Evening star., 1949-02-20
It's Always Been Tough
New Life of Garrick Recalls Trials
of 18th Century Drama
By Joy Carmody

The legitimate theater had its troubles back in the 18th
century did disappear altogether has in
Washington the Goth century, but conditions markedly
up and down. Moreover never was certain that the whole
institution might not vanish overnight and this at time when
lovers had no MOVIES radio or eevon TO a
back upon.
plight century drama is hardly but it
through current flow Of time in biography Of
published under the of Margaret Barton
Barton scholarly with lucid writing style and
objective her subject sort Of recas the 18th
drama with Garck her leading man The supporting
which includes Samuel Johnson the inevitable Boswell Thomas
smolett Coey Cbber. Cbber Peg Wonngton. George
Of others help make David Garck an
easily readable and entertaining volume.
London High Color.
may been genuses. at least not without
exception but they temperamental o They gave high
color would been far dull had they
around aunt their act their plays and quarrel
themselves and with such outsiders as the critics and
customers.
Miss Barton up revolutionary material on
Colossus of the drama Her most
engaging quality is revitalizlng the DID,
gets engaging gopy flavor much Of her report
as in the anecdote of Mrs Prchard Macbeth
astonishing when know that she
read other part in the play but her own
At time plight threatening
unhnge associated with it, Miss Bartons life Of
Garrick might be of comfort
Had $4,000 Regular Patrons.
London great historic
rivals among theaes Lane and Coven
Garden these ercey competitive institutions
of 10000 regular patrons Yet out OF this limited
merely managed survive but actually for
flourish They did not have the competition OF such
pecaces did they fantastic salaries to star
full 40week for the equivalent
of Garricks audiences dcoses that
lot, not above bowling
unpopular performer performance right of the stage
the time, in the simplicity OF their tastes they were
astoundngly tolerant comparison with todayS theategoers
neither the Drury Lane Covent Garden were plays
the they today AS star
they concentrated
quality of their performances Garck
that what their public wanted
role comic, tragic, ironc whatever In
of this Miss Barton reveals they concentrated upon
good without regard to how atrocous even
secondary members of company might be.
Restored Shakespeare to Stage.
Miss Barton comes admiring Garrck hero
writing subject actor but as the
figure who restored Shakespeare to the theater
little along to become the top-notch
performer another scbbler who.
could distort in he
pleased than 100 of this sort Of thing
Shakespeare seds Garrck restored him to the beginning
prestige by playing the Bards works much more
written this out OF spirit OF arlsm
figured his rivals the most
inept of adapters.
could found successful formula which not
admiration but likely to have the
effect your own
bographers Miss Barton follows the chronological flow
with illusions to the theates
of the persistent of these
the fociouy learned Dr. Samuel Johnson This
who carried irony prove they
read the Ninth Commandment Thou shalt bear
false against thy neghbor.
johnson pointed out made the mistake
false witness" instead of not.
bad in the theaer it seems.