-
Articles/Ads
Article STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures On Public Amusements.
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .
Nov . 29 . A T Drury-Lane Theatre anew Farce , under the title of " N OBODY , " _ f \_ written by Mrs . Robinson , was performed for the first time The fair author may possibly regret the expedition with which she hurried her production on the stage . The audience were decisive in their disapprobation — we thought them captiously severe . The Farce has merit , though not of the highest rder .
THE CHARACTERS . Lord Cburtland , - - Mr . BARRYMdrtE . Sharpley , - Mr . BANNISTER , jun . Sir Harry , - Mr . BENSLEY . Lady Languid , - Mrs . GOODALL . Lady Rouleau , - - Miss Por-E . Lady Squander , - - Miss HEARD .
Miss Cassine , - Miss DE CAMP . Housekeeper , - Mrs . BOOTH . Patty Primrose , - - Mrs . JORDAN . The story is immaterial ; — a few fashionable follies huddled together , and lightly ridiculed — the insipid conversation of a drawing-room — a dash of sentiment—and the ignorant mistakes of a country girl—compose the whole piece .
We think if Sharpley had been brought more forward , he might have saved the author . The sketch is an amusing one , but too slight for the production of any tolerable effect . If a character in life , as we suspect , the writer might prob ' a ' ol } - be cautious about extending it too far . The dialogue is neat and rapid ; never inelegant , though , in two or three instances we could mention , somewhat ambiguous . The chit-chat between their ladyships , in the second act , we thought tolerably well adapted to the lighter comedy . There is but little sentiment , but in the choice of that little Mrs . Robinson has
been select . Sir Harry is made the vehicle for this communication , who is " a very slave to mental pleasures ; " he is likewise " a philanthropist" —but unfortunately , he is his men trumpeter . It is astonishing that a benevolent character is never developed by the regular progress of the action ; he cannot consistently be his own encomiast . Lady Rouleau is a gross plagiarism from the Lady Savage of Reynolds at the other house ; but as Reynolds had the invention to plan , so he alone has the skill to execute such a character . When the outline was borrowed , the colouring should
have been borrowed also . But modern authors must not quarrel much about originality , the exchange of character is tolerably well understood — if they lose one idea of their own , they replace it by another that is not—so the odds are but trifling .
Hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim . The failure of the piece must be attributed to the misapplication of its satire — Sharpley should have been the butt of ridicule—situations should have been contrived to shew the absurdity of such a being—the present preposterous fashion in dress might have been at the same time ludicrously exposed in his character , and the true ends olfarce would have been completed . — The design of the Author , as the production stands , is cmccaled . An audience must be fixed to some point » r other . VOL . Ill , 3 K
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures On Public Amusements.
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .
Nov . 29 . A T Drury-Lane Theatre anew Farce , under the title of " N OBODY , " _ f \_ written by Mrs . Robinson , was performed for the first time The fair author may possibly regret the expedition with which she hurried her production on the stage . The audience were decisive in their disapprobation — we thought them captiously severe . The Farce has merit , though not of the highest rder .
THE CHARACTERS . Lord Cburtland , - - Mr . BARRYMdrtE . Sharpley , - Mr . BANNISTER , jun . Sir Harry , - Mr . BENSLEY . Lady Languid , - Mrs . GOODALL . Lady Rouleau , - - Miss Por-E . Lady Squander , - - Miss HEARD .
Miss Cassine , - Miss DE CAMP . Housekeeper , - Mrs . BOOTH . Patty Primrose , - - Mrs . JORDAN . The story is immaterial ; — a few fashionable follies huddled together , and lightly ridiculed — the insipid conversation of a drawing-room — a dash of sentiment—and the ignorant mistakes of a country girl—compose the whole piece .
We think if Sharpley had been brought more forward , he might have saved the author . The sketch is an amusing one , but too slight for the production of any tolerable effect . If a character in life , as we suspect , the writer might prob ' a ' ol } - be cautious about extending it too far . The dialogue is neat and rapid ; never inelegant , though , in two or three instances we could mention , somewhat ambiguous . The chit-chat between their ladyships , in the second act , we thought tolerably well adapted to the lighter comedy . There is but little sentiment , but in the choice of that little Mrs . Robinson has
been select . Sir Harry is made the vehicle for this communication , who is " a very slave to mental pleasures ; " he is likewise " a philanthropist" —but unfortunately , he is his men trumpeter . It is astonishing that a benevolent character is never developed by the regular progress of the action ; he cannot consistently be his own encomiast . Lady Rouleau is a gross plagiarism from the Lady Savage of Reynolds at the other house ; but as Reynolds had the invention to plan , so he alone has the skill to execute such a character . When the outline was borrowed , the colouring should
have been borrowed also . But modern authors must not quarrel much about originality , the exchange of character is tolerably well understood — if they lose one idea of their own , they replace it by another that is not—so the odds are but trifling .
Hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim . The failure of the piece must be attributed to the misapplication of its satire — Sharpley should have been the butt of ridicule—situations should have been contrived to shew the absurdity of such a being—the present preposterous fashion in dress might have been at the same time ludicrously exposed in his character , and the true ends olfarce would have been completed . — The design of the Author , as the production stands , is cmccaled . An audience must be fixed to some point » r other . VOL . Ill , 3 K