Woffington : a tribute to the actress and the woman . t Woffington had been away in London all theDublin theatres had been more or less neglected. The managers, partlyfrom lethargy, partly from lack of means, had not engaged actors of suffi-cient ability to tempt popular interest to the drama. There was no one whocould draw an audience as the absent Woffington was wont to do—thoughGeorge Anne Bellamy had made her debut during this period; but, whilesupported by a choice coterie from the Castle precincts, she had not beenfinancially attractive. In addition to this, the crops had been poor for o
Woffington : a tribute to the actress and the woman . t Woffington had been away in London all theDublin theatres had been more or less neglected. The managers, partlyfrom lethargy, partly from lack of means, had not engaged actors of suffi-cient ability to tempt popular interest to the drama. There was no one whocould draw an audience as the absent Woffington was wont to do—thoughGeorge Anne Bellamy had made her debut during this period; but, whilesupported by a choice coterie from the Castle precincts, she had not beenfinancially attractive. In addition to this, the crops had been poor for one or two seasons, thewinters extraordinarily inclement, and money scarce with everyone. Theatrical matters, previous to 1742, therefore, were as dull and depressingin Dublin as they could be. At the opening of this season, however, the *The new and handsome theatre is no more—not a vestige remains; and on thespot there was erected a little Catholic church, but {1886) even that has disappeared—andthe site long since devoted to other uses. (38). MAEQAEET WOFFIKGTON in 1740. FROM THE THAMES TO THE LIFFEY. managers of tfte old Theatre Royal were resolved to change the condition ofmatters. They had already engaged Quin, then in the meridian of his power:an actor whom many people thought equal to Garrick; and Mrs. Gibber,quite fresh from *her long retirement from the musical arena, was speciallybrought from London to support Quins Young BevU in The Corsican Lovers,by assuming the part of Indiana. Some years previously, when Handel visited Dublin to conduct a per-formance of his own oratorio, Mrs. Gibber had sung several of the principalpassages; and the recollection of her musical powers, joined to her newly-revealed ability as an actress, combined to make this lady much of a favoritein Dublin. Mr. Quin, therefore, with her support, opened his season atthe Theatre Royal under very favorable auspices, and with every promise ofan abundant pecuniary success. So strong a cast of f
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