The Dramatic Censor: Or, Critical Companion - Softcover

Francis Gentleman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 037159331X ISBN 13: 9780371593318

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

The Dramatic Censor: Or, Critical Companion by Francis Gentleman is a mid- to late-18th-century collection of theatre criticism that assembles extended critical notices from a London theatre journal. The volume surveys contemporary plays and performances, weighing fidelity to originals, dramatic structure, acting, and stagecraft, and it often contrasts original authors with modern adaptations while policing taste by condemning display-focused pageantry and praising strong acting and meaningful writing. It situates criticism in venues such as Drury Lane and Covent Garden and engages with Stratford Jubilee culture to critique public taste and theatrical economies. It analyzes major works including King Lear (adapted by Tate), Man and Wife, Zenobia, Cymon and Sylvia, Cato, and As You Like It, among others, offering line-by-line or scene-by-scene judgments on fidelity, character, and staging. The tone is evaluative and prescriptive, emphasizing fidelity to Shakespeare and classical drama, balanced verse-to-prose treatment, dignified acting, and careful dramaturgy. The volume closes with reflections on journalistic integrity and plans for Volume II, marking a snapshot of 18th-century theatrical criticism and public discourse on taste, politics, and culture.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 037159331X
• ISBN 13: 9780371593318
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512