GR: Chapter 7 Private theatricals
Written by Deborah Julia
(11/9/2003 4:11 p.m.)
in consequence of the missive, GR: Assemblies, penned by Line
On Pages 235 and 236 Vickery talks about how "the great" performed private theatricals with audiences of 150, also "the great". The performances attracted a lot of publicity and sound spectacular. I suppose the great, tilted ladies weren't too concerned about what the public at large thought about them acting, but as Vickery points out professional actresses at the time suffered a less than polite repuation. Vickery goes on to say that "Minimal publicity, a small audience, a suitable play and senior family members en costume put the stamp of innocent diversion on family play-acting". Now if The Mansfield Park Amateur Dramatic Society had cast Mrs. Norris as well as Mary's sister, maybe Sir Thomas wouldn't have disapproved. |
