A FARCE IN TWO ACTS. WRITTEN BY DAVID GARRICK, ESQ. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, DRURY-LANE AND COVENT The Lines distinguished by inverted Commas, are omitted in the Representation. London: PRINTED BY J. JARVIS, FOR J. PARSONS, N° 21, PATERNOSTER-ROW, The Guardian. THIS excellent Farce, (a free translation from the French) by the late David Garrick, was, for the first time presented to the town, on the boards of Old Drury, in 1759. Garrick, like the matchless bard he delighted to honour, had studied nature through all her walks. This great actor mixed with society to mark its manners. Of the truth of this, his works, though few, bear honourable testimony. In the study the creations of his active mind, were raised by nature: on the stage, every action, every look, and every tone, were conceived, modelled, and breathed in the strictest conformity to her unerring and chaste principles. The two The character of the Guardian is finely drawn. Clackits hold up the mirror to the numerous herd of frivolous beings, which in every age have set sense and reason at defiance, and provoked satire to perform its wholesome office. Harriet presents a picture of simplicity and candour. The letter scene, in which she, with address and delicacy, avows her affection to an object so worthy of it, places her character in a point of view truly amiable. At the time this piece was written, gentlemen, even on the wrong side of forty, were not in the habit of appearing in tye-wigs. By a side speech from Lucy, it is evident a curly one of that description was worn by Heartly, and which must have injured the scene in its representation. |