Author: [Dickens, Charles. 1812 - 1870]. Kemble, Fanny [1809 - 1893] - Featured Actress
Title: THEATRE PLAYBILL. The Local Cosomorama
Description: [London]: Printed by W. Reynolds, 1831. 1st printing. Now housed in a clear archival mylar protector. Single leaf of evidently a bifolium, 13-1/4" x 3/4". "2" printed at top of leaf, with the entertainment beginning with "Scene 16. A Rural Farm, near London", and continues through Scene 21, then announcing "Hop o' my Thumb and His Brothers! or, Harlequin and the Ogre." 5+ forthcoming performances then listed, including Catherine of Cleves. With a synopsis of the scenery for "Hop o' my thumb and his brothers", including The local cosmorama, painted by the Messrs. Grieves, representing the opening of the new London bridge on 1 August, 1831. Edge rash, with chipping to lower edge [3 lines of text affected]. Faint horizontal fold-line. Evidently the second page of a 2 page playbill [inferred from an OCLC listing, and the 2 printed at top of the leaf]. A VG copy of this fragile survivor. Here offered a scarce playbill from Theatre Royal, Covent Garden [1831] which advertises "The Local Cosmorama," a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century that often showcased panoramic views of various cities, landscapes, and historical events. Charles Dickens, renowned for his keen observations of society and his interest in entertainment and visual arts, was likely familiar with cosmoramas and may have attended such exhibitions himself. The playbill features the grand opening of the New London Bridge as it appeared on the 31st of August 1831. Herr Cline, featured in Scene 20, is also known as Herr Klein or Herr Cline of Vienna, was a popular performer renowned for his feats on the elastic cord during the early 19th century. His agility, strength, and skill in performing acrobatic stunts and tricks while suspended on a stretched elastic cord earned him widespread acclaim. "Hop o' my Thumb and his Brothers; or, Harlequin and the Ogre" is referenced in "David Copperfield." In Dickens' narrative, David Copperfield, the protagonist, is depicted as a child actor who performs in a production of "Hop o' my Thumb" at the Theatre Royal. Fanny Kemble, here in an early role, played Catherine of Cleves. In 1829, Kemble debuted on the stage as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Covent Garden Theatre. Her attractive personality immediately made her a great audience favourite. In 1832, Kemble accompanied her father on a theatrical tour of the United States, so this 1831 appearance one of her latter performances in the UK, not returning to England until the mid-1840s, after a failed marriage with the prominent Philadelphian, Pierce Mease Butler, which, in 1849, ended in divorce.

Keywords: Literature Literature


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