The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-06
The Old Edinburgh Stage.

| In 1875 Allan Ramsay, the author O
the "Gentle Shepherd" who had srea
love for the drama, built something ap
proaching a regular theater in Carruber
Close, and took some part in the man
agement But two years afterward th,
House of Commons passed the famou,
Licensing bill, which reduced the mum
Der of London theaters to two, and EN-
powered all magistrates to convict a,
rogues and vagabonds actors performing
in unlicensed buildings. Sach weapon
was sure TO be eagerly seized upon by the
Scotch clergy, and merciiessly used; they
at once commenced an action against the
Edinburgh players, won the day, and
closed the theater.
The defeated comedians, backed up by
friends now made application to Parlia-
ment for license; but the enemy was
too strong for them; petitions signed by
the Lord Provost, the Town Council,
the principal Professors Of the Uniyers-
ity, and the Dean of Guild, we're pre-
sent ted against the measure, and the pro-
posed bill dropped through. But such
a spirit OF tyrannical intolerance could
not fail, even in the Scotland Of that
day, to rouse vigorous opposition.
Some of the nobility and gentry gave
the actors their special protection, tax
ing them into their houses, ostensibly in
some domestic capacity; while perform
ances were given in Tailor's Hall, Cow
gate, where the law was evaded in the
same manner as it was at Goodman's
Fields when Garrick made has first ap-
pearance, admission being charged for
concert, and the play being given gratis.
The clergy by their fury and pother
defeated their own ends, for the excite
ment of the contest brought people in
focks to the theater; and 'notwithstand-
ing the pains and penalties with which
they were threatened here and hereafter,
the players thrived SO we'll and waxed 50
strong. that in l746 a bo5y of trades
men agreed to erect and furnish a new
theater in Canongate, and to depend for
payment upon the takings. The specu-
lation proved very successful
for about six years, when the lessees dis
posed of their rights to Lee, an actor Of
Garrick's company, for 964S and a
rental Of fl00 year. But, after spend
ing considerable sum of money. the
new manager fell into difficulties his
was seized by the creditors, a
merchant named Callander was ap-
pointed their representative, and the "a
nous West Digges was installed as man.
ager.
With him came the celebrated George
Anne Bellamy, who few seasons before
had been the great Covent Garden
"Juliet" to Barry's Romeo" but whose
short-lived metropolitan rage had already
passed away. This is the first record we
have of any great London actors visit
ing Edinburgh. Mrs. Bellamy relates
story in her Memoirs which indicates
that only very primitive ideas of stage
art and illusion obtained among the
stock company Of Modern Athens" a |
century or more ago. An actress who
was to appear as CARA" in Congreye's
Mourning Bride," having been taken
suddenly i'll, her sister, "who was about
twenty years older, and was person who
used to figure away in old nurses, under
took to play the part. w
"The audience expressed marks of dis
appreciation throughout the whole Of the
playing, but particularly so when she
lied. Upon which she rose from be-
tween the mutes, and, advancing toward
'he front of the stage, she told the audi
ence that SO far as she was concerned she
could not acquit herself so as to give sat
sfaction, but as good-nature had induced
ler to undertake the part, merely to save
The person whose benefit it was, she
loped they would excuse it. Having
inished her speech, she hastened to the
,lace from whence she had risen, and
hrew herself down again between the
nutes, who covered her face with the
ell" ~ ui 4