Author Topic: The Pic Nic Theatre  (Read 1980 times)

Offline roly

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The Pic Nic Theatre
« on: Saturday 30 September 17 13:31 BST (UK) »
In the continuing quest to discover more about the lives and broadside ballad printing histories of the Oxlade family the following detail and puzzle has surfaced.  John Oxlade printed ballads out of Portsea between 1813 and 1820.  One of his ballads is entitled Rime's Alley and this piece was apparently written by a Mr. I Woolfe of Portsea and sung at the Pic Nic Theatre 'with universal Applause'.

Nothing else has come to light concerning Mr. Woolfe nor the Pic Nic Theatre - that is, as the theatre may (possibly) have been situated in Portsea.

The only other references to the Pic Nic theatre so far discovered are to a project to open and licence such a theatre in London in 1802.

Rime's Alley was, it appears, a real place in Gosport - exactly where and when is not yet known.

The piece itself used the tune of Morgiana in Ireland that derives from Sheridan's The Forty Thieves that dates from 1806.  The tune also appears as Captain Mulligan in Farrell's Pocket Companion of 1808.

Was Woolfe's performance commensurate with those dates?  Was it resurrected during Oxlade's sojourn in Portsea?  Can anyone help?

roly brown
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Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 01 October 17 02:37 BST (UK) »
A good summary of the Pic Nic Society in this book
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kt8/
(from page 37)
I'm not sure that they had a particular "theatre". There are a few items in the British Museum that you may be interested in -
"Blowing Up the Pic Nics"  http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1478991&partId=1
"A Catalanian pic nic society at private rehearsal"  http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1670145&partId=1&searchText=catalanian&people=105690&page=1
"Dilettanti-theatricals: -or- a peep at the Green Room. -vide Pic-Nic orgies"  http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1480376&partId=1&searchText=gillray+cecilia&page=1

Rime's Alley certainly was in Gosport. A reference here:
https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.211498/2015.211498.The-Naval#page/n195/mode/2up/search/Rime%27s+  (on page 155)
and in 1860 here:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22384/page/1815/data.pdf
(reference to some land in Rime's Alley being sold "in the rear of and adjoining the Bridge Tavern" on the beach at Gosport.

Offline roly

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 01 October 17 09:27 BST (UK) »
Maddy - thank you for your notes...I'm afraid that they don't get us very far.  Your references to Pic Nic societies and occasions circle round the time that I've already canvassed (after 1802) when the 'Pin Nic' as a social phenomenon was becoming fashionable; but don't hit the mark where Portsea might have been concerned.

Your first Rime' Alley reference is certainly intetresting in itself and I'm grateful for the little rhyme - but it isn't specific as regards dates   The second reference is the one I already have.  At least a 'real' area in Portsea is confirmed.

Thanks again: but - onwards and sideways.

roly brown

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Offline Daisypetal

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 01 October 17 20:58 BST (UK) »
Hi,

Regarding where Rime's Alley was, I think this might help.


Hampshire Chronicle
11 September 1820

Gosport to be sold by Auction




This page from the Gosport Society might help you find it's location.

https://www.gosportsociety.co.uk/gosporttaverns.htm

I expect you have contacted them already, but if not it might be worth a try.

Regards,
Daisy
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Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #4 on: Monday 02 October 17 00:44 BST (UK) »
Hello roly,
I have also found this item in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Monday, January 20, 1834, Issue 5625, p.4.
"Portsmouth Saturday January 18 ... Mr Woolfe will give an entertainment on Thursday evening next, when the lovers of mirth and music will be amused with a new selection of whims and oddities. The performance will be assisted by several professional musical gentlemen and amateurs of eminence."

Also in Southampton Herald, Saturday, June 3, 1837, Vol. 14, Issue 724.
"My J Woolfe, of Portsea whose vocal abilities, inexhaustible [?] budget of songs, and whose private worth, are well known, will give an entertainment on Wednesday evening next, at the Robin Hood Inn, French Street Southampton. No formal charge will be made and we can ensure [?] all visitors a pleasant evening's entertainment."

