DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0021
ROBERT COATES, ESQ. 9
tragedy, by an expectant desire of enjoying a hearty laugh.
The fame of the hero of the night caused them to anticipate
something preposterously out of the way, and they went to
the theatre with a resolution to turn every thing into
ridicule. '
“ Nothing could be more truly contemptible, or more ex-
travagantly absurd, than the performance of Mr. Coates.
His manner was such, that the tragedy called forth much
more laughter than is usually heard or seen at the represen-
tation of a comedy. Much waggery was played off by a
part of the audience. The crowing of a cock was frequently
imitated with great success, and. the effect of this, in the
middle or at the close of an impassioned or pathetic speech,
was Very fine. Hisses were frequently heard very loud, and
after these Mr. Coates was greeted with six or eight rounds
of applause. He bore it, apparently, with great sangfroid,
for some time, but at last he lost his temper, and addressed
a series of silly speeches to the audience, offering to pay for
those who chose to take their money back and. go out, and
defending the line of conduct which he had pursued, as
originating in a benevolent principle, on which he was de-
termined to act. These orations so mortified those who
were acting with him, that Horatio and Altamont left the
stage, and Mr. Coates (cock of the walk) had the felicity of
entertaining the audience alone. Placed in this situation
the hero made a long senseless speech, which the indigna-
tion of the audience rendered it impossible to hear in the
theatre, but which he has since obligingly given* to the
world in print. This concluded, he left th£ stage, snapping
his fingers at the audience, and the drop fell as at the close
of an act. When the play was resumed, the last scene
which they had attempted was begun again, and at length
performed in better style than could well be expected, when
Mr. Cock-a-doodle Coates was concerned. The mirth and
noise of the audience were steady and unremitting through*
VOL. V. C
tragedy, by an expectant desire of enjoying a hearty laugh.
The fame of the hero of the night caused them to anticipate
something preposterously out of the way, and they went to
the theatre with a resolution to turn every thing into
ridicule. '
“ Nothing could be more truly contemptible, or more ex-
travagantly absurd, than the performance of Mr. Coates.
His manner was such, that the tragedy called forth much
more laughter than is usually heard or seen at the represen-
tation of a comedy. Much waggery was played off by a
part of the audience. The crowing of a cock was frequently
imitated with great success, and. the effect of this, in the
middle or at the close of an impassioned or pathetic speech,
was Very fine. Hisses were frequently heard very loud, and
after these Mr. Coates was greeted with six or eight rounds
of applause. He bore it, apparently, with great sangfroid,
for some time, but at last he lost his temper, and addressed
a series of silly speeches to the audience, offering to pay for
those who chose to take their money back and. go out, and
defending the line of conduct which he had pursued, as
originating in a benevolent principle, on which he was de-
termined to act. These orations so mortified those who
were acting with him, that Horatio and Altamont left the
stage, and Mr. Coates (cock of the walk) had the felicity of
entertaining the audience alone. Placed in this situation
the hero made a long senseless speech, which the indigna-
tion of the audience rendered it impossible to hear in the
theatre, but which he has since obligingly given* to the
world in print. This concluded, he left th£ stage, snapping
his fingers at the audience, and the drop fell as at the close
of an act. When the play was resumed, the last scene
which they had attempted was begun again, and at length
performed in better style than could well be expected, when
Mr. Cock-a-doodle Coates was concerned. The mirth and
noise of the audience were steady and unremitting through*
VOL. V. C