You are familiar with the plays of Mr Etherege?
- There are but two my lord
- Not for long, I fear.
The Comical Revenge or Love In A Tub
Have you seen Mrs Betterton playing Graciana?
Yes, I'm her understudy.
Indeed.
Act Two, Scene Two.
I shall play Beaufort.
Graciana, why do you condemn your love?
Your beauty without that, alas,
would prove but my destruction.
An unlucky star
prognosticating ruin and despair.
You mistake.
'Tis not my love I blame, but my discretion.
Here the active flame should yet
a longer time have been concealed.
Too soon too soon I fear i was revealed
Our weaker sex glories in surprise.
We boast the sudden conquests of our eyes.
But men esteem a foe that dares contend
One that with noble courage
does defend a wounded heart.
The victories they gain, they prize
by their own hazard and their pain.
That was not Elizabeth Barry.
That was Mrs Betterton.
An understudy must imiate not create
- Yesterday you created
- Yesterday I was dismissed.
- But you played truthfully
- It costs too much to play the truth.
I do not think
you have considered this speech at all
Well, how would you have me do it?
Let us consider now.
What does it mean, that speech
that Mrs Betterton mangled so?
Graciana means that she has given away
the secrets of her heart too freely.
Something that a gentlewoman
must not do to a gentleman.
- Why not?
- Because men will take love for granted
and then not prize it.
And is our author right? Do you believe that?
I believe men are hurdles
that must be negotiated.
Is that all? Do you never feel passion for us?
I've counterfeited passion in gentlemen's beds
if that is your meaning.
Counterfei will not serve you on the stage
Yesterday I was jeered and taunted
by 400 ruffians.
I know that will not serve me.
And so you will take their word against both
of ours and traffic in falsehood from now on?
I don't know
Then let us gain knowledge.
To the speech again.
You played i sweetly
Graciana is not innocent
or she would not have such insight
If you had ever loved a man
you would say that speech wih regret
Because you would fear the loss of him.
And supposing I have loved?
Then show me in the speech.
Sir, you mistake.
'Tis not my love I blame.
But my discretion.
Here the active flame should yet
a longer time have been concealed.
Too soon, too soon I fear it was revealed.
Our weaker sex glories in surprise.
We boast the sudden conquests of our eyes.
But men esteem a foe that dares contend.
One that with noble courage
does defend a wounded heart.
The victories they gain, they prize
by their own hazard and their pain.
Well?
Was there improvement?
Did you think so?
I wish to know your thoughts.
It was better.
But now you're too angry.
Of course I'm fucking angry! You walk
into this theatre in your 30-shilling boots
telling me how I should set about my work!
I warn you, I have a temper.
And I have been known to strike out
with the first object at hand.
If that be a property blade, some have
sharper edges than is needful, so have a care.
Ahhh.
To die onstage
at the hands of a beautiful woman.
I am no such!
I think I can make you an actress of truth,
not a creature of artifice.
I can do this.
But I cannot train you
unless you give a little towards me.
It's not in my nature to give.
I have my talent and I'm jealous of it.
And though I give you credit that you
and you alone in all the town have seen it,
I am not so dazzled by the lord and master
in you that I cannot resent you.
Yes.
You are right.
I am intent on doing something
that no other has yet done.
And I lost my purpose yesterday
with fear of the pit.
But I will conquer them.
And it shall not be said
when I have my fame and my Ј2 a week
that Lord Rochester took to me and touched me
with the shining wing of his