All's Well That Ends Well (Vol. 26) - Reviews And Retrospective Accounts Of Selected Productions
REVIEWS AND RETROSPECTIVE ACCOUNTS OF SELECTED PRODUCTIONS
PRODUCTION
Samuel Phelps • Sadler's Wells • 1852-53
BACKGROUND:
Relying on John Philip Kemble's 1793 adaptation of the text, Phelps presented a successful version of All's Well That Ends Well that emphasized the play's romantic and picturesque qualities. Contemporary critics writing for The Athenaeum and The Illustrated London News praised the scenery and tastefulness of the mise en scène, both of which were felt to alleviate the "obvious crudities" of the play. The staging was further enhanced by several outstanding performances. The reviewer for The Illustrated London News described Fanny Cooper's rendering of Helena as "beautifully sustained" and praised her "careful elocution" of the soliloquies. Similarly, Mrs. Ternan was praised for her dignified performance as the Countess of Rossillion. Critics were unanimous in asserting that the most...
[The entire page is 67761 words long]
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