Press Clippings for the week ending
Saturday, 25 October 2003
A random selection of cuttings
from newspapers and magazines
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M. Saqui's 'Sons of Neptune'
'A Monsieur Saqui opened the St. James's Theatre last evening [16 April 1851] with an entertainment which certainly has novelty to recommend it. The principle is very simple, being merely the varied application of a continuous jet of water rushing from a huge siphon, standing upright in the centre of the stag. By placing upon the top of this machine perforated dishes, baskets, and other media of strange form and patterns, the water is made to assume a variety of shapes, sometimes graceful, sometimes grotesque, but always producing a pleasing effect on the spectator. Flower baskets, vases, umbrellas, and bird cages are in turn formed by the jet; while sometimes the aid of fire is called in, and an extraordinary effect produced, by the apparently harmonious combination of the two hostile elements. Some grotesque figures are made to dance up and down on the jet, to the huge delight of the children, and a good deal of fun, albeit somewhat of the broadest, is elicited from the evolutions of a sick lady, to whom this novel species of hydropathy is applied. The entertainment, as will be seen from the foregoing observations, is merely an ingenious application of a well-known experiment, and being also very short, not exceedingly an hour in duration, is hardly sufficient, singly, to entertain an audience, but as a pleasing interlude to the more potent magic of the mighty wizards who are to bewitch the town during Easter week it will be a variety, and no doubt fairly appreciated. We must not omit to mention that the entertainment is called "The Sons of Neptune," why, the reader much judge for himself.'
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Esther Austin & Troupe with G.W. Craig,
'It is so long since Miss Esther Austin was seen in London that her reappearance now introduces her to most people for the firs time. This, however, should maker her none the less welcome, and she and her clever company of dancing ladies are likely to be a great attraction. Like the Boissets, who early in the evening go through their amusing performance on the triple bars, and who afterwards provide an equally amusing pantomimic entertainment, the ladies have two long "turns." In the first a very lively combination of graceful and eccentric dancing enables Miss Austin to astonish the spectators by her own vigour and nimbleness, and to obtain assistance from Miss Rose Tyrrell and Miss [?] Holt who are only the foremost two among the twenty or more who make up the company of the "première characteristic, terpsichorean, and pantomimic artiste," as she is described in the programme. There is not much story in the ballet, but it is full of movement, and due attention is paid to the artistic arrangement of colour by help of bright and pretty dresses. It includes also a really grotesque sword-fight, in successive rounds, by two of the ladies. Yet more amusing is a well-arranged shadow pantomime, in which Miss Austin is a vivacious clown, ably supported by [her son] Mr. G.W. Craig as the policeman, and several of her ladies. Between these two performances, however, there is something more marvellous to be seen. Messrs. Crowder and Payne have secured the services of Mdlle. Stena [from the Hippodrome, Paris], who – after some trapeze exercises with the Albertinos, in the course of which, hanging head downwards and supported only by the bar on which her calves rest, she holds up her two male associates while they go through their antics – is drawn up to the roof, there attaches herself to a balloon, and ultimately descends by help of a parachute to which she has hooked herself on, apparently only by her hair. Mdlle. Stena, the Austin Troupe, and the Boisset Troupe fill up a large art of the evening between them, and afford as much entertainment as anyone could wish for. There is much else in the programme, however, including the exploits of Professor Finney and Mdlle. Le Grand in a large transparent tank, which enables the spectators to watch their frolics, eating, drinking, and, in the case of the "professor," appearing to sleep for more than three minutes at a stretch, while in the water.'
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Jolly John Nash, Peggy Pryde, Henri Clarke, |
Peggy Pryde (b.1869), English music hall comedienne
(photo: unknown, England, circa 1890)
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'The "Variety" entertainment at the Victoria Hall, Waterloo-bridge-road, drew a very crowded audience in the evening, despite the well-known fact that the proprietors of this music-hall exclude all intoxicating liquors from the refreshments sold to their patrons. The songs, sketches, &c., made up a really capital entertainment, which met with hearty appreciation throughout. Mr. Nash – "Jolly Nash" – in rendering his topical song, "I take off my hat," evidently succeeded in pleasing the audience by politely lifting his hat to an imaginary Sir Wilfrid Lawson at the end of one of his political verses. The programme also included a ballet, the "Unity of Nations," under the direction of Madame Mardini, conjuring by Herr Blitz, and a troupe of trained dogs and monkeys, exhibited by Professor Hotine. A black poodle among these, which was apparently made up to represent the conventional clown who usually figures in troupe of performing athletes [sic], went through such laughable antics, some of them in imitation of his brother dogs, as to warrant the animal being credited with a natural sense of humour, thereby lightening the task of his trainer. Mr. Henri Clarke, comedian; the Maitlands; Mr. Leo Stormont, operatic bouffe vocalist; Miss Nellie Clare, and Miss Peggy Pryde also contributed to the entertainment. It was announced that Mr. Sims Reeves had promised to sing at a ballad concert to be given in this hall on the 6th prox.'
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Kate Vaughan in Around the World, |
Kate Vaughan (1852-1903), English actress and dancer
(photo: W. & D. Downey, London, late 1880s)
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'Round the World at the Empire Theatre will this evening be present in the shape of a revised version. Amongst the additions will be a new Polish mazurka to be danced by Miss Kate Vaughan, supported by Mr. George Canning. Additions have been made to the scenery and new Indian dresses, purchased at the exhibition of "India in London," will be worn for the first time on this occasion.'
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© John Culme, 2003