis—the horse taking the part of the dog in the affair, and behaving with wonderful fidelity and acuteness. His master is murdered in the forest—an innocent man is accused, condemned, and about to be executed, when the horse, who had been in pursuit of the murderer, arrived with him in the Court of Justice at the critical moment; and, though he does not exactly give evidence upon the occasion, nevertheless produced sufficient proof of the murderer’s guilt; whereupon, in revenge, he kills the horse, and dies himself forthwith, in consequence of the ill-treatment he received from the quadruped in the scuffle wherein he was taken prisoner. The horse was enthusiastically applauded throughout, and richly merited the approbation wherewith the audience were pleased to honour his performances.
