An Apology For The Life Of Colley Cibber

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1756. Excerpt: ... CHAP. V. The Theatrical Characters of the Principal dflors, in the Year 1G90, continued. A few Words to Critical Auditors. THO', as I have before observ'd, Women were not admitted to the Stage, till the Return of King Charles, yet it could not be so suddenly supply'd with them, but that there was still a Necessity, for some time, to put the handsomest young Men into Petticoats; which Kynaflon was then faid to have worn, with Success; particularly in the Part of Evadne, in the Maid's Tragedy, which I have heard him speak of; and which calls to my Mind a ridiculous Distress that arose from these sort of Shifts which the Stage was then put to. The King coming a little before his usual time to a Tragedy, found the Actors not ready to begin, when his Majesty not chusing to have as much Patience as his good Subjects, sent to them, to know the Meaning of it; upon which the Master of the Company came to the Box, and rightly judging, that the best Excuse for their Default, would be the true one, fairly told his Majesty, that the Queen was not jhav'd yet: The King, whose good Humour lov'd to laugh at a Jest, as well as to make one, accepted the Excuse, which serv'd to divert him, till the male Queen cou'd be effeminated. In a word, Kynafton, at that time was so beautiful a Youth, that the the Ladles of Quality prided themselves in taking him with them in their Coaches, to Hyde-Park, in his Theatrical Habit, after the Play; which in those Days they might have sussicient time to do, because Plays then, were us'd to begin at four a-CIock: The Hour that People of the fame Hank, are now going to Dinner. Of this Truth, I had the Curiosity to enquire, and had it confirm'd from his own Mouth, in his advanc'd Age: And indeed, to the last of him, his Handsomeness was very little abated; even at past Si...