Author : John Toppin
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781091280311
Total Pages : 129 pages
Book Rating : 4.12/5 ( download)
Book Synopsis The Night Shakespeare Literally Killed the Audience by : John Toppin
Download or read book The Night Shakespeare Literally Killed the Audience written by John Toppin and published by . This book was released on 2019-03-22 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the night of May 7, 1849, William Charles Macready, noted British Shakespearian actor, was opening in Macbeth at the Astor Palace on Broadway in New York City, while his arch rival, beloved American actor, Edwin Forrest, was just down the street at the Bowery Theater, playing the role of Spartacus in "The Gladiator." This was a departure from what he'd done in Baltimore and Philadelphia, where he had played the same role as Macready in a theater just down the street. The Astor Place represented refinement and all the accoutrements of wealth and position, in other words, entertainment for the "highbrow" of New York City, while the Bowery Theater was just the opposite, an establishment for the workingmen or the "lowbrow" of the city. But the on-going feud between these two thespians and their supporters was more than just feeling one actor was superior to the other in stage presence and delivery, it was raw emotions still carried as a grudge over the War of 1812 and all that the British had done. Further, it was a built-up animosity between wealth and poverty, including a belief that English traditions were superior to American one's and vice versa. While some of these emotions spilled out on the night of the 7th, a postponement was in effect until the 10th, as in the intervening days Washington Irving and Herman Melville had to talk Macready into not departing the country and continuing his run on that fateful night. It was a night of terror and violence as all hell broke loose around the theater and up and down Broadway. And when it was over hundreds lay dead or wounded and there were far-reaching repercussions felt long after the Astor Place Riot. This is the story of the events leading up to, the night in question, and the aftermath of what had transpired.ABOUT the AUTHOR: John Toppin was an educator for 48 years, teaching at the middle school, high school, and college level. In addition, he served as an administrator for 21 years, as supervisor, assistant principal, and principal. He has collaborated with a friend, Wendy Frantz, on a work entitled, "The Girl in the Argyle Socks and the Boy with a Gold Nose Ring."
