Contemporary Written Criticism
"Free spoken subjects give the best advice."
—Sheridan, The Critic
ل؛ااًةلا
٢ members, however, felt completeness of expressfon
un-
they liad put pen to paper and had seen. their efforts published.
Sequently, this period is especially ricli in printed comment in tlte daily
Lr.:
monthly magazines, and sporadic pamplilets. The total mass of it
Cr ; :.ever been assembled for study, but Dr c. H. Gray, in, his Theatrical
t t in IjOndon to 1795, has presented an effective survey of tlie main
tends.»،
suggested by Dr Gray:
i
reason for the upsurge ofcrhical wri
"
7
173
freedom of the stage was threatened by tire Licensing Act in
it b t
vigorously the value of the. theatre as a social
؛
necessary to
ء
age
force for reform in manners and morals.” But tlie fact of the Licensing
'
Act
an examination and defense of the stage
merely re-s
ئ;
tha
years as a result of Collier’s attack
In bi ad been in prggres.s for thirty-n
)
and immorality of the Enylisb Stays
Vf
; Sbort T/.ew of the Profane
the Garrick geriod t.hat botli abusers and defenders of the
stageaPP;;ent
abo ' going to view plays and players sharply, and write sharply
ut them
stud r odght tliink from reading a Dissertation
0«
Comedy, written by a
Oxford) 1750, that clergy of the Collier stamp liad relaxed, or
:
even hi
B eeti converted to a different point of view:
the;: may have been formerly for ;this complaint [of stage
،
St
Mr Garrick's management the stage is become the school of
:;[::'
manner
Mature ::;d morality; Ribaldry and profaneness are no longer tolerated. Sense and
Pantomime dfoly declines; Dancers arc but litde
,
،،
؟
Burletta performs to empty benches, and tile Britislt can now vie
:;لتئ;ا ،
With
ل.
B Athenian drama when in its severest state of purity (p
tliis student camg
of production one giust judge t
fh
0٢
to L٠
blinders on, or wrote witli very subtle irony, or reckoned
ي:
1.4 New
104-51
York, 1935 See especially pp
CXCIX