Playbill or poster advertising Colomba the Corsican Sister at the Theatre Royal Adelphi, 28 December 1846; The Celebrated Entortilationists Mr. John Lees and the Masters Hanlon with their Jeux Gymnastiques, followed by The Phantom Dancers, or, the Wilis Bride. Letterpress printed by W.S. Johnson, Nassau Steam Press.

Typographic poster in black ink. Letterpress on paper in upper and lower case describing the evening's programme in great detail

Gabrielle Enthoven Collection

The playbill advertises the evening's performance of Colomba, the Corsican Sister as a 'Glorious Christmas Amusement' and a 'New Splendid Romantic Drama' based on a tale by Prosper Merimée, intended to: 'accurately depict Corsican habits, customs, national character and social peculiarities'. The playbill notes: 'The people are like the Italians, hot, revengeful, quick in their sentiments and sanguinary in their remembrance of injuries; and unlike the French they are grave, sober, earnest and moody. Family feuds, and litigious schemes are common amongst the Corsicans, in further aggravation of those dissentions which are inseparable from the existence, in such communities, of castes and parties.'

The Phantom Dancers, or The Wilis Bride is described as a 'Grand, Romantic, Semi-Burlesque Fairy Spectacle in Two Acts by Charles Selby founded on the ballet of Giselle. The legend on which the piece is founded is noted as originally being from a tale by Henrich Heine.

The playbill details the scenery by Messrs Pitt and Johnstone, including a Courtyard in Ajaccio in Colomba and a Vineyard with the Rhine in perspective where they dance the ‘Pas de Vignerons’ in The Phantom Dancers. Dresses are credited by Messrs Godbee, Palmer and Rayner; music by Mr. A. Mellon, and machinery by Mr. Cooper .

This playbill, printed for this Christmas extravaganza at London's Theatre Royal Adelphi, notes that the lessee was Benjamin Webster (1797-1882) and the evening was under the direction of Madame Céleste. In fact Webster acquired the lease of the Adelphi in 1844 and passed it to the dancer Céline Céleste, his long-term companion. This explains the emphasis on dance in both the evening's spectacular productions. Madame Céleste starred as Columba in the first piece, and Giselle in the second. Other performers included Mr. A Mellon, Mr. T. Ireland, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. O. Smith, Mr. Glennaire, Mr. Munyard, Miss Marian Taylor, Mr. Munyard and Miss Emma Harding. Mr. John Lees and The Masters Hanlon were the 'Celebrated Entortilationists', presumably adding very circular dance moves to the proceedings.

The Adelphi Theatre was built in 1806 as the Sans Pareil, sold in 1819 and renamed The Adelphi Theatre. It became the Theatre Royal Adelphi in October 1829 and was replaced by a new Adelphi in 1858.

S.346-2019