London Stage Event: 23 October 1773 at Covent Garden

23 October 1773

Event Information

Theatre: Covent Garden

Theatrical Season: 1773-1774

Volume: 4

Comments: Receipts: #200 7s. 6d. (Account Book). Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. [The first of a series of five performances (the last, Merchant of Venice, 18 Nov.) which got Macklin dismissed from the theatre until 1775, when his lawsuit against six persons whom he claimed formed a conspiracy to hiss him from the stage and ruin his livlihood was concluded favorably for him. His performance of Macbeth was favorably treated but with certain misgivings in the Morning Chronicle (25 Oct.), but he was mercilessly criticized in the London Evening Post and St James Chronicle: "In Act II, Sc. i, Shakespeare has made Macbeth murder Duncan; Now Mr Macklin, being determined to copy from no man, reversed this incident, and in the very first act, scene the second, murdered Macbeth." The favorable review (Morning Chronicle) thought he did well in first and last acts, but gave way to stage rant and "vehemence of energetic expression" wanting any variation in tone in between. It also pointed out a certain faulty memory of his lines. His novel stage effects came in for a paragraph of comment: The alterations in the jeux de theatre respecting the representation of this tragedy do Mr Macklin great credit. His change of the scenery is peculiarly characteristical. The Quadrangle of Macbeth's castle, and the door which is supposed to lead to Duncan's apartment (both of which are entirely new) are additions of consequence to the exhibition of the play. The door also through which Macbeth comes to the Weird Sisters, in the 4th act, is a better and more probable entrance than through the common stage portal. The dresses are new, elegant, and of a sort hitherto unknown to a London audience, but exceedingly proper. The Banquet was superbly set out, and it must be confessed that the managers seem to have spared neither cost nor assiduity to ornament and add to the effect of the representation." A favorable letter from a correspondent to the London Evening Post adds: "I must observe, Mr Printer, that from the graceful and characteristic manner in which Macbeth was introduced by the martial music and military procession, from the manner of M. Macklin's acting, from his judicious alteration of the dresses, the disposition of the scene where the King is killed, the cave of the witches in the 4th act, from the improvement of Mrs Hartley's thinking in Lady Macbeth and from her manner of speaking, which seemed plainly to be the effects of some intelligence she had received from Mr Macklin...I thought Mr Macklin deserv'd great praise." See the newspaper comments all gathered and reprinted in an Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, (London, 1773). See also note to 30 Oct. See also London Chronicle, Oct. 23-26 (cf. Odell, I, 453). The Westminster Magazine suggests the performance was pitiable. "Macklin knew what he ought to do, but could not do it." The Scenemen's pay this week was about double the normal cost. (Account Book).] Verse Squibs from St James Chronicle (Oct. 1773) against Macklin: @Macbeth@"Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo the last"@Old Quin, ere Fate suppressed his lab'ring breath@In studied accents grumbled out Macbeth:--@Next Garrick came, whose utt'rance truth impressed,@While ev'ry look the tyrant's guilt confess'd:--@Then the cold Sheridan half froze the part,@Yet what he lost by nature sav'd by art.@Tall Barry now advanc'd toward Birnam Woodv@Nor ill performed the scenes--he understood--@Grave Mossop next to Foris shaped his march@His words were minute guns, his action starch.@Rough Holland too--but pass his errors o'er@Nor blame the actor when the man's no more.@Then heavy Ross, assay'd the tragic frown,@But beef and pudding kept all meaning down:--@Next careless Smith, try'd on the Murd'rer's mask,@While o'er his tongue light tripp'd the hurried task:--@Hard Macklin, late, guilt's feelings strove to speak,@While sweats infernal drench'd his iron cheek;@Like Fielding's Kings [in Tom Thumb] his fancy'd triumphs past,@And all be boasts is, that he falls the last.@ Also from St James Chronicle:@The Witches, while living deluded Macbeth@And the Devil laid hold of his soul after death;@But to punish the Tyrant this would not content him,@So Macklin he sent on the stage to present him.

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Source: London Stage Information Bank

