| Title: | Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene |
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| Description: | Scene from Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene at the Princess. |
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| Theatre: | Princess |
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| Source: | The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1858, p. 513 |
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| Review: | The Illustrated London News, Dec 28, 1850, p. 513 |
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PRINCESS'.
After "The Stranger," followed the pantomime,
already announced, "Alonzo the Brave and the Fair
Imogene"--a title implying an ambitious design, if not a
poetical conception. The legend is followed with good
effect. The quarrel between the fairies Fidelity
and Infidelity is suggestive; and the scenic effect of
moonlight melting into sunlight, and then of the landscape
itself dissolving into another view, is eminently
pleasing. Thus brought into the presence of the Brave and
the Fair, doomed soon to separate—he for the Holy Land, and she
for her lonely bower—Imogene, however, as in the ballad,
swears inviolable constancy; and, also as in the ballad,
violates both her vow and constancy at once, being
"dazzled" and "bewildered" by the gold and
jewellery of an enormously wealthy baron. Previous to the
wedding, however, the faithless fair one hears of the death of
her lover; but this circumstance not absolving her from her vow,
conjures up terrors in her looking-glass. Nevertheless,
under the direction of Soyer, the nuptial festivities
proceed. At the hour of one, a stranger guest appears
seated at the banquet, with his countenance concealed by his
beaver. He proves, of course, to be the ghost of
Alonzo, come to claim or to reproach the lady. He
demands the fulfillment of her oath:—
If I be living, or if I be dead,
I swear by the Virgin, no one in your stead,
Shall the husband of Imogene be. |
There is no chance either for the Baron or for her, and off
she must have gone but for the interference of the fairies
Affirmative and Negative, who decide upon giving
the lovers another trial as Harlequin, Columbine, and
Pantaloon (Mr. Cormack, Miss le Clercq, and Mr. Paulo);
Mr. Flexmore being the Clown. In all respects,
the piece was well appointed and admirably represented.
We have engraved the beautiful moonlight scene.
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