Alfred Bate Richards
Published: 2015-07-02
Total Pages: 228
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Excerpt from Oliver Cromwell: An Historical Tragedy, in a Prologue and Four Acts This Play is now published as it was acted, with the exception of three short scenes, pp. 45-6, 55-6, and 70-1, and three or four short passages denoted by inverted commas. I am aware that, owing to the excision of a portion of the underplot, the remaining part of it is neither sufficiently developed nor necessary to the Play; but that the underplot, as it first stood, made the Play too long, I do not attempt to deny. Indeed, had it been entirely omitted, the dignity of historical tragedy would, perhaps, have been better consulted. But even had the original underplot been differently presented on the first night, I cannot but think that much adverse criticism would have been spared the author. The Play had not been rehearsed for time, and had never had a complete and satisfactory rehearsal at all. It was prematurely announced for representation without my privity or consent. The management paid me the high but perilous compliment of doing little indeed for Cromwell, in the way of scenery or mounting, which in these days is almost too severe a test. I have to return my sincere and warm thanks, for his noble conception of "Cromwell," to Mr. George Rignold, at the time labouring under a severe and trying illness, which at last induced me to urge him to give up the part, and thereby stop the run of the piece. I have to thank Miss Wallis for her charming and pathetic delineation of Elizabeth, and Mr. Ryder for his powerful and masterly impersonation of Ireton. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.