2-982-317 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Cherbourg Fetes - Tents at the Railway Station, Cherbourg, 1858. 'Near the railway station was a sort of small "Camp de Chalons," where were pitched tents for those invited by the railroad directors to witness the inaugural ceremonies. In this romantic spot, surrounded by overhanging hills crowned with rich foliage and verdure...were congregated 1500 persons in their canvas abodes. Amongst the other amusements provided by the railway company for their guests, there were dramatic entertainments at what was called the Theatre of the Gare (station), and they appear to have been very successful...On the lifting of the curtain Madame Doche announced that the scenery had not arrived, and that the orchestra was absent...and she begged indulgence. So the piece, which should be played in a room at an inn, was played in a forest, the only decoration available. All the properties were wanting; there were literally only the actors, Doche and Poirier. Their ready wit and dramatic skill saved the situation, and they appear to have been only once hard put to, which was when, according to the action of the piece, they ought to look out of a window. There was no window to look out of, and the nearest approach they could make to it was to look behind a tree'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.