*pcg Macbeth. Macbeth-Macklin[, first time%; Macduff-Clarke; Lenox-Hull; Malcolm-Wroughton; Banquo-Bensley; Duncan-Gardner; Seyton-Thompson; Hecate-Reinhold; Witches-Dunstall, Mrs Pitt, Quick; Vocal Parts-Mattocks, Reinhold, Mrs Thompson, DuBellamy, Baker, Fox, Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Hartley. *aThomas and Sally. Squire-Mattocks; Sailor-DuBellamy; Dorcas-Mrs Thompson; Sally-Miss Brown; [first time. With% Hornpipe-Miss Twist. *cReceipts: #200 7s. 6d. (Account Book). Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. [The first of a series of five performances (the last, Merchant of Venice, 18 Nov.) which got Macklin dismissed from the theatre until 1775, when his lawsuit against six persons whom he claimed formed a conspiracy to hiss him from the stage and ruin his livlihood was concluded favorably for him. His performance of Macbeth was favorably treated but with certain misgivings in the Morning Chronicle (25 Oct.), but he was mercilessly criticized in the London Evening Post and St James Chronicle: "In Act II, Sc. i, $Shakespeare= has made Macbeth murder Duncanr; Now Mr $Macklin=, being determined to copy from no man, reversed this incident, and in the very first act, scene the second, murdered Macbethr." The favorable review (Morning Chronicle) thought he did well in first and last acts, but gave way to stage rant and "vehemence of energetic expression" wanting any variation in tone in between. It also pointed out a certain faulty memory of his lines. His novel stage effects came in for a paragraph of comment: The alterations in the jeux de theatre respecting the representation of this tragedy do Mr Macklin great credit. His change of the scenery is peculiarly characteristical. The Quadrangle of Macbeth's castle, and the door which is supposed to lead to Duncan's apartment (both of which are entirely new) are additions of consequence to the exhibition of the play. The door also through which Macbeth comes to the Weird Sistersr, in the 4th act, is a better and more probable entrance than through the common stage portal. The dresses are new, elegant, and of a sort hitherto unknown to a London audience, but exceedingly proper. The Banquet was superbly set out, and it must be confessed that the managers seem to have spared neither cost nor assiduity to ornament and add to the effect of the representation." A favorable letter from a correspondent to the London Evening Post adds: "I must observe, Mr Printer, that from the graceful and characteristic manner in which Macbeth was introduced by the martial music and military procession, from the manner of M. Macklin's acting, from his judicious alteration of the dresses, the disposition of the scene where the King is killed, the cave of the witches in the 4th act, from the improvement of $Mrs Hartley='s thinking in Lady Macbethr and from her manner of speaking, which seemed plainly to be the effects of some intelligence she had received from Mr Macklin...I thought Mr Macklin deserv'd great praise." See the newspaper comments all gathered and reprinted in an Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, (London, 1773). See also note to 30 Oct. See also London Chronicle, Oct. 23-26 (cf. $Odell=, I, 453). The Westminster Magazine suggests the performance was pitiable. "Macklin knew what he ought to do, but could not do it." The Scenemen's pay this week was about double the normal cost. (Account Book).] Verse Squibs from St James Chronicle (Oct. 1773) against Macklin: @Macbeth@"Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo the last"@Old $Quin=, ere Fate suppressed his lab'ring breath@In studied accents grumbled out Macbeth:--@Next $Garrick= came, whose utt'rance truth impressed,@While ev'ry look the tyrant's guilt confess'd:--@Then the cold $Sheridan= half froze the part,@Yet what he lost by nature sav'd by art.@Tall $Barry= now advanc'd toward Birnam Woodv@Nor ill performed the scenes--he understood--@Grave $Mossop= next to Forisr shaped his march@His words were minute guns, his action starch.@Rough $Holland= too--but pass his errors o'er@Nor blame the actor when the man's no more.@Then heavy $Ross=, assay'd the tragic frown,@But beef and pudding kept all meaning down:--@Next careless $Smith=, try'd on the Murd'rer's mask,@While o'er his tongue light tripp'd the hurried task:--@Hard $Macklin=, late, guilt's feelings strove to speak,@While sweats infernal drench'd his iron cheek;@Like $Fielding='s Kings [in Tom Thumb] his fancy'd triumphs past,@And all be boasts is, that he falls the last.@ Also from St James Chronicle:@The Witchesr, while living deluded Macbeth@And the Devil laid hold of his soul after death;@But to punish the Tyrant this would not content him,@So Macklin he sent on the stage to present him.@
Cleaned Data

