A history of the English stage must necessarily be in part a history
of one of the most delightful of subjects--old London, of which from
time to time we catch extraordinary glimpses in Dr. Doran's pages.
From 1682 to 1695, as if the Restoration had not come, there was but
one theatre in London. In Charles I.'s time Shoreditch was the
dramatic quarter of London par excellence.--
"The popular taste was not only there directed towards the stage, but
it was a district [75] wherein many actors dwelt, and consequently
died. The baptismal register of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, contains
Christian names which appear to have been chosen with reference to
the heroines of Shakespeare; and the record of burials bears the name
of many an old actor of mark whose remains now lie within the
churchyard."
Earlier and later, the Surrey side of the Thames was the favourite
locality for play-houses. The Globe was there, and the Bear-garden,
represented in Mr. Lowe's luxurious new edition by delightful
woodcuts. For this new edition adds to the original merits of the
work the very substantial charm of abundant illustrations, first-rate
in subject and execution, and of three kinds--copper-plate likenesses
of actors and other personages connected with theatrical history; a
series of delicate, picturesque, highly detailed woodcuts of
theatrical topography, chiefly the little old theatres; and, by way
of tail-pieces to the chapters, a second series of woodcuts of a
vigour and reality of information, within very limited compass, which
make one think of Callot and the German [76] "little masters,"
depicting Garrick and other famous actors in their favourite scenes.
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