Note 62 — Chapter XVIII
Reading edition
The gorgeous spectacle of "Aladdin" was, after Douglas by Master Betty, performed for the first time on April 19th. "Aladdin" was represented by Mrs. C. Kemble; Abanazar, the Magician, by Mr. Farley; and Kasrac, his Chinese Slave, by Mr. Grimaldi: it was highly attractive, and was performed for the thirty-fourth time on June 21. Grimaldi's benefit this year was on July 1st, when were performed "Five miles off;" "Love, Law, and Physic," and for the forty-second time, "Harlequin and the Red Dwarf." At the close of this season, by permission of the proprietors of Drury Lane Theatre, Sheridan's "Robinson Crusoe and his Man Friday" was produced at Covent Garden; the Shipwrecked Mariner, by Mr. Grimaldi; his Man Friday, by Mr. Bologna, jun. It was repeated a few times, and the season terminated on July 15th.
Joe's popularity at this period is thus happily celebrated by the late James Smith, in the following—
TRIBUTARY STANZAS TO GRIMALDI, THE CLOWN. Facetious mime! thou enemy of gloom; Grandson of Momus, blithe and debonair, Who aping Pan, with an inverted broom Canst brush the cobwebs from the brows of care. Our gallery gods immortalize thy songs, Thy Newgate thefts impart ecstatic pleasure; Thou bidd'st a Jew's harp charm a Christian throng, A Gothic salt-box teem with Attic treasure. When Harlequin, his charmer to regain, Courts her embrace in many a queer disguise, The light of heels looks for his sword in vain— Thy furtive fingers snatch the magic prize. The fabled egg from thee obtains its gold: Thou sett'st the mind from critic bondage loose, Where male and female cacklers, young and old, Birds of a feather, hail the sacred goose. Even pious souls, from Bunyan's durance free, At Sadler's Wells applaud thy agile wit, Forget old care, while they remember thee— Laugh the heart's laugh, and haunt the jovial pit. Long mayst thou guard the prize thy humour won; Long hold thy court in Pantomimic State; And to the equipoise of English fun, Exalt the lowly and bring down the great.