Cumberland's British Theatre: With Remarks, Biographical & Critical. Printed from the Acting Copies, as Performed at the Theatres Royal, London...J. Cumberland, 1827 - English drama |
From inside the book
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Page 4
... better that we should be thrice deceived by a tale of fictitious woe , than once , from an over caution , turn from a case of real calamity . Sordid spirits are always upon the look out for an excuse for their avarice and want of ...
... better that we should be thrice deceived by a tale of fictitious woe , than once , from an over caution , turn from a case of real calamity . Sordid spirits are always upon the look out for an excuse for their avarice and want of ...
Page 5
... better - but Par- sons was supreme . Tom King , as Puff , had an unceasing viva- city , a true comic spirit , a neat and rapid delivery - every word told . This attention to a clear and distinct enunciation made him one of the best ...
... better - but Par- sons was supreme . Tom King , as Puff , had an unceasing viva- city , a true comic spirit , a neat and rapid delivery - every word told . This attention to a clear and distinct enunciation made him one of the best ...
Page 15
... better hu- mour'd- Sir F. O , I know- Dan . He has a ready turn for ridicule - his wit costs him nothing.- Sir F. No , egad , —or I should wonder how he came by it . [ Aside . Dan . But , Sir Fretful , have you sent your play to the ...
... better hu- mour'd- Sir F. O , I know- Dan . He has a ready turn for ridicule - his wit costs him nothing.- Sir F. No , egad , —or I should wonder how he came by it . [ Aside . Dan . But , Sir Fretful , have you sent your play to the ...
Page 17
... sure . Sir F. O , so much the better - Ha ! ha ! ha ! -I wouldn't have it otherwise . Dan . Certainly , it is only to be laugh'd at ; for- Sir F. You don't happen to recollect what the fellow B 3 SCENE I. ] 17 THE CRITIC .
... sure . Sir F. O , so much the better - Ha ! ha ! ha ! -I wouldn't have it otherwise . Dan . Certainly , it is only to be laugh'd at ; for- Sir F. You don't happen to recollect what the fellow B 3 SCENE I. ] 17 THE CRITIC .
Page 24
... better applied to the purpose of Plays ; they ought to be the abstract and brief chronicles of the times . There- fore when history , and particularly the history of our own country , furnishes any thing like a case in point , to the ...
... better applied to the purpose of Plays ; they ought to be the abstract and brief chronicles of the times . There- fore when history , and particularly the history of our own country , furnishes any thing like a case in point , to the ...
Common terms and phrases
Alice Alme Alon Alonso Angela arms Ashfield Beefeater Belville Bless Bob H Bob Handy bosom Capt castle character Crosses dagger Dame Dangle dare Darlemont daughter dear Dominique Don Carlos door Dorcas dreadful dress Dupré earl earl Percy Egad Enter Exeunt Exit eyes father Flora give hand happy hear heard heart heaven Henry honour hope JOHN CUMBERLAND Julio Kenric l'Epée Lady H Leon Leonora look lord LUDGATE HILL Madame Franval Marianne Marquis mean morning Morrington Muley never niece night Osmond Percy Phil pray Puff racter Rosina Saib SCENE servant Sir Abel Sir F Sir Fretful Sir Philip Blandford Sneer soul Spanish Armada speak stage sure Susan tears tell Theatres Royal thee Theodore thing thou thought Tilbury Fort Tummus young Zanga Zounds
Popular passages
Page 15 - Steal ! — to be sure they may ; and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gypsies do stolen children, disfigure them to make 'em pass for their own.
Page 18 - Sneer. In short, that even the finest passages you steal are of no service to you ; for the poverty of your own language prevents their assimilating ; so that they lie on the surface like lumps of marl on a barren moor, encumbering what it is not in their power to fertilize ! Sir Fret.
Page 17 - No ; quite the contrary : their abuse is, in fact, the best panegyric ; I like it of all things. — An author's reputation is only in danger from their support.
Page 39 - Puff. Why, by that shake of the head, he gave you to understand that even though they had more justice in their cause, and wisdom in their measures — yet, if there was not a greater spirit shown on the part of the people, the country would at last fall a sacrifice to the hostile ambition of the Spanish monarchy.
Page 21 - But pray, Mr. Puff, what first put you on exercising your talents in this way ? • Puff. Egad, sir, sheer necessity ; the proper parent of an art so nearly allied to invention. You must know, Mr. Sneer, that from the first time I tried my hand at an advertisement, my success was such, that for some time after I led a most extraordinary life indeed ! Sneer. How, pray ? Puff. Sir, I supported myself two years entirely by my misfortunes. Sneer. By your misfortunes? Puff.
Page 43 - That's truly great. What, think you, 'twas set up The Greek and Roman name in such a lustre, But doing right in stern despite to nature ; Shutting their ears to all her little cries, When great, august, and godlike justice...
Page 26 - I open with a clock striking, to beget an awful attention in the audience: it also marks the time, which is four o'clock in the morning, and saves a description of the rising sun, and a great deal about gilding the eastern hemisphere.
Page 17 - I'll undertake to read you the whole, from beginning to end, with the prologue and epilogue, and allow time for the music between the acts. Mrs. Dang. I hope to see it on the stage next. Dang. Well, Sir Fretful, I wish you may be able to get rid as easily of the newspaper criticisms as you do of ours.
Page 10 - STAGE DIRECTIONS. The Conductors of this Work print no Plays but those which they have seen acted. The Stage Directions are given from their own personal observations, during the most recent performances.
Page 38 - Yes, I think there is something like it in Othello. Puff. Gad ! now you put me in mind on't, I believe there is — but that's of no consequence — all that can be said is, that two people happened to hit on the same thought— and Shakespeare made use of it first, that's alL Sneer.