Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington: Christmas Turkey

Friday, 26 December 2008

Christmas Turkey

Just finished watching the BBC's premiere of Casanova from 2005, with Heath Ledger in the title role. Looks like it cost a fortune - a stellar British cast phoned in their performances, including Tim McInnery as the Doge (a spectacular piece of miscasting) and Jeremy Irons as the scenery-chewing head of the Inquisition. Great music, costumes and setting, but given that the film's wittiest moment was a shot of a pig in a ruff, I think it's fair to call this a turkey.

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3 comments:

Heather Carroll said...: I agree. I put it in the brainless entertainment category; fun to watch the moving picture but not enough substance. The screenwriter who did Casanova also did The Duchess...; 26 December 2008 at 02:10
Mrs Woffington said...: Thanks Heather - I didn't know that. The script was perhaps the worst part of it, though I'll probably still get the Duchess on DVD (when it finally comes out), just out of curiosity...; 26 December 2008 at 11:22
Heather Carroll said...: I know I will too even though the movie really isn't about Gerogiana Cavendish, rather some fictional stereotype of a woman from the age. I think it just feels necessary that it's in my collection!; 27 December 2008 at 15:48

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Who was Mrs Woffington?

Virtually forgotten today, Margaret Woffington (also known as Peg or Peggy) would rise from humble origins to become one of Georgian London’s most famous actresses, sharing the stage with the likes of David Garrick and excelling in so-called ‘breeches roles’. Born around the year 1720 in Dublin, her childhood years were marred by the death of her father, which plunged her family into poverty. Having reputedly sold watercress barefoot in the streets of the Irish capital, she was soon talent-spotted by a tumbler known as Violante, who staged populist entertainments in booths around the city. Violante had a troupe of child actors called the Liliputians, and before long Woffington was making her debut as Polly Peachum in their version of The Beggar’s Opera. Moving to London, she gained plaudits for both her outstanding beauty and her talent – particularly in comedy – appearing at both Covent Garden and Drury Lane. Known for her quick wit and no-nonsense attitude, she had high-profile affairs with Garrick, Lord Darnley and Charles Hanbury Williams; she was also a generous benefactor, supporting her elderly mother and may even have endowed some almshouses in Teddington, where she had settled at the height of her success. She died, unmarried, in 1760, having suffered a long wasting illness, and is buried in Teddington's parish church of St Mary’s.

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