Carlisle Patriot, 01 Oct 1825 - Sights of the Week (4)
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Saturday 01 Oct 1825 (p. 3, col. 1-3)
SIGHTS OF THE WEEK.
[continued]
THEATRE—ASSEMBLIES, &c.
The Theatre on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, was crowded to excess. On the latter evening, the celebrated Miss FOOTE appeared in The Belle's Stratagem, as Letitia Hardy. A vast mass of persons waited at the doors long before they were open, and the house was completely crammed in every part by half-past six—some would willingly have given a guinea for a standing place. The orchestra was filled, and the musicians were obliged to take post in the dark regions below the stage, the hades of the theatrical world—even the space behind the scenes was so crowded that spectators were nearly converted into actors, and the real performers could scarcely get on and off the boards,—and, after all, hundreds were obliged to retire for want of room,—so anxious were all classes of persons to see a lady whose loves and frailties have occupied so much of public attention.
Miss FOOTE is certainly a very elegant woman—has a good figure, a good face—a fine eye, pretty mouth, but, take all in all, is less beautiful than common fame has made her. Notwithstanding, there is an apparent delicacy and polish about her not usually found in persons in her situation; and she possesses a vivacity of eye, smile, and manner, that might well confuse the head of the Pea Green Gentleman who paid so dearly for his coquetting with her.
As an actress, Miss FOOTE is singularly chaste and pleasing; her dancing is grace itself; her singing not so good, but respectable. The play contains various very strong allusions to her peculiar situation; and the audience were so gallant as to seize every opportunity of showering down the most flattering applause, which produced its due effect on the object of it, for she was evidently in high spirits.
At the end of the piece, Mr. ALEXANDER appeared before the curtain, and announced that, in consequence of the great approbation evinced that evening, he had succeeded in forming a second engagement with Miss FOOTE for the Carlisle and Dumfries Theatres, to commence about the middle of November,—on her return, we presume, from Scotland, where she tarries till that period. She appears at Glasgow to-morrow night.
The pushing and squeezing at the entrances of the house, afforded too favourable an opportunity to be neglected by the light-fingered tribe, who have been pretty numerous in the town during the week. One Gentleman, whom we know, had his pocket-book, with cash to some amount, taken from an inside pocket of his coat, either in the boxes, or while forcing his passage thither.
The Balls and Ordinaries at the Bush and Coffee-House were better attended than they sometimes are; but the country gentlemen expressed their surprise and regret that the races were not supported by the city gentlemen and ladies as they ought to be: they referred more particularly to the subscriptions, ordinaries, and assemblies. The town was so excessively crowded on Wednesday night, that hundreds could not obtain beds at any price: all the public-houses were full, and large troops of countrymen paraded the streets throughout the night, the consequence of which was many a bloody nose.
A large portion of the genteel company remained in Carlisle till to-day. The Earl of Lonsdale and the various branches of the family who accompanied his Lordship, left town for Lowther this afternoon.
THE EXHIBITION.
"Though last not least." This rational and elegant source of amusement has been visited, during the week, by a constant succession of fresh faces, all of whom were highly delighted.
The subscription list, our readers will perceive, increases; and there is therefore every prospect of a still further advance towards excellence next year—for the institution can only be extended by warm public support, as many heavy expenses attend it.
[Here follows a very long list of exhibits, continued from previous newspapers, which has not been transcribed.]