This Theatre Royal, Drury Lane broadside advertises the evening's entertainment for Thursday, Nov. 21, 1833. The bill states that Their Majesties' Servants will revive Shakespeare's Historical Play of Antony & Cleopatra. In the title role of Marc Antony was William Charles Macready. William Charles Macready (1793-1873) was a popular actor in England at this time, having first appeared in one of his father's theatres in 1810 as Romeo. The season of 1833-1834 was a difficult one for Macready. A new manager by the name of Alfred Bunn had taken charge of Drury Lane and Covent Garden in May of 1833, and while an experienced stage-manager and journalist, he was also known as having little education, no literary culture, a shady private character. . .[and] a fine stock of ingenuous snobbishness (Archer, Macready 86). Bunn demanded that Macready play multiple roles with little time off between performances and insufficient rehearsals, leading to many bouts with illness for Macready. Between October 5th and October 30th, Archer records that Macready appeared fifteen times in as many as eleven different roles. By Monday, November 18, Macready's doctors were demanding him to rest for a few days, but Bunn would not hear of giving Macready a break without reducing his salary. A devoted father and husband, Macready continued to work. He performed 'Antony & Cleopatra' on Thursday while hoarse, feeling pain in his heart, and considerably weak. His diary recounts the events of that day, including being approached by Bunn to discuss a production of King Lear, but Macready was so wretchedly low, fretted and exhausted, that I could not speak to him. . .I acted what shall I say? As well as I could under the circumstances; was raw, efforty and uncertain in the scenes of passion, but had just taken precaution enough to make my pauses, although not to make use of them it was not a performance to class with what I have lately done (Toynbee Vol. 1 80). Bunn's insistence on mounting 'Antony & Cleopatra' regardless of the health of his lead actor is understandable. Great expense had been taken in preparing the revival, as the broadside indicates that new and extensive scenery had been prepared, as well as new songs and dances composed. The set locations are featured more prominently on the broadside than the members of the cast, and include: A Splendid Hall in Cleopatra's Palace, GARDEN of CLEOPATRA'S PALACE, and Portico attached to the House of Octavius Caesar, with the Capitol in the distance, among others. The broadside also indicates that the evening would conclude with 'Auber's Grand Opera of 'Masaniello,'' for which it lists the cast, and advertises the shows for the rest of the week. Artistic role(s) represented: Edwin Booth (Actor).
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