University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

The Restoration theatre audience: A critical and historical evaluation of the London playgoers of the latter part of the seventeenth century 1660-1700

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The Restoration theatre audience: A critical and historical evaluation of the London playgoers of the latter part of the seventeenth century 1660-1700

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Content THE RESTORATION THEATRE AUDIENCE A CRITICAL AND HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF THE LONDON PLAY- GOERS OF THE LATTER PART OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 1660-1700 A DISSERTATION P re s e n te d to th e F a c u lty o f th e G rad u ate School The U n iv e rs ity o f S o u th ern C a lif o r n ia In P a r t i a l F u lf illm e n t o f th e R equirem ents f o r th e Degree D o cto r o f P h ilo so p h y by C a rl A, Thomas Ju n e , 1952 UM I Number: DP31994 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. 'Dissertsitiort ftibdisNng UMI DP31994 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Ph. D ‘SX r v s s This dissertation, written by —TZ> I \ n / . %-el 1 l b ( Oarl A. Thorny ........................................... under the guidance of hX.^....Faculty Committee on Studies, and approved by all its members, has \j'l been presented to and accepted by the Council on Graduate Study and Research, in partial ful fillment of requirements for the degree of D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y Date Committee on Studies Chairman ..... PREFACE In th e p r e p a r a tio n o f t h i s stu d y i t h as been n e o e s- s a ry to exam ine th e w orks o f many w r i t e r s o f s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry h i s t o r y in g e n e ra l and o f R e s to r a tio n h i s t o r y in p a r t i c u l a r * In t h i s p ro c e s s i t h as b een th e v ery good f o r tu n e o f th e r e s e a r c h e r to have a c c e s s to th e f a c i l i t i e s o f th e W illiam Andrews C la rk M em orial L ib r a r y , 2205 W est Adams B o u lev ard , Los A n g ele s. T h is rem a rk a b le c o l l e c t i o n , a t once com pendious and h ig h ly s p e c ia liz e d , c o n ta in s more th a n 5 0 ,0 0 0 volum es p r im a r ily on s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry h i s t o r y and l i t e r a t u r e w ith a heavy c o n c e n tr a tio n o f w orks in th e Res t o r a t i o n p e r io d . The im m ediate a c c e s s i b i l i t y o f so many v a lu a b le w orks on a l l p h a s e s o f t h e a t r i c a l h is t o r y o f t h a t p e r io d h as made th e r e s e a r c h b o th more p le a s a n t and more p r o f i t a b l e . The w r i t e r i s in d e e d g r a t e f u l f o r th e co o p er a t i o n o f th e members o f th e s t a f f o f th e C la rk L ib ra ry who s e rv e d in no sm a ll m easure to make th e d e s ir e d volum es r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e . TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER fA&E I . INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM. . . 1 I I . REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE............................................... 5 I I I . RESTORATION THEATRE AUDIENCE — SIZE . . . . 28 T h e a tre m onopoly......................................... . . . 28 The Duke*s company......................................................... 38 The K lng*8 company. . . . . . . . . 55 U n ite d com panies . . . . . . . . . . B e tte r to n v e rs u s R ich . . . ........................ 84 S um m ary.......................................... 90 IV . AUDIENCE COMPOSITION................................................... 92 C o m m e n ta ry ................................ 92 C h a rle s a s a u d i t o r ................................ * 9 9 John E v e l y n ....................... 113 M is c e lla n y . .......................................... 118 V iz a rd masks . ................................................... 122 Pepys and o th e r c i t i z e n s . . 126 Summary and c o n c lu s io n s . . . . . . . . 153 V. AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR............................................................ 154 S e rio u s d is tu r b a n c e s . . . . . . . . . . 154 M ild e r d is tu rb a n c e s . . . . . . . . . .162 C ontem porary c r i t i c i s m . . . . . . . . . I 9I Iv CHAPTER PAGE P la y e rs and a u d ie n c e • .................... 219 Thomas B e t t e r t o n ................................ . . . 220 M ichael Mohun and C h a rle s H a r t ................... 228 H e ll Gwyn * • • • • • • • • • ♦ • • • • 248 John L a c y ................................ 256 E liz a b e th B arry .................................. 261 Anne B r a c e g i r d l e ................................ 2?1 Summary and c o n c lu s io n s . . . . . . . 2?8 V I. AUDIENCE TASTE.................................................................. 280 Theory and c r i t i c i s m o f R e s to r a tio n t a s t e ................................ 280 A udience t a s t e in e a rly R e s to r a tio n p ro d u c tio n s . . . . . . . . . . . 294 P la y s o f D r y d e n ....................... 302 The W ild G a lla n t ....................... 302 The R iv a l L a d i e s .................................................... 303 The In d ia n Em peror . . . . . . . . . The In d ia n Queen . . . . . . . . . 304 T y ra n n ick Love ............................ 305 S i r M artin M a r-a ll ....................... • • • . 306 The C onquest o f G ranada . . . . . . 308 A ureng-Z ebe . ....................... 312 A ll f o r Love . . . . . . . . . . . 313 CHAPTER Q edlpus M arriag e a ^ Mode • . Mr. Limbérham • . . . P la y s o f E th e re g e . , . Love in a Tub . . . . She Wou* d i f she Oou* d The Man o f Mode . » . B uckingham 's The R e h e a rsa l . W y c h e rle y 's The P la in D e a le r P la y s o f Lee . , . S o p honlsba . . . The R iv a l Queens P la y s o f Otway Don C a rlo s . e # # The Orphan . . . P la y s o f R a v e n sc ro ft The C itiz e n t u r n ' d Gentleroa The London C uckolds Dame Dobson . . . Summary and c o n c lu s io n s V II. SU M M A R Y AND CONCLUSIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................ PAGE 316 319 327 332 332 338 342 347 355 364 365 367 370 370 376 380 380 384 390 392 394 414 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM M an's I n t e r e s t In h is own h e r ita g e i s one o f h i s m ost u n m ista k a b le c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . Among th e c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s c o n tr ib u tin g to t h a t h e r i t a g e , few have b ee n m ore p o te n t th a n th e t h e a t r e ; p a r t l y th ro u g h i t s p e r v a s iv e in f lu e n c e m ankind h as been l i f t e d to a h ig h e r s p i r i t u a l an d s o c i a l l e v e l . The v a lu e o f r e s e a r c h i n t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e h i s t o r y has b ee n e f f e c t i v e l y d e m o n stra te d by A lf re d B. H erbage in h is b o o k , S h a k e s p e a re 's A u d ie n c e. In t h a t w ork much con f l i c t i n g e v id e n c e was exam ined and r e - e v a lu a te d . H is c a r e f u l s tu d y r e v e a le d th e p e r f u n c to r y o r b ia s e d n a tu r e o f much o f th e m a te r ia l c o n c e rn in g th e th e a tr e g o e r s o f th e l a t e s i x t e e n t h and e a r l y s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r ie s and r e s u l t e d in a m ore th o ro u g h and th e r e f o r e m ore v a lu a b le know ledge o f th e a u d ie n c e in th e p la y h o u se s o f t h a t tim e . As w ith E liz a b e th a n t h e a t r e h i s t o r y b e fo re H a rb a g e 's i n v e s t i g a t i o n , th e r e h as been no th o ro u g h s tu d y o f th e R e s to r a tio n T h e a tre a u d ie n c e in London c o v e rin g th e y e a rs b etw een 1660 and 1 7 0 0 . The s p e c ta to r a t p la y s d u rin g th e r e ig n o f th e l a t e r S tu a r ts o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry h as b een s a t i r i z e d , lam pooned, and v i l l i f i e d f o r many 2 g e n e r a tio n s , and th o s e c h a p te r s o r b r i e f r e f e r e n c e s to t h a t th e a tr e - g o in g body o f p e o p le w h ich a r e c o n ta in e d in th e * w orks on t h a t p e r io d have l i m i t e d th e m se lv e s alm o st e n t i r e l y to th e s p e c ta c u la r , th e s c a n d a lo u s , th e d e p ra v e d , th e l i c e n t i o u s , and th e c r im in a l ite m s . S ta te m e n ts on th e s u b je c t t h a t seem to have b een w r i t t e n by p e rs o n s who had no a p p a re n t re a s o n f o r b e in g b ia s e d a r e to b e fo u n d l a r g e l y in i s o l a t i o n . I f t h i s s tu d y h as re a c h e d i t s o b je c ti v e , i t s f in d in g s w i l l be o f v a lu e in e s t a b l i s h i n g a more n e a r ly a c c u r a te a u d ie n c e h i s t o r y o f t h a t p e r io d . THE PROBLEM S tate m e n t o f th e p ro b le m . In g e n e r a l th e p u rp o se o f t h i s s tu d y i s to a c q u ire ^ and p r e s e n t c r i t i c a l l y ^ i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e rn in g th e n a tu r e o f th e London t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e a f t e r th e R e s to r a tio n o f C h a rle s I I . More s p e c i f i c a l l y th e p u r p o se i s to d e te rm in e ( 1 ) th e r e l a t i v e s i z e o f th e a u d ie n c e ; (2 ) th e ty p e s and c la s s e s o f p e o p le t h a t a tte n d e d p la y s ; (3 ) t h e i r b e h a v io r; and (4) t h e i r t a s t e in t h e a t r i c a l p ro d u c t i o n s . M ethod o f th e s tu d y . As in d ic a t e d in th e t i t l e , th e m ethod u se d i s h i s t o r i c a l and c r i t i c a l . In o rd e r t h a t th e s u b je c t m ight be p r e s e n te d a d e q u a te ly and f a i r l y , i t h a s b een n e c e s s a ry to exam ine th e s ta te m e n ts n o t o n ly c o n c e rn in g 3 th e t h e a t r e and i t s a u d ie n c e b u t a ls o many o th e r f a c t s o f th e R e s to r a tio n p e r io d . In an e f f o r t to s e c u re th e g r e a t e s t amount o f o b je c t i v i t y in e v a lu a tin g th e e v id e n c e , c e r t a i n c r i t e r i a have b een c o n s id e re d in o rd e r to d e te rm in e th e v a l i d i t y and r e l i a b i l i t y o f m a t e r ia l and w itn e s s e s : 1 . The r e p u ta tio n o f th e w itn e s s 2 . H is o p p o r tu n ity to know th e f a c t s 3* The o b j e c t i v i t y o f th e w itn e s s 4 . The a p p r o p r ia te n e s s o f th e e v id e n c e to th e p o in t a t is s u e 5* The a v a i l a b i l i t y o f docum entary e v id e n c e The m a te r ia l p r e s e n te d h e re c o n s i s t s o f r e p o r ts from g e n e ra l and t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r i e s o f th e p e r io d , from b io g r a p h i e s , c r i t i c i s m s , s a t i r e s , p ro lo g u e s , e p ilo g u e s , p l a y s , p e r i o d i c a l s , and t h e a t r i c a l d o cum ents. T here a r e r e p o r t s from e y e -w itn e s s e s to many sc e n e s of t h a t tim e ; o th e r r e p o r t s a r e b a s e d o n ly on h e a rs a y . T here a r e many c r i t i c a l s ta te m e n ts , p r e ju d ic e d , b i t t e r ; o th e r s come from w itn e s s e s who h ad no a p p a re n t re a s o n f o r b e in g b ia s e d . The e v id e n c e i s g r e a t in some c a s e s , m eagre o r n o n - e x is te n t in o th e r s . The problem i s t o p r e s e n t th e m a te r ia l so t h a t th e f a i r e s t p o s s ib le e s tim a te o f th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n ce o f t h a t tim e can be m ade. 4 O p p o rtu n ity f o r f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . A n o th er s tu d y in w h ich a co m p ariso n i s made betw een th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e and th o s e o f o th e r p e r io d s c o u ld make an im p o rta n t c o n t r ib u t io n to t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y . CHAPTER I I ; ( REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ! Among th e m ost n o te d t h e a t r e h i s t o r i a n s who have , d e a l t b r i e f l y w ith th e th e a tr e g o e r s in th e l a t t e r p a r t of ! th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry i s P r o f e s s o r A lla rd y c e N ic o ll, l a t e o f th e Y ale Drama S chool b u t a t p r e s e n t P r o f e s s o r o f Drama ^ a t th e U n iv e r s ity o f Birm ingham , E ngland. In h is A H is to ry I ( o f R e s to r a tio n Drama, he h as two b r i e f s e c tio n s in c h a p te r j I t h a t d e a l w ith th e a u d ie n c e . ^ H ere he s t a t e s th a t th e j R e s to r a tio n i s th e e a s i e s t o f a l l a u d ie n c e s to a n a ly z e , b e c a u se th e r e w ere o n ly two t h e a t r e s m ost o f th e tim e and I o n ly one t h e a t r e f o r tw elv e y e a rs of th e p e r io d . H is r e f e r e n c e s to a u d ie n c e s iz e d e a l e n t i r e l y w ith th e sm a lln e s s o f th e gro u p s w hich he a t t r i b u t e s p r im a r il y to ' th e c o n tin u a tio n o f P u r ita n p r i n c i p l e s in th e g r e a t e r p o r t i o n o f th e p o p u la tio n and to th e debauched c o u rt and [ t h e a t r e o f C h a rle s II.2 As f o r th e c o m p o sitio n o f th e i a u d ie n c e . P ro f e s s o r N ic o ll s t a t e s th a t “Of d i r e c t r e f e r e n c e ; I to th e m id d le c l a s s e s in th e t h e a t r e we have p r a c t i c a l l y no ^ A lla rd y c e N ic o ll, A H is to ry o f R e s to r a tio n Drama (C am bridge U n iv e r s ity P re s s , T h ird E d it i o n , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 5» T o g e th e r th e s e c tio n s com prise a t o t a l of tw en ty p a g e s . ^ I b i d . , p . 7# 6 r e c o r d . “3 In th e f o o tn o te to t h i s s ta te m e n t he c i t e s Pepys* f o u r r e f e r e n c e s to c i t i z e n s in th e t h e a t r e and d e c la r e s t h a t th e s e w ere a l l e x c e p tio n a l.^ These rem ark s c o n c e rn in g a u d ie n c e co m p o sitio n a r e sum m arized in th e s e n te n c e s , The s p e c t a t o r s , th e n , f o r whom th e p o e ts w ro te and th e a c to r s p la y e d w ere th e c o u r t i e r s and t h e i r s a t e l l i t e s . . . . Add a s p r i n k l i n g o f footm en in th e u p p er g a l l e r y , a s t r a y c o u n try c o u s in o r two s c a t t e r e d th ro u g h o u t th e t h e a t r e , an d th e p i c t u r e o f th e a u d ie n c e is complete.3 N ic o ll m e n tio n s th e e f f e c t o f p o l i t i c s and r e l i g i o n on th e t h e a t r e and i t s a u d ie n c e p a r t i c u l a r l y d u rin g th e s t r e s s f u l p e r io d s o f 1679 to 1 6 8 5 and from 1 6 8 8 to 1 6 9 0 . The d if f e r e n c e o f o p in io n in th e s e m a tte r s h e ld by c o u r t , p la y w r ig h ts , and c i t i z e n s made f o r much f r i c t i o n d u rin g th o s e tim e s . A ccording t o P r o f e s s o r N i c o l l 's comments th e t h e a t r e was th e p la y th in g , th e to y o f th e King an d c o u r t.^ Thus th e y c o u ld do w ith i t a s th e y p le a s e d , f o r exam ple, s ta n d on th e s ta g e “c o n v e rs in g more o r l e s s w i t t i l y , p ic k in g t e e t h and ' o f t combing t h e i r H a i r . '“? He ad m its t h a t t h i s was ^ Loc. Pit. ^ Loc. Pit. 5 I b i d . , p . 8 . 6 I b i d . . p . 11. 7 The e p ilo g u e to S ir W illiam D ev en an t's The M an's 4» A Tkf 4* A 4M 11 A A A 1 ? 4 ^ A Wr o 7 p ro b a b ly betw een th e a c ts and t h a t S o rb le re s in 1664 ob s e rv e d th a t su ch a v ic e was n o t th e n in p r a c t i c e . B ut th e r e was a custom among th e b e a u ^ to se e a s much o f th e p la y as p o s s ib le by p a y in g th e g e n e ra l a d m issio n f e e , how much he d oes n o t s p e c if y , and p a s s in g th e n from p i t to box to g a l l e r y in o r d e r to a v o id p a y in g th e e x t r a f e e f o r th e p a r t i c u l a r s e c tio n t o be chosen.® Thus, P r o f e s s o r N ic o ll s t a t e s t h a t w ith such an a u d ie n c e and a management a f r a i d to ch an ce o ffe n d in g them . W e can u n d e rs ta n d t h a t a t t e n t i o n to th e p la y in hand was o f te n g r ie v o u s ly la c k in g • . . n o is e seems o f te n to h ave 'drow ned th e S ta g e 's W it. . . . ' G en e ral d is r e g a r d o f o t h e r 's f e e l i n g s a p p e a rs t o have c h a r a c te r i z e d th e a u d ie n c e o f th e tim e . Not o n ly , th e r e f o r e , d id th e a c to r s p la y to em pty h o u s e s , o f w h ich a f a i r p r o p o r tio n w ere g a l l a n t s who d id n o t p ay and a n o th e r f a i r p r o p o r tio n w ere 'd e a d h e a d s,* b u t th e m eagre a u d ie n c e s who d id p u t i n an a p p e a ra n c e b a r e l y gave th e a c to r s le a v e to p e r f o rm .9 He m a in ta in s t h a t Pepys has s e v e r a l r e f e r e n c e s t o i r r i t a t i n g n o is e s in th e p u b lic p la y h o u s e s . I t w ould be more a c c u r a te to sa y t h a t he h as v e ry few o f th e s e r e f e r e n c e s . In r e f e r e n c e to th e a c t u a l f i g h t i n g and k i l l i n g s See M ontague Summers, A B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s to r a tio n Drama (The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), p . 5 1. ® N ic o ll, o p . Pit.. p . 14, 9 I b i d . , p p . 1 4 -1 5 . 8 In th e t h e a t r e , N ic o ll r e l a t e s m ost o f th e o ld s t o r i e s t o l d by th e w r i t e r s o f R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e h i s t o r y in c lu d in g th e one a b o u t S ir Thomas A rm strong k i l l i n g Mr. Scroop a t a p erfo rm a n c e o f M a c b e t h . ^0 Then, a p p a r e n tly i n o r d e r to make h is s to r y c o n v in c in g , he In c lu d e s s t o r i e s o f f i g h t s b etw een M rs. B a rry and M rs. B ra c e g ird le when p la y in g “r i v a l q u e e n s , “ a d u e l betw een S m ith , th e a c t o r , and a n o th e r man, an d even th e s t o r y of th e a c t o r s who became so i n e b r i a t e d w h ile d r in k in g r e a l l i q u o r in a f i v e - a c t p la y t h a t i t had to be co n c lu d e d a t th e end o f th e t h i r d a c t . H B ecause o f th e s o r t o f a u d ie n c e w h ich N ic o ll d e c la r e s was t y p i c a l o f t h a t tim e , th e p la y w rig h ts had no in c e n tiv e to “e x p re s s g r e a t i d e a l s , b e c a u s e th e r e was no d e f i n i t e s i n c e r i t y , no i n d i v i d u a l i t y o f u t te r a n c e . . . ."1 2 Even th e p r o f e s s i o n a l p la y w r ig h ts , a c c o rd in g to N ic o l l, . . . s tr o v e a s f a r a s th e y c o u ld , n o t to g iv e u t t e r an c e to any b e l i e f s th e y m ig h t i n d iv i d u a l l y have h e ld , b u t m e re ly t o r e f l e c t w hat had been s a i d b e f o r e them by o th e r s more f o r t u n a t e l y born. 13 The e f f e c t o f t h i s a u d ie n c e and o f th e s e p la y w rig h ts I b i d . , p . 17* T his was on S a tu rd a y , A ugust 2 8 , 1675, a t D o rset G arden. T his was in H ig d e n 's The Wary Widow, p ro d u ced a t D rury L ane, 1693* N ic o ll, R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 1 8 . 12 I b i d . , p . 20. 13 Loo. P i t . 9 was to b r in g ab o u t " th e u n u t t e r a b l e c o a rs e n e s s w hich d i s t i n g u is h e d so much o f R e s to r a tio n w orkm anship, and w hich h a s made th e w orks o f t h i s p e r io d n e g le c te d d u r in g th e p a s t V ic to r ia n c e n t u r y .“1^ He d o es adm it t h a t t h i s c o a rs e n e s s e x te n d s from th e b e g in n in g to th e end o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y .13 The c o u r t o f C h a rle s I I was v u lg a r in th e ex tre m e , and th e im m o ra lity was more open i n London p e rh a p s th a n i t had e v e r b ee n b e f o r e . A ll s o r t o f m oral t i e s , a l l s e n s e o f d ecen cy h ad g o n e. Women h ad become a s lib i d in o u s a s th e men; ' common Women' w ere 'p u b l i c grown . . . in t h i s d am n'd lew d Town*. . . .1 6 In s h o r t N ic o ll i s o f th e o p in io n t h a t "No one in t h a t age c o u ld p o s s ib ly c o n c e iv e o f su c h a th in g a s in n o c e n c e ."17 The m a jo r ity o f th e d r a m a tis t s , N ic o ll c o n te n d s , u sed a l l u s i o n s to in c e s t and o th e r u n n a tu ra l s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s "m e re ly to p a n d e r to th e d e p ra v e d t a s t e s o f th e a u d ie n c e . Y e t, a lth o u g h th e s p e c ta to r s m ig h t be " th o u g h tle s s and d e p ra v e d ," th e y w ere s t i l l " c u ltu r e d , and th e g r a c e , and th e w it an d th e e le g a n c e w hich th e y b ro u g h t i n t o l i f e and th e I b i d . . p . 2 1 . 13 Loo, c i t . 16 Loo, c i t . ^7 I b i d . , p . 2 2 . I b i d . , p . 2 4 . 