Billy's Puppet Shew For the Year 1804, 29 May 1804
Scope and Contents
Published: S. W. Fores. Pitt, as showman, stands on one of two steps leading to his stage, and facing his audience, John Bull and his wife, with a gaping youth standing behind them (right). Beside the stage (left) Melville in Highland dress, sits playing bagpipes. Pitt holds behind his back strings attached to six tiny puppets, who stand bowing and gesticulating; he says: "Now Mr Bull, you shall see what you shall see - A Comedy of my own making - all entirely new Performers believe me." John, who sits with a watchful dog between his feet, answers: "Poo - Poo! - No flummery - I've been looking over the Play Bill this half hour and the Devil of anything new do I see but Yourself and the Scotch Piper - The Doctor dont act I see - but many of his play Mates do I see, and that's just the same thing - I suppose you dont let a body peep behind the screens - or I might know some of them." He holds a 'List of New Performers'. Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 29 May 1804
Conditions Governing Access
Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1.0 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
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