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Under the title of Plain English, Mr. Hollingshead has given us a series of papers for the most part in some way connected with his experience in theatrical matters. In his preface he announces that he is not writing as a professional author but as an amateur, writing when he thinks he has something to say, and as such he does not feel himself tied down to conventionalities, but speaks out his mind regardless of what may be thought of his opinions by his readers. His ideas of what the stage ought to be entirely justify his choice of a title: he speaks most plainly, and quite discarding the notion that it should only be looked upon from an intellectual point of view, he says the sooner actors, authors and managers accept their position as traders and nothing more, the better it will be for the profession. The model manager according to him is not to be the reformer of morals, but the qualities necessary for the good government of a theatre are precisely those qualities that make a good cheese-monger. Authors and managers are spoken of as potato-producers and potato-dealers ; in fact, he claims for the stage its true position as a profession out of which money can be made as legitimately as out of any other, and which ought not to meet with so much hindrance, or what seems to him equally irritating, so much insolent patronage from its self-constituted improvers. Mr. Hollingshead is no doubt as well fitted as anyone to speak on these subjects, and perhaps his Plain English may have some effect towards the removal of those anomalies of theatrical legislation which he condemns so forcibly. Some of the pieces in the book are of a more personal character, relating to incidents in his own career, such as Our Little World, Jupiter's Apprenticeship, The Electric Light at the Gaiety ; some are sketches and stories evidently dashed off or: the impulse of the moment; The mystery of a dress coat, How to manage a certain parasite, &c, & c. The book has been turned into the world in a rather unconnected state, but Mr. Hollingshead is willing to let it take its chance on its own merits.-The Cambridge Review, Volume 2

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