Show tragedy was difficult in ye olden tymes 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 in 1758 quoted in portrait of mrs siddons by naomi Roy royde deSmith smith it says mrs crawford a contemporary of the great sarah siddons had a shriek and a groan th that it made rows of spectators start from their seats mrs siddons went further when she shrieked the house shrieked with her at her tier groan young ladies swooned m their boxes |