Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle for 1758 (p. 455): On Friday the 3rd instant was presented
Coriolanus. The two first acts of this play, as it is performed at the above theatre, were written by
Shakespear; the three last for the most part by
Mr. Thomson. But how a man of
Mr Sheridan's knowledge (who first introduc'd it there about four years ago) could think of pounding into one substance two things so heterogeneous in their natures as the productions of
those authors, is to me amazing.
Mr Smith enters in the first act, after having (as we are to suppose) just overcome the
Volsci, to the tune of violins and hautboys; but I am a little afraid the grandeur of his triumph is a little misapplied, considering the early times in which
Coriolanus lived, before the
Roman empire had arrived to any degree of splendor and magnificence, and was great in virtue only. However it makes a fine show; and Mr Smith, who has an excellent person, by the help of a little burnt cork and a real coat of mail cuts a very martial appearance. I think it was one of
the Gracchi, who, when he was speaking to the people, always had a servant behind him in the Rostrum with a pitch-pipe which he touched whenever he found his master's voice rising beyond a certain height; such an instrument as this would, in my opinion, be of service to Mr Smith, for his fault seems to be that of keeping too much at the top of his vioce.
Mrs Hamilton in the part of
Veturai, especially in the last act, excells herself; and in particular, she repeats that line: "He never can be lost who saves his country," with the genuine spirit of a free-born
Englishman. By the unnatural conjunction which is attempted to be made in this tragedy, most of the other characters are robbed of their significance.
Those two excellent actors, therefore,
Ryan and
Sparks, only give us just cause to regret that the parts of
Tullus and
Volscius are not longer....After the play was presented a Ballad Opera called
The Contrivances; in which some good comedians are oblig'd to submit to the drudgery of supporting as contemptible a trifle as ever was acted on the stage