Event Comment: MMiss Morris was a pupil of
Mr Colman's--She was very much approved by
the public in
the character of
Juliet. On
the sixth night of her appearance on
the stage she was taken ill, and died before
the end of this season. See
the Bill for her Benefit (
Hopkins MS Notes). Afterpiece: Not acted
these 6 years. [See 19 May 1762.] [
The Occasional Prologue, by
Colman, is
Larpent MS 288, which introduces
Miss Morris as Juliet, and stresses
the qualms and fears of a new performer.] Receipts: #227 19s. 6d. (Account Book).
Lloyd's Evening Post, 28-30 Nov.: Sir:
The managers of both
theatres have of late, in order to put a stop to
the Public complaint against a dearth of actors, given trials to several stage candidates that seemed to have any promising requisite. Such experiments have not proved fruitless.
The most brilliant and interesting of which was
the young lady's appearance on
Covent Garden Theatre last night, in
the character of Juliet. So great was her terror, on presenting herself for
the first time before a crowded audience, that, deprived of all her powers, she fell down on
the stage in a swoon.
The first act in consequence, was all terror on her side, all compassion and anxiety on that of
the audience. But having had time between
the first and second Acts to recover from her panic, she shone forth in
the Balcony Scene
the most pleasing promise of a young tragic actress that has been seen for half a century past, and continued so throughout. Her person is genteel, her tone of voice insinuating, variable, and melodious; her recitation is just and sensible; very affecting in
the pa
thetic parts; condescending, free, and polite are
the familiar speeches with
the Nurse. She is happily devoid of all stage whine, and tragedy Cant.
The manner she has been rudimented in does great honour to her instructors, who have so judiciously prevented
the so excellent actor of this verily a
Shakespeare's Juliet, from being sophisticated by
the studied tricks, and false ornamenting of mistaken modern and degenerate art