Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the text
- Introduction
- 1 England and France in 1789
- 2 The Revolution
- 3 From the Federation to the Terror
- 4 Dramatising (the) Terror
- 5 Performance and performing
- 6 The Shadow of Napoleon
- 7 Theatre and alienation
- Reflections towards a conculsion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - The Revolution
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2014
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the text
- Introduction
- 1 England and France in 1789
- 2 The Revolution
- 3 From the Federation to the Terror
- 4 Dramatising (the) Terror
- 5 Performance and performing
- 6 The Shadow of Napoleon
- 7 Theatre and alienation
- Reflections towards a conculsion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The speed with which Holcroft was able to bring a version of Beaumarchais' play to the London stage — seen in September produced in December — indicates the time lapse between events, news of the events and their depiction or reflection in cultural production. In an age of electronic communication topicality is measured in days, but with handwritten reports, horseback couriers and movable-type newspapers, topicality was more a matter of months. Nevertheless, the arrival of news occasioned not only discussion in coffeehouses and journalistic commentary, but also, as Frederick Reynolds recorded, media exploitation:
The French Revolution … had for some time excited the public attention in a considerable degree; but it did not cause a general and alarming sensation until the memorable fourteenth of July, 1789, when the Bastile [sic] was destroyed. Then, as is usual in these cases, every man began to consider how the consequences might affect himself … The loyalist saw the revolution in one light, the democrat in another; and even the theatrical manager had also his view of the subject. The Bastile must bring money; that's the settled point; and a piece of that name must be written.
At least three theatrical representations of the fall of the Bastille went into rehearsal. The one at Covent Garden ran into problems with the censor, as Reynolds continued: A piece under that title was written, and put into preparation at Covent Garden Theatre. But, when the parts were studied, the scenery completed, and the music composed, the Lord Chamberlain refused his licence.'
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The French Revolution and the London Stage, 1789–1805 , pp. 42 - 67Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001