Last updated at 11:26, Thursday, 14 June 2012

THE present world of revered theatrical knights and dames is as far removed from the 18th century theatre world as is possible to imagine.

Frances Hughes, chairman of the Irvine Society, is passionately interested in the theatre. Her visit to the Cumbria Decorative and Fine Arts Society to talk about the 18th century theatre was part of the society’s annual programme and also preparation for their imminent visit to the Georgian Theatre in Richmond, Yorkshire.

Mrs Hughes’ talk was full of anecdotes, illuminating paintings, caricatures and cartoons and what a world she described! Imagine actors performing in front of audiences of 3,000, without microphones; the noise and smell of crowds mingling with the heat and smell of guttering candles. If the audience didn’t like the play they responded with boos and hisses, and would “pippin pelt”, throw nuts, fruit, anything to hand including hunks of cheese, at the stage. Contemporary cartoons show prongs placed at the edge of the stage to repel riotous audiences!

Early cartoons also show the squalid conditions backstage but then, actors were considered to be very low on the social scale. Until 1660 female roles were played by boys and it was only on the restoration of the monarchy that women appeared on stage for the first time although their social status was low and they were considered little more than prostitutes.

The performance of The Beggar’s Opera in 1728 was a landmark in British theatre. Its popularity was unprecedented. Its leading lady, Lavinia Fenton, became an overnight sensation, caught the eye of the Duke of Bolton and became his mistress. On the death of his wife some years later they were married and she was the first actress to rise in the social ranks.

Much of our knowledge of the 18th century theatre is through the works of artists. William Hogarth painted very realistic scenes of popular plays and in these we are able to see that the elite members of the audience could also pay to sit on the stage. Hogarth, a good friend of the great actor David Garrick, very much wanted to be an actor but was handicapped by being only a little over five feet tall and more importantly, was unable to memorise his lines!

His paintings, sketches and engravings, however, give us detailed insights into the lives of the actors.

It is Hogarth who tells us that when the aristocracy left the city in summer for the country many of the actors became strolling players, each company walking between towns, sometimes 30 miles a day carrying their own costumes, props and scenery.

All actors studied from a recognised book of theatrical gestures.

A stamp of the foot, hand to the front with fingers outstretched was a signal of impending evil and horror; recognised and guaranteed to quieten a huge and noisy audience. If a character stood with his feet at right angles he was recognised as being in command; feet parallel and the character was servile. A character standing with feet positioned between the two was recognised as being aspirational.

In the early years of the 18th century a young Dr Johnson opened a school in Litchfield and one of his pupils, there to learn Latin and Greek, was David Garrick. Johnson felt that Garrick should become a lawyer and brought him to London but Garrick used a small legacy to begin trading as a wine merchant in the Strand. He came in contact with the nearby theatrical world of Covent Garden and was persuaded into acting. His first performances as Richard III were sensational and London experienced “Garrick Fever”, both from the excitement and the physical crowds that packed to see him. He was only 5ft 4in and wore lifts in his shoes but his acting was so realistic that everyone was astounded. He made a point of studying the moods and mental state of a variety of people and this revolutionised the acting style. He also directed, produced and wrote plays as well as acting.

Mrs Hughes succeeded in bringing this vibrant, tawdry, innovative 18th century theatre world to life with many more stories than it is possible to relate here.

Our next meeting, The Glamour Holiday, is at the Hundith Hill Hotel on June 21.

First published at 11:06, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk