The Prisoner of War' (play) followed by 'Three Legs King of Man or Harlequin Lord Stanlie and the Eagle & Child' (pantomine), Theatre Royal, Williamson Square, Liverpool
Date(s): 3 January 1853
Creator(s): unknown
Scope & Content: Billed as the seventh night of a new pantomine. The title wording is designed with legs forming the letters 'Three Legs'. Sets out the fifteen scenes, characters and incidents in the pantomine as well as cast lists for both productions. Scene one is set in the consulting cavern of three legs, scene three in the palace of three legs, King of Man ('magnificent display of male and female legs. A positive pas de trois legs ...'), scene four is 'Moving diorama of a voyage from Douglas, in the Isle of Man to Liverpool'.
Administration / Biographical History: The story of the Eagle and Child, the crest of the Stanleys, is associated with the house of Lathom and is outlined as follows : Sir Thomas Lathom, the father of Isabel, afterwards the wife of Sir John Stanley, having this only child, and cherishing an ardent desire for a son to inherit his name and fortune, had an intrigue with a young gentlewoman, the fruit of which connexion was a son. The lord of Lathom contrived to have the infant conveyed by a confidential servant to the foot of a tree in his park frequented by an eagle, and he and his lady, taking their usual walk, found the infant as if by accident. The old lady, considering it a gift from heaven brought hither by the bird of prey and miraculously preserved, consented to adopt the boy as their heir. (Manx Notebook http://isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/lords/lathom.htm)
Language: eng
Extent: 57 x 44.5 cm
Item name: playbill
Collection: Print & Poster Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: P.6592