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[Extra Advertisement.]
[First Appearance In America Of The World's Wonders, The Renowned Syro-Arabic Troupe of Male and Female Jugglers, Acrobats, Contortionists, &c. Notice. - Zara and Zuleika, the beautifula nd renowned female members of this Unrivalled Acrobatic Troupe are the First Female Gymnasts That Have Ever Appeared In America.]
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[most correct mind," &c. They sang the usual negro melodies. They also produced a burlesque opera, entitled "The Virginia G'hal," arranged for the stage by Mr. Kavanagh - given in the broad negro dialect and dress - The Pat, Riot Teddy us, Mr. G. Holman; Devil's Heel (whose hoofs have been worn down by bass singing), Mr. Kavanagh; Pompey, Mr. Weaver; Caesar, Mr. Harrigton; Quashee, Mr. D. Kelly; clem, Mr. F. Solomon; Tarline (a romanti girl), Mrs. H. Phillips; Aunt Deb, Mad. Bu rette; Lucinda, Signora Nicelai; Dinah (a good-looking woman of color), Mrs. McCormick. This troupe continued through June to perform burlesque operas, mostly parodies upon operas, such as "son-am-Bul-Ole," "The Black Diabolo," and, occasionally, "The Loan of a Lover," "The Swiss Cottage," &c. They had good voices, and, in their minstrelsy, harmonized very well. Of their success we know but little; we opine that it was soupe maigre. We were only in the house a night or so. The weather was hot.
General Welch & Co.' s Cirscus and National Theatre opened for the season of 1848 and 1849 on Monday, October 23d, 1848. Stage Manager and Equestrian Director, Mr. Joseph Foster; Ring Director, Mr. Horace Nicholls; Clown to the Circle, Mr. John May. The entire interior had been brilliantly re-furnished, and the splendid decorations relieved and aided by the effects of chaste French white and burnished gold. A new drapery curtain, fringed by a gorgeous trimming and ornamented by a classic medallion representing a court lady and her pointers proceeding to an equestrian tour, in the reign of Louis Quatorze, was designed and painted by Mr. John Wiser, principal artist of the establishment. The bill said:
"The entrance of the public will be saluted with the 'National Anthem of America,' by a full and competent orchestra led by Mr. Alexander Jamieson, leader and composer of the theatre. The first appearance of the four astonishing brothers from Europe, with the additional aid of that wonder of wonders, the Elfin Sprite. The audience will receive the first salutation of the ladies and gentlemen of the equestrian corps in a grand pagant cavalcade, parade and gallepade, with rich costumes of splendid quality and novel cut, aided by new and characteristic music. Their chargers will be caparisoned with golden housings and new mountings of antique design. The evolutions will be new and fanciful, with rapid military manoeuvres and steeple chase leaps, &c. The equestrian performances will be as follows: - Horsemanship by that active and elegant artiste, Master T. Neville, who will be aided by that undaunted and always welcome clown, John May. After which Hercules S. Lee, the strongest man ever presented to the public. His exercises are startling. The beautiful pastoral equestrian scene on two trained ponies, entitled "Damon and Phillida," to be rode by Mr. and Mrs. Howard. The Grecian games of the arena, or ground and lofty gymnastics, by the whole troupe. The four acrobats from all the principal theatres in Europe, Lavater Lee, H. C. Lee, W. Walker, S. Walker, and also Le Petite Saqui Lee, who will appear in the novel and original scenes and feats: First, a display of unique acrobatic groupings, to be executed by the above mentioned great artistes, with the wonderful addition in the person of a child, termed by all the Courts of Europe the modern Elfin Sprite. A performance named by the Parisians "Les Jeux du Gymnase," comprising many of the finest classic effects of the Academie Royale. Mr. Lavater Lee, the astounding equilibrist, will present a perfomance at once new and extraordinary, who solely sustains himself on the neck of a single galss bottle. Every attitude that grace has made known to the world of art and science will be presented.
Mr. W. Walker, on the corde volante, is truly new in feats and astounding. Concluding with the tourbillon of one hundred turns in the air."
The two Lies were great in "The mighty feats of Atlas." Their amazing execution with one, two and three immense globes, thrown by their feet upwards, across, passing and repassing with the utmost rapidity, is impossible to describe so as to delineate its effects to the eye.
Mr. Cadwalader, as the Chariotter of Rome, driving four horses, was clever. There were new feats by master Neville, the Rivers family and E. Derious. Miss Mary Ann Wells performed a beautiful castanet dance on the pony, called "The Pet of the Circle." And there was immense trampoline vaulting by the whole of this immense corps of ring performers.
