Page:Romeo and Juliet (1917) Yale.djvu/146

134 Romeo's fatal mistake. When Theophilus Cibber brought Shakespeare's play back to the stage in 1744, he retained this feature of Otway's play and omitted the references to Rosaline. The version used by the famous actor, David Garrick, in 1750 was substantially that of Cibber. The additions to the death scene remained popular and were used in an American production as late as 1899, although Charlotte Cushman restored Shakespeare's conception in 1845. Many nineteenth century productions, such as that of Henry Irving, followed eighteenth century precedent in cutting most or all of the scene which follows Juliet's death. Thus, in one form or another, the play has continued to hold the English stage until the present day, several important productions having been made since 1900. It has been equally popular in America since its performance in 1754 by the first English company that visited this country.