Event Comment: To be seen a Person who performs
the most surprizing Things...he presents you with a common Wine bottle, which any of
the Spectators may first examine; this Bottle is plac'd on a Table in
the Middle of
the Stage, and he (without any Equivocation) goes into it in Sight of all
the Spectators, and sings in it; during his Stay in
the Bottle, any Person may handle it, and see plainly that it does not exceed a common Tavern Bottle.
The Performance continues about Two Hours and a Half.
These Performances have been seen by most of
the Crowned Heads of
Asia,
Africa, and
Europe, and never appear'd anywhere Public but once. Stage 7s. 6d. where Masks may be worn. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. [
The famous
Bottle Conjurer hoax.]
Theatre was crowded...by five o'clock; at seven
the house was lighted up [but not music]...a Person came before
the Curtain, and, bowing, promis'd if Mr Conjurer did not arrive in half an Hour,
their Money should be return'd...after near an Hour...a Gentleman in
the Box snatch'd a Candle lighted, and in Violence threw it on
the Stage; this was
the Signal for
the Onset of Battle...
the Boxes, Seats, Glasses,
Scenes, Chairs, Machinery, and all
the Furniture of
the Play House, were in less than ten Minutes carried into
the Street...an excellent Bonfire was made of
Mr Foote's Auction Room...it may put a [pe]riod to
the Auction, till
the Theatre can be refitted.--
Charles Adams to
John Gilbert-Cooper,
Theatre Notebook, XI (1957) p. 139. [
Potter was still owner of this
theatre.] Those opposed to a recent late book would have been gratified had
the Conjurer jumped into
the bottle and proved that miracles had not yet ceased."--
Daily Advertiser, 17 Jan. Last Night a numerous Audience, among whom were several Persons of Quality, was at
the New Theatre in the Haymarket, in wonderful Expectation of seeing
the Miraculous Man creep into a Bottle, and do several o
ther Miracles; but
the only one he perform'd was, that he render'd himself invisible (without any Equivocation) to
the no small Disappointment of
the gaping Multitude; who, being told from behind
the Curtain that
the Performer had not yet appear'd, but that if
they would stay until
the next Night, instead of a Quart Bottle he should creep into a Pint, immediately grew outrageous, and in a Quarter of an Hour's Time broke to Pieces all
the Boxes, Benches,
Scenes, and everything that was in
their power to destroy, leaving only
the Shell of
the House remaining. Surely this will deter anyone from venturing to impose on
the public in
the like manner for
the future.--
General Advertiser, 17 Jan. [See also
dl Comment 18, 19, 20, 27 Jan.