Cricketers' Bespeak, Don Caesar de Bazan - Playbill, 1866
Title
Cricketers' Bespeak, Don Caesar de Bazan - Playbill, 1866
Date
9 February 1866
Description
Playbill produced in the last weeks of the 1865-66 New Theatre Royal Nottingham pantomime, The House that Jack Built, which records a Grand Fashionable Night, the Bespeak of John Johnson, Esq. and the Cricketers of Notts.
What's the story?
Bespeaks were an important tradition for provincial theatres such as the New Nottingham Theatre Royal. This playbill actually records two such events: this one, on 9 February, for John Johnson and his fellow cricketers, and another one to be held on Monday 12 February 'for the public of Sheffield and Chesterfield'.
A bespeak meant that the plays - or parts of plays, as with the staging of the 'Opening of the Pantomime, 'specially re-arranged, and with appropriate additions, referring to this most interesting occasion' - staged on that night had been specially selected, here presumably by John Johnson. The theatre manager would benefit either from a direct payment by the organiser of the bespeak, or from increased sales of tickets to be distributed by that organiser.
Members of the general audience would presumably also have enjoyed the sight of the the County Eleven 'all present in their costume', and of the 'President of the ALL England Eleven, E. Whittaker, Esq., who was to attend with several of the renowned Northern Players'.
The Trent Bridge Players site (http://history.trentbridge.co.uk/players/john-johnson.html) provides some more information about Johnson:
John Johnson’s career on the cricket field is very difficult to evaluate, as his contemporary in Nottingham was Isaac Johnson, whose career runs parallel to John.
Christened in Nottingham on August 5, 1809, John Johnson played his first match on The Forest in 1822, as long-stop for his school. It would appear that he played twice in major matches for Nottingham, both in 1848 v Sheffield. A solicitor with a large practice in Nottingham, he was Hon Secretary to a number of local cricket clubs and in 1859 became Hon Secretary to the County Club.
He remained in post for 10 years and was presented with a silver salver and cup by the players in recognition of his services.
His support for Nottinghamshire cricket was second to none. It was probably his hand that got the first pavilion built on the Trent Bridge ground and he seems to have been the instigator of the annual Notts Colts trial, where 22 hopeful youngsters played a two-day game against Notts 1st XI.
Success by a colt in this match almost ensured at least a trial with the County side. He attended at his own expense all matches, both home and away. After retiring as Secretary, he was appointed a vice-president of the County Club.
He died in Bassingfield, Holme Pierrepont in August 1877 and in his will left £500 as well as his cricket library to Richard Daft.
A bespeak meant that the plays - or parts of plays, as with the staging of the 'Opening of the Pantomime, 'specially re-arranged, and with appropriate additions, referring to this most interesting occasion' - staged on that night had been specially selected, here presumably by John Johnson. The theatre manager would benefit either from a direct payment by the organiser of the bespeak, or from increased sales of tickets to be distributed by that organiser.
Members of the general audience would presumably also have enjoyed the sight of the the County Eleven 'all present in their costume', and of the 'President of the ALL England Eleven, E. Whittaker, Esq., who was to attend with several of the renowned Northern Players'.
The Trent Bridge Players site (http://history.trentbridge.co.uk/players/john-johnson.html) provides some more information about Johnson:
John Johnson’s career on the cricket field is very difficult to evaluate, as his contemporary in Nottingham was Isaac Johnson, whose career runs parallel to John.
Christened in Nottingham on August 5, 1809, John Johnson played his first match on The Forest in 1822, as long-stop for his school. It would appear that he played twice in major matches for Nottingham, both in 1848 v Sheffield. A solicitor with a large practice in Nottingham, he was Hon Secretary to a number of local cricket clubs and in 1859 became Hon Secretary to the County Club.
He remained in post for 10 years and was presented with a silver salver and cup by the players in recognition of his services.
His support for Nottinghamshire cricket was second to none. It was probably his hand that got the first pavilion built on the Trent Bridge ground and he seems to have been the instigator of the annual Notts Colts trial, where 22 hopeful youngsters played a two-day game against Notts 1st XI.
Success by a colt in this match almost ensured at least a trial with the County side. He attended at his own expense all matches, both home and away. After retiring as Secretary, he was appointed a vice-president of the County Club.
He died in Bassingfield, Holme Pierrepont in August 1877 and in his will left £500 as well as his cricket library to Richard Daft.
Type
Playbill
Location of item
Nottingham Local Studies Library
Rights
Nottingham City Libraries
Contributor
Researcher: Jo Robinson