The Reminiscences of Thomas Dibdin, of the Theatres Royal, Covent-Garden, Drury-Lane, Haymarket, &C. and Author of the Cabinet, In Two Volumes Vol (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 edition. Excerpt: ... Symptoms of separation a la Fielding--Death of Mr. Connor--And of Michael Kelly--Tales of terror--Disputations with Madame Bolla--Hair-breadth 'scape of Henry Johnston--Messrs. Kemble, Cooke, Kelly, and Incledon, in the character of Harlequin--Attempt at Kelly's epitaph--Mr. Whitbread's private theatricals--Rev. Mr. Plumptre, at once a zealous reformer and liberal defender of theatricals--Death of Talma--Fatalities--The Lottery--Increase of London amusements--Private theatres--Autobiographical road-book--Running to seed--Lamented loss to the Drama--Concluding lines to the Bard of Poor Jack. Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I could say good night until't were morrow. Awa Re though I am that it is a sort of high treason to imagine a fault in Fielding, just as it would be to say a syllable derogatory to Shakspeare; I always thought it a droll oversight in VOL. II. 2 A the prince of novelists, that in his last chapter he should take a long and affectionate leave of his readers, who, of course, while he was yet writing, had never read him. However, as it is necessary sometimes to follow great examples, good or bad, I have, in the motto to this my last chapter, hung out, as it were, as brief a sign of leave-taking as possible. I was going to say, in front of said chapter, that it is Last of all, That ends this strange eventful history: but then the critics would have added, 'tis also--Second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans taste, sans tact, sans laugh, sans every thing. We began our first chapter with childhood; and if we find nothing worse than mediocrity between its two extremes, I shall think myself in medio tutissimus. I once also thought that "Farewell remember me " would have been a good dramatic valedictory motto; but not...