which is now called Salisbury Square-the situation of it is alluded to in the Prologue to the Gentleman Dancing Master "Our author (like us) finding 'twou'd scarce do, "And since 'tis his last tryal, has the wit "Where Punk in visor dare not rant and tear, The new Theatre in Dorset Garden seems to have been built by subscription, and at an unusual expense the subscribers were called Adventurers-it appears to have been larger not only than L. I. F., but than the new Theatre built for the King's company in 1674-it was opened with an occasional Prologue by Sir George Etheredge the Adventurers are said to be in a greater fright about the success of the theatre than ever poet was about the success of his play. Settle's Empress of Morocco was published in 1673 with prints, one of which represented the outside, and another the inside of this Theatre-these prints were re-published in 1809, but the inside print was at that time said to represent L. I. F.-this is evidently a mistake of the modern publisher-Settle doubtless meant to give a representation of the Theatre in which his play was acted-besides the Proscenium, or Frontispiece, is so handsome, that it must have been that of Dorset Garden. After the union of the two companies in 1682, they still performed occasionally at D. G.-operas, and other plays which required a good deal of stage-room, were usually brought out at that theatre-this continued to be the case after the secession of Betterton and his friends in 1695-but in 1699 D. G. was let to the strong Kentish man-see Tom Brown's letter in 1699-Joe Haines in the Prologue to the Constant Couple says "Ah, friends! poor Dorset Garden house is gone; "Our merry meetings there are all undone : 66 Quite lost to us, sure for some strange misdeeds, "That strong dog Sampson's pull'd it o'er our heads." Dorset Garden was again in the possession of the actors on April 30 1703-on the 13th of May in the same year, it is said in the bills (see D. L.) that Dorset Garden is fitting up for an opera, and will be ready in June at the bottom of the bill for Nov. 27 1704, D. G. is said to be repaired from the damage done by the late great winds-on the 6th of Dec., the Company intended to have acted at D. G., but deferred the performance on account of the bad weather -they acted at D. G. from the 23d of Oct. 1706 to the 28th-this seems to be the last mention of Dorset Garden theatre. In 1671 the Duke's company were under the management of Lady Davenant, (her son Mr. Charles Davenant acting for her) Betterton, and Harristhey removed from L. I. F. and opened their new Theatre Nov. 9th with Sir Martin Marrall, which was repeated 3 days together, with a full audience each day, notwithstanding it had been acted 30 times before at L. I. F., and above 4 times at Court. The Comical Revenge was next acted for 2 days together to a full audience. (Downes.) = == Charles the 8th, or the Invasion of Naples by the French-this was the first new play brought out at this theatre-Charles, King of France Batterton : Ferdinand Harris: Prince of Salerne Smith: Alphonso Metbourne: Trivultio Sandford: Ascanio Young: Ghost Cademan: Isabella = Mrs. Batterton: Julia Mrs. Dixon : = Cornelia Mrs. Slaughter: Irene Mrs. Shadwell :-Downes says, this T. was acted 6 days together, and now and then afterwards it is founded on history, but most of the incidents have the appearance of being fiction—the play is written in rhyme-the language is frequently unnatural—and the conduct of the principal characters romantic-one of them says— = "Whilst sporting waves smil'd on the rising sun.” Lord Rochester observed- "Waves smiling on the Sun! I'm sure that's new, "And 'twas well thought on, give the Devil his due." (Langbaine.) In this T. Crown begins his career of loyalty. "But make him know it is a safer thing, "To blaspheme heav'n than to depose a King. Subjects or kingdoms are but trifling things, "When laid together in the scale with Kings." This play is dedicated to John Earl of Rochester, one of the Gentlemen of his Majesty's bedchamber— Gibbon observes-" Augustus, or Trajan, would have "blushed at employing the meanest of the Romans "in those menial offices, which in the household and "bedchamber of a limited monarch, are so eagerly "solicited by the proudest nobles of Britain.” = = Old Citizen turn'd Gentleman, or Mamamouchi. Jorden Nokes: Sir Simon Softhead Underhill : Trickmore Harris: Cureal Sandford: Cleverwit =Crosby: Young Jorden Cademan: French Master Angel: Lucia Mrs. Bitterton: Betty Trickmore Mrs. Leigh: Marina Mrs. Burroughs: this play is taken by Ravenscroft from Moliere's Monsieur De Pourceaugnac, and his Citizen turned Gentle = man. Mons. de Pourceaugnac was acted at Paris in Nov. 1669-it is a very good Farce in 3 acts-Erastus and Julia are mutually in love-her father, Orontes, had promised her to Mons. de Pourceaugnac-Erastus engages Sbrigani, a man of intrigue, to assist in breaking off the match—as Pourceaugnac is going to the house of his intended father in law, Sbrigani waylays him, and scrapes an acquaintance with him-Erastus affects to be an old friend of Pourceaugnac, and insists that he should take up his abode with him-Erastus puts Pourceaugnac under the care of an apothecary and two physicians, under the pretence that he is mad-they consult about the case, and attempt to give him a glister— he forces his way out of the house-Sbrigani, dressed as a Flemish merchant, tells Orontes that Pourceaugnac is in debt, and had assigned to his creditors the portion he was to receive with Julia-Sbrigani next tells Pourceaugnac that Julia is a woman of a light character-when Orontes and Pourceaugnac meet, they quarrel-Julia pretends to fall in love with Pourceaugnac--Two women attack him, as being each of them married to him—they bring in several children whom they say they have had by him—Sbrigani recommends Pourceaugnac to two Counsellors, who tell him that the laws decree hanging as the punishment for polygamy-Pourceaugnac is so frightened, that he attempts to get off in woman's clothes -an officer of the police seizes him-Pourceaugnac bribes the officer to connive at his escape-Sbrigani tells Orontes that Julia is so mad for the love of Pourceaugnac, that she has run away with him— Erastus enters with Julia whom he pretends to have taken by force from Pourceaugnac-Orontes is so pleased that he gives his daughter to Erastus. Citizen turned Gentleman was acted at Paris in 1670-Jordain, who is by birth a Citizen, turns Gentleman-in order to qualify himself for his new situation, he entertains a Dancing, Music, Fencing, and Philosophy Master-Cleontes and Jordain's daughter are mutually in love--Jordain is made to believe that the son of the Great Turk wants to marry his daughter and that he means to raise Jordain to the dig nity of a Mamamouchi, which is the same as that of a Paladine-Cleontes enters as the son of the Great Turk-the Mufti &c. makes Jordain a Mamamouchi -Jordain insists that his daughter should marry the supposed Turk-this is a laughable Farce-but the plot is too simple for five acts-Moliere should have written it in three. Ravenscroft is in general a dexterous plagiary-in this instance he has rather failed-Moliere's two pieces appear to disadvantage by being jumbled toge |
