Graphics, Image for <i>La Tarantula; or, The Spider King</i>
Space
Graphics, Image for La Tarantula; or, The Spider King
THE   ADELPHI   THEATRE   CALENDAR
A Record of Dramatic Performances at a Leading Victorian Theatre
Formerly the Sans Pareil (1806-1819), later the Adelphi (1819-1900)
Space
  Daily Calendar Daily Calendars
Space
Home page Editor’s page Authors and titles Actors and actresses Composers, Music and Song Musicians and singers Dance, entertainment and spectacles Management and back stage All-Inclusive Index Bibliography Graphics gallery Theatre research Adelphi today Book version

HOME
PAGE

EDITORIAL
PAGE

AUTHORS
& TITLES

ACTORS &
ACTRESSES

COMPOSERS,
MUSIC & SONG

MUSICIANS
& SINGERS

DANCE,
ENTERTAINMENT
& SPECTACLES

MANAGEMENT
& BACK STAGE

All-INCLUSIVE
INDEX

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GRAPHICS
GALLERY

THEATRE
RESEARCH

ADELPHI
TODAY

BOOK
VERSION

Space

Title:La Tarantula; or, The Spider King check.png
Description:La Tarantula; or, The Spider King by Albert Smith.  Spiderion, King of Spiders, was played by Sidney.  Luigi played by Sarah J. Woolgar and Loretta by Céline Céleste. space.gif
1st Performance:Dec 26, 1850 space.gif
Theatre:Adelphi space.gif
Source:The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1850, p. 514 space.gif
Review:The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1850, p. 514 space.gif
space.gif

ADELPHI.

Here Mr. Albert Smith presents us with "The Tarantula; or, the Spider-King."

The piece opens with a scene, representing the Realm of Reptiles, in which Spiderion, the King of the Spiders, and other unearthly objects, are brought into notice, so as to constitute a Monster Meeting, which is terminated in a skilful manner by its transformations into a cloud.  In a subsequent scene, the height of the ridiculous is attained in a "coaching incident," in which a car is introduced, drawn by horses made of boys, two to each horse.

Luigi (Miss Woolgar) is the victim of the tarantula receiving what is supposed to be a fatal bite, and, on the strength of this belief, Luigi's betrothed, Loretta (Madame Celeste) is affianced to Dr. Omeopatico (Mr. Wright), but Luigi's recovery slightly deranges this secondary arrangement, and restores the status quo.  In the course of the piece, "the village in flames" furnishes opportunity for a very brilliant and effective scene.

The illustration is a most effective tableau of the principal characters.

 image_18501228_514_ad_crop.jpg

 

check.png
The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1850, p. 513

 

image_18501228_513_orig.jpg

 

check.png
The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1850, p. 514

 

image_18501228_514_orig.jpg



Space
To top of page Home page Editor’s page Daily calendar Authors and titles Actors and actresses Composers, Music and Song Musicians and singers Dance, entertainment and spectacles Management and back stage All-Inclusive Index Bibliography Graphics gallery Theatre research Adelphi today Book version Site map

TO TOP
OF PAGE

HOME
PAGE

EDITORIAL
PAGE

DAILY
CALENDAR

AUTHORS
& TITLES

ACTORS &
ACTRESSES

COMPOSERS,
MUSIC & SONG

MUSICIANS
& SINGERS

DANCE,
ENTERTAINMENT
& SPECTACLES

MANAGEMENT
& BACK STAGE

All-INCLUSIVE
INDEX

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GRAPHICS
GALLERY

THEATRE
RESEARCH

ADELPHI
TODAY

BOOK
VERSION

SITE
MAP

Space
Thank you for visiting this site.
Copyright © 1988, 1992, 2013 and 2016 by Alfred L. Nelson, Gilbert B. Cross, Joseph Donohue.
Originally published by Greenwood Press as The Sans Pareil Theatre 1806-1819, Adelphi Theatre 1819-1850: An Index to Authors, Titles, Performers, 1988, and The Adelphi Theatre 1850-1900: An Index to Authors, Titles, Performers and Management, 1992.
Creative Commons License
The Adelphi Theatre Calendar revised, reconstructed and amplified.  Copyright © 2013 and 2016  by Alfred L. Nelson, Gilbert B. Cross, Joseph Donohue.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License, with the exception of graphics from The Clip Art Book, edited by Gerard Quinn and published by Crescent in 1990.  These images are reproduced in accord with the publisher’s note, which states "The Clip Art Book is a new compilation of illustrations that are in the public domain.  The individual illustrations are copyright free and may be reproduced without permission or payment.  However, the selection of illustrations and their layout is the copyright of the publisher, so that one page or more may not be photocopied or reproduced without first contacting the publishers."