The Old Showmen and the Old London FairsFrost, Thomas
History
The Old Showmen and the Old London Fairs
Frost, Thomas
Fairs -- England -- London; London (England) -- Social life and customs
Reynolds, one of the Haymarket company, set up his booth between the
hospital gate and the Crown Tavern, and produced the same piece under the
title of _Hunter_, that being the name of the principal character. He had
the Haymarket band and scenery, with Ray, from Drury Lane, in the
principal part, and Mrs. Nokes as Tippit. Both he and Fielding announced
Hulett for Chaunter, the king of the beggars, and continued to do so
during the fair; but the comedian could not have acted several times daily
in both booths, and as he did not return to the Haymarket after the fair,
but joined the Lincoln's Inn Fields company, he was probably secured by
Fielding.
Bullock, who had now seceded from the Lincoln's Inn Fields company and
joined the new establishment in Goodman's Fields, under the management of
Odell, also appeared at Bartholomew Fair this year without a partner,
producing _Dorastus and Faunia_, and an adaptation of Doggett's _Country
Wake_ with the new title of _Flora_, announcing it, in deference to the
new taste, as being "after the manner of the _Beggars' Opera_." Rayner and
Pullen's company performed, at the Black Boy Inn, near Hosier Lane, an
adaptation of Gay's opera, the dashing highwayman being personated by
Powell, Polly by Mrs. Rayner, and Lucy by Mrs. Pullen.
In 1730, Fielding had a partner in Oates, a Drury Lane comedian, and again
erected his theatre in George Yard, which site was retained for him during
the whole period of his Bartholomew Fair experience. They produced a new
opera, called the _Generous Free-mason_, which was written by William
Rufus Chetwood, many years prompter at Drury Lane. Oates personated
Sebastian, and Fielding took the part of Clerimont himself. Miss Oates was
Maria. After the opera there were "several entertainments of dancing by
Mons. de Luce, Mademoiselle de Lorme, and others, particularly the Wooden
Shoe Dance, Perrot and Pierette, and the dance of the Black Joke."
Reynolds was there again, with the historical drama of _Scipio's Triumph_
and the pantomime of _Harlequin's Contrivance_. Lee and Harper presented
_Robin Hood_, and Penkethman and Giffard the historical drama of _Wat
Tyler and Jack Straw_. Penkethman had retired from the stage in 1724, and
it is doubtful whether he lent his name on this occasion to Giffard, who
was then lessee of Goodman's Fields, or the latter had taken the younger
Penkethman into partnership with him.
Among the minor shows this year was a collection of natural curiosities,
advertised as follows:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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