Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 29, DeMotte, Jasper County, 9 February 1933 — Before Actresses Were Seen on British Stage [ARTICLE]

Before Actresses Were Seen on British Stage

Believe it or not, the first woman who attempted to appear as an actress on the British stage was smothered--in the play. She took the part of Desdemona. Imagine a man playing the role of Desdemona! Fit performance for burlesque. The emancipation of woman by the English-speaking race began in its acquiescence to the appearance of actresses in the theater. In Shakespeare’s day only youthful and as good looking young men as could be found played the feminine assignments in the cast. Perhaps this ac counted for the ribaldry permitted in the lines spoken. There were no ladies in the audience, either. The theater was “for men only.” Queen Elizabeth was among the first to witness speaking shows. Love scenes were rather rare in the earlier English drama. Philosophy, kingly politics and war were the primary themes. Play-writing later became more excursive and Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the greatest mas terpieee of them all in which love dominated; and who, we wonder, was the youth who portrayed the sweetly maiden, clear crystalline character of Juliet?--St. Louis Globe-Democrat.