Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Extravaganzas of J. R. Planche, Esq., Vol. 4: Somerset Herald 1825-1871
Latter it presented the finest opportunities. I need not say that they were made the most of by Mr. Beverley, and one of the results was little anticipated at the moment. N 0 special tableau for the termination of the piece being sug' gested in the story, it was left to that gentleman's taste and ingenuity to design one, and the novel yet exceedingly simple falling of the leaves of a palm tree, discovering six fairies supporting a coronet of jewels, produced such an e?'ect as I scarcely remember having witnessed on any similar occasion up to that period. But, alas! Valuable to the management and the author as I fully admit it proved on that occasion, it has been the cause of serious injury to the Drama subsequently. Year after year Mr. Beverley's powers were taxed to outdo his former out-doings. The epidemic spread in all directions. The last scene became the firsz in the estimation of the management of every theatre, where harlequinades were indispensable at Christmas. The ingenious method was hit upon of dove-tailing extravaganza and pantomime. A long burlesque, the characters in which have nothing to do with the harlequinade, terminates with one of those elaborate and gorgeous displays which have acquired the name of Transformation Scenes. Lejy are the objects of attraction, all the rest is inexplicable dumb show and noise. I have com mented on this fatal folly to a considerable length in my Recollections. I shall, therefore, only observe here, in support of my assertion, that it has seriously injured the true interests of the Drama; that managers, blindly relying on these costly displays for the pecuniary success of their pieces, are perfectly indifferent to the character of the dramas which precede them while, on the other hand.
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