Charles Macklin:
(26 September 1699 – 11 July 1797).
(Gaelic: Cathal MacLochlainn, English: Charles McLaughlin).
Irish actor and dramatist who performed extensively at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Macklin revolutionised theatre in the 18th century by introducing a “natural style” of acting. He is also famous for accidentally killing a man during a fight over a wig at the same theatre.
You are as welcome as the flowers in May.
– 🌱 **spring**
– ☀️ **renewal**
– 😊 **joy and beauty**
In short: it is a ‘poetic way of expressing great cordiality’. 📚 Origin:
The expression originates from:
– 🎭 “Love à la Mode”
– written by Charles Macklin
– first performance: December 2, 1759
– ’theater’: ‘Drury Lane’
The play was immediately successful and remained popular for a long time.
A consulted printed source is: 📖 London Oxberry Edition, 1825, p. 15. Important distinction: the printed source may be ‘1825’, but the ‘origin of the piece and thus of the quote’ dates back to 1759. 👤 Author: Charles Macklin (ca. 1690–1797).
In this case, the attribution is not only traditional but also ‘concretely linked to a passage in his play’ “Love à la Mode”.
