Clowns -- Great Britain -- Biography; Grimaldi, Joseph, 1779-1837
[31] The "Great Devil" ceased to be played at Sadler's Wells the last
week in May, 1802; the accident particularized as having occurred on
the 14th of August, was, therefore, not during the performance of that
piece, but on the last night of the pantomime of "St. George," in which
it was announced would be presented several unexampled and unparalleled
combats, exclusive of the combat with the Dragon, which involves St.
George in a shower of fire: the consequences, however, did not "confine
him to his bed for upwards of a month," as the bill of Monday, August
30, mentions the performance of the new serio-comic Pantomime of "Zoa,"
in which would be performed an extraordinary combat of six, by Bologna,
jun., Grimaldi, Gattie, Hartland, and others, to conclude with, fourth
time, "The Wizard's Wake; or, Harlequin's Regeneration;" Harlequin, Mr.
Bologna, jun.; Merlin, Mr. Gattie; Clown, Mr. Grimaldi.
[32] Grimaldi appears to have been much circumscribed in his
performances at the Wells in 1801. Dubois was Clown in the
harlequinades, and between him and Joe, the comicalities of the season
appear to have been divided; the comic songs being sung by Dubois,
Grimaldi, and Davis. Among the extraordinary events of this season was
the appearance in June of the late distinguished tragedian, Edmund
Kean, as "Master Carey, the Pupil of Nature," who was announced to
recite Rolla's celebrated address from the Tragedy of "Pizarro."
There was something appropriate in his first appearance at the Wells:
his great grandfather, Henry Carey, the illegitimate son of George
Saville, Marquis of Halifax, and the avowed author and composer of the
well-known ballad of "Sally in our Alley," wrote and composed many of
the musical pieces for Sadler's Wells. Though often in great distress,
and the author of many convivial songs, Harry Carey never employed his
muse in opposition to the interests of morality. Poor Harry Carey,
however, became at length the victim of poverty and despair, and
hanged himself at his lodging in Warner-street, Clerkenwell, October
4, 1743. When found dead, he had but one halfpenny in his pocket.
George Saville Carey was his posthumous child; at first a printer, he
abandoned that calling for the stage, but his abilities did not ensure
him success; and he became a lecturer and associate with Moses Kean in
his imitations of popular actors, and Lectures on Mimicry. Carey had
a daughter; and Moses Kean a brother, Edmund Kean, who made his first
appearance on the stage at the Royalty Theatre, September 9, 1788.
Edmund Kean was the father of the tragedian; and Nancy Carey gave him
birth at her father's chambers in Gray's Inn. His mother called herself
"Mrs." Carey, and played first tragedy woman at Richardson's Booth at
Bartholomew and other fairs: bills are extant announcing parts played
by Mrs. Carey and Master Carey. Moses Kean, the uncle of the tragedian,
was a tailor, with a wooden leg; a convivial but in no respect a
dissipated character.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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