Old-Time Drama on the Stage

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 24

Old-Time Drama on the Stage

‘ ‘Blue-Eyes ’ ’ Revives Old Players in Musical Comedy “WHO’S WHO” OF CHARACTERS “Blue Eyes,” a new musical comedy produced in London recently, deals with the lives of several old-time actors and actresses. . Two of them were Peg Woffington and George Ann Bellamy, who fought like tigers on the old Covent Gardeji stage on the question of clothes. That happened in 1756. Nowadays actresses wrangle more politely. The following “Who’s Who” of the characters in “Blue Eyes” is given by a London critic:- — George Ann lost count of the proposals of marrV.ge made to her long before she was 30. Royal princes knelt to her, and humble clerks praised her beauty in rhyme on their ledger margins. One lover kidnapped her in his coach from the stage door as she was on her way to change for the next scene. When the King of England fell asleep in his box during one of her performances she abused him loudly for his discourtesy, and the gallery loved her for it. George Ann was a woman in a million. By the way, she was christened “George Ann” in mistake for Georgiana. Her father was Lord Tyrawley, and her mother, a Quakeress named Seal, married a Captain Bellamy just before her birth. Exchange of Courtesies James Quin, the roaring lion of the stage, was an amazing fellow. He was horribly annoyed when the

nublic seemed to enjoy Garricks acting more than his own, and retired gloomily to Bath. (In 1928 he would merely have sacked his Press agent.) Money began to be short, so Quin wrote' a delicate note to Rich, the manager, hinting that he was prepared to consider any offer of a part. This was the note: “I am at Bath.—Yours, James Quin.” Rich wrote back: —- ‘■Stay there and be damned. —Yours, John Rich.” There were managers in those days. Tragedy of Jealousy Quin killed two men without meaning to do so. One was an actor who became incensed by Quin's slighting comments on his abilities, and who forced him to fight in a tavern. Quin simply defended himself, but the other man ran against his sword. Then there was a little Welsh actor named Williams, who had a small part in one of Quill’s pieces. He had to walk on the stage and announce himself as a messenger from Cato. Quin called it “Cahto,” but the Welshman, forgetting his instructions

because of nervousness, kept I on saying “Caito.” He said it over and over again, until Quin thundered, “Would he had sent a better messenger'” and shoved him from the stage. The Amazing Charlotte After the performance, on the way ; to his usual bowl of punch. Quin was i attacked by the Welshman with a tinv ; “property” sword. Once again, in defending himself, he \ unwittingly dealt his opponent a mor- j tal wound. Quin was tried for murder,; and acquitted triumphantly. Colley Cibber, once poet-laureate ofj Britain, is another extraordinary char- ! acter whom the authors of “Blue Eyes” have tried to bring to life. No mention is made of Cibber s j daughter Charlotte. The true story of j her life sounds more wildly improb-1 able than any play. • Lived as a Man Charlotte was a little mad. She lived most of her life in man's clothes. Dressed as a highwayman, she robbed her own father, with whom she had quarrelled, and he never guessed the thief’s identity.

She was an actress of sorts, but her pet amusement was to appear in the theatres, wearing powdered wig and sword, among the young gallants, who mistook her for one of themselves. She made a handsome enough youth, and an heiress fell desperately in love with her. The time came when Charlotte, with the imploring heiress at her feet, had to reveal the secret of her true sex. The heiress was never seen in London again. Lonely Death Charlotte died in a field at ton, where he had been writing he life story in a filthy hut with » c and a parrot for company. ~ Colley Cibber himself became we „ in the head as he grew older, wrote a play which he declared lt®, better than Shakespeare, and apP** rß “ in it himself. . ,v. The old man had no teeth, ana audience laughed all th? eveningCibber’s son, Theophilus, was » “ same play. This young man . vile cad, who, having married * tiful and trusting woman. )U-tr her with calm deliberation, f°“ a lover, then blackmailed the®