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Article: Weekend: Antiques & Collecting - Send on Harlequin, the perfect gift; Travelling showmen were popular at Christmas in times gone by. Now anything connected with commedia dell'arte is worth its weight in gold, says Richard Edmonds.(Features)
- Article from:
- The Birmingham Post (England)
- Article date:
- December 22, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Richard Edmonds
Pantomimes were not the only things which lit up a Victorian Christmas, there were also the ``galanty shows'' which were toured through the snowy market places in remote towns and villages in times past.
The galanty shows had an atmosphere of wonder about them and they were awaited expectantly when December came. The travelling showmen were popular and they projected on to a wide cloth tales of Harlequin, Columbine, Dr Pantalone, Pulcinella and Scaramouche. The stage was set up in the market square and the whole performance evoked ...