Memoirs of His Own LifeIn addition to being one of the leading theatrical managers and performers in England during the last half of the eighteenth century, Tate Wilkinson was, perhaps, the greatest mimic who ever lived. He had the ability to precisely imitate a person's voice, even a woman's, and also to duplicate the individual's walk, gestures, and facial features. To be "taken off" in the eighteenth century, however, was considered a serious personal insult, and Wilkinson suffered ostracism and threats of violence for exhibiting the peculiarities of others before the public. |
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acquaintance acted actor actress appearance applause approbation Arthur Murphy astonished attended audience Baker Barry Bath Bellamy benefit called certainly Chaigneau character Cibber Clive Colley Cibber comedians comedy comic Covent Garden Theatre Crow-street David Garrick Drury Lane Drury-Lane Dublin Edinburgh engaged entertainment expected expence farce favour favourite fear finished Foote Foote's Frodsham Garrick gave gentleman George Anne Bellamy honour hopes humour imitation Ireland Jane Shore John judged Lady laugh London Lord Macklin manager manner matter Mayor of Garratt Memoirs mimicry Monday morning Mossop mother Murphy never night obliged observed occasion Othello Peg Woffington performers person play players pleased Portsmouth prologue Quin reader received rehearsal repeated returned Rich Richard Samuel Foote says scene season Sheridan Shuter soon Sparks spirits spoke Spranger Barry stage Tate Wilkinson theatrical thought tion took tragedy truly walk week wished Woffington wonderful Woodward York young
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Page 16 - I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased, and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, Sir, he was irresistible.* He upon one occasion experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of...
Page 10 - I'll have a double quantity; for I am told Foote means to take me off, as he calls it, and I am determined the fellow shall not do it with impunity.