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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students
Poetry Library

— Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,

And saw, below, many devils

Running, leaping,

And carousing in sin.

…

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noun

A person whose profession is acting on the stage, in films, or on television.

“The lead actor delivered a powerful performance that moved the entire audience to tears.”

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XXXVI11 RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE STAGE.

40 lines
Ben Jonson·1572–1637
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im so much uneasiness, effectually restrained fromany power of annoying him on the public theatres. An act of parliament passed in the year 1737, whichforbad the representation of any performance not pre-viously licensed by the Lord Chamberlain, or in anyplace, except the city of Westminster and the libertiesthereof, or where the royal family should at any timereside. It also took ft oui the crown the power of li-censing anymore theatres, and inflicted heavy penaltieson those who should hereafter perform in defiance ofthe regulations in the statute. This unpopular actdid not pass without opposition. It called forth theeloquence of Lord Chesterfield in a speech, whereinall the arguments in favour of this obnoxious law wereanswered, the dangers which might ensue from itwere pointed out* and the little necessity for such hos-tilities against the stage clearly demonstrated. It alsoexcited an alarm in the people at large, as tending tointroduce restraints on the liberty of the press. Manypamphlets were published against the principle of theact; and it was combated in every shape which wit,ridicule, or argument could oppose it in. All these,however, availed nothing; the minister had resolved,and the parliament was loo compliant to slight a bill,which came recommended from so powerful a quarter. It therefore passed into a law, and freed the then andall future ministers froth any apprehension of mischieffrom the wit or malice of dramatic writers. The year 1741 was rendered remarkable in the the- -atrical world by the appearance of an actor, whosegenius seemed intended to adorn, and whose abilitieswere destined to support the stfige. This was the lateMr. Garrick, , who, after experiencing some slightsfrom the nianagersolDrur y-Lane andC'ovtnt-Gardcn,determined to make trial of his theatrical qualificationsat the plavhouse in Goodman’s Fields, undef the di-rection of Mr. Giflard, who was at that time permittedto perform there without molestation. '\ he part hachose for his first appearance was that of Hicl.ard theThird, in which he displayed so clear acoi.cQj tion of
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