Editing Samuel Foote (section)

==Initial theatrical ventures==
[[Image:C macklin shylock.jpg|thumb|right|Charles Macklin as Shylock by [[Johann Zoffany]]]]
Foote's first training for the stage came under the tutelage of [[Charles Macklin]]. By 1744, when they appeared onstage together, Macklin had made a name for himself as one of the most notable actors on the British stage, after [[David Garrick]]. His appearance as [[Shylock]] in Shakespeare's ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]] in 1741, mesmerized London audiences. Dismissing the conventional comedic approach to the character, Macklin played the character as consummately evil. Following his debut, [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] reportedly could not sleep, while [[Georg Lichtenberg]] described Macklin's interpretation of Shylock's first line—"Three thousand ducats"—as being uttered "as lickerously as if he were savouring the ducats and all they would buy."<ref>Findlay, p. 483.</ref> Following less than a year of training, Foote appeared opposite Macklin's [[Iago]] as the titular role in Shakespeare's ''[[Othello]]'' at the [[Haymarket Theatre]], 6 February 1744.<ref name="Howard, p. 131"/> While his first appearance was unsuccessful, it is noted that this production was produced illegally under the [[Licensing Act 1737]] which forbade the production of plays by theatres not holding [[letters patent]] or the production of plays not approved by the [[Lord Chamberlain]]. In order to skirt this law, the Haymarket Theatre held musical concerts with plays included ''gratis''.<ref>Howard, pp. 131–2.</ref>

Following his unsuccessful London appearance, Foote spent the summer season in [[Dublin]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Dublin|Theatre Royal, Smock Alley]], where he found his first success. Returning to England, he joined the company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, which at that time included such noted actors as [[Peg Woffington]], David Garrick and [[Spranger Barry]].<ref name="Hartnoll, p. 290" /> There he played comic roles including Harry Wildair in [[George Farquhar|Farquhar's]] ''[[The Constant Couple]]'', Lord Foppington in [[John Vanbrugh|Vanbrugh's]] ''[[The Relapse]]'' and most notably, the playwright, Bayes in [[George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham|Villiers']] ''[[The Rehearsal (play)|The Rehearsal]]''. It was in this role that Foote publicly showed his gift of mimicry. Borrowing from David Garrick's interpretation of the role, Foote used this role to mock many leading contemporaries.<ref name="Howard, p. 132">Howard, p. 132.</ref>