10 p la y h o u se was so m eth in g q u ite new."19 S im ila r an d a t tim e s a lm o st i d e n t i c a l c o n c lu s io n s w ith th o s e o f N ic o ll c o n c e rn in g th e a u d ie n c e o f t h i s p e r io d a r e re a c h e d by M ontague Summers in h is b o o k , The R e s to r a tio n T h e a tre , c h a p te r I I I , on th e " A u d i e n c e . "2G I n t e r e s t i n g l y enough, how ever. Summers b e g in s h is c h a p te r w ith th e c o n t r i b u tio n t h a t "one common p r a c t i c e of p re -R e a t o r a tio n tim e s d is a p p e a re d u n d er C h a rle s I I , to w it th e p re s e n c e o f members o f th e a u d ie n c e upon th e s ta g e . "21 As he shows l a t e r in th e c h a p te r , s p e c ta to r s w ere o f f th e s ta g e d u rin g th e r e ig n of C h a rle s , b u t th e y re a p p e a re d th e r e w ith in s i x y e a rs a f t e r h is d e a th , t h a t i s , e a r l y i n th e r e ig n o f W illiam and M a r y .22 Summers c i t e s e v id e n c e to i n d i c a t e t h a t th e r e w ere many v i s i t o r s b e h in d th e s c e n e s and in th e t i r i n g room s, how ever, w here P ep y s, f o r exam ple, v i s i t e d on s e v e r a l o cca s io n s . 23 Summers w r i t e s l i t t l e o f a u d ie n c e s i z e . The e v id e n c e he o f f e r s i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e r e w ere tim e s when g r e a t num bers o f s p e c ta to r s a tte n d e d and o th e r s when t h e a t r e s w ere 19 I b i d . . p . 2 5 . 20 Stimiaera, R e e to r a tio n T h e a tre . p . 54. 21 Loo, c i t . 22 I b i d . . p . 57. 23 I b i d . . p . 5 5 . 11 p r a c t i c a l l y em pty. The im p lic a tio n , how ever, i s t h a t many more c o u ld have b ee n accom m odated in a l l p a r t s o f th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e s a t a lm o st any tim e . He p o in ts o u t t h a t th e te n n i s c o u r ts w hich form ed th e t h e a t r e h o u ses d u rin g a g r e a t p a r t o f th e p e r io d w ere d e f i n i t e l y r e s t r i c t e d i n s e a tin g c a p a c i t y .2^ The b e h a v io r o f t h i s a u d ie n c e Summers d e a ls w ith a t some le n g th and a tte m p ts to show t h a t i t was a c o l l e c t i o n o f p e o p le who a c te d a t r o c i o u s l y th ro u g h o u t t h e i r s ta y a t any p e rfo rm a n c e . He d e c la r e s t h a t I Pepys o f t e n r e f e r s to th e n o is e and c h a t t e r o f th e p i t , and i t seem s e x tr a o r d in a r y to us t h a t nobody sh o u ld h av e co m p lain ed o r p r o t e s t e d a g a in s t th e i n t e r r u p t i o n s o f h i s n e ig h b o u rs .2 5 He rem ark s t h a t th e f r e q u e n te r s o f th e p i t seem n o t to have had th e l e a s t c o n s id e r a tio n f o r th e a c t o r s o r f o r th e r e s t o f th e a u d ie n c e . " I t w ere e a s y ," he c o n tin u e s , " b u t s u p e r f lu o u s , to a c cu m u la te q u o ta tio n s from p la y s , p ro lo g u e s , e p ilo g u e s , s a t i r e s , and lam poons d e s c r ib in g th e n o is e and n o n se n se o f th e p i t . " N o n e th e le s s he "a c cu m u late s" th e s e a t c o n s id e r a b le l e n g t h . 26 24 I b i d . . p . 62. 25 I b i d . . p p . 67- 6 8 . 26 He d e v o te s pages 69 to 81 to q u o ta tio n s — m a in ly from p ro lo g u e s and e p ilo g u e s — t o show how b a d ly th e a u d ie n c e a c te d . 12 Fop c o r n e r , "a p o r tio n o f th e h ouse n e a r e s t th e s ta g e , a h o r n e t 's n e s t o f m a lic e and s c a n d a l w here th e f a i r - p a t ed b eau x and s n a r l i n g c r i t i c s c l u s t e r e d and b u zzed and stu n g " was th e h u b , sa y s Summers, o f a l l th e tu rm o il and c la m o r, w it and o b s c e n ity t h a t p a s s e d f o r w it in a R e s to r a t i o n t h e a t r e . B raw ls "w hich som etim es te rm in a te d f a t a l l y , w ere m a tte r s o f f re q u e n t o c c u rre n c e in th e p i t o f a R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e ," a c c o rd in g t o Summers.27 A gain he w r i t e s , " I t w ere a s n e e d le s s a s i t w ere e a s y to m u ltip ly exam ples o f t h i s f a t a l tu r b u le n c e and r i o t . " A gain he i s a t g r e a t p a in s to f i n d ex am p les, g o in g to su c h le n g th s a s to u se th o s e n o t o c c u rr in g i n an a u d ie n c e n o r in th e R e s to r a t i o n p e r i o d .28 The p a r t p la y e d by O range M oll and h e r Orange w enches in R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e s t o r i e s i s re c o u n te d by Summers who w r i te s a ls o t h a t an O range w ench j . • • was b e a te n by J a c k C h u r c h ill, and w h ile he no d o u b t * r i c h l y d e s e rv e d a sw in g ein g h im s e lf,* sh e p ro b a b ly had b een an n o y in g enough w ith h e r 'p e r t c la c k and in c e s s a n t b a w lin g o f . . . w a re s . . . .2 9 N a tu r a lly th e m o ra ls o f th e s e g i r l s w ere h e ld up to s c o rn a s a r e th o s e o f p r a c t i c a l l y a l l o th e r women o f th e p e r io d . 27 I b i d . . p . 78. 28 I b i d . . p . 81. 29 I b i d . . p . 82. 13 As f o r th e co m p o sitio n o f th e a u d ie n c e . Summers c o n c iu d e s t h a t "V iz ard m asks . • . swarmed in b o th p la y h o u s e s ," The m ore p ro sp e ro u s "bona r o b a s ," a c c o rd in g to him , fa v o re d th e p i t , " th e p o o re r f i r e s h i p s m u ste re d in th e m id d le g a l l e r y , and in th e u p p e r g a l l e r y w ere to be fo u n d th e b u l k e r s , E v e n one unaccustom ed to n a u t i c a l term s c o u ld r e a d i l y a c q u ir e th e c o n n o ta tio n s f o r t h e s e . The g a l l e r i e s "were o f te n a scen e o f v u l g a r i t y an d d i s o r d e r . "31 The e x a c t e x te n t o f t h i s , how ever, i s n o t s a t i s f a c t o r i l y shown. Masks seem to have b een s u c c e s s f u l ly b a r r e d by Queen A n n e 's r o y a l d e c re e in 1704, The u p p e r g a l l e r y i s t r e a t e d b u t l i g h t l y . He q u o te s from C ib b e r to show th e i n t o l e r a b l e "p la g u e " o f th e footm en who c r e a te d su ch d is tu r b a n c e when th e y came to be a d m itte d g r a t i s by R ich in 1697* The tim e o f th e pow er o f th e occu p a n ts o f t h i s s e c t i o n , he d e c l a r e s , was f a r in th e f u t u r e . 32 F i t g e r a l d 's c h a p te r c a l l e d "A uthors and A u d ien ces" in h i s A New H is to ry o f th e E ngclish S ta g e , d e a ls m a in ly w ith a u d ie n c e s o f th e e a r l y e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y .33 His o p in io n 30 Ib id ,. , p , 88. 31 Loo, c i t . 32 I b i d , , p . 9 2 . 33 P e rc y F i t z g e r a l d , A New H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e (London: T in s le y B r o th e r s , 1 8 8 2 ), c h a p te r V. 14 o f R e s to r a tio n p la y g o e r s , how ever, i s e x p re s s e d in th e l a s t p a ra g ra p h o f th e p re c e d in g c h a p te r when he w r i t e s , In d e e d , th e b e h a v io r o f th e a u d ie n c e s seems to have b een h a b i t u a l l y b r u t a l — a b r u t a l i t y , how ever, t h a t m ust h ave been f o s t e r e d by th e m u ltitu d e o f b ad dram as sub m itte d to th e m .34 F itz g e r a ld q u o te s from a so u rc e t h a t he n e g le c ts to name w h ich s t a t e s t h a t th e a u d ie n c e i s g e n e r a lly so im p a tie n t to g e t s e a t s in th e c e n te r o f th e p i t o r th e f i r s t row o f th e g a l l e r y t h a t th e y h u r ry from d in n e r . . . w ith sp o u se u n d e r one arm an d th e rem n an ts o f an u n f in is h e d m eal in a c o lo u re d h a n d k e rc h ie f u n d e r th e o t h e r . As th e p l o t o f th e p la y b e g in s to t h i c k e n ) t h e i r a p p e t i t e s grow s h a rp , h av in g n o t b een s u f f i c i e n t l y s t u f f e d a t n o on. They s t r e t c h and c r y , 'L o rd when w i l l th e s e tire s o m e p e o p le have done? I w ish we had a d a n c e , and w ere a^ b e d . *35 The names o f th e a c t o r s u se d in t h i s r e f e r e n c e , how ever, a r e o f th o s e t h a t f lo u r i s h e d in th e e a r l y e ig h te e n th c e n tu r y , and th u s one i s i n c l i n e d to b e lie v e t h a t t h i s i s w r i t t e n of th e a u d ie n c e s of t h a t p e r io d . Much o f th e m a te r ia l in F i t z g e r a l d 's c h a p te r on a u d ie n c e s , a s a ls o w ith N i c o l l 's and Summers*, d e a ls w ith a c t o r s and f i g h t s t h a t o c c u rre d away from th e t h e a t r e and in th e c e n tu ry f o l l o w i n g . 36 H ere a g a in , a s in o th e r 3^ I b i d . . p . 221. 35 I b i d . . p . 224. 36 F o r ex am p le, be r e p e a ts th e s t o r y o f th e k i l l i n g o f Hoi»den th e o l a v e r . w hich o c c u rre d a t th e Rose T av ern , 15 in s t a n c e s , i t seems t h a t th e s e n s a t i o n a l , th e s p e c ta c u la r , th e i r r a t i o n a l i s p r e s e n te d i n th e hope t h a t i t w i l l c r e a t e ^ e x c ite m e n t f o r th e r e a d e r . Y et i t i s p r e s e n te d u n d e r th e name o f h i s t o r y "From o r i g i n a l P a p e rs in th e L ord Chamber l a i n 's O ff ic e , th e S ta te P a p e r O f f ic e , and o th e r s o u r c e s . "37 Even su c h an o u ts ta n d in g E liz a b e th a n s c h o la r a s W , J . L aw rence w r itin g in 1935» a lth o u g h m ore c a r e f u l and a c c u r a te th a n m any, makes d e d u c tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e and some o f i t s p a r t i c u l a r members t h a t seem to d e r iv e m ore from a d e s i r e to p r e s e n t th e e x c iti n g and u n u s u a l th a n from any r e a l w is h to r e t a i l th e f a c t s . 3® I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t one who d id a s much r e s e a r c h a s he on th e E liz a b e th a n t h e a t r e sh o u ld s t a t e t h a t th e c a t c a l l , a s a "weapon o f o ffe n c e " o f th e a u d ie n c e a g a in s t th e p la y e r s o r Covent G arden in 1696. What a u d ie n c e s ig n i f ic a n c e t h i s has i s n o t e s p e c i a l l y c l e a r — n o r d o es he t r y to make i t s o . He a l s o r e t e l l s th e s to r y o f Bowen and Q uin, 1718, and th e s to r y o f th e a c t o r Ryan and L ie u te n a n t K e lly , none o f w h ich o c c u rre d in a t h e a t r e n o r i s i t su g g e ste d th e y o r i g i n a t e d t h e r e . See th e t i t l e page o f volum e I o f F i t z g e r a l d 's A New H is to ry o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e . W . J . L aw rence, Old T h e a tre Days and Ways (London; G eorge G. H arrap and Company, L t d ., 1935)» P* 147. Law rence d e d u c e s , f o r exam ple, th a t s in c e P ep y s, on December 2 1 , 1668, saw Lady C a stle m a in e lo o k to th e box o v e r h e rs and C h e irle s' heads to s e e M oll D avis t h e r e , an d s in c e he saw s e v e r a l o th e r th in g s in th e a u d ie n c e o f i n t e r e s t to him t h a t Pepys " o f te n . . . p a id much m ore a t t e n t i o n to w hat was g o in g on aro u n d him th a n to th e t r a f f i c o f th e s c e n e ." 16 th e p la y , was a new "In stru m e n t o f e x q u i s i t e t o r t u r e " w ith th e R e s to r a tio n spectators.39 i f D ecker i s to be a c c e p te d a s e v id e n c e , in S h a k e s p e a re 's and Ben J o n s o n 's tim e , i t was a llo w a b le to p la y th e f o o l , " to mew a t p a s s io n a te s p e e c h e s , b l a r e a t m e rry , . . . whew a t th e c h i l d r e n 's a c ti o n , w h is tle a t th e s o n g s . L a w r e n c e t r i e s to show t h a t c a t c a l l s began ab o u t l6 ? 8 , th e tim e o f g r e a t p o l i t i c a l and r e l i g i o u s u p h e a v a ls in E n g lan d . The f a c t t h a t th e c a t c a l l in th e R e s to r a tio n seem s to have b een made w ith a p a r t i c u l a r in s tru m e n t, p e rh a p s s i m i l a r t o t h a t u se d to d a y to p ro d u ce th e 80"#oalled "Bronx**cheer, " i s o f no g r e a t s ig n i f ic a n c e ; th e mewing o f S h a k e s p e a re 's tim e p resu m ab ly w ould have been j u s t a s d i s t u r b i n g . Lawrence rem ark s t h a t i t i s in c o m p re h e n sib le how f in e th o u g h ts f i n e l y e x p re s s e d c o u ld have b ee n " p ro p e rly sa v o u re d am id i n t e r m i t t e n t hurly«**burly" u n le s s "we a r e p re p a re d t o assum e t h a t o u r f o r e b e a r s w ere d ev o id o f n erv o u s s e n s i b i l i t y " T his he d e n ie s and s t a t e s t h a t i t was o n ly b e c a u se e # # 39 I b i d . . p . 165. — I t i s assum ed t h a t "mew" r e f e r s to th e sound o f a c a t r a t h e r th a n th e sound made by a cow w h ich p resu m ab ly jwould have b een s p e l l e d "m oo." Thomas D eck er, G u l l 's Hornbook ( B r i s t o l : T. M. G u tch , 1 8 1 2 ), p . 1 4 9 . The " P o p ish P lo t" b ro k e in A ugust o f t h a t y e a r , and th e c o u n try was s c a r c e ly s e t t l e d a g a in d u rin g th e n e x t [tw elve y e a r s . See John P o llo c k , The P o p ish P lo t (London: Duckworth and Oomoanv. 1901). o. xlli. 17 th e " n a t u r a l man was g iv e n f r e e p la y t h a t n o is e ab o u n d ed ." A lth o u g h th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e was " o f th e c la s s e s r a t h e r th a n th e m asses ... . . i t s p u b lic l o s t no tim e d e m o n s tra tin g t h a t r i o t and d i s o r d e r w ere n o t th e p ro u d p r e r o g a tiv e of th e g r e a t unw ashed." The d r a m a tis t s r a i l e d in v a in , he s t a t e s , a g a in s t th e " p la y w ith in th e p la y so d i s t r a c t i n g l y p r e s e n te d by th e w itli n g s o f th e c o r n e r . "^2 B ut th e g r e a t c r i t i c d o es f i n a l l y ad m it t h a t th e p o e ts came to " b a i t th e f o p lin g s " and t h a t s in c e th e fo p s w ere " h o p e le s s ly i n th e m in o r ity , th e y form ed a s a f e m ark. " That i s to sa y t h a t " s t a i d e r members o f th e a u d ie n c e " w ere g r e a t l y i n th e m a jo r i ty , and th e p o e ts w ro te o f th e " fo p s " a s a r e g u l a r p ro c e d u re — i t was th e th in g t o d o . He w r i te s o f th e b eau ^ who came in to th e t h e a t r e a f t e r th e t h i r d a c t f o r a s m a ll f e e w h ich A lex a n d er D avenant b eg a n to c h a rg e a s " a f t e r money" d u rin g h is r e ig n o v e r th e t h e a t r e s . F o r th e amount o f t h i s f e e he a c c e p ts D*Urfey*s p ro lo g u e to The B a th , a comedy, a s e v id e n c e .^3 L aw rence, op. c i t . . p . 174. 43 T his p ro lo g u e w r i t t e n in 1701 s t a t e s I'm t o l d t h a t B eaux w ith P e ru k e s c o v e r 'd O 'e r , Make su c h s tr a n g e s h i f t s to sa v e p o o r s h i l l i n g s f o u r ; T h e y 'l l in S ide-B ox th r e e A cts f o r n o th in g s i t , At l a s t sn eak down f o r six-^penoe to th e P i t . 18 A r e f r e s h i n g p o in t o f v iew c o n c e rn in g th e in f lu e n c e o f C h a rle s I I and h i s c o u rt on E n g lis h s o c i e t y i s p r e s e n te d by D r. Jo h n Doran in h is b o o k . A nnals o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e , when he s t a t e s , "From o f o ld t h e r e had b ee n a c o rru p t s o c i e t y , and a s o c i e t y p r o t e s t i n g a g a in s t th e c o r r u p tio n . He q u o te s from th e P u r ita n p o e t , George W ith e r, who in th e d e d i c a t io n to h i s " H a lle lu ja h " in 1641 had w r i t t e n . Y ea, n o t a t p r i v a t e o n ly , b u t a t o u r p u b lic f e a s t s , an d c i v i l m e e tin g s a l s o , s c u r r i l o u s an d obscene so n g s a r e im p u d e n tly su n g , w ith o u t r e s p e c tin g th e re v e re n d p re s e n c e o f m a tro n s , v i r g i n s , m a g is tr a t e s o r d i v i n e s . ^5 B ut Doran rem ark s a ls o on th e tu r b u le n c e o f a u d ie n c e s in th o s e tim e s "som etim es p ro v o k ed , a t o th e r s a l t o g e t h e r u n j u s t i f i a b l e , and alw ays more sav ag e th a n hum orous." He r e f e r s to th e Lady HarveywLady C a stle m a in e fe u d and th e f i n a n c i a l q u a r r e l s b ro u g h t on by " c h is e l in g " g a l l a n t s . ^ He m e n tio n s th e h o r r i b l e r i o t s , f o r exam ple, when th e i n e b r i a t e s came in to p r o t e s t a g a in s t " th e D uchess o f P o rtsm o u th and o t h e r p e rs o n s o f h o n o u r." T here i s no s u g g e s tio n , h ow ever, o f th e p ro b a b le c a u se o f t h i s in th e f i r s t p l a c e . ^7 ^ Dr. Jo h n D oran, " T h e ir M a je s t ie s ' S e r v a n ts ," A nnals o f th e E n g lis h S tag e from Thomas B e tte r t o n to Edmund Kean (London: IB oV ), Vol. 1, p a r t 1, p . 237* ^5 Loo. Pit. ^6 I b i d . . p . 243. ^7 See b elo w c h a p te r V. 19 Doran s t a t e s t h a t i t was th e “t h i n g • * to do “to lo o k upon th e company u n le s s some i r r e s i s t i b l e a t t r a c t i o n drew a t t e n t i o n to th e s ta g e ; and th e c u r t a i n down, th e beaux becam e a c tiv e in th e s e r v ic e o f th e l a d i e s g e n e r a l l y . “ As f o r th e p eo p le c o m p ris in g t h i s a u d ie n c e he s t a t e s t h a t in th e p i t th e r e w ere “c r i t i c s and o th e r good men t h e r e , a s p r i n k l i n g o f c l e r i c a l g e n tle m e n , e s p e c i a l l y o f c h a p la in s ; t h e i r p a tro n s p e rh a p s b e in g in th e b o x e s .“ The im p lic a tio n i s , how ever, t h a t , l i k e John E v ely n , th e y w ere asham ed of t h e i r p re s e n c e a t su c h a p erfo rm an ce.^® Doran p o in ts to t h e la c k o f s i n c e r i t y o f th e a u d ie n c e s o f th e tim e b y r e f e r r i n g t o D ry d e n 's s ta te m e n t t h a t “in a l l o u r tr a g e d ie s th e a u d ie n c e can n o t f o r b e a r la u g h in g when th e a c t o r s a r e t o d i e : * t i s th e m ost com ic p a r t o f th e w hole p la y . “ Doran i s p r o p e r ly s k e p t i c a l o f t h i s s ta te m e n t, h ow ever, and a v e rs t h a t su ch was n o t th e c a s e when th e h e ro e s o f S h ak esp eare w ere “r e p r e s e n te d by B e tte r t o n , H a rt, o r H a r r i s . . . . " He s u g g e s ts t h a t i t was o n ly in th e h e r o ic tr a g e d ie s t h a t t h i s o c c u rre d , b u t th e re c o rd d o es n o t even b e a r o u t t h i s s u g g e s t i o n . B u t s in c e r e o r n o t, sa y s D r. D oran, “th e r e s i d e n t L ondoners w ere g r e a t p la y g o e r s , and g a d d e rs g e n e r a l l y . “ ^ I b i d . . p p . 2 4 8 -2 4 9 . ^ 9 Q a a “ K a T f t w . /*V >oT r% *t* AT* V T 20 A b r i e f d is c u s s io n o f th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e by H. B a rto n B aker ad d s n o th in g to th e p i c t u r e a lr e a d y p a i n te d . He ech o es th e them e o f F i t z g e r a l d and o th e r s when he w r i te s t h a t th e a u d ie n c e w as: . • • a s l i c e n t i o u s a s th e e n te r ta in m e n t, and came b u t to se e th e m se lv e s and t h e i r m anners r e f l e c t e d a s in a lo o k in g < * g la ss. L i t t l e o f th e p la y c o u ld have b ee n h e a rd am id st th e u p ro a r an d clam our o f th e s p e c t a t o r s , th e g a l l a n t s com bing t h e i r lo n g p e r r iw ig s and c r i t i c i s in g th e p la y a lo u d , o r c a r r y in g on a f l i r t a t i o n w ith some m asked f e m a le , o r to y in g w ith t h e o ra n g e w en ch es, who w ere u s u a lly v e ry im p o rta n t f a c t o r s in th e p la y h o u s e s . . . .^ 0 One o f th e m ost i n t e r e s t i n g , i f n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y f r u i t f u l , r e f e r e n c e s t o th e s u b je c t i s an a tte m p t a t a b r i e f co m p ariso n b y T ain e o f th e S h ak esp e area n w ith th e R e s te ra ^ t i e n a u d ie n c e .51 He w r i t e s : What an A udience was t h a t o f S h ak esp ea re and Beaumont an d F le tc h e r ! What y o u th f u l and d e l i g h t f u l s o u ls ! In t h i s ev ll# # sm e llin g room i n w hich i t was n e c e s s a ry to b u rn ju n i p e r , b e f o r e t h a t m is e ra b le h a l f ^ l i g h t e d s ta g e , b e f o r e d e c o r a tio n s w o rth y o f an a le h o u s e , w ith men p la y in g th e women*s p a r t s , i l l u s i o n e n c h a in e d them . . . th e y c o u ld be c a r r i e d in an i n s t a n t o v e r f o r e s t a n d o c e a n , from c lim e t o c lim e , a c ro s s tw e n ty y e a rs o f tim e , th ro u g h te n b a t t l e s and a l l th e h u rry o f a d v e n tu re . . . com edy, a f t e r a b u r s t o f b u ffo o n e ry , resum ed i t s s e r io u s o r te n d e r to n e* . . . They r a i s e d th e m s e lv e s w ith o u t an y a s s i s t a n c e to th e summit o f th e w o rld o f i d e a s , * . . 5® H. B a rto n B a k er, The London S tag e (London: W. H. A lle n and Company, 1 8 8 9 ), V o l. 1 , p . 4 8 . 51 H ip p o ly te A dolphe T a in e , H is to r y o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e , T r a n s la te d from th e F ren ch b y H enry Van Laun Rev. E d. TW ew Y ork: The C o lo n ia l P r e s s , 1 9 0 0 ), V o l. 2 , p p . 1 5 3 -1 5 4 . 21 They w ere in t h a t t r a n s i e n t and s t r a i n e d c o n d itio n in w h ich th e im a g in a tio n . . . d e v e lo p s man a l l a t o n c e , an d in t h a t man th e m ost e x a lte d and e x q u i s i te f e e l i n g s . 