Memoirs of the Life of David Garrick, Esq (Volume 2); Interspersed with Characters and Anecdotes of His Theatrical Contemporaries. the Whole Forming a History of the Stage, Which Includes a Period of Thirty-Six Years (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1808. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... f' " But the most fruitful source (. Of every evil--Oh that I in thunder.Could sound it o'er the list'ning world to kings --Is delegating power to wicked hands. Agamemnon, though well acted, was not written agreeably to the taste of the critics, who very justly observed, that he had not entirely preserved ancient manners and characters; Clytemnestra did not resemble the portrait drawn of her by Eschylus, which is more consistent and agreeable to history. The displeasure of the audience shown to certain scenes produced a whimsical effect upon the author; he had promised to meet some friends at a tavern as soon as the play was ended, but he was obliged to defer his attending them to a very late hour. When he came, they asked him the reason of his stay; he told them, that the critics had sweated him so terribly by their severe treatment of certain parts, of his tragedy, that the perspiration was so violent, as to render his wig unfit to wear; and that he had spent a great deal of time among the peruke-makers in procuring a proper cover for his head. vol. ii. D Though Thomson's Edward and Eleonora was excluded the stage, because the licenser saw, as he imagined, a formidable attack upon the Minister; Mallet's Mustapha, which was said to glance at the King and Sir Robert Walpole, in the characters of Solyman the Magnificent and Rustan his vizier, was, acted with great applause. On the first night of its exhibition were assembled all the chiefs in opposition to the court; and many speeches were applied by the audience to the supposed grievances of the times, and to persons and characters. The play was in general well acted; more particularly the parts of Solyman and Mustapha, by Quin and Mil ward. Mr. Pope was present, in the boxes; and at the end of the play went be...