revolution david garrick

(1.)Good Evening. I’m your host Trenton. I have the distinct privilege of interviewing renowned actor, poet, producer, and co-owner of the Drury Lane Theatre, Mr. David Garrick.
Now Mr. Garrick, I have done extensive research on your fascinating life. I would like to share some of the highlights of your life with our audience tonight. I know you were born February 19, 1717 in the lovely town of Hereford England. Your Mother is Arabella Clough Garrick and your father is Peter Garrick a retired lieutenant in the Army.
Mr. Garrick, can you please tell the audience what events in your early life got you interested in the arts?
Thank you Trenton, I would love to. I have always enjoyed the arts, especially the theatre. At a very young age I performed in school plays. The first professional play I saw was in 1940. I loved it so much that within the year I was appearing in plays professionally myself.

(2.) That was very interesting Mr. Garrick. Can you expand on what role mentors played in helping you develop interests and talents you have as an actor?
I have had one main mentor. His name is Dr. Samuel Johnson. When I was 19 years old I moved from Lichfield Grammar School and enrolled in Samuel Johnson’s Edial Hall School. I was a student of Samuel Johnson’s and later we become friends. After the school closed, Samuel and I traveled to London together to try to make it rich. As you know, Samuel has become a very successful author and poet. Samuel made me believe in myself and I eventually followed my desire for acting.

(3.) Now David, may I call you David? Thank you. You began your acting career in March of 1741. What would you say the world of acting was like when you entered it?
Unfortunately, acting was a profession that was generally frowned upon. I kept my profession a secret from my family for many months in fear that they would ridicule me. It wasn’t until I became successful in my role as Richard the III in late 1741, when I finally told my brother and closest friend Peter.
Now I can say that the acting profession is a great place to be. My mentor Samuel Johnson gave me a fantastic compliment when he was quoted as saying “his profession made him rich and he made his profession respectable.”

(4.) David, how did the major cultural and economic situations of the amazing time era that you were lucky enough to act and work in influence your work?
Trenton, I love the arts and when I was growing up, education, religion and the arts were all part of my families culture. As far as economics, we were a family of 9 with very little money. My mother had friends and connections with people in the cathedral. We realized how important a formal education was. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we knew we had to get a good education and try to make a career for ourselves in something we enjoyed. For me it was acting.

(5.) What were some of your major accomplishments and the methods you were able to do, or even create in your field of drama?
Well Trenton I am not only an actor, but also I am a poet, a playwright, and a producer. I also co-own the Drury Lane Theatre. I feel I have influenced acting and producing in so many ways since 1741 when I started my career. I actually performed in 18 plays in the first 6 months of my career.
One of my favorite accomplishments has been being a co-owner in the Drury Lane Theatre. I have changed acting styles and I have tried to control the audiences’ behavior. I have also added modern sets to my stage by updating scenery and of course our costumes. I have even tried to add some special effects to some of our shows.

(6.) David, what were some of the main opportunities you had that allowed you to be so prosperous in your life and your art?
My family was poor, but we actually knew people that had some connections in our town. I also inherited one thousand pounds, which I put towards a wine business. Although my wine company did not prosper, I was able to make some connections in the theatre world with people that bought my wine. I sold wine to the Bedford Coffee House. There were many authors, actors and directors that dined at the Bedford Coffee House and I was able to make some good relationships there.
On my personal life, I had great fortune when I met my wife. On June 22, 1749, I married Eva Maria Veigel. Her stage name is La Violette and she is a fantastic Opera dancer. My wife and I do not have any children and we plan on concentrating on our careers.

(7.) What were some decisions you had to make to become so successful David?
Well Trenton funny you should ask, a decision that really helped me become successful was starting my own wine business. The business gave me many connections. Another decision was deciding when it was the right time to leave the business to become a full time actor.
Another piece of my success can also be the fact that I had such great fans. One of my fans named John Boyle the 5th, wrote letters to the noblemen in Dublin and recommended my acting. My play Hamlet was a great success in Dublin.

(8.) David, what hardships, or roadblocks if you will, did you have to overcome to become an actor?
I was very poor growing up and couldn’t afford much. My family also had seven children, so I didn’t get special treatment to practice my art. Also I went to England with my mentor Dr. Samuel Johnson without any funds at all. We were lucky enough to spend the summer with my uncle that lived in England. That helped us get started, and then my uncle passed away. We were able to make some connections though and get our life started.

(9.) What type of limitations did you run into as an actor and a person?
As a person, I have had kidney problems for most of my life that I have had to deal with. Most of the time I have been healthy though. When my kidney problems come up, I have to reschedule shows.
Since co-owning the Drury Lane Theatre, I attempted to stop reducing fees for people who came late or left early from my shows. But unfortunately this decision started riots. Also in November of 1755 some people wrecked my theatre right before a show and the audience was very upset. Another night in 1769 extreme rain washed out my Shakespeare show at Stratford-on-Avon. Fortunately, I was able to reschedule the shows and even make a profit.

(10.) What personal stories best describe how you became so successful in the arts?
Trenton I have many success stories, but a few of my favorites are quotes from some of my friends. Since my style of acting is more relaxed than others Alexander Pope stated “he was afraid the young man would be spoiled, for he would have no competitor.”
I can also quote George Lyttelton who complimented me by saying “He told me he never knew what acting was till I appeared.”
Another actor, James Quinn, quoted “If this young fellow be right, then we have all been wrong.”
Well thank you very much Mr. David Garrick for joining us tonight and sharing your great stories and career with us all. We look forward to seeing you in your next play. Maybe someday they will even name a theatre after you!
SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Garrick (quotes)
Theatrehistory.com / 1994-2008 Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc
Biographybase.com / Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition 2008
encyclopedia.com / biography.com
sacklunch.net / folger.edu
jrank.org / Britannica.com
theatredatabase.com

revolution david garrick

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