Arise, Sir ––!

Abstract

Chapman was wrong. The ‘highest honours’ were slow in coming. Another half-century would pass before the first descendant of Thespis claimed his ‘patent of privilege’. Chapman was right, however, to use military metaphors – ‘enter the lists’, ‘the van’, ‘artillery’ – in describing the theatre’s long struggle to overcome prejudice. In this protracted campaign to recognize the worthiness of the acting profession, the Queen herself was dragged into one of the first skirmishes.

As the chief external agent in the progress of improvement, [the actor] is entitled to aspire to the highest honours belonging to such exertions. These have hitherto been denied him; but times are now altered, and the actor will shortly enter the lists with the rest of his fellows. The Queen has placed herself in the van, the Press brings its artillery to support the movement, and the actor has but to vindicate his rights to acquire his patent of privilege, and wipe out forever the neglect of ages.

– John Kemble Chapman, A Complete History of Theatrical Entertainments (1849)