52 C o n tra s te d w ith t h i s e c s t a t i c d e s c r i p t i o n o f S h ak es p e a re * s a u d ie n c e i s T aine * s c o n c e p tio n o f th e s p e c t a t o r s who w atch ed Thomas B e tte r t o n . He c o n tin u e s : The r o i s t e r e r s to o k th e p la c e o f t h e s e . They w ere r i c h , th e y had t r i e d t o d eck th e m se lv e s w ith th e p o l i s h o f Frenchm en. . . . Im agine th o s e f o p p is h and h a l f - in t o x i c a t e d men who saw in lo v e n o th in g beyond d e s i r e . . . . F i l t h y w ords w i l l make them la u g h th ro u g h sym pathy; sh a m e le ss im ag ery w i l l d i v e r t them by a p p e a lin g to t h e i r r e c o l l e c t i o n s . • • • Add to t h i s women d eb au ch e d , and w i l l i n g to be d eb au ch ed ; an d i t i s m a n ife s t how th e s e • , . m anners o f p r o s t i t u t e s . . • m ust have s t i r r e d up th e in n e rm o st f e e l i n g s o f th e h a b i t u a l p r a c t i s e r s o f i n t r i g u e . And w hat i s m ore, th e t h e a t r e . . . by r e p r e s e n tin g n o th in g b u t v ic e . . . a u th o r iz e d t h e i r v i c e s . 53 I t i s o n ly to o e v id e n t from t h i s t h a t th e a u th o r had n o t exam ined s u f f i c i e n t e v id e n c e to d is c u s s o b j e c t i v e l y e i t h e r th e a u d ie n c e o f S h a k esp ea re o r t h a t o f B e t t e r t o n . W hatever may be th o u g h t o f th e c o n te n t o f T ain e * s c o n t r a s t i n g d e s c r i p t i o n s , h ow ever, one can s c a r c e ly e sc a p e th e c o n c lu s io n t h a t th e y a r e v i v i d and p ic tu r e s q u e . As w i l l be show n, any c r i t i c who d e s c r ib e s th e c o m p o sitio n o f th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e a s n o th in g b u t “r o i s t e r e r s ’ * an d “p r o s t i t u t e s “ m ust be re c o g n iz e d p ro b a b ly as somewhat o v e r - 52 Loo, c i t.. 55 Loc. c i t . 22 e n th u f iia s tio b u t c e r t a i n l y in p a r t , a t l e a s t , a s in a c c u r a t e . Nor can th e b la n k e t s ta te m e n t be a c c u r a te ly made t h a t th e t h e a t r e “r e p r e s e n te d n o th in g b u t v ic e « “ Even t h a t s ta u n c h d e f e n d e r, c r i t i c , a p o l o g i s t, and l a t e R e s to r a tio n p la y w r ig h t, Jo h n D e n n is, in h i s d e te rm in e d e f f o r t to p a r r y th e v ic io u s blow s aim ed i n an e v id e n t f u r y a t th e a lr e a d y t o t t e r i n g s ta g e b y Jerem y O o l l i e r , gave th e a u d ie n c e a s h a rp , i f h u r r ie d , b lo w . He d e c la r e s t h a t th e c o r r u p tio n o f m anners in th e R e s to r a tio n “a p p e a re d w ith a l l th e f u r y o f l i b e r t i n i s m , even b e f o r e th e P lay -H o u se was r e e s t a b l i s h e d , and lo n g b e fo re i t c o u ld h av e any I n f lu e n c e on M an n ers. . . . “54 im p etu s f o r t h i s l i b e r t i n i s m cam e, he s a i d , from b o th t h e p e rm is s io n and th e exam ple o f th e c o u r t w hich h ad j u s t r e tu r n e d from a b ro a d w h e re , i n a tte m p tin g to s o f te n a d v e r s i t y , i t had le a r n e d to u n i t e . . . t h e S p i r i t o f t h e F re n ch W horing, to th e F u ry o f th e Dutch, D rin k in g . So t h a t th e P o e ts who w r i t im m ed ia tely a f t e r th e R e s to r a tio n , w ere o b lig e d to humour th e d e p ra v e d T a s te s o f t h e i r A udience . . . so i f th e P o e ts o f th e s e Times h a d w r i t in a M anner p u r e ly i n s t r u c t i v e , w ith o u t any M ix tu re o f L ew dness, th e A p p e tite s o f th e A udience w ere so f a r d eb au ch ed , t h a t th e y w ould h av e ju d g ed th e E n te rta in m e n t i n s i p i d . • . In s p i t e o f th e above t i r a d e p ro n o u n ced a g a in s t th e The C r i t i c a l Works of John, Dennis^* “The U s e fu ln e s s o f th e S ta g e ,“ E d it o r , Edward N ile s H ooker (B a ltim o re : The Ijohns H opkins P r e s s , 1 9 3 9 ), V o l. 1 , p . 1 5 4 . ! 55 Loo. Pit. 23 t a s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e in th e r e ig n o f C h a rle s I I , he w r i t e s t h a t • . « th e t a s t e o f E n g lan d f o r Comedy • . . was c e r t a i n l y much b e t t e r i n th e R eign o f K ing C h a rle s th e Second, th a n i t i s a t p r e s e n t. F o r i t was th e n e x tre m e ly g o od, and i s now e x c e s s iv e ly b a d .56 Such a c o n f l i c t o f s ta te m e n ts c a u se s one to d o u b t th e i n f a l l i b i l i t y o f th e c r i t i c , c e r t a i n l y in m a tte r s o f c o n s is te n c y o f o p in io n . There w ere o th e r s who e x p re s s e d th e same i l l o p in io n o f R e s to r a tio n t a s t e in dram a, how ever, among whom was B e ll in h ie L ife, o f D ryden. He th o u g h t t h a t D ryden “w ro te f o r a l i c e n t i o u s s ta g e i n a p r o f l i g a t e a g e , and s u p p lie d , much to h i s own d is g r a c e , th e k in d o f m a te r ia l th e v ic io u s t a s t e o f h is a u d ie n c e s dem anded. "5? He may b e f o r g iv e n f o r h is e r r o r , o f c o u rs e , when i t i s r e a l i z e d t h a t Dryden h im s e lf e r r e d in th e same w ay. I f s t a t i s t i c s had th e n b ee n ta k e n and made a v a i l a b le to p u b lic an d p la y w r ig h ts , th e p o e ts w ould h av e r e a l i z e d how i l l th e y w ere t r e a t i n g th e m s e lv e s f i n a n c i a l l y and t h e p u b lic m o r a lly in c o n tin u in g th e e x c e s s iv e o b s c e n i t i e s o f many o f t h e i r p l a y s . 58 I h i d . . V o l. 1 , p . 2 9 8 , in “A L a rg e A ccount o f th e T a s te in P o e try , an d th e C auses o f th e D egeneracy o f i t , “ 1 7 0 2. 57 Edward A rb e r, E n g lis h R e p rin ts , B ib lio g ra p h y , “Keys to th e R e h e a rsa l* (London: A le x . M urray an d Son, 1 8 6 8 ), V ol. 1 0 , p . 3 4 . ^ I 5 8 O a M V k A l A Vn o ■ * > % + • A » » V 24 U n q u e stio n a b ly th e m ost s O h o la rly and th o ro u g h s tu d y o f an y t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e i s t h a t made b y A lf r e d B, H arb ag e , now P r o f e s s o r o f E n g lis h in t h e G ra d u ate S ch o o l a t C olum bia U n iv e r s it y , o f S h ak esp eare* a A u d ien c e. 59 W hile t h a t s tu d y , o f c o u r s e , i s n o t d i r e c t l y c o n c e rn e d w ith th e p e r io d c o v e re d in t h i s , th e r e i s much i n d i r e c t c o n n e c tio n b o th in c o n te n t and fo rm . P r o f e s s o r H erbage d is c u s s e s th e E liz a b e th a n a u d ie n c e from th e p o in ts o f s i z e , s o c i a l c o m p o s itio n , b eh av i o r , an d a e s t h e t i c and i n t e l l e c t u a l c a p a c ity . He h as made w hat he c a l l s “th e m ost th o u g h tf u l g u e ss th u s f a r made* a s t o th e s i z e o f th e g ro u p th ro u g h an e x a m in a tio n o f a l l th e a v a i l a b l e re c o r d s an d c o n s id e r a b le s t a t i s t i c a l co m p u ta tio n and a n a l y s i s . H is r e p o r t o f th e k in d o f p e o p le who a tte n d e d th e p la y s an d o f t h e i r b e h a v io r i s c a r e f u l and th o ro u g h ; h is e s tim a te o f t h e i r i n t e l l e c t u a l and e s t h e t i c c a p a c ity i s a s t u t e and r e a s o n a b le . I t i s t r u e a s some c r i t i c a l r e a d e r h as o b se rv e d on th e m arg in o f one o f th e p a g e s , t h a t h i s e s tim a te s a r e b a a e d on “g u essw o rk , “ n o n e th e le s s , H arbage i s p ro b a b ly J u s t i f i e d in th e above m e n tio n e d rem ark t h a t h is i s th e m ost th o u g h tf u l g u e s s made th u s f a r . I t i s of i n t e r e s t to n o te t h a t many o f th e same A lfre d H arb ag e, S h a k e sp e a re * s A udience (New Y ork: C olum bia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 4 1 ). 25 c h a rg e s l e v e l l e d a t th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e w ere a l s o le v e l l e d a t S h a k e sp e a re * a— som etim es In a lm o st I d e n t i c a l t e r m s . T h e te n d e n c y to a c c e p t th e f a c t i t i o u s e v id e n c e o f p ro lo g u e s and p la y s i s re c o g n iz e d by H arbage a s n o t v e ry s oundHe sum m arizes h i s f in d in g s on t h a t a u d ie n c e by w r i t i n g : A s tu d y o f S h a k e s p e a re * a a u d ie n c e sh o u ld r e v e a l th o s e c o n d itio n s m ost l i k e l y to r e n d e r o p e r a t iv e th e l a t e n t p o e tr y in men. W e m ust n o t i c e t h a t i t was l a r g e enough to sam ple S h a k e sp e a re * s g e n e r a tio n , b u t a lth o u g h i t was l a r g e , i t was s e l e c t i v e . The p r i n c i p l e o f s e l e c t i o n was s u s c e p t i b i l i t y to th e a p p e a l o f d ra m a tic an d p o e tic a r t . . . and th o u sa n d s s ta y e d away. . . . But m ost im p o rta n t o f a l l , S h a k e s p e a re ’ s a u d ie n c e was s o c i a l l y , e c o n o m ic a lly , e d u c a ti o n a ll y h e te ro g e n e o u s . I t was m o tle y . . . . S h a k esp eare* s huge an d h e te ro g e n e o u s a u d ie n c e was man in th e l a r g e . 62 A p p ra is a ls o f th e a u d ie n c e o f London t h e a t r e s o f th e R e s to r a tio n p e r io d p e rh a p s a r e e p ito m iz e d in th e w r i t i n g s o f Jo s e p h Wood K ru tc h who l a r g e l y p a ra p h ra s e s th e w ords o f G ould, V in c e n t, an d th e many p ro lo g u e s and e p ilo g u e s t h a t d e a l w ith t h a t g ro u p . F o r exam ple he w r i t e s , “A ll p r e te n b e o f o r d e r and d e c e n c y was abandoned in th e t h e a t r e s . “^5 P r o f e s s o r K ru tch c o n tin u e s t h a t i t was a m ark o f w it to make O f. Decker*B G u lls H orn B ooke, w ith V in c e n t’ s The Young G a lla n t *a Academy. H arb ag e, S h ak esp eare * a A u d ien c e, p p . 12 9 , 1 3 4 . ^2 I b i d . , p p . 162-163* ^5 J o se p h Wood K ru tc h , Comedy and C o n scien ce a f t e r th e R e s to r a tio n (C olum bia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 4 9 /, P . 3 3 . 2 6 lo u d v o ic e d comments on th e p l a y , and no one seem ed to have th e r i g h t to o b je c t i f h i s n e ig h b o r* s c o n v e rs a tio n hap p en ed to drown o u t th e v o ic e o f th e a c t o r . He q u o te s G ould to p ro v e t h a t b ra w ls commonly i n t e r r u p t e d p e rfo rm a n c e s .^ ^ He a ls o s t a t e s th a t t h e g r e a t m id d le c l a s s n e i t h e r f r e q u e n te d th e t h e a t r e n o r was r e p r e s e n te d upon th e s ta g e e x c e p t a s an o b je c t o f r i d i c u l e . ^5 He c o n tin u e s th e g e n e r a l id e a t h a t o n ly p e o p le o f f a s h io n a tte n d e d , and t h a t b y 1682 th e r e was n o t enough b u s in e s s f o r two t h e a t r e s , h e n c e , th e y w ere u n ite d in to o n e .^ ^ F o r th e a u d ie n c e c o m p o sitio n he summar iz e s by w r i t i n g , “B r i e f l y , th e n , th e R e s to r a tio n s ta g e was a f a s h io n a b le e n te r ta in m e n t w here th e m ost r e c k l e s s o f th e u p p e r c l a s s saw t h e i r f o l l i e s and v ic e s w i t t i l y and r e a l i s t i c a l l y p r e s e n t e d .“^7 K ru tc h o f f e r s th e o ld saw t h a t “The dram as law s th e Idramas p a tro n s g i v e , “ and th u s s t a t e s t h a t i t was im p o s s ib le f o r th e dram a to “p i c t u r e th e tim e s and be p u r e . “ He d o es n o t b e l ie v e t h a t t h e d r a m a tis ts w ere d e l i b e r a t e l y e n c o u r a g in g v ic e b e c a u se “b e in g men o f se n se th e y no d o u b t h a te d ” i t . He n o n e th e le s s p r e s e n ts D ryden’ s s ta te m e n t t h a t “th e I b i d . . p . 3 4 . i b i a . . p . 3 7 . 66 I b i d . . p . 3 8 . 67 I b i d . . p . 27 b u s in e s s o f th e p o e t I s to make you lau g h * a s th e t r u e s p i r i t o f th e R e s to r a tio n and th u s , in a m e a su re, r e f u t e s h i s own e a r l i e r s ta te m e n t The w orks o f th o s e t h e a t r e h i s t o r i a n s who have g iv e n any c o n s id e r a tio n to th e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s to r a tio n d e a l alm o st e x c lu s iv e ly w ith th e s e n s u a l i t y , th e w ic k e d n e ss, th e d e p r a v ity o f th e g ro u p w hich th e y b e lie v e to have b een o n ly th e p r o s t i t u t e s and th e c o u rt o f C h a rle s I I . These w r i t e r s make l i t t l e e f f o r t to p r e s e n t a b a la n c e d e s tim a te o f th e jau d ien ce an d , t h e r e f o r e , le a v e th e u s u a l r e a d e r w ith th e jb e lle f t h a t th e u n lo v e ly p i c t u r e th e y h av e p a in te d i s com p l e t e . The e v id e n c e to be p r e s e n te d in t h i s s tu d y in some c a s e s b e a r s o u t th e s ta te m e n ts o f th e s e w r i t e r s ; in o th e r s i t i s e x a c tly to th e c o n tr a r y . In b o th in s ta n c e s i t w i l l be p r e s e n te d a s f a i r l y a s th e p r e s e n t w r i t e r can g iv e i t in th e j hope t h a t a m ore a c c u r a te and more co m p lete e s tim a te o f th e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t p e r io d may u l t i m a t e l y he g a in e d . 68 I b i d . . p . 4 3 . CHAPTER I I I RESTORATION THEATRE AUDIENCE— SIZE I . THEATRE M ONOPOLY D uring th e a p p ro x im a te ly f o r t y y e a rs t h a t co m p rise th e E n g lis h R e s to r a tio n p e r io d L ondoners h ad s c a n t c h o ic e in t h e a t r e s . For^ a p p ro x im a te ly tw e n ty -o n e y e a r s , 1 6 6 1 -1 6 8 2 , th e y c o u ld choose betw een th e T h e a tre R o y al o r th e Duke o f Y ork’ s P la y h o u s e .^ F o r th e n e x t tw e lv e t o t h i r t e e n y e a rs th e y c o u ld choose th e U n ite d Company o r n o th in g ;2 and from 1 6 9 5 to th e end o f th e c e n tu ry th e y a g a in , g e n e r a l l y , c o u ld ch o o se betw een tw o .5 By co m p ariso n w ith th e London T h e a tre a t th e t u r n of t h a t c e n tu r y , th e h e ig h t o f th e b r i l l i a n t e r a o f S h ak es p e a re , th e c h o ic e was a p o o r one in d e e d . The L ondoner o f ^ These t h e a t r e s a r e n o t f r e q u e n tly r e f e r r e d t o in th e l i t e r a t u r e i n su ch fo rm a l te rm s . P ep y s, f o r ex am p le, alw ay s c a lle d them “th e K in g ’ s house* and “th e Duke’ s h o u s e ." The g r e a t e r p o r tio n o f w r i t e r s in th e f i e l d r e f e r to them m ain ly a s D ru ry Lane an d D o rset G arden ( o r L in c o l n 's In n F ie ld s i f th e Duke’ s company happened to b e p la y in g t h e r e a t th e t i m e ) . Even th e s e a r e s h o rte n e d o f te n t o DL, DG, and LIF* 2 See Jo h n Downes, R o sc iu s A n g lican u a., M ontague Summers, e d i t o r (London; The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), p p . 3 9 , 4 3 . 5 These w ere B e t t e r t o n ’ s g ro u p , b ac k a t L in c o ln ’ s In n F ie l d s a g a in , and R ic h ’ s g ro u p o cc u p y in g m a in ly D ru ry 29 1600 c o u ld and f r e q u e n tly d id ch o o se f o r h i s t h e a t r e f a r e among p ro d u c tio n s a t th e C u r ta in , th e R o se, th e Swan, th e G lobe, and th e F o r tu n e . ^ Thomas P l a t t e r ’ s ac co u n t o f h is t r a v e l s b etw een 1595 and I 6 0Ô i n London c o n ta in s one s t a t e m ent c o n c e rn in g th e t h e a t r e and i t s a u d ie n c e of h i s tim e t h a t i s a x io m a tic — f o r th e E liz a b e th a n , t h e R e s to r a tio n and a l l o t h e r p e r io d s — “w h ich ev er g ro u p o f p la y e r s d o es b e s t g e ts t h e g r e a t e s t a u d ie n c e .“5 Upon th e r e t u r n o f C h a rle s I I to E n g lan d in I 6 6 O th e r e w ere th r e e com panies in London g iv in g t h e a t r i c a l p e rfo im a n c e s : Jo h n Rhodes a t th e C o c k p it, M ich ael Mohun a t th e Red B u ll, and a t h i r d g ro u p a t S a lis b u r y Court.6 T h is c o n d itio n e x i s t e d o n ly d u rin g th e i n t e r l u d e b e fo re th e r o y a l ^ E. K. C ham bers, The E liz a b e th a n S tage, (O x fo rd : The C laren d o n P r e s s , 1 9 2 3 ), V o l. 2 , p . 355 e t s e q . T hese t h e a t r e s w ere n o t a l l r e g u l a r l y in o p e r a t io n , b u t a c c o rd in g to P l a t t e r ’s s ta te m e n t “two an d som etim es t h r e e com edies a r e p e rfo rm e d a t s e p a r a te p la c e s * e v e ry d ay a t two in th e C ity o f London. The T h e a tre a n d N ew ington B u tts had come and gone b e f o r e léOO. T h is g ro u p , o f c o u r s e , does n o t in c lu d e th e p r i v a t e t h e a t r e s . ^ I b i a . . p . 365- 6 pow nea, o p . e l t . , p . 1 5 0 . T hla w as, o f c o u r s e , B e e s to n ’ s g ro u p . See L e s lie R o tso n . Commonwealth and R e s to r a ti o n S tag e (C am bridge: H arv ard U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ) , p* 2 1 6 . T hese p la y e r s g ro u p s , some o f w h ich h ad p e rfo rm e d s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y d u r in g th e Commonwealth, s t a r t e d a c t in g o p e n ly when G en eral Monk r e tu r n e d from th e N o rth and i t becam e known g e n e r a lly t h a t th e King was soon to be r e s t o r e d . I t h as b een s a id t h a t Monk gave some o f them l i c e n s e t o p e rfo rm , b u t e v id e n c e f o r t h i s i s m is s in g . 30 r e s t r i c t i o n th ro u g h w hich a m in o r c o u r t i e r an d a p r o f e s s io n a l showman becam e m o n o p o lis ts o f th e London s ta g e f o r th e n e x t s e v e r a l y e a r s . In A u g u st, 1660, Thomas K illig r e w , Groom o f th e Bed cham ber to C h a rle s I I and fo rm e r page to C h a rle s I , an d S ir W illiam D evenant, a p e r s i s t e n t d r a m a tis t an d p ro d u c e r even d u rin g th e p e r i l o u s days o f t h e in te rre g n u m , w ere g iv e n g r a n ts by th e K ing . . . to e r e c t two com panies o f p la y e r s c o n s is ty n g e r e s p e c t i v e l y o f su c h p e rs o n s a s th e y s h a l l chuse and a p p o in t, and t o p u rc h a s e , b u i l d an d e r e c t , o r h i r e a t t h e i r c h a rg e , a s th e y s h a l l th in k f i t , two h o u se s o r t h e a t r e s . . . f o r th e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t r a g y d i e s , co m ey d ies, p l a y e s , o p e r a s , an d a l l o th e r e n te r ta in m e n ts o f t h a t n a t u r e , in c o n v e n ie n t p l a c e s .? From t h i s g r a n t came th e p a t e n t s u n d e r w h ich th e two mana g e rs o r t h e i r h e i r s o r a s s ig n e e s o p e ra te d th e t h e a t r e a s a m onopoly f o r many y e a rs in London.® Thomas K illig re w * s 7 George C. D. O d e ll, S h ak e sp e are from B e tte r t o n to I r v in g (New Y ork: C h a rle s S c r ib n e r ’ s S o n s, 1 9 2 0 ), V o l. 1 . p . 6 . ® H otson, 0 £ . G i t . , p p . 176-177* T h e ir e a r l y d i f f i c u l t i e s in s e c u r in g t h i s m onopoly a r e e f f e c t i v e l y d e s c r ib e d by H o tso n . The p r i n c i p a l th o r n in t h e i r f l e s h in th e s e e a r l y y e a rs was G eorge J o l l y who s e c u re d a g r a n t from C h a rle s I I o n ly a few m onths a f t e r K illig r e w and D avenant d id p e r m ittin g him to “e r e c t one company . . . and to p u r c h a s e , b u ild o r h i r e . . . One House o r T h e a tre w ith a l l c o n v e n ie n t Roomes . . . and t h i s o u r G ran t and A u th o r ity made to th e s a id G eorge J o l l y s h a l l be e f f e c t u a l n o tw ith s ta n d in g any fo rm e r g ra n t made by u s t o o u r t r u s t y an d w e ll b e lo v e d S e rv a n t Thomas K illig r e w E sq r and to S ir W illiam D avenant K ^t. o r any o th e r p e rs o n o r p e rs o n s w h a ts o e v e r to 31 p a t e n t , d a te d A p r il 25> 1662, and S ir W illia m D av en an t’ 8 d a te d J a n u a ry 1 5 , 1663, m ark t h e b e g in n in g o f a p e r io d o f t h e a t r e m onopoly in London w h ich was n o t to end u n t i l 1843* D uring t h a t tim e no o th e r t h e a t r e , e x c e p t th e H aym arket in c e r t a i n summer p e r io d s , c o u ld l e g a l l y p e rfo rm l e g i t i m a t e dram a. 9 W hether th e g re e d o f K illig r e w and D avenant was so g r e a t o r a u d ie n c e s so sm a ll t h a t th e y d e te rm in e d a t any c o s t to g e t r i d o f a l l c o m p e titio n can o n ly be d e te rm in e d on th e b a s is o f a v a i l a b l e e v id e n c e . A t any r a t e docum ents d is c o v e re d b y H otson show t h a t th e two made an ag reem en t w ith J o l l y to p ay him f o u r pounds a week “d u rin g h is l i f e " in r e t u r n f o r th e u s e o f h is w a rra n t from December 2 7 , l6 6 2 .1 ^ th e c o n t r a r y . W ith th e a u t h o r i t y o f t h i s g r a n t from t h e K ing, J o l l y c o l l e c t e d a company o f p la y e r s and h i r e d th e C o c k p it f o r h i s t h e a t r e . When D avenant*s company moved from S a lis b u r y C ourt to h i s new “o p e ra " i n L in c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s in Ju n e 1661, i t a p p e a rs t h a t B e e s to n , who had c o n tr o l o f th e S a lis b u r y C o u rt t h e a t r e , p e rsu a d e d J o l l y to come o v e r to h is h o u s e , b u t J o l l y was e v i d e n tly d i s s a t i s f i e d w ith i t and r e t u r n e d w ith h is g ro u p to th e C o ck p it o n ly t o be o rd e re d to r e t u r n to B e e sto n * s house by th e K ing. 9 O d e ll, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 6 . T h is e x c lu d e s th e N u rs e ry in B a rb ic a n and th e C o ck p it in W h ite h a ll. lU H o tso n , o p . P i t . . p p . 