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ELLISTON, Robert William (1774--1831)
Copy of a memorial presented to the Lord Chamberlain, by the committee of management of the Theatre-Royal Drury-Lane, and by the proprietors of the Theatre-Royal Covent-Garden, against the Olympic and Sans Pareil Theatres; with copies of two letters, in reply to the contents of such memorial, addressed to the Lord Chamberlain, by Robert William Elliston, comedian. Second edition.
London (Place), printed by Joseph Hartnell; and published by John Miller,, 1818.
[2], viii, 140, [2], 141-[142], 142--[143] p. ; 20.7 cm. (8°)

The dispute between Elliston and the two royal-patent theatres over his alleged infringements of their monolopy on 'regular drama' hinged on a contested definition of the term 'burletta'. Elliston abandoned his strategic championship of the 'minor theatres' the following year to become manager of the Drury Lane Theatre (see DNB). A further pamphlet on this subject, this time arguing the case for preserving the patent theatres' monopoly, appeared in 1820 under the title Impartial observations on the proceedings instituted by the proprietors of the Theatres Royal, Drury Lane and Covent Garden, against the minor establishments (q.v. under title). Its anonymous author may well have been Elliston himself. Soane's criticism of Robert Smirke's New Covent Garden Theatre in his fourth Royal Academy lecture in 1810 had resulted in a dispute with the Academy that led to the temporary suspension of his lectures in 1811.

Copy Notes Bound with three other pamphlets relating to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, including the Impartial observations (see above).

Binding Later C19th half calf, marbled-paper boards, blind triple-rule borders, gilt-ruled and blind-dotted spine, direct-lettered 'Pamphlets. Drury Lane. 1813. 1836.', numbered '42' in a series of pamphlet volumes.

Reference Number 4112

Additional Names Theatre Royal, Covent Garden; Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; Sans Pareil Theatre; Olympic Theatre; Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Committee of Management


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