And in Hampshire/Portsmouth Telegraph, Saturday, May 12, 1849, Issue 2588.
"The opening dinner of the Ship Inn, Emsworth, took place on Tuesday last and was admirably served in Jerram's best style, late of the Duke's Head Tavern, Portsmouth. Mr Hogg presided and Mr T E Bell played the piano. Appropriate toasts were proposed with address and were well cheered. Harmony prevailed throughout the evening. Mr Woolfe who assisted with his songs, intends shortly to give a musical melange."

Also: Bury and Norwich Post, Wednesday, September 5, 1849, Issue 3506.
"Portsea, August 29, 1849. The Yarmouth (Norfolk) artisans in H M dockyard are much respected; belong to the Volunteers, and are highly disciplined: they have established a tavern bearing the sign of the Norfolk Arms; have established Old Fellows Lodges and Foresters Courts; enjoy excursions, cricket &c, give annual entertainments, concerts, balls, at which the tradesmen, army, navy &c participate. Mr J Woolfe, the veteran vocalist, patronised by her Majesty &c produces entertainments entitled "Yarmouthians at Portsea", with eclat; the sketches of Yarmouth Bloaters, Norfolk Dumplings &c are replete with wit and humour. Reminiscences of the Brunton Theatrical Family, Dibdin, Mr Woolfe at Cambridge and Stourbridge Theatres, Norwich, Ipswich, Harwich, Colchester, Lynn, Bury &c also please much."

Modified to add:
There are a number of other articles mentioning Mr J WOOLFE similar to those above, often describing him as "veteran vocalist", though no articles (that I can see) in the 1813-1820 range. However, I feel sure he certainly was performing in Portsea at this time, though no mentions of Pic Nic.

Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #5 on: Monday 02 October 17 00:52 BST (UK) »
Also intriguingly, in the Southampton Herald, Saturday, May 20, 1837, Vol. 14, Issue 722.

"Died, at an advanced age, at Fornton, universally respected. Mrs Woolfe, widow of the late Mr B Woolfe, and mother of Mr Woolfe of Portsea and of Mrs Barnett of the Reading, Salisbury and Oxford Theatres"

Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #6 on: Monday 02 October 17 01:12 BST (UK) »
And this death notice, Sheffield Independent, Saturday, December 18, 1847, Vol. 28, Issue 1453, p.5.
"Lately, in St George's Square, Portsea, Miss Jane Agnes Woolfe, late of the Theatre Royal, Sheffield, aged 26, niece of the veteran vocalist, Mr J Woolfe of Portsea. She unfortunately broke a blood vessel at Sheffield, which proved fatal. She was highly respected and promising in her profession."

Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #7 on: Monday 02 October 17 04:32 BST (UK) »
In case you’re interested, I suspect (though may be wrong!) Mr J WOOLFE parents were Benjamin and Mary. From his mother’s death notice, his sister’s marred name is BARNETT – Frances Matilda WOOLFE married Edward BARNETT in 1825. She was born in 1798 but baptised in 1825 (just before her marriage), the daughter of Benjamin and Mary. I can only see two children baptised to this couple, and there is only the two mentioned in the mother’s obit, the other child baptised to Benjamin and Mary being George Frederick WOOLFE in 1787.

Offline maddys52

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Re: The Pic Nic Theatre
« Reply #8 on: Monday 02 October 17 04:51 BST (UK) »
Maddy - thank you for your notes...I'm afraid that they don't get us very far.  Your references to Pic Nic societies and occasions circle round the time that I've already canvassed (after 1802) when the 'Pin Nic' as a social phenomenon was becoming fashionable; but don't hit the mark where Portsea might have been concerned.


There are also lots of references in newspapers of the time to Pic Nic Theatre performances, not just in London, eg this one in 1815 in Sussex:
Sussex Advertiser, Monday, July 24, 1815, Vol. LXIX, Issue 3593, p.3.
"the Pic Nic Entertainment given at our Theatre in aid of the Waterloo subscription was fashionably, and as we anticipated, numerously attended ..."

though, as you  say, I can't see one specifically in Portsmouth at this time