179 e t s e q . On December 3 0 , 1 6 6 2 , a lm o st e x a c tl y two y e a rs from th e d a te o f th e g r a n t to J o l l y is s u e d by N ic h o la s a t t h e command o f C h a rle s , t h i s ag ree m en t f o r r e n t i n g J o l l y ’ s w a rra n t f o r f o u r pounds a week was m ade, an d In o r d e r to b in d K illig r e w and D avenant m ore f ir m ly J o l l y h ad them s ig n a bond o f two th o u sa n d p o u n d s . 32 L a te r docum ents show r a t h e r c o n c lu s iv e ly t h a t th e r e was c o l lu s io n b etw een th e two f o r th e p u rp o se o f e lim in a tin g J o l l y from th e London t h e a t r i c a l scen e p e rm a n e n tly . H J o l l y had p ro b a b ly b e e n away on a t o u r o n ly a s h o r t tim e when th e two p a t e n t e e s , i n s t e a d o f s e t t i n g up a company u n d e r J o l l y ’ s w a rra n t a s th e ag reem en t s t i p u l a t e d , a p p ro a c h e d th e K ing w ith t h e w a rra n t a n d t o l d him th e y had b o u g h t i t o u t r i g h t from J o l l y . They th e n a sk e d p e rm is s io n o f C h a rle s I I to e s t a b l i s h a t h i r d t h e a t r e a s a j o i n t e n t e r p r i s e to be u se d a s a n u r s e r y f o r th e t r a i n i n g o f young a c t o r s . The King g r a n te d th e r e q u e s t an d re v o k e d J o l l y 's l i c e n s e . 12 I t seems e v id e n t from a r e f e r e n c e made by C happuzeau I in h i s E urope V iv a n te t h a t J o l l y ’ s company was b ack in London a t th e C o c k p it in D rury Lane by 1665 *^5 T here i s F o r some re a s o n o n ly two days a f t e r th e ag reem en t was s ig n e d by J o l l y , K illig r e w and D av e n an t, S i r H enry H e r b e r t, M a ste r o f th e R e v els is s u e d l e t t e r s o f a u t h o r i z a t i o n t o J o l l y “to r a i s e a company o f S tag e p la y e r s o r l e s s to a c t Com edies e t c . th ro u g h o u t E ngland w ith e x c e p tio n o n ly to th e C i t i e s o f London and Westm: and th e su b u rb s o f e a c h r e s p e c t i v e c i t y . “ T h is was fo llo w e d on J a n u a r y 2 9 , 1663 by p e rm is s io n from t h e K ing f o r J o l l y to a c t p la y s in th e c o u n try . 12 The c ro o k e d w ork c o n tin u e d b etw e en K illig r e w and D avenant by t h e i r a r r a n g in g w ith C o lo n el W illiam Legge to be th e nom inal l i c e n s e e f o r a new n u r s e r y company w h ile th e y w ere to s e c u re a m anager to ta k e ch a rg e o f th e a c t u a l o p e ra t i o n u n d e r t h e i r d i r e c t i o n . 13 See W . J . L aw rence, E n g lia c h e S tu d ie n , XXXV, p . 279* C happuzeau v i s i t e d London ab o u t 1 6 6 5 and r e f e r r e d to th r e e t h e a t r e s — th e K in g ’s , th e Duke’ s , “ e t une tr o is iè m e en m w V A k M i «rA Æ A» 1#» m.» ^ 3 33 a ls o e v id e n c e t h a t h i s g ro u p s t a r t e d o p e r a tin g a g a in a s soon a s p o s s i b l e in 1666 when th e t h e a t r e s w ere r e o p e n e d a f t e r th e f i r e . l ^ W ith th e d e a th o f D avenant in 1668, J o l l y seems to have had th e sym pathy o f L ady D av en an t, b u t K illig r e w was u n r e l e n ti n g i n h is en m ity to w a rd s him and h i s a m b itio n to have a company o f p la y e r s .1 5 H is c o m p la in t a g a in s t K illi g r e w som etim e betw een 1673 and 1677 shows h is f i g h t i n g s p i r i t and t h a t i f j u s t i c e h ad b een d o n e, he w ould have b een a w o rth y c o m p e tito r to th e end o f h is l i f e . But J o l l y was n o t th e o n ly d i s g r u n t l e d and down tro d d e n t h e a t r e m anager o f th e p e r io d . As H otson show s, in th e summer o f 1660 th r e e co m p an ies— M ohun*s, B e esto n * a and 1 ^ S ta te P a p e r s , Dorn., C h a rle s I I , c x c v , 109, c i t e d by H o tso n , p . 1 9 6 . An o r d e r from th e L ord C h a m b erla in , p re su m a b ly , t o l d J o l l y to s to p a c ti n g an d d e l i v e r up h i s p a t e n t . 15 What u l t i m a t e l y becam e o f J o l l y i s s t i l l unknown a lth o u g h H otson assum es t h a t he ended a s u n d e r lin g to th e t y r a n n i c a l K illig r e w w ith th e N u rse ry g ro u p in B a rb ic a n . See H o tso n , o p . c i t . . p . 1 9 4 . A lfre d B. H arbage, Thomas K illi g r e w , C a v a lie r D r a m a tis t, 1612**83 ( P h ila d e lp h ia : U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 , p* 1 1 9 , n o te 2 6 , t r i e s to g lo z e th e t r e a c h e r y o f K illig r e w in h i s d e a lin g s w ith J o l l y by s t a t i n g t h a t D avenant and K illig r e w w ere b o th r a t h e r r u t h l e s s a n d t h a t J o l l y h im s e lf in h i s c a r e e r a s a s t r o l l i n g p la y e r on th e c o n t in e n t "had alw ay s p ro v e d v e n a l in p r o p o r tio n to h i s o p p o r t u n i t i e s , and i t i s ' d i f f i c u l t to f e e l much sym pathy f o r h im ." In th e t e x t im m e d ia te ly above he h ad rem ark ed t h a t J o l l y h ad r e c e iv e d a l i c e n s e to co n d u ct a n u r s e r y "from th e i n c o n s i s t e n t K ing C h a r le s ," th u s im p ly in g t h a t r i g h t w as on th e s i d e o f K illig r e w — to sa y th e l e a s t a r a t h e r unm o ral o r c o ld lv Im-Deraonal wav o f lookina* a t i t . 34 R hodes*— w ere a c t i n g , b u t a l l w ere s u p p re s s e d , and on O c to b e r 6t h a u n i t e d company was chosen p resu m a b ly from a l l j t h r e e , w h ich a c t i o n was fo llo w e d on November 5 th by a | d i v i s i o n o f th e one in to t w o T h e s e w ere D av en an t* s, I m a in ly Rhodes* o ld g ro u p , and K illig re w * s — Mohun*s com pany. | B e e sto n may have c o n tin u e d to a c t w ith h i s gro u p from tim e t o tim e even th o u g h u n l i c e n s e d .^7 Thus th e r e w ere th r e e li c e n s e d t h e a t r e s in o p e r a tio n d u rin g th e w in te r o f 1660, and th ro u g h l 6 6 l**6 2 . K illig re w * s p a t e n t p a s s e d th e g r e a t s e a l on A p r il 2 5 , 1662, and D avenant *s n in e m onths l a t e r on J a n u a ry 1 5 , 1 6 6 3 .^® At l a s t th e y h ad e lim in a te d every b o d y e x c e p t J o l l y who gave them tr o u b l e i n t e r m i t t e n t l y u n t i l h i s in c lu s io n in t h e i r own H o tso n , o p . c i t . , p . 2 1 6 . A lth o u g h no e v id e n c e i s o f f e r e d , i t i s c e r t a i n l y to be e x p e c te d t h a t Mohun was a s much c h a g rin e d a t h is tr e a tm e n t a s J o l l y was a t h i s , b u t i n s t e a d o f f i g h t i n g i t o u t th r o u g h th e c o u r ts and e ls e w h e re a s J o l l y d id from tim e to tim e , he showed h i s v e r s a t i l i t y by a c q u ie s c in g and th e n becom ing one o f th e g r e a t e s t a c t o r s o f th e p e r io d . W hether h is u l t i m a t e f i n a n c i a l and h i s t o r i c a l p o s i t i o n w ould h av e b een b e t t e r o r w o rse i s a moot q u e s tio n . I h i d . , p . 2 1 7 . He h ad g iv e n up an d jo in e d K illig re w * 8 g ro u p by 1664. I t i s known t h a t he was s t i l l a c t i n g in S ep tem b er, 1668, b e c a u s e Pepys saw him a t th e King* s T h e a tre on th e 1 5 th o f t h a t m onth. F i t z g e r a l d , o p . c i t . . V ol. 1 , p . 73* The d a te s h o u ld be 1663 i n s t e a d o f 1 6 6 2 . The p a te n t shows t h a t th e K ing re c o g n iz e s t h a t “d iv e r s u n a u th o riz e d com panies a r e p resu m in g to p la y p u b lic ly i n London and W e stm in ste r" and s t a t e s t h a t th e s e a r e to be s u p p re s s e d in f a v o r o f th e two u n d e r D avenant and K illig r e w . 35 n u r s e r y o r g a n iz a tio n . I t i s th u s p o s s i b le to se e why t h e r e w ere so few t h e a t r e s in th e R e s to r a tio n a s com pared w ith th e e a r l i e r E liz a b e th a n and C a v a lie r p e r i o d s . I t i s i d l e t o comment, th e r e f o r e ,) t h a t t h e r e was no i n t e r e s t i n th e dram a o u ts id e o f th e c o u r t c i r c l e s d u rin g t h i s e r a . I f f r e e t h e a t r e e n t e r p r i s e had o b ta in e d in t h i s age a s i t d id in S h ak es p e a r e ’ s , i t i s r e a s o n a b le t o assum e t h a t t h e r e w ould have b een a s many o r even more h o u se s in o p e r a tio n a t any one tim e a s th e r e w ere in 1 6 00. When i t i s known t h a t th e popu l a t i o n o f S h a k e s p e a re 's London was o n ly a b o u t one h u n d re d f i f t y t o one h u n d re d s i x t y th o u sa n d ^ 9 and t h a t o f R e s to r a tio n L ondon, even a f t e r th e p la g u e o f 1665 and th e f i r e o f 1666, was p o s s i b ly in th e n eig h b o rh o o d o f f o u r h u n d red f i f t y th o u s a n d ,20 i t can be se e n e a s i l y t h a t f i v e t h e a t r e s o p e r a tin g a t once w ould n o t n e c e s s a r i l y have b een to o m any. I t i s a common f a l l a c y in t h i s a s in o th e r c a s e s to m is ta k e a c a u se f o r an e f f e c t . A m ore c a r e f u l c o n s id e r a t i o n o f th e f a c t o r s in v o lv e d i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e fu n d a m e n ta l i n t e r e s t in d ra m a tic p ro d u c tio n s was g r e a t enough t o have s u p p o rte d s e v e r a l p la y h o u s e s b e t t e r th a n i t u l t i m a t e l y ^9 H arb ag e, S h a k e s p e a re ’ s A u d ien c e, p p . 38**41. 20 G eorge M. T re v e ly a n , E n g lan d U nder th e S t u a r t s (London: M ethuen an d Company* L t d .. 8 th E d ., 1 9 1 9 ), P. 3 5 9 . 36 s u p p o rte d th e two i n th e r e ig n o f C h a rle s 1 1 .2 1 x n s h o r t , r e s t r i c t i o n o f e n t e r p r i s e may h e lp to b r in g ab o u t a d im in u t i o n o f i n t e r e s t i n any f i e l d , and th u s i t may a p p e a r to a l e s s c a r e f u l o b s e rv e r t h a t l a c k o f i n t e r e s t h as n e c e s s i t a t e d th e r e s t r i c t i o n . A lth o u g h o n ly two com panies o f a d u l t p la y e r s w ere o p e r a t in g l e g a l l y from 1663 to 1682, th e y o c c u p ie d s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t h o u se s (an d t e n n is c o u r ts ) d u r in g th e tim e . F o r ex am p le, L i s l e 's T en n is C ourt b u i l t n e a r L in c o ln ’ s In n F ie ld s in 165 6 a s an e n c lo s e d p la y in g sp a c e was c o n v e rte d in to w hat h as b e e n c a l l e d th e f i r s t m odern t h e a t r e b y S i r W illia m D avenant i n I 66I w ith a “p i c t u r e fram e" s ta g e form ed b y a p ro sce n iu m a r c h . 22 The b u il d i n g a ls o in c lu d e d a sc e n e room f o r m ovable s c e n e ry b u t r e t a i n e d th e p la tf o r m s ta g e o f th e o ld e r t h e a t r e s in th e m o d ifie d form o f an a p ro n w hich e x te n d e d i n t o th e a u d ito r iu m .23 T h is t h e a t r e i z e d 21 See b e lo w , p p . 4 4 -4 5 . ^2 Theatrum I l l u s t r â t a , p u b lis h e d 1825 by R o b e rt W ilk in s o n , London, in th e a r t i c l e on D av e n a n t’ s t h e a t r e s t a t e s t h a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre i n L i t t l e L in c o ln 's In n F ie ld s was " th e f i r s t r e g u la r t h e a t r e b u i l t a f t e r th e R e sto r a t i o n . " He does n o t e x p la in , how ever, t h a t i t was c o n v e rte d in t o a t h e a t r e from a n a lr e a d y e x i s t i n g c o v e re d te n n is c o u r t. The w r i t e r a l s o re p ro d u c e s th e e r r o r t h a t Downes o r i g i n a l l y made o f s t a t i n g t h a t th e t h e a t r e opened in | th e s p r in g o f 1 6 6 2 . 23 F i t z g e r a l d , op. c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 67, c i t e s P e p y s ' e n tr y o f December 1 6 , I 0 6 I , as e v id e n c e t h a t b e c a u se o f a l l 4 4 AM a am a m 4 - II T if4 + V »4 r r » A 4 v m a m 4* V * a 37 te n n is c o u r t was u s e d by th e D u k e's Company u n d er D avenant from 1661 t o 1 6 7 1 . When th e T h e a tre R oyal b u rn e d in 1672, th e K in g 's Company to o k o v e r L i s l e 's T e n n is C ourt o r th e D u k e's House w h ich h ad b een v a c a te d by D a v e n a n t' s tr o u p e th e p r e c e d in g y e a r f o r th e m ore e l a b o r a te D o rs e t G arden T h e a tr e .^ ^ D avenant had d ie d in 1668, b u t th e new p la y h o u s e , p o s s ib ly d e s ig n e d by S ir C h r is to p h e r Wren, was b u i l t n e a r th e sp o t f o rm e rly o c c u p ie d by th e S a lis b u r y C o u rt T h e a tre by Lady M ary D avenant and a s y n d ic a te u n d e r h e r l e a d e r s h i p . 25 ,The D o rset G arden was th e m ost p r e t e n t io u s t h e a t r e s t r u c t u r e o f i t s d ay an d was u se d by th e D u k e's Company up to th e tim e o f th e Union in 1682 in s p i t e o f i t s p o o r a c o u s t i c s . 26 e n a b le d t o d o u b le h i s p r i c e s . . . ." The a b s u r d it y o f su ch a s ta te m e n t i s o b v io u s from an e x a m in a tio n o f P epys' e n t r y w hich s t a t e s " . . . a f t e r d in n e r to th e O p era, w here t h e r e was a new p la y ( ' C u t te r o f Coleman S t r e e t ') • . . and i t b e in g th e f i r s t tim e , th e p ay was d o u b le d . . . . " T h is was th e custom d u rin g t h a t p e r io d , a s i t h as b e e n in o t h e r s , to d o u b le ( o r a t l e a s t in c r e a s e s u b s t a n t i a l l y ) th e p r i c e o f a d m is s io n f o r a p re m ie re o f a new p la y . 24 H o tso n , OP. P i t . , p . 2 5 4 . They b eg an to a c t th e r e on F e b ru a ry 2 6 , 1 6 7 2 , **with s to c k p ie c e s a n d b o rro w ed c o s tu m es, w h ile th e y s e t ab o u t r a i s i n g fu n d s f o r a new t h e a t r e on th e s i t e o f th e o l d ." 25 I b i d . , p . 2 2 9 . The s i t e s o f S a lis b u r y C o u rt and D o rset G arden w ere a d ja c e n t b u t n o t i d e n t i c a l . 2^ A lf re d B. H arbage, A n n als o f E n g lis h Drama, 9 7 5 - 1700 ( P h il a d e l p h ia : U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ), p. 2 5 2 . I I . THE DUKE'S COM PANY D o rse t G arden h as a t r a d i t i o n t h a t th e t h e a t r e was d e s ig n e d by S ir C h r is to p h e r Wren27 b u t no d i r e c t e v id e n c e s u p p o r ts t h i s t r a d i t i o n . O g ilb y and M o rg an 's lEirge*#8oale map o f 1 6 7 7 s h o T /s \h a t th e d im e n sio n s w e re : le n g th o v e r a l l , IW f e e t ; w id th , 57 f e e t . 28 itf h a s an im p o sin g fa c a d e s u r m ounted by th e arm s o f th e Duke o f Y ork, i t s p a tr o n . The a rra n g e m e n t o f th e D u k e's t h e a t r e i s i n t e r e s t in g ly d e s c r ib e d by B ru n et i n h i s Voyage d 'A n g le te r r e in 1 6 7 6 .2 9 He w r i t e s : Le l i e u ou l 'o n e s t imcom parablem ent p lu s b ea u e t p lu s p ro p re que ceux de n o s C om édiens, on e s t a s s i s d an s l e p a r t e r r e que e s t en A m p h ite a tre ou l 'o n e n te n d ja m a is de b r u i t , i l ny a que S ep t L oges que p e u v e n t c o n t e n ir ch acu n V in g t p e r s o n n e s . I l y a e n c o re p a r e i l nom bre au d e s s u s e t un p a r a d i s p lu s h a u t. T hus, i f B ru n e t i s c o r r e c t , th e lo w er an d m id d le g a l l e r y I b i d . , p . 2 3 3 . O d e ll, qjg*. c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 9 , s t a t e s t h a t th e i n t e r i o r c a rv in g s w ere su p p o se d t o h av e b een io n e b y G r in lin g G ib b o n s. 2® H o tso n , o p . c i t . , p . 23 3 . The u p p e r s t o r i e s o f th e f r o n t o f th e b u ild i n g w ere o c c u p ie d by Thomas B e t t e r t o n and R ic h a rd M iddlem ore, one o f th e s h a r e r s in th e t h e a t r e . B e tte r to n was m an ag er o f a c t i n g and a ls o "k e e p e r" o f th e p la y h o u s e . As he s t a t e d in a c o u r t c a s e i n I 69I "by h i s own C are and managem ent o f th e p la y h o u s e an d b y h is n e a rn e s s and d i l i g e n c e he h a th s e v e r a l tim e s p r e s e rv e d th e P lay h o u se from b e in g b u r n t ." He c o n tin u e d to l i v e t h e r e u n t i l he s e c e d e d w ith h i s g ro u p in 1695* 29 T h is i s an u n p u b lis h e d m a n u s c rip t by F ra n c o is B ru n et in th e B r i t i s h Museum c i t e d by H o tso n , p . 2 3 4 . 39 b oxes a lo n e w ould c o n ta in 280 p e o p le .30 The s e a tin g c a p a c ity o f th e w hole D o rse t G arden T h e a tre i s e s tim a te d by W . J . L aw rence, a r e p u ta b le t h e a t r e h i s t o r i a n , to be som ewhere b etw e en one th o u s a n d and tw e lv e h u n d re d .31 I e s tim a te d t h a t D o rse t G arden h e ld a b o u t 1 ,0 0 0 sp e c t a t o r s , a llo w in g 140 f o r th e b o x e s , 140 f o r th e m id d le g a l l e r y , 170 f o r th e u p p e r g a l l e r y , an d 550 f o r th e p i t . A lso t h a t a f u l l h ouse a t th e p r ic e s g iv e n by B ru n e t w ould have am ounted t o some & 93 1 0 s . But a s D ru ry Leme h e ld ^ 3 0 m ore th a n t h i s , I a p p a r e n tly e r r e d on th e m odest s id e . I made no c a l c u l a t i o n r e th e s id e b o x es (w h ich B ru n e t ig n o r e s ) and th e s e a t f r o n t box p r i c e s w ould add a n o th e r £ 2 0 , a n d b r in g th e D o rs e t G arden s e a t i n g c a p a c ity up to p e rh a p s to 1 2 00. B e fo re D av e n an t’ s g r e a t e r in v e s tm e n t in s c e n e s f o rc e d him to r a i s e th e p r i c e s o f a d m is s io n , th e y w ere: P i t — — I s . 6d. B oxes— — 2 s . 6 d . M id ^ e g a l l e r y I s . Top g a l l e r y - 6 d .3 2 A f te r th e in c r e a s e p r i c e s w e re : P i t — — — 2 s . 6 d . B oxes— — — 4 s . M iddle g a l l e r y I s . 6d. Top g a l l e r y I s . 33 Pepys s t a t e s t h a t th e m id d le g a l l e r y was d iv id e d _ b etw een b o x es and b en c h es a lth o u g h i n w hat p r o p o r tio n he d o es n o t s a y . See O d e ll, op,, c i t . > V o l. 1 , p . 8, 3^ T his e s tim a te i s c o n ta in e d in a l e t t e r p u r p o r te d ly w r i t t e n by D r. L aw rence t o M ontague Summers, q u o te d in h i s R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e . p . 64. 32 The P la y h o u se Pocket-G om panion o r T h e a tr i c a l V ade- Mecum (London: R ic h a rd so n an d U rq u h a rt, 1 7 7 9 ), P 2 2 . J u s t how lo n g th e s e p r i c e s bad b een in e f f e c t i s n o t d e f i n i t e l y known. 33 B ru n et e r r e d in s t a t i n g t h a t th e p i t t i c k e t c o s t two s h i l l i n g s . See L ow e's Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 1 8 . He a A N A .^L m A . A À P ep y s, to w ard th e end o f h i s d i a r y r e f e r s to th e p r i c e s o f th e p i t and g a l l e r i e s a s he r e f l e c t s on h i s y e a rs o f a t t e n d an ce a t th e t h e a t r e . 3 4 He re m a rk s , . . . When I began f i r s t to b e a b le to b e sto w a p la y on m y s e lf, I do n o t rem em ber t h a t I saw so many b y h a l f o f th e o r d in a r y p r e n t i c e s and mean p e o p le in t h e p i t a t 2 s . 6d. am piece a s now; I g o in g f o r s e v e r a l y e a rs no h ig h e r th a n t h e 1 2 d ., and th e n th e 1 8 d . p la c e s , th o u g h I s t r a i n e d h a r d to go i n them when I d i d . In s p i t e o f th e high-^handed, s h a r p - p r a c t i c e m ethods u se d b y D avenant t o a c q u ir e h i s p a r t o f th e London t h e a t r e m onopoly in th e e a r l y R e s to r a tio n p e r io d , he p ro v e d h im s e lf to be an e x c e ll e n t p ro d u c e r an d t h e a t r e m anager d u rin g th e a p p ro x im a te ly e i g h t y e a rs he l i v e d a f t e r th e R e s t o r a t i o n .35 A lth o u g h he was f o r c e d to s e l l some o f th e te n s h a re s a l l o t t e d t o him by th e ag ree m en t w ith h i s le a d in g a c t o r s o f November 5 , 1660, in o r d e r to s e c u r e fu n d s f o r la u n c h in g th e s o r t o f t h e a t r e he w an ted , he c o n d u c te d th e a f f a i r s o f h is p la y h o u s e h im s e lf "and made o f i t a v e ry good p r o p e r ty f o r h i s f a m ily . The s h a re s in c r e a s e d in v a l u e , and a f t e r h i s d e a th w ere s a id to be w o rth ^ 8 0 0 a p i e c e ." 3 6 Thus th e t h r e e 3 ^ Samuel P a p y s, D ia r y , H. B. W h eatley , e d i t o r , 2 v o ls . (New Y ork; Random H ouse, 1 9 4 6 ), V o l. 2 , p . 756. J a n u a ry 1 , I 6 6 8 . 35 O f. G eorge F re e d le y , and John A R eev es, A H is to r y o f th e T h e a tre (New Y ork: Grown P u b lis h e r s , 1 9 4 1 ), c h a p te r X I, p . 1 6 2 . D avenant i s g iv e n s c a n t c o n s id e r a tio n w h ile K illig r e w i s p r a i s e d a s an e x c e l l e n t p r o d u c e r . 3® H o tso n , OP. c i t . , p. 222. He had s o ld 7 .7 s h a r e s 41 and t h r e e t e n th s s h a r e s l e f t t o h is widow a n d sons w o u ld have am ounted to $ 2 ,6 4 0 , w h ich , p e rh a p s i n t o d a y 's i n f l a t i o n a r y p e r io d w o u ld be th e ro u g h e q u iv a le n t o f s e v e n ty - f iv e th o u s a n d d o l l a r s , n o t a mean i n h e r i t a n c e even i n t h i s a g e .37 Even th o u g h c r e d i t o r s m ight a c t u a l l y h av e b ee n due a p a r t , i t i s m ost u n l i k e l y t h a t th e y w ere due th e e n t i r e am ount. C r e d i to r s f o r su c h an e x c e s s iv e sum w ould h a r d ly have s to p p e d b e f o r e s e c u r in g a t l e a s t a p a r t o f t h e amount due them . D av en an t, u n lik e K illig r e w , l i v e d i n an a p a rtm e n t a t h is own t h e a t r e a n d was th u s a b le t o g iv e i t h is f u l l a t t e n t i o n . A f te r D av en an t* s d e a th an d th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f th e fiew D o rs e t G arden p la y h o u s e , Thomas B e t t e r t o n , a s h a r e r , one Df th e p r i n c i p a l a c t o r s , and co -m an ag er o f th e t h e a t r e w ith ae n ry H a r r i s , a n o th e r p r i n c i p a l a c t o r , l i v e d i n one o f th e a l t o g e t h e r b u t b e c a u s e o f th e r e v e r s io n o f so m eo n e's s h a re CHotson th in k s i t was S ir W illia m B u s s e l l 's ) b e f o r e D a v e n a n t's d e a th he l e f t to h i s h e i r s 3*3 s h a r e s . 