*p1773 10 23 cg Macbeth. Macbeth-Macklin, first time; Macduff-Clarke; Lenox-Hull; Malcolm-Wroughton; Banquo-Bensley; Duncan-Gardner; Seyton-Thompson; Hecate-Reinhold; Witches-Dunstall, Mrs Pitt, Quick; Vocal Parts-Mattocks, Reinhold, Mrs Thompson, DuBellamy, Baker, Fox, Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Hartley.*a1773 10 23 cg Thom^as^and Sally. Squire-Mattocks; Sailor-DuBellamy; Dorcas-Mrs Thompson; Sally-Miss Brown; first time. With Hornpipe-Miss Twist.*c1773 10 23 cg Receipts: #200 7s. 6d. (Account Book). Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. [The first of a series of five performances (the last, Merchant of Venice, 18 Nov.) which got Macklin dismissed from the theatre until 1775, when his lawsuit against six persons whom he claimed formed a conspiracy to hiss him from the stage and ruin his livlihood was concluded favorably for him. His performance of Macbeth was favorably treated but with certain misgivings in the Morning Chronicle (25 Oct.), but he was mercilessly criticized in the London Evening Post and St James Chronicle: "In Act II, Sc. i, $Shakespeare= has made Macbeth murder Duncanr; Now Mr $Macklin=, being determined to copy from no man, reversed this incident, and in the very first act, scene the second, murdered Macbethr." The favorable review (Morning Chronicle) thought he did well in first and last acts, but gave way to stage rant and "vehemence of energetic expression" wanting any variation in tone in between. It also pointed out a certain faulty memory of his lines. His novel stage effects came in for a paragraph of comment: The alterations in the jeux de theatre respecting the representation of this tragedy do Mr Macklin great credit. His change of the scenery is peculiarly characteristical. The Quadrangle of Macbeth's castle, and the door which is supposed to lead to Duncan's apartment (both of which are entirely new) are additions of consequence to the exhibition of the play. The door also through which Macbeth comes to the Weird Sistersr, in the 4th act, is a better and more probable entrance than through the common stage portal. The dresses are new, elegant, and of a sort hitherto unknown to a London audience, but exceedingly proper. The Banquet was superbly set out, and it must be confessed that the managers seem to have spared neither cost nor assiduity to ornament and add to the effect of the representation." A favorable letter from a correspondent to the London Evening Post adds: "I must observe, Mr Printer, that from the graceful and characteristic manner in which Macbeth was introduced by the martial music and military procession, from the manner of M. Macklin's acting, from his judicious alteration of the dresses, the disposition of the scene where the King is killed, the cave of the witches in the 4th act, from the improvement of $Mrs Hartley='s thinking in Lady Macbethr and from her manner of speaking, which seemed plainly to be the effects of some intelligence she had received from Mr Macklin...I thought Mr Macklin deserv'd great praise." See the newspaper comments all gathered and reprinted in an Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, (London, 1773). See also note to 30 Oct. See also London Chronicle, Oct. 23-26 (cf. $Odell=, I, 453). The Westminster Magazine suggests the performance was pitiable. "Macklin knew what he ought to do, but could not do it." The Scenemen's pay this week was about double the normal cost. (Account Book).] Verse Squibs from St James Chronicle (Oct. 1773) against Macklin: @Macbeth@"Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo the last"@Old $Quin=, ere Fate suppressed his lab'ring breath@In studied accents grumbled out Macbeth:--@Next $Garrick= came, whose utt'rance truth impressed,@While ev'ry look the tyrant's guilt confess'd:--@Then the cold $Sheridan= half froze the part,@Yet what he lost by nature sav'd by art.@Tall $Barry= now advanc'd toward Birnam Woodv@Nor ill performed the scenes--he understood--@Grave $Mossop= next to Forisr shaped his march@His words were minute guns, his action starch.@Rough $Holland= too--but pass his errors o'er@Nor blame the actor when the man's no more.@Then heavy $Ross=, assay'd the tragic frown,@But beef and pudding kept all meaning down:--@Next careless $Smith=, try'd on the Murd'rer's mask,@While o'er his tongue light tripp'd the hurried task:--@Hard $Macklin=, late, guilt's feelings strove to speak,@While sweats infernal drench'd his iron cheek;@Like $Fielding='s Kings [in Tom Thumb] his fancy'd triumphs past,@And all be boasts is, that he falls the last.@ Also from St James Chronicle:@The Witchesr, while living deluded Macbeth@And the Devil laid hold of his soul after death;@But to punish the Tyrant this would not content him,@So Macklin he sent on the stage to present him.@
Parsed Data

