A Complete Somersault Into the Orchestra: Comic and Curious Clippings from the Legendary Theatrical Paper the Era, 1870-1880, 

This is the third volume of extracts from the British theatrical newspaper The Era, regarded as the bible of the theatrical and music hall world. Dealing with the years 1870 to 1880, it chronicles the hilarious, bizarre and occasionally tragic aspects of life on and off the stage. W.S. Gilbert is driven to distraction by an organ grinder, music halls are taken to task for promoting smutty songs, scene-stealing animals delight audiences and exasperate actors, a theatrical reporter is beaten up by the irate husband of an actress...and much, much more.