Description: We are offering the RARE, ONE-OF-A-KIND " Macbeth Prompt Book. Property of H.C. Stone, Paterson [NJ] Opera House ". French's Standard Drama No. L, Macbeth, a Tragedy in Five Acts by William Shakespeare. With the Stage Business, Cast of Characters, Relative Positions, etc. New York: Samuel French. 122 Nassau Street. New York. There is no actual publishing date, but apparently it was 1878 or before. **NOTE** - Samuel French (1821-1898) pioneered in the field of theatrical publishing and the licensing of plays in London, while his son Thomas H. French was in charge of their New York office. On the inside of the front cover is a section of a broadside for Macbeth listing the cast of characters with Emma Waller as Lady Macbeth, an English actress who achieved fame in America as a Shakespearean actress. This book appears to have been unbound, and then pages with hand-written stage directions to the performers and the orchestra were inserted between the book's pages at the places where these specific directions (or prompts) were needed. After all of this was accomplished, the book was rebound with sturdy metal clasps, and a hand-made paper cover titled "MACBETH PROMPT BOOK. Property of H.C. Stone, Paterson Opera House". We assume that Harry C. Stone was the theatre's prompter (or giver of directions). On the first inserted page, Stone had written "To Newton Beers, Esq., With Compliments of Harry C. Stone, Paterson April 14th, 1888". On the last page, Stone wrote "Macbeth Fight" with stage directions such as "2 Blows on Shield"; "2 Blows on Sword"; "2 Thrusts and a Stab"; etc. And then he wrote "H.C. Stone 1878" (we assume the play was performed in 1878). Here are just a few other examples of prompts - "Wind Instruments Ready for March for 3rd Scene; "Witches Get Ready"; "Witches Drop on Knees"; "March Forte till Macbeth and Officers are down stage". **CONDITION** - the book, which measures 4 3/4" x 8 1/4", is completely legible, with no tearing. It was obviously used quite a bit and shows its age. The cover is slightly detached.
Price: 95 USD
Location: Santa Clarita, California
End Time: 2024-12-19T21:13:41.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: Hand-Bound
Place of Publication: Published in NYC; Stage Prompts by Paterson Opera House, NJ
Publisher: Samuel French
Subject: Macbeth Theatre Play
Original/Facsimile: Original
Year Printed: 1878
Language: English
Illustrator: None
Special Attributes: Rare - handwritten stage prompts for performers & orchestra
Author: William Shakespeare
Region: North America
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Unit Quantity: 1
Topic: Classics
