Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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in v.hat wo 3 not to be called English but rather
stages*, here was a \.iiole company of actors, aw.e
to speak English, claying intelligently, cuonorting
one another effectively.
The pr-'ice which Arnold had hitherto reserved for French
acting and staging wo.s now bestowed upon Barrett, and although
some critics (such as The Athenaeum's) were unshaken in their
suspicion of the principles of c\c tor-ma n:\rer a, it was generally
agreed that Barrett was reaching Continental standards of
ensemble v.l
It eeems that Godwin's collaboration was instrumental
in the establishment of this reputation. As always, it is
difficult to decide the extent of Godwin's pov;ers and responsibility:
a •;.!.: .nar-cr was obliged to have regard for the selfrenpect
of tho to clinical staff, and for hie own reputation cs
st co-ia.--.un.gcr - it would have been impolitic to credit Godwin
y.lth "direction" of the performances. Ir. the first-night
prograraric of Hrnlot ha v/; c ascribed "Coctumec, Properties and
Furniture" (not, it is inportrnt to note, scenery); later in
the run Godwin was credited simply .;ith "The Archr.cology of
tho ?lry". The designs for Lirnlct in the Enthoven Collection
bear out the former •irorrriame note, for Godv;in devised cocnrc,
shields, a throno and ?.~rinl.:in.s well rs co.jtuir.GS.
4
Sinilai-ly, he nur.t hnvo been respocible for the colour-scheme
of the production - brilliant reds and :;olos against the
generally sombre ecenic backgrounds - and for some of its
novelties . The arrangement of the ^Icy-scene in the gardens
of the crotle owed much to the Coombe theatricals* 3ono notes
on an envelope, which survives among the Go: v,in papers at the
Enthovoii Collection, ; uf:ccst that he r' vo advice on rou-i: ng
and on matters of acting at a i. irly C'dv, need ut«£e in the
rehearo,:ls, and that his influence extended to nir-ke-up ; o well
as to drees - the sailors who bring nous from Hamlet to Horatio
in Act Four Ghoulcl have longer mour.it;;chos, he t.u^v-osts. In ai
intcrviov; published by Life on the morning of the firrt perfora
nee, Go^./in deccriboc! hio I'ocearches in Denmarlc and his
efforts to present
a picture of t.'ic ncople as they lived, v.lth
their lect'ier-b nc^ed le L-"c, their huge T-T; onr^l