1897 - Siege of Sebastopol

 

For readers of the Hamilton Times issue of June 4, 1897, the following advertisement would surely have caught a lot of attention:

“The greatest of all Jubilee year productions. Marvelous pyrotechnics and sonic effects. Hundreds of trained performers. An evening of continual surprises  and splendors impossible to describe. The Wonderful Lamarks, the funniest troupe of acrobats alive; Great Contortionists; the Acrobatic Hottentots; high class dancing, etc., etc. Nothing approaching it has been seen in this city before.

        AT DUNDURN Park

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 8^th, 9^th and 10^th.

General admission 25 cents.”¹

¹ Hamilton Times. June 4, 1897.

The month of June 1897 in Hamilton, as throughout the British Empire, would be filled with all sorts of patriotic entertainments. 1897 was Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year, celebrating the 60^th year of her reign.

Dundurn Park would be the site of many of the June 1897 Jubilee entertainments. For the 25 cent admission to the beautiful grounds surrounding Senator Donald MacIness’ home, Dundurn Castle, the production to be put on promised to be one not to be missed.

Three days after the first advertisement, a second promotion appeared providing some more details of what those in attendance would see:

 

                Hand & Teale’s

        Great Production – The Most Amusing

                Of all Pyro-Spectacles

        THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL

“Vividly depicting the great historical struggle of the English and French allies with the Russian army, assisted by all the marvelous effects of pyrotechnic and scenic art, introducing new specialties, the wonderful Lamark troupe, the funniest Acrobats in the world, the Tumbling Hottentots, high class National Dancers, strange Contortionists, etc., etc.

“A wealth of siege and bombardment effects.

“An evening amidst splendors indescribable. Something entirely without a parallel in the City of Hamilton.

                AT DUNDURN PARK

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 8^th, 9^th and 10^th.

General admission 25 cents:²

²“Amusements”

    Hamilton Times. June 07, 1897.

The Siege of Sebastopol was a massive production effort. It was scheduled to be repeated three separate times. The first took place on June 8^th and it was a triumph according to a Times reporter who attended and filed the following review :

 “The greatest outside spectacular show that the people of Hamilton have had the opportunity of witnessing was the reproduction of the siege of Sebastopol at Dundurn Park last night by Hand & Teale. The show was seen and greatly enjoyed by about 1,500 persons. Prior to the military and pyrotechnic display, there was a short program of specialties to fill in until the shadows of darkness fell. The 13^th Regiment Band played a short program of music. The specialties introduced were all good – that of Messrs. Gourlay and Cornelius in a comic pantomime act proving exceptionally clever. Master Henderson danced the hornpipe. The bagpipe playing of Messrs. Campbell and McGregor was a pleasure. The Lamarts, as two jolly Hottentots did some clever acrobatic work, and Jarret in a contortionist specialty, was awarded applause. Shortly after 9 o’clock, the siege commenced. It was a beautiful sight. The rows upon rows of scenery, which gave the spectators the idea that they were really looking over the hills for miles and miles, the view of the harbor, the many colored lights and prismatic effects, together with the English, Russian, Scotch and French soldiers, made a realistic and very beautiful tableau.

“It might here be well to give a brief synopsis of the siege. When the siege commences, the Russian sentries are seen keeping guard on Malakoff Hill, while all around to the east and west are the British and French soldiers lying in the trenches waiting the order to open fire. A flag of truce is asking the British leave to collect and bury their dead, which request is granted. Then there arrives a company of strolling players who give a performance. While the British and French soldiers are all interested in the show, two Russian spies crept into the ranks. All at once a British soldier sees them and a general alarm is given. The spies endeavor to escape but are captured which so incenses the Russians that they pull down the flag of truce and recommence hostilities. A council is held and the spies are condemned to death and shot. Then all the forces are mustered to make one grand rush on Fort Malakoff and amid the boom of cannon from land water, the crack of rifles and a final charge, old Fort Malakoff is finally captured and the British and French flags fly triumphantly from the Malakoff.

“The detail of the piece is excellently presented, which is due to the masterly handling and efficient stage direction of Mr. T. McGrane and Sergt.-Major Huggins. The scenic effects are in oil by Mr. S.R.G. Penson. The firework display which immediately followed the spectacle was particularly good, the aerial part being especially brilliant. Sebastopol will be given tonight and tomorrow evening. Should the weather be unsatisfactory on either night, the program will be given on Friday night. As it is really a meritorious entertainment, given under local auspices, it ought to be patronized.

“Mr. H. Percy Hill, of Toronto, is the general manager of the show.”³

 ³“The Siege of Sebastopol : A Grand Scenic Performance at Dundurn Park : Great Pyrotechnical Spectacle.”

Hamilton Times. June 09, 1897.

The first night of the three scheduled productions of the Siege of Sebastopol was a success both in terms of a glitch-free production and a very healthy number of spectators.

Advertising continued with the hopes that attendance figures would remain healthy. The ad also referred to what would happen if an untoward weather should appear:

        “TONIGHT

       The most brilliant spectacle of the age.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL

      AT DUNDURN PARK

    General Admission 25c

        “Should rain interfere with the performance on any of the evenings of the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th of June, the next available evening will be substituted.”⁴

⁴Hamilton Times. June 09, 1897

The second performance on Wednesday June 9, 1897 turned out to be even more successful than the first in terms of attendance:

 “ ‘Sesatopol’ was stormed and captured again last night, before fully 2,000. Of course, it is needless to say, the piece moved more evenly than on the opening night. Messrs. Hand & Teale must have set off a carload of powder last night. The Thirteenth Battalion Band played a fine program of music. The marching of the soldiers, the Highlanders especially, was very steady and elicited loud applause. A British square was formed before the storming of the citadel. This evening, weather permitting, Hamiltonians will have a last chance to see the splendid entertainment, and as it is probable such a unique program will not be seen in the city again for some time, it is likely the stands will be crowded.

“One of the big pin-wheels got off the gear and ran along the crowd toward the scenery. Two policemen gave chase, when the wheel started to go back, the officers had to move rapidly to get out of the way of the flame. The spectators laughed heartily.”⁵

⁵“The Siege of Sebastopol : The Spectacular Show Repeated at Dundurn”

Hamilton Times. June 10, 1897.

The third and final showing of The Siege of Sebastopol received no newspaper coverage, although it can be assumed that it was another success.