SHAKSPERE OR CIBBER?

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 55, 19 October 1878, Page 4

SHAKSPERE OR CIBBER?

A fair lady iu the stalls of the Queen's Theatre, .Manchester, recently tried to follow a performance of " Richard III," by 'adof a book. I'uhappily, vjolley Gibber's version was used, and when the curtain rose the lady was noticed in the front iow wiii, a volume of Shakespeare in her lap, ready to pounce upon any inaccuracies in the text. She had her finger on the line, - Now is the winter of our discontent," ,Ve. To her utter astonishment Uloster did not enter, but instead, a young man with a pale moustache came in. Then another fellow joined him, and began I i talk about a military row that had taken place somewhere in the western par! of England. The lady bent scrutinizmgly over her book, and turned over the leaves to be sure that she was right; and then thinking possibly that tnerc was .some mistake in the programme, grabbed it up, and read it carefully at least three times. All this while a number of minor characters were gyrating about the stage, and still no crookedbedied tyrant was on hand. .She then asked her escort if it was Thursday, May IG, and receiving an affirmative reply was still more bewildered and astonished. finally, CHoster came on, and opened aceording to the book ; and then the ladv, much relieved, began following him line for line. Presently, in accordance with i libber's version, he skipped about half a page, and the lady liegau to claw all over the book to find him. By this time the entire company were "piping of" the critic, and enjoying the joke immensely. Those behind the seei'.os were watching her through tho cracks of tho flies, and going into convulsions every time a place was reached where (Jibber and Shakespore failed to hitch. Tho lady ;inally threw aside the book is disgust, end expressed her opinion pretty freely that even Shakespeare could sometimes be mistaken.