37 ^ S i r W illia m d ie d i n t e s t a t e b u t n o t b a n k ru p t, a s ^ s b e e n s a id . L ady M ary, h i s widow, e v i d e n t l y a shrew d b u s in e s s woman, an n o u n ced t h a t on May 6 th l e t t e r s o f adm in i s t r a t i o n w ere g r a n te d t o "Jo h n Alway, p r i n c i p a l c r e d i t o r , th e Lady Mary D av e n an t, h ie widow, h a v in g f i r s t r e n o u n c e d ." 3ut i t a p p e a rs t h e r e was no su c h p e rs o n f o r th e r e a l c r e d i to r s to su e f o r t h e i r money, an d she th u s m anaged to k e e p the 3*3 s h a re s i n t a c t f o r h e r s e l f and h e r s o n s . She was also a n x io u s to k e e p Thomas C ro s s , th e e l d e s t o f D a v e n a n t's s te p s o n s by o th e r m a r r ia g e s , an d th e o th e r s te p s o n s from a c q u ir in g any o f th e p r o p e r ty . See H o tso n , p p . 226**227. 42 a p a rtm e n ts o f th e t h e a t r e b u i l d i n g . 38 One way to d e te rm in e th e r e l a t i v e s i z e o f th e a u d ie n c e s o f t h i s o r any o th e r p e r i o d i s t o d is c o v e r th e n e t p r o f i t made by th e o w n ers, t h a t i s , th e r e t u r n on t h e i r in v e s tm e n t in th e e n t e r p r i s e . In th e c a s e o f th e D o rse t G arden T h e a tre , w h ich was b u i l t a t a c o s t o f ^ 9 0 0 0 ,39 one s h a r e , o f th e tw e n ty in to w h ic h i t was d iv id e d , c o s t ^ 4 5 0 - On th e b a s is o f two h u n d red a c t i n g days t o t h e y e a r ( a f a i r a v e r a g e ) , th e incom e to th e b u i l d i n g in v e s t o r s from t h e i r o u tla y was re c k o n e d a t ? s . a d ay each o r ^7 0 a y e a r , t h a t i s , on th e ^ 4 5 0 o r i g i n a l in v e s tm e n t a p p ro x im a te ly f i f t e e n an d o n e - h a lf p e r c e n t r e t u r n . ^ A lth o u g h , a s in th e c a s e of Thomas B e t te r t o n , one o f th e p rim a ry a c to r - * s h a r e r s , who had I b i d . , p . 3 2 . The o t h e r a p a rtm e n t was o c c u p ie d by a n o th e r o f th e s h a r e r s , R ic h a rd M iddlem ore. J u s t why H enry H a r r i s , th e o th e r co -m an ag er, d id n o t o ccu p y i t i s n o t c l e a r . 39 Log, c i t . , Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 112; T h a le r , S h a k e sp e a re to S h e r id a n , p . 213 » (who a l s o s a i d t h a t D avenant b u i l t th e D o rset G arden T h e a tre ); N ic o l l, R e s to r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 8 9 , a l l s t a t e t h a t th e t h e a t r e c o s t “j^5G00 and u p w a rd s." T hese s ta te m e n ts a r e b a s e d on a p e t i t i o n o f 1 7 0 9 . F i t z g e r a l d , V o l. 1 , p . I 4 l , s t a t e s , w ith o u t nam ing an a u t h o r i t y , t h a t i t c o a t ^ 8 0 0 0 . ^ The i n v e s t o r s o r " a d v e n tu r e r s ," a s th e y w ere c a l l e d , and p o s s i b ly a more a c c u r a te te rm , w ere s a id t o have e x p e c te d a tw e n ty — f i v e p e r c e n t r e t u r n , a r a t h e r re m a rk a b le e x p e c ta tio n in any e r a . H otson c o n te n d s , how ever, t h a t th e r i s k s in v o lv e d j u s t i f i e d an a n t i c i p a t i o n o f tw e n ty - f iv e p e r c e n t r e t u r n . 43 th e m a jo r p a r t o f one o f h i s own h a l f - s h a r e s d e d u c te d from h is p o r t i o n o f th e b u ild in g r e n t r e c e i p t s and th u s f a i l e d to have a n y r e t u r n on th e o u tla y f o r more th a n t h r e e y e a r s , th e r e may n o t h av e b ee n g r e a t im m ediate v a lu e , n o n e th e le s s , th e in v e s tm e n t p ro v e d to be a v e ry good one in th e lo n g run * The u lti m a t e a n n u a l r e t u r n o f f i f t e e n and o n e - h a lf p e r c e n t on th e b u ild i n g in v e s tm e n t in th e D o rset G arden T h e a tre , a s s t a t e d b y B e tte rto n ,^ ® i s b o rn e o u t in f i g u r e s a tta c h e d to an an sw e r in C hancery made by Lady Mary D avenant and h e r s o n s , A le x a n d e r and C h a r le s , t o Edmund Browne i n a s u i t o v e r a s h a re i n t h a t b u i l d i n g . ^3 T hese f i g u r e s show th a t f o r th e f u l l y e a r 1 6 ?6 , J a n u a ry 1 s t t o December 3 0 th , the n e t p r o f i t f o r a l l s h a r e h o ld e r s com bined was f 9 2 0 . To the t e n i n d i v i d u a l s h a r e r s , to w h ich th e num ber had th e n >een re d u c e d , t h i s was a p r o f i t o f ^ 9 2 f o r th e y e a r o r , a s I t s h o u ld be r e a s o n a b ly c l e a r t h a t a p e rs o n o f no g r e a te r f i n a n c i a l m eans th a n B e tte r t o n who was n o t a lr e a d y co n n ected w ith th e t h e a t r e in some more s u b s t a n t i a l w ay, a s B e tte rto n w as, w o u ld h a r d ly be e x p e c te d t o make su c h an In v estm en t in th e f i r s t p la c e . ^2 C hancery B i l l and A nsw er, n o . 0? 5 7 5 /6 2 f o r Fanuary an d May, 1 6 8 1 , Jo h n R o ffe y V. Thomas B e tte r t o n in m i t o v e r "S h are i n b u ild in g D o rs e t G arden T h e a tr e ," c i t e d )y H o tso n , o p . c i t . , p . 232. ^3 C hancery B i l l A nsw er, n o . CIO 1 8 8 /2 , f o r May 2 4 , L677, to s u i t f o r "S h are in D o rse t G arden T h e a tr e ," c i t e d 3y H o tso n , o p . c i t . , p . 236. H otson p o in ts o u t, on a 33-'w eek, 200 a c tln g - d a y y e a r , i t am ounted, to # 2 l 6 e . a w eek. T h is w ould r e p r e s e n t a com par a t i v e w eek ly incom e to th e s h a r e r d u rin g th e se a so n o f a p p ro x im a te ly s e v e n ty ^ f iv e d o l l a r s (1951) A m erican m oney. T hus, th e r e t u r n on th e in v e s tm e n t, d e p e n d in g on w h e th e r 6 6 0 0 , £ 7 0 0 , o r 6800 w ere p a id f o r th e s h a r e w ould be f i f t e e n p e r c e n t, t h i r t e e n p e r c e n t, o r e le v e n and o n e - h a lf p e r c e n t , a r a t h e r c lo s e a p p ro x im a tio n o f t h e f i g u r e g iv e n by B e t t e r t o n . T h e r e i s no co m p lete r e c o r d to v e r i f y th e s u p p o s itio n t h a t 1 6 7 & was a b o u t an a v e ra g e y e a r f o r a u d ie n c e s and t h e a t r e in co m e, b u t in th e l i g h t o f B e t t e r t o n 's c o r r o b o r a tiv e te s tim o n y and i n th e ab se n c e o f e v id e n c e to th e c o n t r a r y , i t may b e r e a s o n a b ly assum ed t h a t i t w as. I t can t h e r e f o r e be se e n t h a t th e D u k e's Company, A lth o u g h t h e r e i s no p a r t i c u l a r re a s o n to b e l ie v e t h a t B e tte r t o n p ad d e d h i s f i g u r e s f o r th e c a s e b etw een Jo h n B o ffe y and h lm S e lf ( l o g i c a l l y , i t seem s t h a t i f he w ish e d to do a n y th in g w ith them , h e w o u ld have d im in is h e d r a t h e r th a n in c r e a s e d th e p r o f i t s ) , th e p o r tio n s o f b o th y e a r s in c lu d e d w ith th e w hole y e a r 1 6 7 6 do not show by any m eans th e same r e l a t i v e n e t p r o f i t s . The w hole p r o f i t , a c c o rd in g to th e b i l l , from November 3 0 , 1675, t o M arch 6 , 1 6 76, am ounted to o n ly £ 5 2 6 s . Bd. Even i f one t h i r d o f t h i s i s a llo w e d f o r D ecem ber, th e n e t p r o f i t t o a l l s h a r e r s w ould be o n ly ab o u t 6 1 7 8 s . o r l e s s th a n £ 1 1 5 s . a s h a re f o r th e w hole m onth. F o r th e n in e te e n w eeks from J a n u a ry 6 , 1 6 7 6 , to May 1 9 t h o f th e same y e a r , th e t o t a l n e t p r o f i t s am ounted to o n ly 6 2 5 9 o r a l i t t l e l e s s th a n 6 1 8 s . a w eek f o r th e in d iv i d u a l s h a r e h o ld e r . T hese f i g u r e s a r e so p ie c e m e a l, h ow ever, t h a t i t w ould b e o f no v a lu e to a rg u e e i t h e r way on t h e i r e v id e n c e . 45 w h ile m aking no I n d iv id u a l s h a r e r w e a lth y , was n o t a s much o f an " a d v e n tu re ” a s I t m ig h t have seem ed t o some in th e b e g in n in g . As h a s b een shown, by 1676 i t w as, to sa y th e l e a s t , m aking a v e r y s u b s t a n t i a l r e t u r n on th e in v e s tm e n t, and t h e r e i s e v e ry re a s o n to b e l ie v e t h a t i t c o n tin u e d to do so u n t i l i t s m e rg in g w ith th e K in g 's Company in 1682. A c c o rd in g to te s tim o n y from W illia m & n ith i n 1691, j o i n t m anager o f a c t i n g w ith B e t t e r t o n a f t e r H a rris * r e t i r e m e n t, "by t h e Management an d m ethod o f m a tte r s a t th e * . . D u k e's T h e a tre , th e p r o f i t s a r i s i n g o u t o f an d by th e same had in a r e a s o n a b le m easu re A nsw ered t h e E x p e c ta tio n s o f th e p e rs o n s c o n c e rn e d t h e r e i n . In th e l i g h t o f t h i s e v id e n c e , o n ly one r e a s o n a b le c o n c lu s io n c o n c e rn in g a u d ie n c e s iz e can b e draw n an d t h a t i s t h a t a u d ie n c e s a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre up to th e tim e o f th e Union w ere c o n s i s t e n t l y l a r g e r th a n h as h e r e t o f o r e b een c o n c e d e d . 46 w ith th e heavy e x p e n se s u n q u e s tio n a b ly in v o lv e d in th e more e l a b o r a t e p r o d u c tio n i n i t i a t e d b y D evenant an d c o n tin u e d by h i s s u c c e s s o r s , i t w ould n o t have b een p o s s i b l e C hancery B i l l and A nsw ers, n o . C6 3 1 6 , b e g in n in g J a n u a ry 2 3 rd and e n d in g Ju n e 1 9 , 1691» a s u i t b etw een C h a rle s K illig r e w , p l a i n t i f f , an d C h a rle s D e v en an t, Thomas B e tte r t o n , W illia m & n ith . Lady M ary D ev en an t, Thomas D ev en an t, A lex a n d er D ev en an t, an d B alph D ev en an t, d e fe n d a n t s , o v e r th e governm ent an d s h a re s o f th e t h e a t r e , c i t e d by H o tso n , p . 2 3 8 . See N i c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 6 . 46 to show any su c h c o m fo rta b le p r o f i t w ith o u t c o n s i s t e n t l y s iz e a b le a u d ie n c e s . T here i s o t h e r e v id e n c e , t o be s u r e , o f th e s i z e o f a u d ie n c e s a t th e Duke*s T h e a tr e . F or th e e a r l y y e a rs b e f o r e and s h o r t l y a f t e r S i r W illia m 's d e a th , Pepys o f f e r s much i n t e r e s t i n g an d v a lu a b le in f o r m a tio n . As e v id e n c e i t can h a rd ly be com pared w ith t h a t s e c u r e d from docum ents i n th e P u b lic R eco rd s O f f ic e b e c a u s e o f th e a b se n c e o f s t a t i s t i c a l m a tte r . N o n e th e le s s , i t s u p p l i e s in v a lu a b le b ack g ro u n d m a te r ia l t h a t h e lp s in g a in in g an o v e r - a l l view o f th e s i t u a t i o n . One o f t h e e a r l i e s t r e f e r e n c e s by Pepys to th e s i z e 3f an a u d ie n c e a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre i s t h a t o f O c to b e r 2 0 , L 6 6 2 , when he and h i s w ife saw The V i l l a i n b y Thomas P o r t e r , ifhich Tom K illig r e w , M a ste r o f th e T h e a tre R o y al, h ad t o l d Pepys "was n e v e r su c h a p la y come upon th e s t a g e . "47 As so o f te n h a p p e n s, h o w ev er, when one h as a p la y so g r e a t l y " c r ie d up" to him , Pepys d i s l i k e d i t v e ry much. He c o n tin u es, " T here was th e h o u se f u l l o f company . . . b u t w h eth er i t was in o v e r - e x p e c tin g o r w h a t, I know n o t , b u t I le v e r was l e s s p le a s e d w ith a p la y in my l i f e . P ep y s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p p . 496-497* 4B He admits that what made him most uncomfortable «ras that he had not k e p t his vow not to go to the theatre S in d "besides mv business commanded m e elsewhere." 47 T here w ere s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s , i t i s t r u e , when Pepys found th e D u k e's House r a t h e r s p a r s e ly in h a b i te d . On M arch 7, 1 6 6 4 , he and h i s w ife saw D ev en an t's The U n fo rtu n a te L overs when " th e h o u se was v e r y em pty, by re a s o n o f a new p la y a t th e o th e r h o u s e ."49 in s p i t e o f th e new p la y a t th e k in g 's H ouse, Lady G a stle m a in e was t h e r e , an d Pepys was I n t e r e s t e d to h e a r "an o r d in a r y la d y " who s a t n e a r them and *rho seem ed n o t t o have se e n h e r b e f o r e rem a rk t h a t " sh e was w ell enough. On A p r il 1 9 , 1 6 67, he and h is w ife a g a in w ere a t th e D uke's T h e a tre to s e e a p e rfo rm a n c e o f M a c b e t h . W h e n th e y a r r iv e d , he o b s e rv e d t h a t t h e r e was "n o t much company come, which I im pute to th e h e a t o f th e w e a th e r, i t b e in g v e r y l o t . " He d o es n o t s t a t e w h e th e r th e a u d ie n c e in c r e a s e d a f t e r th e y w ere t h e r e , b u t i t i s w o rth n o tin g t h a t he men tio n s th e s m a lln e s s o f th e crow d and a s c r i b e s i t to a > a r t i c u l a r c a u s e . When P e p y s, w ith h is w if e . S i r W illia m P enn, an d Mary J a t e l i e r , a f r i e n d o f h is w i f e 's saw H e r a c liu s a t th e D u k e's ^ P ep y s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 5® W hether h i s r e f e r e n c e to " o r d in a r y " m eant " v i r t u - >us" a s opposed to G a s tle m a in e , o r "m id d le c l a s s " a l s o a s >pposed to h e r , o r b o th ( o r n e i t h e r ) i s d i f f i c u l t to s a y . 51 P ep y s, o p . c i t , . . V o l. 2 , p p . 491-*492. 48 Bouse on S eptem ber 5 , 1667, h e l i k e d th e p la y , B ut th e y d id so s p o i l i t w ith t h e i r la u g h in g an d b e in g a l l o f them o u t , 52 an d w ith th e n o is e th e y made w i th in th e t h e a t r e , t h a t I was asham ed o f i t , and r e s o l v e n o t t o oome t h i t h e r a g a in f o r a good w h ile , b e l i e v i n g t h a t t h i s n e g lig e n c e , w h ich I n e v e r o b s e rv e d b e f o r e , p ro c e e d s o n ly from t h e i r w ant o f company i n th e p i t , t h a t th e y have no c a r e o f how th e y a c t . 53 T h is s ta te m e n t i s o f n o te b o th b e c a u s e o f th e r e f e r ence t o th e t h e a t r e an d to t h e i r b e h a v io r . By d i r e c t I m p lic a tio n P epys i n f e r s t h a t th e s iz e o f t h e a u d ie n c e h as eeen c o n s i s t e n t l y s a t i s f a c t o r y , i f n o t l a r g e , in p r e v io u s r e a r s b e c a u se he h a s n e v e r s e e n t h a t n e g lig e n c e b e f o r e on th e p a r t o f th e p l a y e r s , and he d ed u ces t h a t i t i s th e r e s u l t o f th e "w ant o f company" i n th e p la y h o u s e . On th e I t h e r h an d , t h e r e i s e v e ry i n d i c a t i o n t h a t th e n o is e in th e t h e a t r e i s a l s o u n u s u a l in th e s e n s e t h a t i t p ro b a b ly stemmed from th e c a r e le s s n e s s o f th e p l a y e r s and i n t u r n no lo u b t s e rv e d to in c r e a s e t h a t a t t i t u d e , a n d , m ore im p o r t a n t l y , t h a t Pepys "was asham ed o f i t " an d r e s o lv e d n o t to go t h e r e a g a in f o r some tim e b e c a u s e o f i t . O nly h is f r e q u e n tly b ro k e n vows o f a b s tin e n c e from th e t h e a t r e f o r T h is r e f e r s t o im p e r f e c t know ledge and e x e c u tio n )f l i n e s and a c t i o n . 53 P ep y s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 64 7 . O nly t h e day b e fo re he had s e e n , w ith h i s w if e and W ill Hewer a t th e same t h e a t r e . O r r e r y 's M ustapha w h ere " b o th B e t t e r t o n and H a r r is 3ould n o t c o n ta in from la u g h in g in th e m id s t o f a m ost s e r io u s p a r t , from th e r i d i c u l o u s m is ta k e o f one o f th e men iDon th e s ta g e : w h ich I d id n o t l i k e . " 49 b u s in e s s and f i n a n c i a l re a s o n s c o u ld c a l l f o r t h su c h a I r a s t i c d e c l a r a t i o n . In s p i t e o f th e s ta te m e n ts made by 3 0 t h N i c o l l 5 4 and Summers55 to th e c o n t r a r y , th e r e f e r e n c e s 3y P epys to n o is e w ith in th e t h e a t r e a r e e x c e p tio n a ll y r a r e . In f a c t , t h e r e i s no o th e r s ta te m e n t c l o s e l y s i m i l a r t o th e ibove in th e a lm o s t te n y e a rs o f h is d i a r y . 5 6 A y e a r l a t e r Pepys c a r r i e d H a r r is to h i s p la y h o u s e , w here th o u g h f o u r o 'c l o c k , so few p e o p le t h e r e a t ' The I m p e r t i n e n t s ,' a s I w ent o u t; and do b e l ie v e th e y d id n o t a c t , th o u g h t h e r e was my L o rd A r lin g to n an d h is company there.57 S in ce t h i s was o n ly a r e v i v a l o f S h a d w e ll's p la y , and com p a r a t i v e l y soon a f t e r th e o r i g i n a l p r e s e n t a t i o n , 58 i a 54 N i c o l l, O P. c i t . , R e s to r a tio n D ram a, p . 1 7 . 55 Summers, o p . c i t . . R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e , p . 6 7 . 5 6 The one so f r e q u e n tl y u s e d , s e e b e lo w , p . l 6 7 , c o n c e rn in g S i r C h a rle s S e d le y an d " th e two t a l k i n g l a d i e s " Is n o t c l o s e ly s i m i l a r t o th e above s ta te m e n t w h ich i s t h a t ) f a man s e r i o u s l y o ffe n d e d a t th e f l a g r a n t d is r e g a r d o f th e r i g h t 8 o f o t h e r s . 57 P ep y s, o p . P it . , V o l. 2 , p . 9 2 4 . A ugust 2 9 , I 6 6 8 . f h is i s an u n u s u a l s ta te m e n t o f th e tim e o f b e g in n in g c la y s . S in ce i t was f o u r o 'c l o c k tdien he an d H a r ris a r r i v e d i t th e t h e a t r e , p re su m a b ly th e p la y m ust h av e been s c h e d u le d Tor some l a t e r tim e a lth o u g h i t i s g e n e r a ll y a c c e p te d b y ïc h o la r s t h a t in t h a t tim e p la y s began no l a t e r th a n t h r e e - t h i r t y . See O d e ll, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p p . 1 6 -1 7 . CQ .. . ^ Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . L l l . The f i r s t p r o d u c tio n was on May 2 , 1 6 6 8 , s c a r c e l y Tour m onths b e f o r e , a t w hich tim e I t a c h ie v e d c o n s id e r a b le s u c c e s s . 5 0 1 p e rh a p s u n d e rs ta n d a b le t h a t t h e r e m ight b e few p e o p le i n th e t h e a t r e . Som etim es i t was an n o u n ced i n t h e t h e a t r e t h a t a c e r t a i n p la y w ould be g iv e n r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s m a lln e s s o f th e a u d ie n c e ,59 h u t a p p a r e n tly t h i s was n o t th e c a s e w ith t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p l a y . Compared w ith th e s e few r e f e r e n c e s to em pty h o u s e s a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre th e r e a r e num erous o c c a s io n s on w h ich th e same p la y g o e r w ro te o f f u l l o r o v e rflo w h o u s e s . F o r exam ple, t h i s p la y o f S h a d w e ll's j u s t m e n tio n e d was s e e n by Pepys on th e o p e n in g day when he w ent a t a l i t t l e p a s t 12 3'c l o c k . . . to g e t a good p la c e in th e p i t • . . and th e n s e t t i n g a p o o r man to k e e p my p la c e ( a s was q u i t e th e custom t h e n ) , I o u t, and s p e n t an h o u r a t M a r ti n 's my b o o k s e l l e r 's an d so b ac k a g a in , w here I f i n d th e h o u se q u i t e f u l l . B ut I h ad tày p la c e . . . b u t th e p la y t e d i o u s . . . E a r l i e r , on A ugust 1 5 , 1 6 6 7 , he h ad w r i t t e n o f a new p la y a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre w here he and S i r W illiam Penn had gone b u t " th e h o u se f u l l , an d an a c t b e g u n . B ecause o f th e s e tw o th in g s th e s e m erry g e n tle m e n w ent in s t e a d to th e See S h a d w e ll's C om plete W orks, e d i t e d by Summers, f o l . 1 , p . IiV III, n o te 1 . P ep y s, c i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 863* In s p i t e o f th e S e d io u sn e ss o f i t , he saw i t th e f i r s t t h r e e days o f i t s p e rfo rm a n c e , May 2 n d , 4 th , an d 5 th . 61 I b i a . . V o l. 2 , p . 6 26. 51 T h e a tre R oyal and saw th e r e The M erry W ives o f W in d so r. As n ig h t h e e x p e c te d , s in c e he h a d m is se d th e o p e n in g , he and l i s w if e w ere p r e s e n t a t H is R oyal H ig h n ess * T h e a tre th e fo llo w in g day t o s e e th e h i t show . The F e ig n e d In n o c e n c e o r 3 ir M art in M a r - a l l , a p la y , a s he p u ts i t , "made by my L ord Duke o f N e w c a stle , b u t a s ev ery b o d y s a y s , c o r r e c t e d by D r y d e n . " ^ 2 on t h i s seco n d d ay he n o te d t h a t th e h o u se was f u l l "an d in a l l th in g s o f m ig h ty c o n te n t to m e." A gain on O c to b e r 5 , 1 6 6 7 , he and h i s w ife an d h e r a a id . Deb, w ere a t th e D u k e's p la y h o u se f o r S t. S e r f e ' s new p lay T a ru g o ' s W ile s , o r The C o ffe e H ouse, b u t th e h o u se was 30 f u l l th e y c o u ld n o t f i n d room.