Skip to main content

Full text of "Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi"

See other formats


MEMOIES OP JOSEPH GEIMAXDI.

299

" On, come!" cried Grrimaldi, " it's not so bad as I thought,
—333Z. 13s. is not so much among six. persons!" which was the
number of proprietors at that time.

"Joe," said Mr. Hughes, gravely, "is this the first meeting
you have attended:"

"Yes."

"Ah, then I do not wonder you have misunderstood me.
What I meant was, that the loss to each person is 3331.13s.» the
gross loss heing six times that sum."

This communication was a very unexpected blow to all his
hopes; but as there was nothing better to be done, he paid his
share of the money at once with as good a grace as he could
assume, having thus gratified Ms wish to become a proprietor
of Sadler's Wells by the expenditure, first, of a large sum of
money for his shares, and secondly, of another sum of upwards
of 330Z. at the end of the first season.

Grimaldi anticipated other heavy demands upon his pro-
vincial gains of 1817 and 1818, and bitterly regretted having
connected himself with the establishment in any other way
than as a salaried actor.

The Christmas pantomime at Covent Garden was entitled
"Baron Munchausen," * and proved as successful as its prede-
cessors had done for some years. During its run, a eireum-
stanee occurred worthy of mention, as an instance of tibe
brutality of a man belonging to the theatre.

One night, a fellow engaged as a carpenter, and whose busi-
ness it likewise was to assist in holding a carpet in which the
pantomime characters are caught when they jump through the
scenes, went to Ellar, who was the Harlequin, and holding up
the carpet, said that it was very dry. thereby intimating in the
cant phrase that he required something to drink, Ellar, from

* " Baron Munehausen; or, the Fountain of Love," first performed on Beoem-
ber 26, 1818. Harlequin, Mr. Ellar; Clown, Mr. Grimaldi; Pantaloon. Mr.
Norman; Columbine, Misa F. Dennett.3*."ing about three tons, fell with a loud noise upon a spot