Transcription
ROYAL GROVE.
A new pantomime was last night given at Astley’s, called “The Rival Sorcerers,” which, so scenery and machinery, is by much the best ever exhibited at that place. The business is entirely new, and consists chiefly of a dispute between two Magicians, on in the interest of Harlequin and Columbine, and the other in that of the Old Man and Clown. Each of the Magicians having power with Harlequin, displays a kind of emulation in the magick [sic] art never before presented on any stage.
The scenes the most noticed, were a saloon and statues at the opening of the Pantomime, and where Harlequin obtains Columbine by stratagem, and immediately goes to a cavern inhabited by a Sorcerer (his friend) but being pursued by the Magician, and discovered, a combat ensues, and the scene changes to a fiery lake. Here the combat is renewed with double force, Magician against Magician, Furies against Daemons; dragons, serpents, and a variety of creatures are seen engaging, till at last Harlequin looses Columbine, who is taken down to the infernal regions. At this moment arrives a group of Satyrs with their clubs, who descend to the region below, immediately release Columbine and retreat to a visto of rocks. Here the Old Man and the Clown discover Harlequin and Columbine, and pursue them very close, which obliges Harlequin to have resource to his magick [sic] ; accordingly he changes one part of the visto into a triumpital car, in which he seats himself and Columbine, which car being drawn by lions in full career, he escapes. Another pars of the rock immediately changes to an unruly ass, mounted by the Old Man. A third part of the rock also changes to a drove of bullocks; so that Harlequin is seen escaping one way in his car, while the Old Man appears greatly embarrassed by being pursued by a drove of bullocks tossing the Clown on their horns. This laughable scene is followed by another equally entertaining; a publick [sic]-house changes to a Cooper’s shop: a whimsical pursuit here takes place after Columbine and Harlequin; and on the Clown and the Old Man getting upon two of the tubs, they fall to pieces, and the whole shop changes to a most charming view of the sea. Here a procession takes place of Neptune, the Sea Gods and Goddesses, Mermaids and Tritons, and all the curiosities of the watery element; while, on the other hand, the Clown and old Man are seen climbing out of the sea up a rock, and gaining the summit, are surprised at the sight, and finding it impossible to overcome Harlequin, beg him to consider their situation; the waves augment, and they appear rather dangerously situated. Columbine seeing this, intercedes with Harlequin and Neptune to release her father and the Clown. At this moment arrives Harlequin’s friend, the Sorceress—here the whole procession pay obedience to her; and the old man giving his consent to Harlequin’s union with Columbine, the whole of this superb scene changes to a magnificent palace and garden, with steps to the rock for the Old Man to descend. A chorus and procession of all the characters here takes place, which, for brilliancy and grandeur, has not its equal. The dresses and musick [sic] were such as recommended them to publick [sic] notice, and the plot and business of the Pantomime to be equal to any others he possesses.—Considering the first night, and the multiplicity of changes, nothing ever went off better—it must have been attended with very great expense.