On this evening was presented, for the first time here, a romatic spectacle, founded on the traditions of the Hartz Mountains, entitled "The Black Rider and the Terrific Steed." Invented by J. Fester, and to be played in one act only. New scenery, dresses and properties, by the artists of the theatre. The overture composed by Ferdinand Rieman; leader, Alexander Jamieson. Prince Frederick of Hesse Darnstadt, mr. H. Lewis; Colonel Branberg, Mr. Vanstavoren; Bassin Bubble, (of the Hussars,) Mr. Charles Foster; Major Leopold, Mr. G. F. Browne; conrad, (a sergeant,) Mr. Quayle; Sergeant Mynheer, Mr. G. Stone; Adrian, Mr. Kelley; Claude, Mr. Macklin; Robers, Messrs. Weaver, Wagstaff and Bradshaw; Mounted Soldiery, Messrs. Pool, Stewart, Field, Freeman, Nixon, Cox, Smith, Robins, La Force, Ronnwater, &c.; The Black Spectre, Mr. Marchael; Lady Rosara Rodenstien, Miss Mary Duff; Sotara, (a confidante,) Mrs. Myers; Edgar, an infant son of Rodenstein, Master Rivers. There were many terrific melo-dramatic effects in this piece. One especially was the pursuit of the traitor, Leopold, ever the blasted heath by the Spectral Horse and Black Hussar, with a grand explosion of the castle. At the denouement some fine tableaux militaires were exhibited. This piece, with the stereotyped ring performance, had a run into November, when "St. George and the Dragon" was given.
Every Saturday afternoon a performance was given for the juveniles, at half-past two o'clock, for their especial amusement, in which suitable performances were given. A ballet, called "The Old and Young," with funny pantomimical effects. Le Petite Eugene Lee, "the eighth wonder of the world," appeared, and trompoline flights were given by a band of juvenile performers. All the ladies and gentlemen of the company appeared in a gorgeous cavalcade, called "The Warriors Return from Battle; or, Welcome Home." There were all the usual performances of the ring, riding and vaulting, ending with a laughable extravaganza ballet, called "The Six Simpletons; or, The Family of Fools," in which the petite Les, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Nicholls, Mrs. Palmer, mesrs. S. Walker, Lee, &c., appeared.
The night performances were the same ring feats, but sometimes varied in name, but similar. With the equestrian drama of "The Terror of the Road; or, The Flying Highwayman of 1796" - Harry Hulter, (the terror of the road,) Mr. Charles Foster; Natty Noose, (of thieving propensities,) Mr. Marchael; Farmer Bruin, (fond on money, but not of strangers,) Mr. Cartlitch, a very clever performer of the old
school, of the London theatres; Hobnail, (a plowboy) Mr. G. Stone; mary (the maniac gipsey of the heath,) Miss Mary Duff; Mrs. Bruin, Mrs. Slickney; dorothy Bruin, Miss Burnett; Sybil Drawcard, Mrs. Palmer. This piece was an old English one localized for this country. Although the views were taken by John Wiser on the spot, yet the bill programme spoke of "Hounslow" and its distant views.
Wednesday, Nov. 22d, Herr Cline made his first appearance in six years; he appeared on the tight rope for one night only.
Sam. Lathrop, the New York clown, made his first appearance now in the ring, in his budget of comicalities. John May, the clown, had received a severe personal injury, and had to be withdrawn for some time.
The drama of the "Road Terror" continued to terrify the public for some time.
On Thanksgiving day, Nov. 23d, a day and night performance was given.
Friday evening, Nov. 24th, a new national spectacle was presented of some ingenuity, appealing to love of country, called "The Triumphs of Rough and Ready; or, The Past, Present, and the Future," with a magnificent allegory and moving panorama, descriptive of the honorable achievements of the valiant and devoted soldiers of liberty! The paintings by the native artist, John Wiser; machinery by McClung; costumes by M. Johnson. Gen. Taylor, Mr. Joseph Foster; Gen. Worth, Mr. Weaver; Capt. May, Mr. Bayly; Josiah Duzenbury, Mr. Charles Foster; Bridget Sullivan, Mr. Bennie; Capt. Walker, Mr. Young; Old Time, Mr. Cartlitch; major Browne, mr. G. Browne; Capt. Ridgely, Mr. Wharton; Capt. Duncan, Mr. Quayle; New York, Mr. G. Stone; Pennsylvania, Mr. Peters; Delaware, Mr. Wiley; Tennessee, Mr. Johnson; Florida, Mr. Millman, etc.; Goddess of Liberty, Miss Duff, and a very pretty one she made; the Goddesses by Mesdames Myers, Wilks and Miss Eberle.
Some of the scenery was very beautiful and effective, such as "Fort Browne by Moonlight," the silvery rays playing on the waters of the Rio Grande; "Taylor's Dream" was a well imagined allegory and very effective; the Goddess of Liberty and her attendant deities enshrouded him in the glorious flag of freedom; the mists of their visions were seen to fall over him, and were accompanied by his glories and his brave army's triumphs in an admirably painted moving panorama, descriptive of the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and Buena Vista. The White House was seen enveloped in futurity.
These national dramas, so much in consonancy with our present history of tribulations and glories, might well be revived in the same spirit, not with ridiculous plots and incidents, but in good music, language and appropriate paintings, as pleasing, moral and patriotic entertainments for our youth.
Nov. 28th, "The Real Bedouin Arabs; or Wild sons of the Desert." Six in number were engaged, viz: - Mahomet, Abraham, Alla, Haime, Mustapha and J. Ranoud, all from the desert of Sahara, Arabia.
"Notice to the Public. _ It is very seldom that one of the real wild children of the desert can be seen in this country, and hence they are a curiosity alone, to say nothing of their performances. They are real Bedouin Arabs, and the manager challenges contradiction."
The performances of the Bedouin Arabs were remarkable. Mustapha threw a somerset from the floor over two canvases elevated six feet]