Relationship with William Charles Macready

This part of the exhibit sheds light on the professional encounters between Cushman and famous English actor Macready that boost her career options in England. A couple of engagements that both share are well-received by the public and the press. Macready's diary entries reveal a complicated and dynamic relationship that is mostly shaped by Cushman's acting aspirations, gestures of courtship, her striving for success, the reputation management - all of which apparently offend Macready rather than please him.

Oil painting of Macready as Macbeth

William Charles Macready

Macready's Diary Screenshot.JPG

Macready's Diary – Cushman mentions

The Anglo-American_Macready Poem by Cushman (1 Jan 1844).pdf

Cushman's lyrical praise of Macready (The Anglo American, Jan 1844)

Boston Evening Transcript, October 31, 1843, page 2 - false report - annotated.pdf

fals reports on Cushman going tour with Macready (Boston Evening Transcript, October 31, 1843)

Boston Evening Transcript, November 14, 1843, page 2 - annotated.pdf

Newspaper speculations about a potential tour of Cushman and Macready (Boston Evening Transcript, Macready and Cushman, November 14, 1843)

Boston Evening Transcript, November 16, 1843, page 2 - annotated.pdf

Boston Evening Transcript, False Reports, November 16, 1843

Vandenhoff's Leaves from an Actor's Note-Book; With Reminiscences and Chit-Chat of the Green-Room and the Stage, in England and America (1860).pdf

"it was not till after she had seen and acted with Mr. Macready, –which she did the next season, –that she really brought artistic study and finish to her performances": Vandenhoff's Leaves from an Actor's Note-Book (1860)

CCP Box 11 Grattan to CC.pdf

Thomas Colley Grattan addresses false reports and criticism of Macready in a letter to Charlotte Cushman, n.d. [1843]

The New York Herald (New York, New York, Thursday, October 26, 1843; Issue 284 - Macready and CC - annotated.pdf

The New York Herald about Macready and Cushman performing Macbeth, Oct 26, 1843

Pennsylvania Inquirer and National Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, November 01, 1843, false report-annotated.pdf

Pennsylvania Inquirer and National Gazette highlights reciprocal benefits of Macready and Cushman in case they perform together on stage, Nov 1, 1843

The New York Herald (New York, New York, Tuesday, October 31, 1843; Issue 289 - rising star.pdf

The New York Herald describes Cushman as a rising star but dismisses Macready in favor of Forrest (October 31, 1843)

Cushman_A Historical and biographical genealogy of the Cushmans.pdf

Henry Cushman's A Historical and Biographical Genealogy of the Cushmans (1855) describes Cushman's career stages and mentions Macready as an important influence

Walker_Reminiscences of Renowned Cushman (1876).pdf

Mrs. Walker's Reminiscences of the Life of the World-Renowned Charlotte Cushman (1876) depicts the Cushman-Macready- relationship quite contrary to what can be found in Macready's diary

1845. Northern Star. Comparison to Macready.pdf

The Northern Star (Aug 16, 1845) compares Charlotte Cushman with William Macready and discusses how they share a strong resemblance in both performance and physical appearance

1846. People's Journal vol. 2. Romeo Review.pdf

"First Impressions of Cushman's Romeo" (People's Journal, Vol 2, July 18, 1846) praises her performance and compares it to that of William Macready

1846. The Era. Romeo Performance.pdf

The Era (Jan 4, 1846) criticizes for her performance being influenced by William Macready

Cushman's Transatlantic Success, New York Daily Herald, March 21, 1845

The New York Daily Herald (March 21, 1845) mentions Macready as having had an important impact on Cushman's career but also reminds the reader that "Macready and Miss Cushman became estranged before the departure of the former from this country"

1876. Chicago Daily Tribune. Memorabilia. Feb 27, 1876.pdf

"Memorabilia of Charlotte Cushman," (Chicago Daily Tribune, Feb 27, 1876) reads Macready's diary selectively, leaving out the critical parts about Cushman

1878. August. Blackwoods Magazine. Brewster about CC Omeka.pdf

Anne Brewster's "Miss Cushman" (Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Aug 1878) offers an account of Macready and Cushman's business relationship that differs decisively from the one addressed in Macready's diary

NYPL, CC to John Povey, Oct 17, 1847. Omeka.pdf

Cushman mentions Macready's rivalry with Edwin Forrest and  (Oct 17, 1847)

Relationship with William Charles Macready