Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
1783-11-03
Went in the Evening to the theatre, Drury Lane where Measure for
Measure, with the Apprentice1 were
represented. Mrs. Siddons play'd the part of Isabella in measure for
measure, because it had been said, she could not speak Shakespeare's lines; and that
she could not play in Comedy; for the first part she prov'd the contrary; as she play'd
extremely well, but the critics say she has not yet play'd in Comedy; as the Character of
Isabella has nothing Comick in it; in this play; and the piece itself Notwithstanding it's
ending well, being more a Tragedy than a Comedy.
By Arthur Murphy, London, 1756 (
Biographia Dramatica
).