Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-04-24
Stage Traditions.

Ii was long the custom of the stage to
intrust comic actors with such charac-
tiers as PoloHius, Sbyiock, the Witches in
Macbeth, and the Lord Mayor in Rich
ard the Third. Garrick made credit
able efforts to have PoiORius interpreted
after more dignified fashion, and per-
suaded Woodward, on the occasion of
his benefit, to appear in the part, and
play with gravity. The result was dis
appointing, however, $50 little was
the audience pleased with Woodward, =,
or Woodward with himself, that he
never after attempted Polonins." Even
in the theatre of to-day, although there
has been decided reform in this respect,
there may be often seen players of Po-
lonius unduly anxious to be comical.
The Merchant of Venice" has been
adapted or mutilated by Lord Lans-
downe in 1701, and as ''The Jew of
Venice" had kept possession of the
stage until 1S4l, when Macklin revived
the original play, and endowed Shy'ock
with the gravity and dignity that are
his proper attributes. In the hands OF
the low comedians, Dogget, Griffin. and
Anthony Aston, the Shylock of Lord
Lansdowne's adaptation had been a
very ridiculous figure; but this comic
treatment of the character had so
amused and gratified the public, that
much doubt was expressed at the pru-
dence of Macklin's reform. The actors,
always timid about innovation, declared
he would spoil the performance; Quin,
who was to play antonio, told him he
would be Missed off the stage for his
presumption; Fleetwood, the manager,
urged him TO abandon the public. Mack
lin held firm, however; during re-
hearsal he simply repeated the speeches
of the character, without disclosing by
look or tone. or gesture, the manner in
which he designed to act it by night.
He was most anxious as to the result !;
he was sure he was right; but he was
not sure that he could persuade his au-
dience to think so. When he entered,
not hand moved to encourage him.
But after his first scene, the applause
was enthusiastic, his success was as
sured
Another stage tradition of some en-
durance related TO the performance of
Portid. When Mrs. Give played this
part, she reduced the trial scene to bur
lesque, by introducing mimicry of some
well-known lawyer, the audience by no
means disappearing, but even applaud
ing warmly. For time, the POrtids
who succeeded her were required to re-
spect the traditions of her impersona-
ton. Ii was, indeed, almost as difficult
to suppress the lOw-comedy. PO"tid
as the low-comedy ShyiOck. y comic
Lord Mayor in Orchard the Third is
said to have much gratified George the
Second, whose knowledge of English
was imperfect, and whose tastes were
of an unrefined sort. Indifferent as to
the Richard of the night, the king de-
sired to see more of the comic Lord
Mayor, who appears but once or twice
in the course of the tragedy, and is
quite a subordinate character.
Garrick had contemplated appearing
in the Copper Captain, an admirable
character, in the comedy of ''Rule a
Wife and Have a Wife," but in one Of
the scenes, tradition required of the
Copper Cdptotn peal of laughter, and
THIS Garrick found himself unable TO
accomplish satisfactorily. There was
no absolute reason for the laugh, it was
not necessary to the performance, it
was merely piece of stage effect; but
it was felt that the audience would ex-
pect it. and would be disappointed at
not obtaining it. Woodward was famous
for his laugh. So Garriek, after repeated