- Performer Name:
- Sgricci
- Performance Venue:
- London
- Performance Date:
- Author:
- Date Written:
- Language:
- English
- Publication Title:
- The Literary Gazette
- Article Title:
- Sights of London: Improvisation
- Page Numbers:
- 2: 365
- Additional Info:
- No. 490, Saturday, June 10, 1826
- Publisher:
- H. Colburn
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Date Published:
- 1826
Text:
On Monday, the celebrated Thomaso [sic] Sgricci recited his tragedy on the Fall of Missolonghi, at the Argyll Rooms, to an audience of about a hundred persons. The high price of the ticket, a guinea, probably prevented this recitation from being so numerously attended as might have been expected; but the company present was of a select and superior order. Signor Sgricci is below the middle size; of not fine but rather expressive features; and with dark hair, profusely arranged, which occasionally employed a finger or hand, in the midst of his most emphatic action. His manner, throughout, was exceedingly impassioned and energetic, and some of the most striking passages were delivered with powerful effect. It ought to be observed, that on this occasion he did not improvise, but merely repeat from a book, that composition which excited so much enthusiasm when originally improvised at Paris a few weeks ago. Of course, much of the interest was wanting, and, like the reading of a part upon the stage, the occupation of arm and eye with the book was a sore drawback upon the force and propriety of gesticulation and look. The dramatis personæ represented, consisted of the Greek Archbishop, two of the Capitani, Selves the renegado, Ibrahim Pasha, and Elena and Sofia, two Greek women. The dialogue of all these, besides the chorus, were given by Sgricci, and with considerable diversity of style, and various inflections of voice. Mentioning the names of each speaker as they occur, is, perhaps, necessary to inform the hearer; but it is injurious to any illusion with might otherwise be excited. Upon the whole, (waiting however for a genuine example of the art before we pronounce on Signor Sgricci's accomplishments as an improvisatore, poet, and declaimer,) the scene struck us as displaying more of enthusiasm and vigour, than of discrimination or pathos. The movements of the body were often foreign,—such as seem extravagant to English eyes, but certainly not excessively so: a medium between the best of the Italian stage and a native preacher, such as Mr. Irving when warmed to the utmost. The weakest points were certainly those in which feminine tenderness or distress were attempted: the best, the heroic sentiments of the Capitani. It is reported that Sgricci and Pistrucci (who, we believe, exhibited on Monday evening), purpose improvising in public together: Incipe, Damœta: tu deinde sequêre, Menalca.
Notes:
- Collected by:
- CB