3-028-585 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Christmas Pantomimes and Burlesques: scene from "The Yellow Dwarf," at Covent Garden Theatre, 1870. London stage show. 'For Covent Garden Mr. Byron has provided "The Yellow Dwarf; or, Harlequin Cupid."...Allfair consults the Fairy of the Desert, being accompanied by one Twitterino, a page, represented admirably by Mr. Fred Payne, who rescues Allfair after eating the fatal cake, and obtains her promise of marriage. The desert fairy falls in love with Twitterino, on whom she tries a pas de fascination, which greatly pleased the audience. Meanwhile the King seeks to arrange a marriage between Allfair and Dulcimer, who is attended by warlike Amazons. These are attacked by the demons of the Yellow Dwarf (Mr. Stoyle), who bear off the Princess to the Castle of Steel - a scene which does the greatest credit to Mr. W. Telbin, and is one of exceeding brilliance...The Prince and the Dwarf fight, but the demon is compelled to succumb. Whereupon the transformation scene becomes inevitable, which, with all its wonders, is due to the fancy and great executive power of Mr. Julian Hicks...Altogether the performance is of the costliest kind, and forms the most gorgeous of spectacles'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.