Event Comment: 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 dis
missed 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 hi
therto 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 nei
ther 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 ga
thered 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.