^3 A gain th e y c o n tin u e d from t h e r e to th e K in g 's House w h ere, by i n t e r e s t i n g con t r a s t Pepys th o u g h t i t was v e r y p r e t t y . . * t o s e e how N e ll Gwyn c u r s e d , f o r h a v in g so few p e o p le i n th e p i t . . . th e o th e r h o u se c a r r y in g away a l l th e p e o p le a t th e new p la y , a n d i s s a i d , now- a - d a y s , t o h av e g e n e r a lly m ost com pany, a s b e in g b e t t e r Loo* c i t . Pepys seem s to be c o r r e c t in t h a t th e )uke was o n ly th e t r a n s l a t o r o f M o lie r e ' s L 'E to u rd i w h erea s 3 ir M a rtin M a r - a ll i s a good d e a l more th a n t h i s , in c lu d in g IS much o r m ore o f Q u in a u lt * s L 'Amant i n d i s c r e t th a n o f l o l i e r e 's p la y . See D ryden, The D ram atic W orks, M ontague Summers, e d i t o r , V o l. 2 , p . 75* ^3 P ep y s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 671. T h is , e x c e p t f o r m e o t h e r d o u b tf u lly a s c r ib e d t o him , i s S t . S e r f e 's o n ly Ira m a tic c o n t r i b u t i o n . The C o ffe e House i s b a s e d on th e S panish comedy No puede s e r . 52 p l a y e r s . ^4 Vhlle t h i s I s in p a r t h e a rs a y e v id e n c e and by no means con c lu s iv e , i t i s n o te w o rth y a s th e i n d i c a t i o n o f a p ro b a b le brend in a u d ien ce a t t i t u d e s o f t h a t tim e a s w i l l be shown f u r t h e r below . When Devenant and D ryden*s a d a p ta tio n o f The Tempest «ras f i r s t p r e s e n te d on November 7» 1667, Pepys and S i r iTilliam Penn w ere t h e r e to w itn e s s i t . ^5 The house was 'm ig h ty f u l l ; th e King and C o u rt th e r e , an d th e most in n o - îê n t p la y t h a t e v e r I saw. . . . " He and S i r W illiam w ere fo rc ed ?to s i t in th e s id e b a lc o n e ov er a g a i n s t th e m u siq u e- ?oom. . . . " At a r e v i v a l o f th e same " in n o c e n t" p la y o n ly i l i t t l e more th a n a month l a t e r , he went a lo n e to se e i t tg a in , and "as o f te n as I have seen i t , I do l i k e v e r y much, ind th e house v e ry fu ll." & 6 Thus i t can be seen t h a t l i t hough th e p la y was n o t new, n o r bawdy, n o r was i t ^4 Here he had e v i d e n tl y f o r g o tt e n h i s e n t r y one lonth e a r l i e r when he had j u s t come from th e D uke's t h e a t r e ind r e s o lv e d n o t to go t h e r e a g a in f o r some tim e b e c a u se o f ;he p o o r a c tin g and th e sm a ll b u t n o is y a u d ie n c e . At th e k in g 's House on t h i s day he had some most e x h i l a r a t i n g e x p e rie n c e s, s e e in g N e ll in h e r d r e s s in g room " a l l u n re a d y , ind i s v e ry p r e t t y , p r e t t i e r th a n I th o u g h t." He a l s o gave üiipp h e r cues f o r h e r l i n e s i n , as he w ro te i t , " F l o r a 's M g a ry 's " ( F l o r a 's V a g a rie s ) by R ich ard R hodes. ^5 P ep y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 707* His w if e , h e r la id and W ill Hewer had gone b e f o r e Pepys and S ir W illia m . 66 I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 740. 53 p re s e n te d n e a r a h o lid a y , i t s t i l l drew a f u l l h o u se. These th in g s a l l have s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r th e s i z e , t a s t e , and compo s i t i o n o f th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e . At new p la y s d u rin g th e n ex t y e a r he was p r e s e n t when S th e r e g e 's Bhe Wou' 4 I f she C ou'd had tu r n e d hack a th o u san d people by two o'clock.^7 Re had to "make s h i f t " even to squeeze in to th e 1 8 d . box w here he " s a t m ig h tily b e h in d , and could se e b u t l i t t l e and h e a r n o t a t a l l . " He was p r e s e n t ig a in on December 8t h o f th e same y e a r * a t th e p re m ie re of D rre r y 's new p la y Tryphon a t th e D uke's House where he and %Xs w ife "got i n t o a b l i n d h o le in th e 18d. p la c e , above s t a i r s , where we c o u ld n o t h e a r w e ll, b u t th e house i n f i n i t e f u l l . . . ." 6 8 In s p i t e o f h i s f e e l i n g t h a t th e p la y had 't h e same d e s ig n , and words and s e n s e , and p l o t , a s e v e ry m e o f" O r r e r y 's p l a y s , and d e s p i t e h i s l a c k o f p le a s u r e in I t , he and h is w ife w ere b ack a g a in th e n e x t day in "tim e snough to have a good p la c e in th e p i t , an d d id h e a r t h i s lew p la y a g a in . • . ."6 9 The house was "m ighty f u l l a g a in ," cut P e p y 's p le a s u r e in th e p la y was " j u s t th e same a s y e s te rd a y I h l d . , V ol. 2 , p p . 785***786. T h is was on F e b ru a ry I b i d . , p p . 980-981. 69 Loo. Pit. 54 F i n a l l y , on F eb ru ary 25, I 6 6 9 , he "fo llo w ed " h i s w ife and " g i r l s " to see S h a d w e ll's "new p la y , o r an o ld one new vamped" c a l l e d The Royal S h e p h e rd e ss.7 0 The house was " in f i n i t e f u l l , " and th e r o y a l b r o th e r s w ere p r e s e n t . N onethe l e s s , P epys, p ro b a b ly in p a r t b ecau se o f h i s eyes and a bad c o ld , was "n e v er l e s s s a t i s f i e d w ith a p la y " in h i s l i f e . ? ^ W hile th e number o f f u l l and o v erflo w a u d ie n c e s men tio n e d by Pepys a t th e Duke' s House exceeds th e number o f "empty" o r " l i t t l e company" houses by q u ite a few, and has s i g n i f i c a n c e in t h i s s tu d y , i t i s p ro b a b ly much more s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t th e v a s t m a jo r ity o f a u d ie n c e s i z e s he n e v e r no t i c e s . T hat he m entions b o th sm all and la r g e a u d ie n c e s on many o c c a s io n s , how ever, i s ev id en ce enough t h a t he n o tic e d and re c o rd e d extrem es in e i t h e r g r e a t o r sm a ll q u a n t i t y ; i t may, t h e r e f o r e , be re a s o n a b ly assumed t h a t th o se groups which he does n o t r e c o rd a s e i t h e r extrem e w ere somewhere in betw een, t h a t i s , n e i t h e r v ery la r g e n o r very s m a ll. T his I s p r e c i s e l y w hat sh o u ld be ex p e cte d on th e b a s i s o f th e 70 I b i d . , p . 1022. T his was a tra g i-c o m e d y a d a p te d by Thomas S hadw ell from John F o u n ta in 's comedy. The Rewards of V i r t u e , p u b lis h e d in 1661. 71 For some months P epys' e y e s, no doubt b ec au se o f a l l th e " c lo s e work" he h ad to do, had been g iv in g him more and more t r o u b l e . Only th r e e months a f t e r t h i s d a te he made bhe f i n a l e n try in h i s d ia r y in th e b e l i e f t h a t he was l o s ing h i s e y e s ig h t. 55 evidence and d is c u s s e d above. I I I . THE KING'S COM PANY The T h e a tre R oyal w hich was to house th e K in g 's men for th e n e x t n in e y e a rs was b u i l t in 1663 by Thomas C illig re w and a s y n d ic a te on a p l o t o f gro u n d w hich th e y had .e a se d from th e E a r l o f B e d fo rd f o r a p e r i o d o f f o r ty - o n e rears c a l l e d th e R id in g Y ard, w hich l a y in two p a r i s h e s , S t. l a r t i n s in th e F i e l d s and S t. P a u l 's Covent Garden. The Lessees w ere t o p ay a ground r e n t of f i f t y pounds a y e a r . 72 fh is b u ild i n g was one hundred tw e lv e f e e t lo n g from e a s t to r e s t, f i f t y - n i n e f e e t wide from n o r th to s o u th , and was m pposed to have b een e r e c te d a t a c o s t o f £ 1 5 0 0 . I t i s now mown, how ever, t h a t th e a c t u a l c o s t was £ 2 4 0 0 .7 3 T h is was ;he f i r s t T h e a tre R oyal in D rury Lane. An i n t e r e s t i n g d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e T h e a tre R oyal in )ru ry Lane i s g iv e n by th e Conte Lorenzo M a g a lo tti who saw a >erform ance t h e r e i n 1669- A ccording to h i s ac co u n t th e John G e n e st, Some A ccount o f th e E n g lis h S tag e *rom th e R e s to r a ti o n i n 1660-1830 (B ath: H. E. C a rrin g to n , , T ”10 V o ls ., V ol. 1 , p . 43. 73 C hancery B i l l no. C? 317/57 f i l e d May 14 , 1683, by îic h o la s S tra w b rid g e a g a in s t C h a rle s K illi g r e w , Thomas [o rle y , C h a rle s H a r t, Thomas Sheppey, W illiam C lay to n , îh a r le s D evenant, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , W illiam Sm ith, in a lu it f o r r e n t o f th e T h e a tre R oyal, c i t e d by H otson, o p . ^ . , p# 3 1 9 . 56 h e a t r e was . . . n e a r ly o f a c i r c u l a r form , su rro u n d e d , in th e i n s i d e , by boxes s e p a r a te d from each o th e r and d iv id e d in to s e v e r a l rows o f s e a t s , f o r th e g r e a t e r accomoda t i o n o f th e l a d l e s and gen tlem en , who in c o n fo rm ity w ith th e freedom o f th e c o u n try s i t to g e th e r in d is c r im in a t e l y ; a la r g e apace b e i n g . l e f t on th e ground f l o o r f o r th e r e s t o f th e a u d ie n c e . S ix y e a r s e a r l i e r th e Frenchman Samuel de S o r b ie r r e lad w r i t t e n t h a t th e b e s t p la c e s were in th e p i t w here men nd women p ro m isc u o u sly s a t . 75 O d e ll s t a t e s t h a t th e c i r - u l a r form o f th e t h e a t r e was n e c e s s i t a t e d by th e s ta g e o f he p e r io d w hich cu rv ed f a r o u t in to th e a u d ie n c e . The e a t s o f th e p i t were p la c e d in s e m i - c i r c u l a r p o s i t i o n to i t th e cu rv e o f th e s ta g e . There w ere th r e e b a lc o n ie s in he T h e a tre R oyal, th e f i r s t a t i e r o f b o x es, th e second iv id e d betw een boxes and benches and th e t h i r d th e s h i l - a l l e r y a t th e to p . The p i t was s t i l l l e f t open to th e e a t h e r where on June 1, 1664, Pepys and h i s w ife w ith th e t h e r " p i t - i t e s " were s i t t i n g when " i t f e l l such a storm o f a y le t h a t we in th e m iddle o f th e p i t were f a i n to r i s e ; nd a l l th e house in a d i s o r d e r . . . 76 The r e s e a r c h done by H am ilton B e ll, r e s u l t i n g in th e 74 O d e ll, p p . c i t . . Vol. 1, p . 8 . 75 I b i d . 78 P epys, p p . c i t . . V ol. 1,, p. 908. Even though t h i s ? en p i t had been c lo s e d in w ith a g la z e d cu p o la by 1668, „ w a e _ s till_ n o j 3 _com pletiely_olo.sM _heoause„on_M ay_lst_of____ 57 dlfioovery o f some t h e a t r e d e s ig n s by S i r C h ris to p h e r Wren in th e l i b r a r y o f A ll S o u l's C o lle g e , O xford, h as c r e a te d much s p e c u la tio n and r a t h e r g e n e ra l agreem ent among s c h o la r s t h a t one o f th e d e s ig n s i s v e ry l i k e l y f o r th e second T h e a tre Royal in D rury Lane w hich was b u i l t in 1674 a f t e r th e b u rn in g o f th e f i r s t one on t h a t s i t e in 1 6 7 2 . A lso , N ic o ll s t a t e s t h a t I t a p p e a rs J u s t p o s s i b l e , ta k in g i n t o acco u n t th e f a c t t h a t th e p l o t o f ground w hich K illig r e w le a s e d in 1 6 6 3 was one hundred and tw e lv e f e e t by f i f t y - n i n e f e e t , t h a t th e s e d e s ig n s were e x e c u te d f o r th e f i r s t T h e a tre R oyal in B rid g e s S t r e e t , a lth o u g h i t m ust be c o n fe s s e d t h a t th e r e i s no ev id en ce to show t h a t Wren was in any way co n n e cte d w ith th e a r c h i t e c t u r e o f t h a t house.77 The p la n s ro u g h ly f i t th e sp a c e le a s e d by K illig re w and th e s e a t i n g a rra n g e m e n ts c o rre sp o n d w ith th e d e s c r i p t i o n s g iv e n by Conte M a g a lo tti and M. de Monconys. The a u d ito riu m f o r t h i s t h e a t r e d e s ig n shows two g a l l e r i e s w ith rows of s e a t s in c o n c e n tr ic a r c s a f f o r d in g a l l s p e c t a t o r s a good view o f th e s t a g e . A proscenium a r c h i s d e f i n i t e l y in d ic a t e d a s i s a w ide apron bounded by th e c u rv in g rows o f s e a ts i n th e p i t . The f l o o r o f th e p i t i s slo p e d upw ard r a t h e r r a p i d l y to th e f i r s t t i e r o f boxes and was c a r r i e d a t a f u r t h e r t h a t y e a r Pepys was a t th e K in g 's House when a r a i n stoiro blew w a te r i n t o th e p i t a g a in and cau sed a d is o r d e r among th e p e o p le th e r e 77 A lla rd y c e N ic o l l, The D evelom ient o f th e T h e a tr e , Rev. Ed. (New York: H a rc o u r t, B race and Company, 1 9 3 7 ), 58 s te e p a n g le to th e second t i e r . 78 D uring th e lo n g p e r io d when th e t h e a t r e s w ere c lo s e d f o r t h e p la g u e *79 K illig re w to o k th e o p p o r tu n ity to w iden h is s t a g e . Pepys on March 1 9 , 1666, fo u n d th e c a r p e n te r s in th e t h e a t r e and th e p la c e a l l i n d i r t . G O F o llo w in g t h i s , save f o r th e p o s s i b l e g la z in g i n of th e c u p o la o v er th e p i t , a lr e a d y m en tio n ed , th e r e was a p p a r e n tly no change in th e p h y s ic a l t h e a t r e u n t i l 1 6 ? 2 when i t b u rn e d . The p r o s p e r i t y of t h i s e a r l y T h e a tre Royal seems e v id e n t, b u t i t was not th e sound i n s t i t u t i o n t h a t Devenant had c r e a t e d . The a c t o r . B ir d , who d ie d sometime b e f o r e 1664, owned one o f th e tw elv e and t h r e e - f o u r t h s a c tin g s h a re s o f th e company, and upon h i s d e a th K illig r e w made one of h i s s e r io u s e r r o r s in g o v e rn in g th e t h e a t r e . He ap p ro p r i a t e d th e sh a re t o h im s e lf an d th u s s t a r t e d one o f th e d is p u te s w hich u l t i m a t e l y h e lp e d to w reck t h e company. 78 I b i d . . p . 163. 79 H io o ll, op. c i t . . p . 286, n o te 8 . The Lord u h am b erlain ' s o r d e r r e a d s : "Whereas i t i s th o u g h t Dangerous bhat soe g r e a t s r e s o r t o f p e o p le sh o u ld be p e r m itte d a t yor T h ea tre in t h i s tyme o f I n f e c t i o n o f th e P lag u e These a r e b h e re f o re to r e q u i r e you t h a t you f o r be a r e A ctin g any more P laye s u n t i l you s h a l l r e c e iv e f u r t h e r O rder from m ee." They w ere c lo s e d from June 5 , 1665, u n t i l November 29, 1666, a p p ro x im a te ly e ig h te e n m onths. See H otson, on . c i t . , p . 250. 80 P epys, o p . Git. . V o l. 2 , p . 169* 81 George C halm ers, ^ Apology f o r th e B e lie v e r s o f the S h ak esp eare P a p e rs (London: Thomas E g e rto n , 1 7 9 7 ), 59 Prom t h e r e p o r t o f t h i s d ie p u te i t I s known t h a t K illig r e w l i d n o t a c t u a l l y d i r e c t th e company h im s e lf b u t allo w e d th e th r e e p r i n c i p a l a c t o r s . H a rt, Mohun, and L acy, to ta k e c a re ) f t h i s f u n c t i o n . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s , th e s e a c t o r - i i r e c t o r s a p p r o p r ia te d o n e - f o u r th o f a n o th e r a c tin g s h a re Bach m aking a t o t a l o f one and o n e - h a lf s h a re s each and c r e a tin g th e re b y s t i l l f u r t h e r d is s e n s io n among th e o th e r Rember8 o f th e g ro u p . When th e y com plained to K illig r e w , he r e c a lle d th e t h r e e q u a r te r s o f a sh a re and tu r n e d i t b ac k to the company, a t th e seme tim e w ith d raw in g th e a u t h o r i t y o f l i r e c t i o n from th e c h i e f a c t o r s . The L ord C ham berlain ip h e ld K illig re w * s p e r s o n a l " a p p r o p r ia tio n " o f B i r d 's s h a r e , low ever s t a t i n g t h a t h is I n c l u s i v e powers a s p a te n te e gave aim su c h r i g h t . 83 N e v e rth e le s s , i t seems t h a t th e company re s e n te d h is a c t i o n so s t r o n g l y t h a t he f i n a l l y had to r e le a s e Bird* s s h a re back t o th e group and r e t a i n o n ly h is > r ig in a l tw o .84 One ev id e n c e o f th e p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e company i s th e A p p a re n tly K illig re w h e ld h i s p r i v i l e g e to be t h a t )f p r e s e n t day e x e c u tiv e p ro d u c e rs who may s e rv e c h i e f l y in m a d v is o r y c a p a c ity . C halm ers, l o o , c i t . The B oard, M an ch ester, L au d e rd a le, and Denham, not o n ly conclu d ed t h a t K illig r e w lad n o t exceeded h i s a u t h o r i t y , b u t a ls o he had "made v e r y L i t t l e u se o f i t h i t h e r t o . . . . " ®4 N ic o l l, R e s t o r a t i on D ram a, p . 291, n o te . 6 0 s a le made by W a lte r Clun®5 on November 23» 1663» o f h i s two b u i l d i n g s h a re s to Thomas Jo h n so n , a b a r b e r - s u r g e o n , f o r £ 4 3 0 * ^ 8 S ince a s h a re o f th e b u ild in g o r i g i n a l l y c o s t one t h i r t y - s i x t h o f £ 2 4 0 0 , th e t o t a l b u ild in g c o s t , o r £66 1 3 s . 4 d . , i t can be se e n t h a t th e p u rc h a s e r was e i t h e r v e r y a n x io u s f o r some o t h e r re a s o n to a c q u ire th e two s h a re s o r e l s e th e t h e a t r e was c o n s id e re d q u ite a p r o f i t a b l e e n t e r p r i s e - v e r y l i k e l y th e l a t t e r . Pepys rem arked even in 1661 on th e p r o s p e r i t y o f th e K in g 's p la y e r s when he m en tio n ed th e annoyance o f th e g a l l a n t s w ith th e a c t o r s who h ad grown p ro u d and r i c h . ^7 John D en n is, th e c r i t i c , s t a t e d t h a t as soon as C h a rle s I I was r e s t o r e d and th e two t h e a t r e s s e t up . . . * tia i n c r e d i b l e w ith what A rdour th e p e o p le r e tu r n e d and fle w to t h e i r o ld p l e a s u r e s . A ll s o r t s of p e rs o n s w ere charm ed to t h a t Degree w ith th e True e n te r ta in m e n ts o f th e s t a g e , t h a t Two Companies o f e x c e l l e n t A cto u rs s t a r t e d upon a sudden a s i t w ere out o f th e g ro u n d , su ch as had n e v e r a p p e a re d in E ngland b e f o r e n o r in a l l l i k e l y Hood w i l l e v e r ap p e ar a g a i n .8 8 Some o f th e a c t o r s o f th e K in g 's company a c q u ir e d enough P epys, op. P i t . , V ol. 1, p . 948. Clun was mûr i e r ed w h ile g o in g home a f t e r d r in k in g l a t e "w ith h is whore" on A ugust 3» 1664. 86 C hancery B i l l no. 0 & 317/57 f o r May 14, 1683, th e s u i t o f N ich o las S tra w b rid g e a g a in s t C h a rle s K illig r e w e t a l . o v e r r e n t o f th e T h e a tre R o y al, c i t e d in H otson, p . 249. ®7 Pepys, op. c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 237. A m mmwt a .a . .a . mm ^ 61 money to b u i l d a row o f t h r e e h o u se s, e v i d e n tl y as r e n t a l p r o p e r ty , a d ja c e n t to th e t h e a t r e #^9 Pepys w r i t e s o f th e f u l l houses and e v id e n t p r o s p e r i t y o f th e K in g 's House in th e s e e a r l y y e a r s . Even b e f o r e th e new t h e a t r e was b u i l t i n I 6 6 3 , Pepys comments on th e Large au d ie n c e he found a t a p erfo rm an ce o f K illig re w * a Love a t F i r s t S ig h t g iv e n a t t h e i r t e n n i s c o u r t t h e a t r e on November 29, 1661.90 Only t h r e e weeks a f t e r th e new t h e a t r e opened on May 7, 1 6 6 3 , t h a t i s . May 2 8 th , Pepys w ith h i s w ife and h is f r i e n d Greed t r i e d to a t t e n d a p la y t h e r e "b u t th a t was so f u l l th e y t o l d u s we c o u ld have no ro o m ."9% Again on June 1 3 th o f th e same y e a r he was a t th e K in g 's ' House w here F l e t c h e r 's p a s t o r a l . The F a i t h f u l S h e p h e rd e s s, ^ was b e in g p r e s e n te d . He th o u g h t i t "a m ost sim ple t h i n g , and y e t much th ro n g e d a f t e r , and o f te n shown, b u t i t i s o n ly fo r th e s c e n e 's s a k e , w hich i s v e ry f i n e in d e e d and w o rth Q Q I ^ H otson, o p . c i t . , p . 2 4 9 . These a c t o r s w ere 1 Baker, Mohun, S h o t t e r e l , C lun, W in te r s h a ll, and C a r tw r ig h t. The c e n t e r house was le a s e d J u n e 10, 1 6 6 3 * ; P epys, OP. c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 346. S i r W illiam Penn, h i s com panion, went i n t o a box w h ile Pepys had t o go bo th e 18d. p la c e , a s he acknow ledges y e a rs l a t e r in h i s p r o s p e r ity , and even t h a t was q u i t e a " s t r a i n " on h i s pocket book. 9 1 I b i d . . V ol. 1, p . 641. 62 seeing* . . ," 9 2 In a p i t e o f th e a tte n d a n c e slump a f t e r th e p la g u e and uhe f i r e , th e r e w ere c e r t a i n l y o c c a sio n s when th e T h e a tre Boyal m ust have blossom ed g l o r i o u s l y . One of th e s e was lu r in g th e p r e s e n t a t i o n of Dryden*s "sm ash h i t " T y ran n ic Love: o r . The R oyal M a rty r . 9 3 p ro d u ced i n J u n e , 1 6 6 9 . The evidence o f trem endous a u d ie n c e s a t t h i s p la y over an alm o st m p re c e d e n te d p e r io d o f f o u r te e n days t o g e t h e r , w ith am azing lo o r r e c e i p t s o f £ 1 0 0 a day (ro u g h ly th e e q u iv a le n t o f th r e e thousand d o l l a r s to d a y — 1951 ) i s shown q u i t e f u l l y by î o t s o n . 9 4 A p p a re n tly th e r e w ere s t i l l tim e s o f c o n s id e r a b le p r o s p e r ity b e c a u se o f " h it " p l a y s , e x c e ll e n t a c tin g and luch. P erhaps th e m ost i n t e r e s t i n g e v i d e n t i a r y f a c t o r in ;h is r e c o r d o f th e t r i a l o v er th e scen e p a i n t i n g o f ‘E lysium " i s n o t t h a t c o n c e rn in g th e f i n a n c i a l r e t u r n f o r ["yrannic Love i t s e l f b u t r a t h e r t h a t o f th e sta te m e n t o f th e iBual d a i l y r e c e i p t s a t th e T h e a tre Royal a t t h a t tim e . T u l l e r 's answ er to K illig re w * s s u i t i n c h a n c e ry s t a t e s . 