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 dismissed 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 hitherto 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 neither 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 gathered
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.