Новаторство ілюзіону Альберта Сміта «Сходження на Монблан» (1852–1858 рp.): між театром і шоу-бізнесом

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of artistic and technological innovations in “Ascent of Mont Blanc” (1852-1858), the work of Albert Smith, a prominent playwright and showman of the Victorian era.The show was opened in1852 inthe Egyptian Hall at Piccadilly. Its topic was a description of the expedition to Mont Blanc (the highest peak of theAlps), which Albert Smith carried out on August 1951, accompanied by three companions, 16 guides and 18 porters. Huge dioramas illustrated stories of mountain travel. Their author was the painter William Beverly (1810-1889), a native of the theatrical family.The entertainment was opened a year after the first worldLondonexhibition in 1851, which became a real milestone in European history. The exhibition under the patronage ofPrince Albertmarked a new social worldview. It became a symbol of the Victorian era, an ideological showcase of theBritish Empire, demonstrating its economic power and industrial success.Albert Smith had a good sense of the spirit of the time and the mood of the public, and he created a universal formula for organizing a commercially profitable project. The entertainment “Ascent of Mont Blanc”, on the one hand, completely satisfied the curiosity of the audience, on the other hand, made an unforgettable impression. This event skillfully combined two types of entertainment: an instructive lecture and an entertaining show that surprised and thrilled. The show was an unprecedented success: it took place about 2,000 times (including a performance in front of the royal family) and for 6 years of its work brought a record profit of 30 thousand pounds.Smith's show featured hard-to-get wildlife landscapes. Three-dimensional scenery created the illusion of the passage of time and weather changes: the viewer was immersed in an unfriendly, cold alpine climate. The most impressive element of the spectacle was the use of shadow techniques with colorful lighting, which created the effect of the viewer’s presence. In addition, Smith used vertical movement of scenery. Combined with the chiaroscuro effects, it created the illusion of an upward movement. Successfully selected music, story and other theatrical elements increased the interest of the audience.The author of the interactive lecture Albert Smith developed such methods of work with the public that later became effective and popular in the world of show business. The “Ascent of Mont Blanc” show was successful for a few reasons: an actual ideological basis reflecting the philosophy of positivism; successful artistic presentation of the performance; use of sophisticated theatrical machinery and light effects; manipulation of spectators’ perception, touching a wide range of emotions; elements of interactivity; effective management (advertising campaigns, merchandising, logistics of tours, updates to the show, creation of a media brand, the desire to monopolize this kind of entertainment, etc.).