92 I b i d . . V o l. 1 , p p . 6 53^ 6 5 4 , F o r some re a s o n in ;hes€ e a r l y y e a rs Pepys f r e q u e n t l y e x p re s s e d u n fa v o ra b le o p in io n s o f th e a c t o r s a t th e T h e a tre R o y a l. In t h i s In s ta n c e he th o u g h t o n ly Lacy c o u ld compare w ith th e Duke * s lo t o r 8. 93 See b elo w , p . 305 * 63 among many t h i n g s , t h a t • • . th e p i t es and t h e i r s a id Company a c te d th e same T y ran n ic Love ab o u t 14 d a y es t o g e t h e r and r e c e iv e d a l l t h a t w h ile a b o u t lOOH p diem Whereas a t t o th e r p la y e s th e y a re n o t wont u s u a lly t o r e c e iv e above 40 o r p d iem . . . .95 This te s tim o n y , a c c o rd in g to th e d e p o n e n t, was g iv e n by w itn e s s e s (unnamed) produced b o th by d e fe n d a n t and p l a i n t i f f s and a p p a r e n tly p a s se d u n c h a lle n g e d by th e p l a i n t i f f s , Phus i t seems t h a t i t sh o u ld p a s s r e a s o n a b ly w e ll a s s a t i s fa c to ry ev id en ce i n s p i t e o f th e f a c t t h a t i t i s not in th e i la tu re o f an o f f i c i a l f i n a n c i a l s ta te m e n t o r document from Î >layhouse o f f i c i a l s th e m s e lv e s . Such docum ents, o f c o u rs e , ire e x tre m e ly r a r e .9 6 ; I f t h i s may be a c c e p te d a s re a s o n a b le e v id e n c e , th e n , ;he T h e a tre R oyal was by no means in a bad f i n a n c i a l c o n d i- ;ion i n 1670. I f th e a v e ra g e d a y 's r e c e i p t s w ere, f o r example, £ 4 5 t h i s would s t i l l be a sum ro u g h ly e q u a l to ; i i h i r t e e n to f o u r te e n hundred d o l l a r s to d a y , by no means a ' ‘ig u r e t h a t c o u ld be c a l c u l a t e d to b r in g im m ediate ' ^5 C hancery B i l l and Answer, no. G? 4 8 6 /7 4 , Ju n e 6 th ;o Ju n e 16t h , 1670, Thomas K illig r e w , C h a rle s H a rt, and lio h a e l Mohun a g a i n s t Is a a c F u l l e r in s u i t o v e r agreem ent ‘o r p a i n t i n g s c e n e s . Bee H o tso n , p. 353* 96 Once a g a in i t may be su g g e ste d t h a t l o g i c a l l y th e Lefendant co u ld n o t be e x p e c te d to pad th e f ig u r e s f o r th e is u a l d a y 's r e c e i p t s f o r o th e r p la y s , r a t h e r , i f a n y th in g , le m ig h t be e x p e c te d to d im in is h them in o r d e r t o d i s p l a y lore c o n v in c in g ly th e r e l a t i v e v a lu e o f h is p a i n tin g in 64 .n so lv e n cy save f o r one o r two v e ry u n f o r tu n a te t h i n g s — f i r e >r b ad management* And, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , b o th o f th e s e th in g s lappened to K illig re w * a T h e a tre R oyal. The most im p o rta n t d raw in g o f S i r C h r is to p h e r W ren's ih e a tr e d e s ig n s d is c o v e r e d by B e ll i s th e one g e n e r a lly lonceded to have b een t h a t f o r th e second T h e a tre R oyal in )rury Lane, l6 ? 4 . The d e s ig n . . . s c a l e s one h u n d red and tw e lv e to one h u n d red and t h i r t e e n f e e t in l e n g t h o u ts id e ; th e s ta g e w ith i t s tir in g - r o o m s o c c u p ie s s i x t y - f o u r f e e t w ith a t h r e e f e e t sp a c e f o r th e o r c h e s t r a in f r o n t a g a in ; le a v in g f i f t y - s i x f e e t f o r th e s a l l e and e ig h t f e e t f o r th e l o b b i e s , s t a i r c a s e s , e t c . The s ta g e p r o j e c t s in to th e p i t seven te e n f e e t in th e f o m o f an ap ro n . . . . The f r o n t s o f th e g a l l e r i e s a r e curv ed i n p la n , and th e to p g a l l e r y ru n s up th ro u g h th e c o r n ic e , to a f f o r d s ig h t l i n e s from th e r e a r s e a t s . . • . T here a r e te n rows o f s e a t s in t h e p i t , and f o u r in each o f th e g a l l e r i e s . 97 An o b s e r v a tio n o f th e draw ing f o r t h i s t h e a t r e shows h a t b o th th e a p ro n and th e i n n e r s ta g e a r e ra k e d w ith o n ly he b a c k a r e a l e v e l . B ehind th e proscenium a r e f o u r s l o t s o r sid e -w in g s ( f l a t s ) an d b e h in d th e s e , t h r e e g ro o v es f o r h u t t e r 8 (b a c k g ro u n d ). There a r e two proscenium d o o rs p e n in g on th e a p ro n o v er w hich a r e two b o x e s . The p i t lo p e s upward a s in th e o t h e r p la n , and t h e r e a re two t i e r s f b o x e s , f o u r on each s i d e , e n c lo s e d w ith th e re m a in d e r e p a r a te d by p i l l a r s . T here i s a t h i r d g a l l e r y a t th e to p 97 O d e ll, OP. c i t . . p . 10. 65 r e a r w hich seems n o t to be c a r r i e d ro u n d th e s i d e s . 98 T h is new T h e a tre R oyal rese m b led D orset G arden, and a lth o u g h i t c o s t only a p p ro x im a te ly o n e - h a lf a s much to con s t r u c t , i t was a much more p r a c t i c a l b u i l d i n g . 99 A ccording to a p ro lo g u e o f D ryden*s, w r i t t e n o n ly f o r th e o p en in g o f th e T h e a tre R oyal in Drury Lane, i t was a rem ark ab ly p l a i n b u ild in g . A p l a i n - b u i l t h o u se , a f t e r so lo n g a s ta y . W ill se n d you h a l f u n s a t i s f i e d away; When, f a l l e n from y o u r e x p e c te d pomp, you f i n d A b a re con v en ien ce o n ly i s d e s ig n e d . . * They, who a r e by y o u r fa v o u rs w ea lth y made, W ith m ighty sums may c a rry on th e tr a d e ; We, b ro k en b a n k e rs , h a l f d e s tro y e d by f i r e . W ith o u r sm a ll s to c k s to humble ro o fs r e t i r e . . .100 E v id e n tly , K illig r e w and h i s a s s o c i a t e s had le a r n e d some th in g a b o u t t h e a t r e b u ild i n g from th e n e a r f ia s c o o f D o rset la rd e n which was r e a l l y s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r n o th in g b u t o p era Bind s p e c t a c l e . The d im en sio n s o f th e new t h e a t r e w ere a p p a r e n tly I d e n t i c a l w ith th o se o f th e o ld e x c e p t in le n g th w hich, 3 v e r - a l l , was in c r e a s e d tw e n ty -e ig h t f e e t by th e a d d i t i o n o f 98 See th e r e p r o d u c tio n o f t h i s draw ing in N ic o l l, Development o f th e T h e a tr e , o p . c i t . , p . 164. 99 H arbage, A nnals o f Enpclish Drama, op. c i t . , p. 251. " 100 Dryden, W orks. S c o tt- S s in ts b u r y e d i t i o n , V. X, ). 3 1 8 . T h is was n o t a p ro lo g u e to accompany one o f h i s )la y s b u t was w r i t t e n s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r th e opening o f t h a t hV lA atir» » "hw 66 L sc e n e room a t th e r e a r w h ich ex ten d ed i n t o what was known I S V in e g a r Y a r d . 101 F or t h i s e x t r a sp a ce th e company p a id ^n a d d i t i o n a l £ 3 0 a y e a r ground r e n t . W ith a new and p r a c t i c a l t h e a t r e b u i l d i n g in w hich to rork, th in g s sh o u ld have gone w e ll f o r t h e K in g 's Company f t e r 1 6 7 4 , b u t th e se ed s o f d is c o r d had b e e n sown e a r l y , n d th e in e p t o r p o s s i b l y d is h o n e s t m anager was in c a p a b le , p p a r e n t l y , o f t a k i n g c a re o f h is own o r h i s t h e a t r e * s f f a i r 8 w ith any d e g re e o f e f f i c i e n c y . Harbage a v e rs t h a t he " B u ild in g e x p e n ses had in v o lv e d th e f in a n c in g o f h i s n t e r p r i s e tre m e n d o u sly . H y p o th e c a tio n and r e - h y p o th e c a tio n e r e f o r c e d upon him . . . ."1 0 2 As Hotson so c l e a r l y i n d i - a t e s , how ever, K illig re w * s im providence r a t h e r th a n u i l d i n g ex p en ses p ro b a b ly " fo rc e d " th e h y p o th e c a tio n upon dm .103 101 C hancery B i l l , no. CIO 3 6 0/ I 6 , f i l e d Ju n e 21, 7 0 0 , by E liz a b e th and Thomas C lay to n a g a i n s t S i r Thomas k ip w ith , C h r is to p h e r R ich, and Thomas B e t t e r t o n , f o r r e n t f th e t h e a t r e , c i t e d by H o tso n , p . 2 5 6 . 102 A lfre d H arbage, Thomas K illig r e w , C a v a lie r r a m a t i s t , 1612-83 ( P h il a d e l p h ia : U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n sy lv a n ia r e s 8, 1 9 3 0 ) , p . 1 1 9 . 103 In a l l f a i r n e s s , i t m ust be a d m itte d t h a t p o s t - e s t o r a t i o n e v id e n c e s of p r o f l i g a c y and r i o t o u s l i v i n g on he p a r t o f Tom K illig r e w a r e e x c e e d in g ly r a r e . N o n e th e le ss e p re c e d e d A lex a n d er Devenant by a good many y e a rs in s in g th e same p r o p e r ty in more th a n one " d e a l." F o r a s t a l l e d d is c u s s io n se e H otson, op. c i t . , pp . 256— 2 5 8 . 67 When s h o r t l y a f t e r th e agreem ent o f March 20, 1674,104 p r o f i t s began to f a l l and c o n tin u e d to d e c re a s e i a i l y so t h a t " th e s a i d A c to rs d id g e t v e r y l i t t l e p r o f i t )y t h e i r A c tin g ," s e v e r a l o f them l05 . . . d id e a c h • . • a t s e v e r a l tim e s i n th e y e a r 1675 g iv e n o t i c e in w r i t i n g t h a t th e y w ere m inded to g iv e o v e r and d e s i s t from a c t i n g , and d id each o f them demand to be a llo w e d th e s e v e r a l sums o f money a c c o rd in g to th e above m en tio n ed A r t i c l e s .106 Chat th e company "was l i k e to b re a k up and be d is s o lv e d " a t 3h is tim e i s e v id e n t a ls o from t h e n e a r - r e s o l u t i o n o f Dryden :o r e t i r e from th e w r i t i n g o f plays. 107 A pp aren tly , how ever, t h i s agreem ent was n o t th e o n ly d i s tu rb in g f a c t o r in th e K in g 's T h e a tre a t t h a t tim e . In 1Ô4 agreem ent was among th e members o f th e com- >any who l e n t money f o r th e p u rp o se s o f b u ild i n g th e sc e n e - lo u se, and b u y in g sc e n e ry and costum es. The p r i n c i p a l i c t o r s . H a rt, Mohun, and Lacy p u t up £200 e a c h , th e o t h e r s , 160 e a c h w ith t h e u n d e rs ta n d in g t h a t th e lo a n s w ould be rep aid o u t o f a c t i n g p r o f i t s a t th e r a t e o f £ 1 3s* 4 d . f o r ïvery a c t i n g day 1 . i f th e s h a r e r d ie d w i t h i n t h r e e y e a rs (h av in g a c te d to th e tim e o f h is d e a th ) h is h e i r s t o r e c e iv e i t , 2 . i f w ith in t h r e e y e a rs o f t h a t d a te a s h a r e r w ish e d t o ‘ r e t i r e , he c o u ld g iv e t h r e e months* n o tic e and a t th e end o f t h a t p e r io d s t a r t r e c e iv in g h is r e t u r n even tho u g h , m eanw hile he be ad ju d g ed in c a p a b le o f f i n i s h in g th e th re e -m o n th p e r i o d . See H otson, p . 255* 1^5 H a rt, W i n te r s h a ll, K ynaston and C a rtw rig h t. C hancery B i l l and Answer, no. 06 2 2 1 /4 8 , f i l e d Tanuary 23, 1677, by C h a rle s K illig r e w a g a i n s t Thomas [ i l l i g r e w . Dame K a th e rin e S ay er and Thomas E l l i o t t , c i t e d in lo ts o n , op . c i t . , p . 258. 1^7 Otway, Works, Summers* e d i t i o n , p . x x x iv . 6 8 February 1676, th e company " l e f t o f f a c t i n g s upon p r i v a t e L lffe re n c e s and d le a g re e m e n ts betw eene th e m s e lv e s ," and His l a j e s t y was "v e ry much d i s p l e a s e d t h e r e a t . "108 The L ord îh a m b erlain a t th e K in g 's command o rd e re d " th e s a i d Company * o rth w ith to a c t and p la y as fo rm e rly And t h a t none o f th e la id Company presum e to le a v e o f f A c tin g ." Even b e f o r e ;h is , i n J a n u a ry , 1675, th e L o rd C ham berlain had is s u e d an ►rder t h a t K ynaston, Mohun, L acy, B u rt, S h a t t e r e l l , f i n t e r s e l l and C a r t e r e t t (C a rtw r ig h t) a p p e a r b e fo r e him in ird e r t h a t he m ight h e a r th e d i f f e r e n c e s betw een them and k illig r e w , th e l a t t e r h av in g ch a rg e d t h a t some o f th e ic to rs "have v i o l e n t l y ta k e n and sh a re d Money a g a i n s t an agreement betw eene you an d h i s p o s i t i v e o r d e r to th e co n - ;r a r y . . . ."1^9 A lthough i t m ight have seemed t h a t th e lo n g l i s t of A r t i c l e s o f Agreem'^ f o r th e B e t t e r R é g u lâ te in g t h e i r M ates Servants th e Comoedians a t th e R o y a ll T h e a tre . . . " would 108 N ic o l l, R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 292, n o te 1 , from •ecords in th e L ord C h a m b e rla in 's o f f i c e . i b i d . , p p . 2 9 0- 2 9 1 * T h is, o f c o u rs e , may v e r y e l l have been a c o n tin u a tio n o f th e argum ent o v e r th e agreement o f March 20, 1674. The d i f f e r e n c e seems to have •een s e t t l e d by a n o th e r agreem ent d u rin g th e same m onth in 'h ic h K illig r e w i s acknow ledged t o have a l l h is power back ixcept " in te r m e d lin g w ith th e p r o f i t t s and s h a re s " c o n c e rn - ng w h ich he " d e c la r e s he w i l l o b serv e and n o t any w a ie s re a k e o r c o n t r a d i c t and . . . M^ K illig r e w e x p e c ts o n e ly lis two s h a r e s . And th e r e s t t o be d iv id e d a c c o rd in g to th e 4 n MM M AM m A f * 4 * V i A O A«T»Ma MTr U 69 s o rre c t th e e x i s t i n g e v i l s , I t d id n o t and w ith in two tonths th e company sto p p e d p la y in g b e c a u se of p r i v a t e L lffe re n c e s . At t h i s tim e th e Lord C ham berlain a g a in to o k a land and a p p o in te d Mohun, K ynaston, H art and C a rtw rig h t as lanaigers and a l i t t l e l a t e r gave H art co m p lete c o n t r o l . m T his d is tu r b a n c e o f 16?6 s t a r t e d t h e com plete f a l l of I l l l l g r e w from pow er. In o r d e r t o r e t a i n th e s e r v ic e s o f ils p r i n c i p a l a c t o r s , he h i t upon th e I d e a of g e t t i n g h i s ion, C h a rle s , t o a c t a s m e d ia to r In th e d i s p u t e . O nly upon ils p ro m ise to make o v e r to C h a rle s " a l l h is r i g h t . C laim , ind Power In and to th e G overning O rd e rin g , and r e g u l a t i n g t th e s a id T h e a tre , and a l l p r o f i t s , p r i v i l e g e s , and pow ers •e g u la tln g t h e r e u n t o ," co u ld he p e rsu a d e h i s son to u n d e r ake th e a d m itte d ly d i f f i c u l t r o l e o f p eacem ak er. C h a rle s .Id a g r e e to t r y and d id a c c o m p lish th e d e s i r e d r e s u l t , >ut when I t was th e f a t h e r ’ s tu r n to l i v e up to h is p a r t o f he b a r g a i n , he r e f u s e d u n t i l th e son b ro u g h t s u i t . ^^3 Loc. c l t . i b i a . . p . 2 9 2 . 1^2 H otson, 0£ . P i t . . p . 259* C h a rle s , by b r i b i n g [art w ith f 100 and K ynaston w ith ^6o, s e c u re d t h e i r a i d In •rin g in g th e o t h e r a c t o r s to s ig n a new ag re e m e n t, s c ra p p in g .11 o ld o n e s, on May 1 , 16?6. H 3 I b i d . , p p . 260-*261. The c a se n e v e r came to t r i a l •ecause th e f a t h e r acced ed to th e s o n 's demands b e fo re h a n d , n d t h e h e a r in g , w hich seems t o have been h e ld anyway, was e r e l y a f o r m a l i t y . 70 Thus went th e a f f a i r s o f th e T h e a tre R oyal o v e r a >eriod o f y e a r s . The a c to r s w ere no b e t t e r p le a s e d w ith th e lanagem ent o f C h a rle s th a n th e y had been w ith t h a t o f h is " a th e r. A lthough C harles* ap p o in tm en t a s M a ste r o f th e [theatre Royal was fo llo w e d on F e b ru a ry 24 , 1677, w ith h ie ippolntm ent as M a ste r o f th e R e v e ls , h is new found p r e s t i g e Lid n o t I n c re a s e h i s p o p u l a r i t y w ith th e p l a y e r s . f i n a l l y , th e Lord C ham berlain gave th e p la y e r s th e r i g h t o f 'g o v e rn in g th e m se lv e s b u t w it h a l l , t h a t Mr. K llllg re w * s 'I g h t t o h is s h a re s and p r o f I t t s may be p r e s e r v e d . . . . " By December 1677, I t seems t h a t t h i s unhappy s t a t e >f a f f a i r s had a f f e c t e d , somewhat f o r th e w o rse, a u d ie n c e it te n d a n c e . On W ednesday, December 1 2 , 1677, p resu m a b ly f o r ihe f i r s t tim e , D ryden*s g r e a t tr a g e d y . A ll f o r L o v e , was jlv e n . The r e c e i p t s o f t h i s p erfo rm an ce w ere as f o llo w s : £ s . d . The King * s box Mr. H a y le 's box 3 0 0 Mr. Mohun*8 box 1 12 0 Mr. Y eate * s box 0 12 0 James * box 2 0 0 14 Mr. K e n t's p i t 7 . 10 Mr. B r i t a i n 's p i t ) ^ N lc o l l, R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p p . 2 9 2- 2 9 3 . 115 »The T h e a t r i c a l I n q u i s i t o r and M onthly M i r r o r " ‘o r J u l y , I 8I 6 , q u o te d In Summers, R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e , I. 64 71 £r 8 . d . 30 Mr. B r a y 's g a l l e r y ? . 18 Mr, J o h n s o n 's g a l l e r y j o3 14 o Mr. Thom pson's g a l l e r y 1 13 o 28 4 6 A lthough L e e ' s The R iv a l Queens : o r The D eath o f Alexander th e G re a t had been p ro d u ced o r i g i n a l l y In J a n u a ry , .6 7 7 , i t was r e v iv e d d u rin g th e fo llo w in g C h ristm as se a so n tnd p la y e d on December 2 6 th o f t h a t y e a r to an a u d ie n c e o f 52 1 9 s . ^17 Of c o u r s e , t h a t was a tte n d a n c e d u rin g a h o lid a y season and f o r one o f th e m ost s u c c e s s f u l p la y s o f th e whole > e r lo d .ll8 S t i l l i n m anagem ent, m a tte r s w o rsen ed . A c to rs and L c tre sse s w ere w e a rin g t h e i r t h e a t r e costum es o u ts id e th e Ih e a tre , som etim es s o i l i n g and r u in in g th em ;^^^ D ryden, who ras engaged a s a s h a r e r to w r i t e f o r th e K in g 's House, gave wo p la y s t o th e D u k e's H o u s e s o m e o f th e a m b itio u s o u n g er a c t o r s w ere so d is g u s te d w ith t h e i r o p p o r tu n ity to 116 E i t h e r th e M onthly M irro r o r Summers has e r r e d n th e a c c o u n tin g by I s . The t o t a l s h o u ld r e a d £28 3 s . d . ^^7 I b i d . , p p . 64-65* Summers d o es not c o n s id e r t h i s r e v i v a l o f L e e 's p la y . See b elo w . C h a p ter V I. ^^9 N l c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 293- 120 I b i d . , p . 2 9 3 . 72 g e t ah e ad t h a t th e y l e f t f o r E dinburgh when " th e a a ld P la y house was sh u t up and no P la y s w ere a c te d . . . t h e r e i n f o r some C o n s id e ra b le tim e a f t e r , " b ec au se o f d is s e n s io n among management In 1 6 7 8 .1 2 1 To make th e s i t u a t i o n c o m p le te ly d e s p e r a te f o r t h e T h e a tre R oyal, t h e i r o ld and famous p la y e r s had grown to o o ld , and t h e i r fame had f i n a l l y d e c lin e d . W ln te r s h a ll d ie d In J u l y , 1679; B u rt and K ynaston had r e t i r e d ; th e g r e a t s t a r s H a rt, Mohun, and Lacy had re a c h e d th e end of th e a c tin g ro a d and p la y e d l i t t l e a f t e r 1 6 7 9 *1^ 2 A lto g e th e r , th e n , th e s e problem s p ro v e d Insuxm ount- a b le b e c a u se th e y co u ld b r in g o n ly empty t h e a t r e s f o r p ro d u c tio n s a t th e K in g 's House; empty h o u se s meant one o f bwo t h i n g s — Improvement o f th e whole s i t u a t i o n o r d i s s o l u tio n o f th e company. As th e crow ning blow , came th e p o l l t l c a l - r e l l g l o u s t r o u b l e s o f th e P o p ish P lo t In 1678 sapped by th e g r e a t p o l i t i c a l u n r e s t o f 1 6 80-81. P la y s ifere b an n e d , th e T h e a tre R oyal c lo s e d f o r a tim e by r o y a l sommand f o r unseem ly words and a c t i o n s , an d t h e a t r i c a l people a r r e s t e d . ^23 ^21 H otson, o p . Pit. , p . 263 * ^22 Downes, o p . c l t . , p p . 71^73, 7 8 . H art d ie d In L683, Mohun, 1684, Lacy l6 8 1 . K y n a sto n 's r e tir e m e n t was tem porary b u t v e ry h a rm fu l to th e company In tim e o f i r o u b l e . 123 M l rtrtl 1 - T Je»ci+ ;rtr»ia‘ t!l r» r» T V * .2 »m n . r\. 90A 73 Thus i t I s re a s o n a b ly c l e a r t h a t s m a ll a u d ie n c e s w ere :he r e s u l t o f a g r e a t number o f u n f o r tu n a te c irc u m s ta n c e s ind c o u ld c e r t a i n l y be c a l l e d no more th a n a p a r t i a l c a u se if th e c lo s u r e o f th e T h e a tre R oyal w hich o c c u rre d in A p r i l, ,6 8 2 .^ 2 4 F i t z g e r a l d s t a t e s t h a t th e u n d erh an d n e g o t i a t i o n s if th e D uke's Company had begun In 1 6 8 1 ^ 2 5 t o underm ine th e :lng* 8 Company, a n d , o f c o u r s e , th e r e I s e v id e n c e t h a t t h e r e ras c o l l u s i o n b etw een H art an d K ynaston and th e m anagers o f he D u k e's Company.126 But t h e r e I s a ls o e v id e n c e t h a t H art ind K ynaston w ere p r a c t i c a l l y o u t s i d e r s w ith t h e K in g 's lompany when t h i s n e g o t i a t i o n to o k p la c e and t h e r e f o r e m ight e c a l l e d f r e e a g e n ts to work out w h a te v e r p la n th e y th o u g h t o u ld be most ad v a n tag e o u s b o th to th e m se lv e s and t h e i r e llo w actors.127 I t co u ld s c a r c e l y be c a l l e d u n f a i r to h e i r c o lle a g u e s t o prom ote an arran g em en t th ro u g h w hich hey h ad a chance t o r e c u p e r a te some o f t h e i r l o s t e a rn in g s v e r a p e rio d o f y e a rs o f sq u a b b le s and h a lf-e m p ty h o u se s. ^24 H otson, op. c l t . , p . 125 F i t z g e r a l d , op. c l t . , V ol. 1 , p . 147. 126 C h a rle s G lld o n , L i f e of Thomas B e tte r t o n (London: b b e r t G o slin g , 1 7 1 0 ), pp. 8- 1 0 ; a ls o F i t z g e r a l d , V ol. 1 , I I. 1 4 8 . I 127 H otson, o p . c i t . , p . 