Event: 37258 | 17731023 | cg | Receipts: #200 7s. 6d. (Account Book). Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. [The first of a series of five performances (the last, Merchant of Venice, 18 Nov.) which got Macklin dismissed from the theatre until 1775, when his lawsuit against six persons whom he claimed formed a conspiracy to hiss him from the stage and ruin his livlihood was concluded favorably for him. His performance of Macbeth was favorably treated but with certain misgivings in the Morning Chronicle (25 Oct.), but he was mercilessly criticized in the London Evening Post and St James Chronicle: "In Act II, Sc. i, $Shakespeare= has made Macbeth murder Duncan; Now Mr $Macklin=, being determined to copy from no man, reversed this incident, and in the very first act, scene the second, murdered Macbeth." The favorable review (Morning Chronicle) thought he did well in first and last acts, but gave way to stage rant and "vehemence of energetic expression" wanting any variation in tone in between. It also pointed out a certain faulty memory of his lines. His novel stage effects came in for a paragraph of comment: The alterations in the jeux de theatre respecting the representation of this tragedy do Mr Macklin great credit. His change of the scenery is peculiarly characteristical. The Quadrangle of Macbeth's castle, and the door which is supposed to lead to Duncan's apartment (both of which are entirely new) are additions of consequence to the exhibition of the play. The door also through which Macbeth comes to the Weird Sisters, in the 4th act, is a better and more probable entrance than through the common stage portal. The dresses are new, elegant, and of a sort hitherto unknown to a London audience, but exceedingly proper. The Banquet was superbly set out, and it must be confessed that the managers seem to have spared neither cost nor assiduity to ornament and add to the effect of the representation." A favorable letter from a correspondent to the London Evening Post adds: "I must observe, Mr Printer, that from the graceful and characteristic manner in which Macbeth was introduced by the martial music and military procession, from the manner of M. Macklin's acting, from his judicious alteration of the dresses, the disposition of the scene where the King is killed, the cave of the witches in the 4th act, from the improvement of $Mrs Hartley='s thinking in Lady Macbeth and from her manner of speaking, which seemed plainly to be the effects of some intelligence she had received from Mr Macklin...I thought Mr Macklin deserv'd great praise." See the newspaper comments all gathered and reprinted in an Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, (London, 1773). See also note to 30 Oct. See also London Chronicle, Oct. 23-26 (cf. $Odell=, I, 453). The Westminster Magazine suggests the performance was pitiable. "Macklin knew what he ought to do, but could not do it." The Scenemen's pay this week was about double the normal cost. (Account Book).] Verse Squibs from St James Chronicle (Oct. 1773) against Macklin: @Macbeth@"Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo the last"@Old $Quin=, ere Fate suppressed his lab'ring breath@In studied accents grumbled out Macbeth:--@Next $Garrick= came, whose utt'rance truth impressed,@While ev'ry look the tyrant's guilt confess'd:--@Then the cold $Sheridan= half froze the part,@Yet what he lost by nature sav'd by art.@Tall $Barry= now advanc'd toward Birnam Woodv@Nor ill performed the scenes--he understood--@Grave $Mossop= next to Foris shaped his march@His words were minute guns, his action starch.@Rough $Holland= too--but pass his errors o'er@Nor blame the actor when the man's no more.@Then heavy $Ross=, assay'd the tragic frown,@But beef and pudding kept all meaning down:--@Next careless $Smith=, try'd on the Murd'rer's mask,@While o'er his tongue light tripp'd the hurried task:--@Hard $Macklin=, late, guilt's feelings strove to speak,@While sweats infernal drench'd his iron cheek;@Like $Fielding='s Kings [in Tom Thumb] his fancy'd triumphs past,@And all be boasts is, that he falls the last.@ Also from St James Chronicle:@The Witches, while living deluded Macbeth@And the Devil laid hold of his soul after death;@But to punish the Tyrant this would not content him,@So Macklin he sent on the stage to present him.

Performance: 77590 | 37258 | p | Macbeth | Macbeth-Macklin, first time; Macduff-Clarke; Lenox-Hull; Malcolm-Wroughton; Banquo-Bensley; Duncan-Gardner; Seyton-Thompson; Hecate-Reinhold; Witches-Dunstall, Mrs Pitt, Quick; Vocal Parts-Mattocks, Reinhold, Mrs Thompson, DuBellamy, Baker, Fox, Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Hartley.
Cast:
132327 | 77590 | Macbeth | Macklin, first time

132328 | 77590 | Macduff | Clarke

132329 | 77590 | Lenox | Hull

132330 | 77590 | Malcolm | Wroughton

132331 | 77590 | Banquo | Bensley

132332 | 77590 | Duncan | Gardner

132333 | 77590 | Seyton | Thompson

132334 | 77590 | Hecate | Reinhold

132335 | 77590 | Witches | Dunstall, Mrs Pitt, Quick

132336 | 77590 | Vocal Parts | Mattocks, Reinhold, Mrs Thompson, DuBellamy, Baker, Fox, Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones

132337 | 77590 | Lady Macbeth | Mrs Hartley.

Performance: 77591 | 37258 | a | Thomasand Sally | Squire-Mattocks; Sailor-DuBellamy; Dorcas-Mrs Thompson; Sally-Miss Brown; first time. With Hornpipe-Miss Twist.
Cast:
132338 | 77591 | Squire | Mattocks

132339 | 77591 | Sailor | DuBellamy

132340 | 77591 | Dorcas | Mrs Thompson

132341 | 77591 | Sally | Miss Brown

132342 | 77591 | With Hornpipe | Miss Twist.

Mainpiece

Title: Macbeth

Comments:
Macbeth-Macklin, first time; Macduff-Clarke; Lenox-Hull; Malcolm-Wroughton; Banquo-Bensley; Duncan-Gardner; Seyton-Thompson; Hecate-Reinhold; Witches-Dunstall, Mrs Pitt, Quick; Vocal Parts-Mattocks, Reinhold, Mrs Thompson, DuBellamy, Baker, Fox, Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Hartley.

Cast: