Show tragedy was difficult in ye yc olden the trials of a strolling player in eighteenth century england may be judged from a handbill announcing a performance of the deep and affecting tragedy of or the force of love at the old theater in east Grins stead stend in 1758 quoted in portrait of mrs siddons by N pal I 1 royde smith it says mrs mr s crawford a contemporary of the great sarah siddons had a shriek and a groan that made rows of spectators start from their seats mrs siddons went further when she shrieked the house shrieked with her at her groan young ladies swooned in their boxes |