R370513B. Strafford
Figaro in London, 13 May 1837, p. 76.
Addendum to The Brownings’ Correspondence, vol. 3.
A new play, called ‘Strafford,’ has been the only novelty at Covent Garden; and the reason of our not noticing it last week is, that we thought it so particularly ephermeral as to have supposed that it would not have outlived the publication of our last number. Covent Garden is, however, in so wretched a state that ‘Strafford’ has outlived the week, proving how frightfully the manager is in want of something better. ‘Strafford’ appears to have emanated from a brain where the pure element called water has effected a junction with a quantity of milk, leading of course to a result of a most milk-and-watery quality. From the beginning of ‘Strafford’ to the end there is nothing to interest, except Mr. J. Webster’s calves; and they only interest us insomuch as that we should like very well to know how much he gave for them. The acting was all bad but Macready’s, and even he acted badly in inflicting this tragedy upon the public. The wardrobe was of the usual Monmouth-street description; and, by the manner in which the management dressed Mr. Dale, who played Charles the First, it added another crime to the long list already attributed to that weakest of sovereigns. It inferred shabbiness to his valet de chambre, for Charles the First, in this play, had on a dress that ought long ago to have gone into the hands of that functionary. It had most obviously attained the age of perquisitism. On the first night, being that of Macready’s benefit, the applause was vehement, and there was a call for Mr. Browning. Those who wished for an interview with that gentleman ought to seek it elsewhere, for it is quite irregular for an author to hold a swarry on the stage of Covent Garden Theatre. What they wanted him for, God only knows; since, before the end of the play, they all seemed to have had more than enough of him, and repeated yawns testified, as we thought in our simplicity, an anxiety to get rid of him. The gentleman himself was of our opinion, for he caused a return of non est inventus to be given to the writ of summons.
Reviewed:
Strafford (RB), London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, 1837.
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