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
The company were thrown into confusion, however, and cries of "shame!
shame!" arose on every side. Heidegger, bursting with rage, again rushed
in, and began to rave and swear at the musicians. The music ceased; and
the Duke of Montagu persuaded Heidegger to go to the King, and make an
apology for the band, representing that His Majesty was very angry. The
counterfeit Heidegger immediately took the same course, and, as soon as
Heidegger had made the best apology his agitation would permit, the former
stepped to his side and said, "Indeed, sire, it was not my fault, but that
devil's in my likeness." Heidegger faced about, pale and speechless,
staring with widely dilated eyes at his double. The Duke of Montagu then
told the latter to take off his mask, and the frolic ended; but Heidegger
swore that he would never attend any public entertainment again, unless
that witch, the wax-work woman, broke the mould and melted the mask before
him.
In 1742, the first place in Bartholomew Fair was again held, but for the
last time, by Hippisley and Chapman, who revived the ever-popular Scapin
in what they called "the most humorous and diverting droll, called
_Scaramouch Scapin_ or the _Old Miser caught in a Sack_," the managers
playing the same characters as in 1740. Hallam had made his last
appearance at the fair in the preceding year, and his booth was now held
by Turbutt and Yates, who set it up opposite the hospital gate, and
produced _The Loves of King Edward IV. and Jane Shore_. Yates personated
Sir Anthony Lackbrains, Turbutt was Captain Blunderbuss, and Mrs. Yates,
Flora. A new aspirant to public favour appeared in Goodwin, whose booth
stood opposite the White Hart, near Cow Lane, and presented a three act
comedy, called _The Intriguing Footman_, followed by a pantomimic
entertainment "between a soldier, a sailor, a tinker, a tailor, and Buxom
Joan of Deptford." Fawkes and Pinchbeck announced that "Punch's celebrated
company of comical tragedians from the Haymarket," would perform _The
Tragedy of Tragedies_, "being the most comical and whimsical tragedy that
was ever tragedized by any tragical company of comedians, called _The
Humours of Covent Garden_, by Henry Fielding, Esq."
In 1743, the erection of theatrical booths in Smithfield was prohibited by
a resolution of the Court of Aldermen, and the interdict was repeated in
the following year. The prohibition did not extend to Southwark Fair,
however, though held by the Corporation; for Yates was there in the former
year, with a strong company from the theatres royal playing _Love for
Love_, with Woodward as Tattle, Macklin as Ben, Arthur as Foresight, Mrs.
Yates as Mrs. Frail, and Miss Bradshaw as Miss Prue. The after-piece was
_The Lying Valet_, in which Yates appeared as Sharp, and his wife as Kitty
Pry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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