| Citation |
MJ.783.047
28 Mar 1783:13,21 (10/15 502)
Observations on the Baltimore Theatre, &c. After what has
been said against and in favour of theatrical
entertainments, it would not be easy to advance any thing
new on the subject. while one party urges that the stage,
under a proper administration, tends to improve the morals,
it is contended by another, with equal shew of argument,
that as the stage is managed, it has a contrary effect.
Should the manager of our little theatre be desirous of
supporting this last judgement, he will persevere in an
abuse, which has already given great offence to a number of
persons who are disposed to countenance his undertaking.
From some cause or other, the players have taken it into
their heads, that the plays which they act are not witty
enough in themselves, and that they require to be spiced
with their own wit to make them more palatable. When it is
considered that there is not, perhaps, a single comedy or
farce in the English language without indelicacies, and that
even many of the most celebrated English tragedies are not
clear of this fault, one would think it unnecessary for the
players to subjoin any loose balderdash or gross obscenities
of their own. The business of a player, as I view it, is to
please the public, by represented life and manners,
agreeable to the spirit in which they are described.
Instead of attending solely to this, our players are
degenerating into a group of obscene blunderers and
abominable interpolators. It is to be hoped, however, that
Mr. Ryan will, in future, confine them to their author, and
set the example himself as the principle. . . [16 more lines
in this vein.]
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are real acquisitions: The latter, in
particular characters, has few equals. In Euphrasia in The
Grecian Daughter . . . [she was excellent] Mr. Ryan has
merit also and seems to possess talents for rising on the
stage. Mrs. Wall's abilities in comedy are generally known.
Mr. Heard is a clear, distinct, penetrating speaker; and
when he does not exceed the natural pitch of his voice,
seldome fails to affect the heart. . . [11 lines, praising
play-house, suggesting that the town of Baltimore is
indebted to them as well.] The old managers made a gift of
L40 to the street-commissioners; and Mr. Ryan gives up the
house on Monday next, to some of our public-spirited
gentlemen, who have undertaken to act The Siege of Damascus
to assist in the necessary work of paving our streets . . .
[4 lines] Baltimore, March 27, 1783.
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