Event Comment: This day is publish'd a
Guide to the Stage; or Select Instructions and Precedents from the
best Authorities towards forming a polite Audience; with some account of the Players, &c. Printed and sold by
D. Job, at the
Spread Eagle in
King St. [An ironical
post-Addisonian quip at theatrical behavior]: I boldly enter the lists as the first champion for theatric decorum. The next thing to be consider'd is disapprobation, which I think may be sufficiently shewn, by an attention to something else, by loud discourse, profuse laughter, and the like. I cannot help thinking it a little out of character, for a polite audience to distort their features by a hiss: however for the sake of some ambitious youths, who thus love to signalize themselves, I shall leave a new play to their mercy. They then are at liberty to exercise their several talents whether they hiss or groan most successfully, or have a greater genius for the cat-call. If you desire to know when you are to shew your dislike, my answer is, when anything displeases you, or in fine when you will provided you have a strong party to second you; for the
best hiss or groan in the universe may be drown'd in a general applause. [Never laugh at what passes on stage save it be an error, blunder, or accident. In tragic scenes avoid being visibly moved by humming a tune, regarding the audience, engaging in conservation, or turning your back to the stage. When a female social rival calls attention to herself and away from the stage, let fall your handkerchief into the pit, or call out to an acquaintance in the opposite box, or burst into loud and unexpected laughter. You'll know when to applaud, for the actors will tell you.] On these occasions
Cato looks more than unusually big,
Hamlet stares with great emphasis,
Othello has a most languishing aspect,
Monimia is all sighs and softness,
Beatrice will bridle, and pretty
Peggy Wildair leers you into a clap. Receipts: #170 (
Cross)