DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0026
12 THE HISTORY OF THE
and ladies who are desirous of seeing this last part, there
is a private room provided.
These performances have been seen by most of the
crowned heads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and never ap-
peared public any where but once ; but will wait on any at
their houses, and perform as above, for five pounds each
time. A proper guard is appointed to prevent any disorder.
The following' is an account of the performance, as
published in one of the newspapers the following day :—
January 13.—Last night the much-expected Drama of the
Bottle-Conjuror of the New Theatre in the Hay-market,
ended in the tragic-comical manner following. Curiosity
had drawn together prodigious numbers. About seven,
the Theatre being lighted up, but without so much as a
single fiddle to keep the audience in a good humour, many
grew impatient. Immediately followed a chorus of catcalls,
heightened by loud vociferations and beating with sticks ;
when a fellow came from behind the curtain, and bowino-,
said, that if the performer did not appear, the money should
be returned. At the same time, a wag crying out from the
pit, that if the ladies and gentlemen would give double
prices, the Conjuror would get into a pint bottle ; pre-
sently ay oung gentleman in one of the boxes seized a lighted
candle, and threw it on the stage. This served as the charge
for sounding to battle. Upon this the greatest part of the
audience made the best of their way out of the Theatre ,
some losing a cloak, others a hat, others a wig, and others
hat, wig, and swords also. One party, however, stayed in
the House, in order to demolish the inside ; when the mob
breaking in, they tore up the benches, broke to pieces the
scenes, pulled down the boxes, in short dismantled the
Theatre entirely, carrying away the particulars above men-
tioned into the street, where they made a mighty bonfire ;
the curtain being hoisted on a pole by way of flag. A large
' ' ' ■ party
and ladies who are desirous of seeing this last part, there
is a private room provided.
These performances have been seen by most of the
crowned heads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and never ap-
peared public any where but once ; but will wait on any at
their houses, and perform as above, for five pounds each
time. A proper guard is appointed to prevent any disorder.
The following' is an account of the performance, as
published in one of the newspapers the following day :—
January 13.—Last night the much-expected Drama of the
Bottle-Conjuror of the New Theatre in the Hay-market,
ended in the tragic-comical manner following. Curiosity
had drawn together prodigious numbers. About seven,
the Theatre being lighted up, but without so much as a
single fiddle to keep the audience in a good humour, many
grew impatient. Immediately followed a chorus of catcalls,
heightened by loud vociferations and beating with sticks ;
when a fellow came from behind the curtain, and bowino-,
said, that if the performer did not appear, the money should
be returned. At the same time, a wag crying out from the
pit, that if the ladies and gentlemen would give double
prices, the Conjuror would get into a pint bottle ; pre-
sently ay oung gentleman in one of the boxes seized a lighted
candle, and threw it on the stage. This served as the charge
for sounding to battle. Upon this the greatest part of the
audience made the best of their way out of the Theatre ,
some losing a cloak, others a hat, others a wig, and others
hat, wig, and swords also. One party, however, stayed in
the House, in order to demolish the inside ; when the mob
breaking in, they tore up the benches, broke to pieces the
scenes, pulled down the boxes, in short dismantled the
Theatre entirely, carrying away the particulars above men-
tioned into the street, where they made a mighty bonfire ;
the curtain being hoisted on a pole by way of flag. A large
' ' ' ■ party