Lord's of Mischief

Several colourful troupes of clowns travelled the nation bringing to huge crowds a jaunty parade, an uproarious cricket match against the local club, much music and dancing, plus an enjoyable concert in the evening. They did so for some 20 years in the Victorian age, visiting hundreds of towns were they were warmly welcomed. Then, in the Edwardian period, the stellar clown Dan Leno recaptured this bright concept for charitable purposes. This book tells the full tale of clown cricket, with its origins explained and its routines described - all placed in it social context with reflection on cricket and theatre connections up to the present era.