Samuel Foote (1720–77) was a star of the 18th-century stage who avoided the censors by extemporising his performances. Today we’d call him a stand-up comedian specialising in improv. He served tea to play-goers and claimed that the show was a free accompaniment to the beverages. Dogged by homosexual scandals, he was hounded out of England at least once despite the patronage of George III.
Lloyd Evans
Foote fault
Plus: students will find Lyttleton Theatre’s Jane Eyre an excellent revising resource. For a fun night out I’d look elsewhere
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