Transcription
ASTLEY’S.
This favourite little theatre was opened last night for the Christmas season in a manner that justified the high reputation it has so long enjoyed. The first piece was Azael, with its striking scenery and pleasing tableau; and, although from its frequent representation the public might be supposed to be at this time somewhat weary of it, yet it was received with as much enthusiasm as ever, and gave the most unquestionable satisfaction to the numerous audience who favoured Mr. Batty with their patronage on this occasion. Various now and extraordinary scenes of the circle followed; and, as usual, raised the delight of the spectators to the highest possible pitch. Tom Thumb appeared for the first time on two horses, as the Bottle Imp, and with wonderful skill adroitness did the little fellow perform his part. Mademoiselle Louise Masetta then personated the goddess Iris on a rapid steed, and went through some very difficult feats of horsemanship with great success. Unfortunately she fell twice, but appeared not to be hurt, and immediately regained her steed and completed her task. The horse Bayard, whose fame is ore celebrated in France than here, afterwards executed some surprising balostades and cabrioles, and his great beauty and beautiful training, as well as the extreme skill of his rider, dew down thunders of applause from every part of the house. But the next part of the performances was the most amusing of the whole. We have seen organs drawn about the streets by horses, but what will be said if we predict the possibility of the horses also playing upon them? That possibility exists can no longer be doubted, for last evening a beautiful Arab steed actually played on an organ, while another horse, properly called Taglioni, danced to the music. The horsemanship concluded with most astounding feats by Mr. Bridges, as the “Juggler of Ispahan.” The throwing and catching of several balls, extremely delicate balancings, and other pieces of difficult jugglery were executed with as much ease and certainty as if the performer had been quietly seated on the ground instead of being whirled round the circus by a flying steed. In amusements of this kind Astley’s has long reigned supreme, and the performances of last night showed no symptoms of decay in the dynasty. Long may it hold its peculiar sway, to the delight of all the holyday children, and their papas and mamas, who seem themselves to enjoy the spectacle quite as much as the children. The equestrian amusements being closed, the pantomime followed. The adventures of Mr. Briggs, whose fame is known wherever Punch is read—and where is it not?—supply the materials, and it is unnecessary, therefore, to describe the piece in detail. Somehow or other, for the purpose of producing a pantomime, Nature and Art combine to tease Mr. Briggs to the utmost by means of two busy sprites of Mischief and Fun, and the object is very successfully carried out. Poor Mr. Briggs is always in some untoward situation, until by a kind-hearted fairy he is converted into a Clown, while Mrs. Briggs becomes Pantaloon, the servant-maid Columbine, and her loving Jenkins Harlequin. Then follow several amusing and well executed tricks and kits at the current event events of the year, and, after travelling through various scenes, the spectators are carried off by a hasty flight to the realms of fancy, and at that point we took out leave. If hearty applause is the test of success, the pantomime was as successful as the proprietor could wish for from the beginning to the end, the whole house was in a roar of laughter, and the gallery and pit thundered forth their satisfaction by the most vociferous cheers. With the exception of a few seats in the dress circle, it would have been difficult to find a vacant place. Tiers upon tiers of heads were piled up throughout the house, until they were absolutely lost to the eye in the upper gallery. Unquestionably, the greater part appeared to be those classes to whom soap and water are among the rarities, if not the luxuries of life; but they were goodhumoured [sic] and wellbehaved [sic], and gave Mr. Batty the most satisfactory proof that they, at least, were satisfied with all he had done for their amusement. The pantomime will run its usual course, and will meet, we trust, with the patronage it so well deserves.
