| September 8, 1804: |
Holman & another actor, have seen the Boy so much talked of for
his Theatrical powers. Their report is that His powers are very extraordinary.
When He first appears on the stage in Richard or Hamlet &c., it excites
laughter to see such disproportion between the character & the actor,
but in 5 minutes all that is overcome by His power of representation,
& He seems to be that which He assumes. |
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| September 13, 1804: |
Lysons saw the young Tragedian at Birmingham. He is abt. 13 years
old — His action is very easy & good, & His general facility
remarkable, on the whole His acting better than Pope or Holman &c.
& next to Kemble, but He shd. not desire to see Him more than twice,
for a change of characters, as the disproportion of His stature to
that of the men and woemen with whom he acts, cannot be got over,
& all illusion is lost. It is a curiosity. He has been
trained to acting it seems from 5 years old. |
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| November 21, 1804: |
The young Roscius was mentioned as a prodigy. Heath said He would
make £20,000 this year. Lawrence promised to get me a seat
in the House when He appears in London, which he is to do in a very
short time. — |
|
| December 1, 1804: |
The publick interest has been very much excited by the reports
of the young Roscius, Master Betty, & the Newspapers of this day
announced that His first appearance in London would be this evening
at Covent Garden in the character of Achmet in Barbarossa. —
Before 6 oClock I went with Lawrence this evening to Mrs. Kembles
Box at Covent Garden where we found Mrs. Kemble, — Lysons,
Mr. Morris, Member of Parliament, and Kemble. — Mrs. Inchbald
[the actress] came to our Box, also a Son & daugr. of Mr. Harris,
the Proprietor. The House was very full. Many people lifted out of
the Pit & carried through the Boxes; others fainting. — Lord
Abercorn, Sir Wm. Scott [Lord Stowell], and many persons of distinction
were there. —
When the Curtain was drawn up and Charles Kemble came forward
to speak a temporary address writen by J. Taylor, a storm
of noise arose & He was obliged to retreat. It was owing to an apprehension
that an apology was going to be made. — He came on a Second
time & spoke the address but could not be heard. The interruption
was long. At length the Play began. Master Betty as Achmet did
not appear till the second act. I saw him standing between the scenes,
& conversing quite at his ease sometime before He came forward.
He was greeted warmly, but the applause was quite temperate
till in the third act. He excited such feelings as produced
a thundering crack of applause such as I thought I never before heard.
A second time He did the same His performance appeared to me to be
very extraordinary considering His Youth, some parts excellent, but
in parts there was something feeble from want of more physical power.
His action remarkably easy. — Lawrence said to me that Pope
[the actor] would have played many parts better, but there were strokes
of originality above Him.— Kemble came occasionally to us but
made no remark abt. the young actor. — I noticed to Mrs. Kemble
His great power, considering His youth, in several difficult parts.
She said it was nothing to an experienced actor. I made no further
remark to Her. She had a great deal at stake & allowance was to me
made. |
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