Transcription
ASTLEY’S AMPHITHEATRE.
Although on the northern side of the Thames Whit-Monday has lost the theatrical significance that belonged to it of old, it is still an important day at Astley’s, and was yesterday rendered even more so than usual by the dubious state of the weather, which, while it did not damp the holyday-making zeal of the people, rendered them somewhat timid with respect to country excursions, Greenwich Fair, and the public gardens. The pit and boxes at Astley’s last night were in every way worthy of Boxing-day.
Mr. W. Cooke celebrated the festival by the production of a new three-act drama, entitled England and France in the Days of Chivalry. The entente cordiale has already done him food service, but he has not exhausted the subject yet, and he now takes us back to the old times of the Field of the cloth of Gold, when the momentary shake of the hands exchanged between Francis I. and Henry VIII, formed a pleasant episode in a troublous [sic] period. Mr. Stocqueler, who has constructed the piece, has introduced the more showy incidents by a story of two young English chevaliers, who are such faithful “brothers in arms” that, though they are both in love with the same lady, they seem to like each other all the more on that account, the rejected one assisting the favoured one in rescuing the lady from a third party,--one of those decidedly wicked persons who are hated by everybody, especially a virtuous audience. Into this tale several highly effective scenes are ingeniously interwoven, and the tournament that takes place in the presence of the two kings and the storming of the bad man’s castle are represented with a force unknown to former times,--thanks to the expedient of the sloping platform, which connects the stage with the circle, and was first used to successfully in the Battle of the Alma. The rush of the conflicting parties against each other on this inclined plane must be almost terrific to any one but an habitué of Astley’s, who knows well enough that at that well-regulated establishment human beings are warranted to knock against each other in every possible manner, without risk of breakage. The scenery of the piece, which is new throughout, is far above the average; several architectural views are remarkable for their massive effect; and an elaborately “set” wood, in which a troop of brigands is reposing, is as good a stage picture as could be reasonably desired. The ballet department, too, thrives well amid the general improvement, and a pas seul by a young lady named Christine is executed with an easy grace that would hardly be expected at an equestrian establishment.
Into the amusements of the ring a new feat has been introduced. Messrs. J. Cooke and Bridges, standing face to face on two horses, one of which follows the other, assume the character of jugglers, and in this capacity go through a series of feats with balls and balanced basins, which they