269- 74 IV. UNITED COMPANIES ! The u n io n o f th e com panies, s o - c a l l e d , was consum- la te d when on November 1 6 , 1682, th e y began t o p la y i n th e th e a tr e Royal in D rury L a n e .1 2 8 ^ i t h t h e d e a th o f "O ld Tom C llllg re w " o n ly t h r e e m onths l a t e r , an e r a in t h e a t r i c a l l i s t o r y c o u ld be s a i d to have ended. 129 As a f i n a l n o te on how sm a ll th e a u d ie n c e s a t th e k in g 's House had b e e n , K ent, who had f i n a l l y and d e f i n i t e l y 'e c e lv e d th e p r o p e r ty from C h a rle s K llllg r e w I n payment o f ;he lo a n to C h arles* f a t h e r o f £ l 60C b ack In 1673, had •e c e lv e d o n ly £563 5 s . lO d.130 in th e s i x y e a rs from M arch, .676 t o J u l y , 1 6 8 2 . T his m e an t, ro u g h ly , an Income o f l e s s ;han t h r e e th o u sa n d d o l l a r s a y e a r f o r th e owner o f th e :h e a t r l e a l p a t e n t —- c e r t a i n l y an I n s i g n i f i c a n t sum when, as lo tso n p o i n t s o u t, th e b u i l d i n g s h a re s a l o n e , u n d er norm al o p e ra tin g c o n d itio n s w ould have b ro u g h t him 1800. D uring th e s e v e ry u n f o r tu n a te tim e s , James G ray, a ;r e a s u r e r o f th e t h e a t r e , w ro te t h a t th e company " d id h e r e - Io fo re som etim es d e s i s t from a c t i n g o f p la y s " b e c a u se of ^28 Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 127- 129 H arbage, Thomas K l l l l g r e w , p . 1 3 8 . A l o g i c a l lase f o r en d in g th e s o - c a l l e d R e s to r a tio n P e rio d In dram a >ould c e r t a i n l y be made w ith th e d e a th o f C h a rle s I I In I f n o t w ith t h e d e a th o f K llllg r e w . ^30 H otson, op. c l t . , p . 282. 75 imall a u d ie n c e s "and have . . . d is m is s e d th e A udience and •etu rn e d t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e moneys."^31 W illiam M urray, m o th e r t r e a s u r e r f o r th e same company, re c o r d e d th e • e c e lp ts f o r t h r e e e s p e c i a l l y b ad days In 1681 when, e v l - .e n tly , th e p la y was p r e s e n te d anyway. They w e r e : ^32 May 1 1 , 1681, £ 3 1 4 s . 6d. May 30, 1681, £ 3 2 s . Ju n e 18, 1681, £ 3 1 3 s . H arbage, In t r y i n g to p u t a b e t t e r f a c e on th e h i s - o r l c a l c h a r a c t e r o f K llllg r e w , ad m its t h a t h is Id e a s o f u s l n e s s management w ere h e te ro d o x , b u t c o n te n d s t h a t P la g u e , f i r e , and m eager R e s to r a ti o n a u d ie n c e s w ere a f f l i c t i o n s w h ich c o n t r i b u t e d so much t o th e p r a c t i c a l d i s t r e s s e s o f th e T h e a tre R oyal t h a t th e m a n a g e r's I n e f f i c i e n c y w ould seem to have been o v e r s t r e s s e d In t r a c i n g th e h i s t o r y o f I t s d e c l i n e .133 'he e v id e n c e c i t e d above, how ever. I n d i c a t e s r a t h e r c l e a r l y h a t t h e "m eager a u d ie n c e s " w ere th e r e s u l t r a t h e r th a n th e a u se o f th e com pany's f a i l u r e .1 3 ^ The b e s t I n d i c a t i o n o f c o n tin u in g p r o s p e r i t y f o r th e ►uke's p la y e r s a f t e r th e y had m erged w ith th e K in g 's I s th e Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , p . 66. ^^2 Loo, c l t . 133 H arbage, Thomas K l l l l g r e w , p . 122. 134 jL ig I s n o t to m in im ize th e e f f e c t of th e p la g u e nd th e f i r e . N o n e th e le s s , th e D uke's Company c a r r i e d on e ry s u c c e s s f u l l y In th e f a c e o f th o s e o d d s. 76 re p o rt o f S i r R o b ert L eg a rd , a m a s te r in C hancery, in a c a se >f C h a rle s K llll g r e w a g a in s t C h a rle s D avenant In 1693 to *ecover money he s a i d was due him . 135 T his r e p o r t shows ;hat d u r in g th e t e n t h e a t r i c a l se a so n s "from th e 4 th d ay o f [ay 1682 to th e 3d o f August l a s t 1692 " th e C hancery l a s t e r had found t h a t . . . p r o f i t s . . . amount to th e sum o f £ 103*988 5 s . 7d. And I f i n d t h a t th e C o n stan t and I n c id e n t C harges f o r and by Reason o f A c tin g o f P la y s f o r th e same tim e amount to th e sum o f £85*393 1 9 s. Od. Which b e in g d e d u c te d out o f th e s a i d sum o f £ 1 0 3 * 9 8 8 5 s . 7d. T here rem a in s C le a r P r o f i t s th e sum o f £ 1 8 ,5 9 5 6 s . 7 d .l3 6 When th e £-10,400 y e a r l y g ro s s I s d iv id e d by th e two lundred a c tin g days In a s e a s o n , th e a v e ra g e d a l l y r e c e i p t s tre se e n to be s l i g h t l y more th a n £ 5 2 , c e r t a i n l y a v e r y le a lth y a v e ra g e t h a t s u r p a s s e s s l i g h t l y t h e f i g u r e g iv e n by he w itn e s s e s In th e e a r l i e r c i t e d c a se o f H a rt, Mohun, and | l l l l g r e w v e rs u s I s a a c F u l l e r when th in g s w ere g o in g r a t h e r ; C hancery R e p o rts , V o l. 246, ( l 6 9 3 ) * c i t e d by b ts o n , p . 288. The c a se In v o lv e d a n o th e r m is u n d e rs ta n d in g , e rh a p s d e l i b e r a t e . In w hich C h a rle s K llll g r e w s a i d t h a t he a s supposed t o r e c e i v e 3 /2 0 o f th e c l e a r p r o f i t s o f th e h l t e d Company I n s t e a d o f th e 3 /2 3 th a t he had been r e c e iv i ng. A lthough A le x a n d e r D av en an t' s r e p u t a t i o n I s n o t good - h e had ta k e n o v e r a s f u l l m anager In 1 6 8 8 — B e t t e r t o n and m lth b o th t e s t i f i e d t h a t K llllg re w * s s h a r e had been n d e rs to o d by a l l co n c ern ed from th e b e g in n in g to be 3 /2 3 nd n o t 3 /2 0 . I t seems r a t h e r o b v io u s t h a t th e term " p r o f i t s " e f e r s In t h i s c a s e to " g ro s s r e c e i p t s . " 77 f e l l f o r th e K in g 's Company. 137 in th e f a c e of t h i s d o cu - a e n ta ry ev id e n c e o f th e r e l a t i v e p r o s p e r i t y o f th e U n ite d Company o v e r th e g r e a t e r p o r t i o n by f a r o f I t s t o t a l e x is te n c e , i t can h a r d ly be c o n te n d e d t h a t t h a t group f a i l e d Tor l a c k of a u d ie n c e s u p p o r t. Average d a l l y r e c e i p t s o f r52 w ould be th e ap p ro x im a te e q u iv a le n t o f f i f t e e n t o s ix te e n hundred d o l l a r s to d a y , and w h ile t h i s c o u ld s c a r c e l y compare w ith a p ac k ed a u d ito riu m o f 2400 s e a t s b r in g in g a : o t a l o f s ix th o u s a n d d o l l a r s f o r a p erfo rm a n ce o f S outh P a c i f i c , I t I s s t i l l no I n c o n s id e r a b le sum f o r a t h e a t r e o f L200 o r few er s e a t s . ^38 % % i n d i c a t e s t h a t N lc o ll I s v e r y | >robably In e r r o r In h is d e d u c tio n t h a t th e t h e a t r e s 'a p p a r e n tly , w ere s t i l l In a b ad way f i n a n c i a l l y " b e c a u se lanagem ent seemed to be d i s t u r b e d o v er th e 3s* 4d. c la im e d >y L a c y 's widow from th e d a l l y r e c e i p t s on th e b a s i s o f a .oan he had made th e t h e a t r e e a r l y In t h e R e s to r a tio n ) e r lo d .l3 9 A nother among th e a lm o st c o n tin u a l s u i t s o f th e : h e a t r e of t h i s p e r io d p i t s C h a rle s K llll g r e w a g a in s t Alexander Davenant in an en d e av o r to e n j o i n Davenant from ^37 Bee a b o v e , p . 62, 138 See Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , pp. 6 3 -6 4 . 139 N l c o l l , R e s to r a tI o n Drama, p . 296. 78 .e a s in g th e " a f t e r m o n e y " 1 4 0 t o "some p e rs o n . . . i n T ru s t "or h im s e lf f o r some lo n g term o f y e a r s . . . ."141 H otson i t a t e s t h a t t h i s s u i t shows t h a t th e t h e a t r e was n o t p r o s - >ering "b e in g £ 8 0 0 in d e b t in F e b ru a ry 1 6 9 1 /2 ," b u t su c h irgum ent i s i n c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e ev id e n c e shown i n th e >reviou8 c a s e . I t i s a ls o i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h Mr. H o ts o n 's >w n e a r l i e r a t t i t u d e in th e c a s e o f th e m a t e r i a l p r e s e n te d »y th e w itn e s s e s In th e F u l l e r c a se ; th e r e was no I n d i c a t i o n ;hen t h a t th e t h e a t r e was n o t p ro s p e r in g even tho u g h th e id m ltte d Income o f th e t h e a t r e was lo w er th a n I t was shown ;o be d u rin g th e t e n y e a r p e r i o d from 1682 t o 1692. In any a s e . I f th e t h e a t r e w ere n o t p ro s p e ro u s , th e r e c e i p t s show a t h e r c l e a r l y t h a t I t was n o t b ecau se a u d ie n c e s w ere n o t t t e n d i n g In s u f f i c i e n t "p a y in g " num bers; and I f th e t h e a t r e a r e £ 8 0 0 In d e b t In F e b ru a ry , 1692, a g a in I t must have been e c a u se o f bad management s in c e th e t h e a t r e had made c o n s ls - e n t n e t p r o f i t th ro u g h t h a t p e r io d , u n t i l p e rh a p s In 1691 r 9 2 .^ 4 2 Nhen th e ac co u n t books o f th e t h e a t r e f o r th e 140 Money "g iv e n by p e rs o n s who come In a f t e r th e I r s t and second A c ts ." ^41 H otson, op. c l t . , p . 289. The c o u r t, how ever, e e ld e d a g a in s t K llllg r e w and f o r D avenant' s Id e a o f l e a s i n g he a f t e r money f o r a term o f se v e n te e n y e a rs In o r d e r t o a l s e £1000 " to p ay th e d e b ts o f th e T h e a tre s and to le a v e a und o f £200 t o buy goods f o r th e f u t u r e w ith re a d y money, j 142 There I s no s ta te m e n t as to how o r when t h i s £ 8 0 0 e b t was c o n t r a c te d . C ib b e r, C o lle y , ^ Apology f o r th e 79 >erlod show t h a t £ 9 6 s . n e t p r o f i t was made f o r ev e ry a c t i n g ay o r i 860 n e t p r o f i t f o r e v e ry y e a r ( th e rough e q u lv a - e n ts o f two h u n d red e ig h ty d o l l a r s a day and f l f t y - s l x housand d o l l a r s a y e a r ) , I t seems s tr a n g e In d eed t h a t a e l a t l v e l y t r i v i a l sum o f £ 8 0 0 would n e c e s s i t a t e r e s o r t i n g o su c h an u n u s u a l p r a c t i c e a s " le a s i n g a f t e r money" In r d e r t o be d is c h a r g e d a s a d e b t . An e x a m in a tio n o f th e p la y s o f f e r e d th e a u d ie n c e u r ln g th e t e n - y e a r p e r io d c o v e re d In th e above a c c o u n t book Iv e s am ple j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r e x p e c tin g few p e o p le In th e h e a t r e , I t m ust b e a d m itte d . Save f o r r e v i v a l s of th e o ld l a y s . In th e w hole decade t h e r e w ere o n ly two p la y s t h a t o h le v e d any r e a l s u c c e s s e i t h e r th e n o r l a t e r . ^43 On May 4 , 1 6 8 8 ,^ 4 4 S h a d w e ll's S q u ire o f A l s a t l a was r e s e n te d and r e c e i v e d trem endous a c c la im .^45 The p la y had I f e o f , R obert W. Lowe, e d i t o r (London; Jo h n C. Nlmmo, 889) V ol. 1 , p . 188, s t a t e s t h a t I t was p u b l i c l y known t h a t bout t h i s tim e (1691-2) th e p a t e n te e s had c o n tr a c te d a la r g e d e b t . . . w hich found work f o r th e C ourt of C hancery o r a b o u t tw en ty y e a rs f o llo w in g , t i l l one s id e o f th e cause rew w e a r y ." ^43 See G e n e st, op. c i t . . V ol. 1 , p p . 369-499* V ol. , p p . 1 -4 0 . ^44 Summers, B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 12. ^45 G e n e st, op. c l t , . . V o l. 1 , p . 459* The p l o t I s a l n l y from T e r e n c e 's A d e lp h l. b r i l l i a n t c a s t , in s p i t e o f th e o m issio n o f B e t t e r t o n , In ames Hokes, A nthony L eig h , W illiam M o u n tf o rt, Gave n d e r h l l l , Samuel S an d fo rd , J a c k V erbruggen, Mrs* B o u t e l l , r s . M ountifort, and M rs. B r a c e g i r d l e .^46 L a te r c r i t i c s g re e w ith th e a u d ie n c e of th e tim e t h a t t h i s I s one of h a d w e ll' s f i n e s t c o m e d ie s.^47 c o n tin u e d f o r th e p h en - m enal r u n , o f th e tim e , o f t h i r t e e n d a y s .^48 ^ s ig n o f I t s rem endous p o p u l a r i t y to Downes was t h a t I t was " o f te n e n u r 'd w ith th e p re s e n c e o f C h a n c e llo u r J e f f e r i e s , and t h e r g r e a t P e rs o n s . . . . " F o r h is " t h i r d day "^49 Shadw ell e c e lv e d th e g r e a t e s t r e t u r n In th e h i s t o r y o f th e T h e a tre o y a l— a t s i n g l e p r i c e s — £130.^^® The p o e t h im s e lf . In h is p l s t l e D e d ic a to ry to th e E a r l o f D o rs e t, s t a t e d t h a t v a s t umbers w ere n o t a b le to g a in ad m issio n th e p l a y 's p o p u la r - by was so g r e a t . ^51 Downes, op . c l t . , p . 41. Downes s t a t e s t h a t 3kes gave up th e p a r t o f th e S q u ire l a t e r to Je v o n . 5 n e s t, qp. c l t . , V ol. 1 , p . 459* adds t h a t th e p a r t does ot seem t o have b ee n " a t a l l In Nokes* l i n e . " ^47 Loc. c l t . See a l s o Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n . . 1 36. 148 Downes, op. c l t . , p . 41. 149 The d r a m a tis t r e c e iv e d th e r e c e i p t s o f th e t h i r d a y ~ l f any. ^50 Downes* op. c l t . , p . 41. 1 3 1 S h ad w ell, Works. o p . c l t . , V o l. 4 , p . 202. 81 I t must a l s o be n o te d t h a t t h i s p la y o f S h a d w e ll's , r h ile d e a lin g w ith a rough elem ent and u s in g th e c a n t w ords ind p h r a s e s o f th e tim e , does n o t employ th e in d e c e n c ie s and .ic e n tio u s n e s s so a b h o rre d by l a t e r c r i t i c s In t h e i r w r i t - .ngs o f th e t a s t e o f th e time. 132 Thus, a s w i l l be shown .a t e r a t much g r e a t e r l e n g t h , th e p eo p le o f t h a t tim e would nd d id p a t r o n iz e th e p la y s th e y r e a l l y e n jo y e d and t h e i r r e f e r e n c e r a n m a in ly to th e l e s s l i c e n t i o u s . 133 The o th e r p la y m ost p o p u la r d u rin g t h i s te n y e a r e r lo d was John C row ne's S i r C o u rtly N ic e . one c o n s id e re d y some a s n o t so n ic e In p o in t o f morals.1 3 4 As C h a rle s a tc h e d th e developm ent o f th e p la y , he h ig h ly ap p ro v ed o f t " o n ly he s a i d i t w anted a l i t t l e more o f what C o l l i e r a l l s Smut In h i s View o f th e S ta g e . "^33 D ennis makes I t p p e a r t h a t C h a rle s w ould n o t have been d is a p p o in te d In t h i s 1 3 2 See A D ic tio n a r y o f Old E n g lis h P l a y s , by James . H a ll lw e ll (London; John R u s s e ll Sm ith, i 8 6 0 }, p . 236. he a u t h o r In tro d u c e d so much o f th e c a n t o r g a m b le r's anguage t h a t I t was n e c e s s a r y t o p r e f i x a g lo s s a r y f o r th e o n v en len ce o f th e r e a d e r . 1 3 3 See b elo w . C h a p ter VI. ^ 34 John Oldm lxon, H is to r y of E n g la n d , f o l i o , 1730, . 6 9 0 , q u o ted by Montague Summers, R e s to r a ti o n Comedies London: Jo n a th o n Gape, 1 9 2 1 ), p . x l l . C h a rle s I I gave rowne th e S p a n ish p la y by Mo r e t o o f ^ Puede a e r and t o l d Im to w r i t e a p la y from I t . S t. S e r f s 's T arugo' a W ile s . r The C offee H ouse. p ro d u ced 1667* had b e e n b a s e d on th e ame p l a y , b u t was n o t s u c c e s s f u l . 1 3 3 Loc. c l t . a t t e r had he l i v e d t o se e th e performance .^56 U n fo rtu n - / * t e l y , he became f a t a l l y i l l , a c c o rd in g to D ennis, on th e a s t d ay o f r e h e a r s a l . The p la y th e n became th e f i r s t new ne p ro d u c e d in t h e r e ig n o f Jam es I I , and Downes s t a t e s h a t " i t b e in g j u s t l y A cted and th e C h a ra c te rs i n ' t new, ro w n 'd i t w ith a g e n e r a l Applause. "^37 By com parison w ith he S q u ire o f A l s a t l a , how ever, th e s u c c e s s o f " S ir C o u rtly " earns n o t to have been so g r e a t .138 The f a r e In th e t h e a t r e ex c ep t f o r th o s e two p la y s p p e a r 8 to have b e e n d u l l In d e e d , and had I t n o t b een f o r e v i v a la o f e a r l i e r R e s to r a ti o n and S h ak esp earea n p l a y s , u l t e p o s s i b ly th e au d ie n c e w ould have b ee n c o m p le te ly n s u f f l c l e n t f o r t h e one p la y h o u s e . Only a r e a l l o y a l t y to he t h e a t r e c o u p le d no doubt w ith a g r e a t a p p r e c i a t i o n o f he a c t i n g o f B e t t e r t o n and company c o u ld have k ep t th e h e a t r e a l i v e d u r in g a p e r io d In w hich su c h " m a s te rp ie c e s " 8 A phra B e h n 's Em peror o f th e Moon,^39 Thomas D 'u r f e y 's The a n d l t t l , o r a L a d le s D i s t r e s s a n d E lk an ah S e t t l e ' s D ennis, W orks, V ol. 2 , p . 406. ^37 Do— 02* c l t . , p p . 40*^41. 138 Gf, th e two e n t r i e s In D ow nes--pp. 40— 41. ^39 Bummers, B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 6. P roduced a t D o rset G arden, A p ril 1&87• I b i d . , p . 64. P rod u ced a t D ru ry Lane, F e b ru a ry , 6 8 6 . 83 d i s t r e s s 'd In n o c e n c e , o r The P r in c e s s of Persia,3.61 w ere f f e r e d on th e s t a g e . In a l l p r o b a b i l i t y a u d ie n c e s w ere d e p l e te d to w ard th e nd o f 1 6 9 2 by w h ich tim e s e v e r a l more o f th e f a v o r i t e l a y e r s had been k i l l e d , d ie d , o r r e t i r e d . Among th e s e two f t h e b e s t com edians had gone— L eig h had d ie d , and Nokes p p a r e n t l y r e t i r e d about t h i s t i m e . 3.62 M o u n tfo rt, no doubt he f a v o r i t e " le a d in g man" o f t h a t d a y , was m urdered a s he p p ro a c h e d h is home by a C a p ta in H i l l and Lord Mohun.3.63 he se f a c t o r s c o u p le d w ith a d e a r t h o f good p la y s and th e n c r e a s ln g age o f B e tte r t o n — he was th e n a lm o st s i x t y — co u ld e e x p e c te d to d im in is h th e a u d i e n c e . ^^4 When A lex a n d er Davenant absconded t o th e C anary 8la n d s on O ctober 23, 1693, he to o k w ith him , no d o u b t, as 161 I b i d . , p . 1 0 7 . P roduced a t D rury Lane, November, ^^2 C ib b e r, Low e's e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p . 188, s t a t e s h a t "Nokes, M o n fo rt, and L e ig h . . . a l l d ie d ab o u t th e ame y e a r ." N okes, how ever, d i d n o t d ie u n t i l S eptem ber 9 , 6 9 6 , b u t he had "n o t f r e q u e n te d th e P lay h o u se c o n s t a n t l y o r some y e a rs . ( P r o t e s t a n t M ercury f o r Septem ber 10, 6 9 6 ) . N a rc is s u s L u tt r e l l , A B r ie f H i s t o r i c a l R e la t io n f S t a t e A f f a i r s « from S ep te m b er, 1 6 7F , to A p r i l , 1714 O xford: The U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 8 5 7 ), V ol. 2 , p . 637. 3-64 C ib b e r, op . c l t . , V o l. 1 , p . 1 8 8 , s t a t e s t h a t when th e s e g r e a t P i l l a r s M o u n tfo rt, N okes, and L e ig h e r e a t once rem oved, th e B u ild in g grew w eaker and th e aud- en c es v e ry much a b a te d ." He does n o t m en tio n W illia m s, n o th e r le a d in g a c t o r , who l e f t In A ugust, I 6 9 2 , f o r s e v e r a l nn+:Vici _ 84 uch o f th e " lo o t" t h a t he h ad sw in d le d from p e o p le and n s t l t u t l o n s a s he c o u ld .3-65 In December, S k lp w lth and R ich nnounced to K llll g r e w , B e t t e r t o n and Company th a t th e y w ere he ow ners o f D avenant*s c o n t r o l l i n g I n t e r e s t , and R ic h , th e r a f t y la w y e r, to o k ch arg e of o p e r a t io n s . C ibber I n d i c a t e s h a t th e p a t e n t e e s , b e f o re R ic h , had th o u g h t "th e s u r e r way t o rem edy th e f i n a n c i a l problem was to b r i n g down t h e c t o r s pay In p r o p o r ti o n to th e f a l l o f t h e i r a u d ie n c e s ." 3-66 hen R ich to o k o v e r , he c o n tin u e d th e p o l i c y o f c u t t i n g a l a r l e s , b e g in n in g a t th e to p , and, what was s t i l l more I k e ly to b r in g c a ta s tr o p h e to h i s h o u se , gave s e v e r a l of e t t e r t o n ' s p a r t s to Pow ell and s e v e r a l o f B a r r y 's p a r t s to r a c e g l r d l e . T h is was th e f i n a l blow , and B e tte r t o n w ith most o f th e v a l u a b le A c to rs . . . e n t e r 'd . . . I n to a s o r t f A s s o c ia tio n to s ta n d o r f a l l t o g e t h e r . "3-6? V. BETTERTON VERSUS RICH In December o f 1694, B e t t e r t o n and th e g r e a t e r number f Im p o rta n t a c t o r s In th e company p la c e d a " B ill o f R ig h ts" a i l e d th e " P e t i t i o n o f th e P la y e r s b e f o r e th e Lord h a m b e rla ln ; on M arch 25, 1685 a new l i c e n s e was g r a n te d by 3.65 H o tso n , qp. c l t . , p . 2 9 3 . 1 6 6 G ib b e r, Lowe's e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p . 188. 3-67 I b id . . D. 189. 85 I n g W illiam to th e r e v o l t i n g a c t o r s , and on A p ril 3 0 th o f h a t y e a r B e t t e r t o n 's company opened In t h e o ld L i n c o l n 's nn F i e l d s p la y h o u se w ith one o f th e g r e a t h i t p la y s o f th e e r l o d , C o n g re v e 's Love f o r L o v e .3.68 x f Downes I s c o r r e c t , o o t h e r p la y s in c e th e S q u ire o f A l s a t l a In 1688 had had u ch phenom enal s u c c e s s ; C o n g re v e 's p la y , a s had S h a d w e ll* s, o n tln u e d f o r t h i r t e e n days w ith o u t I n t e r r u p t i o n . D o g g e tt, ho h ad become by th e n p e rh a p s th e le a d in g comedy s t a r , la y e d "B en", and Downes rem arked t h a t th e comedy was E x t r a o r d i n a r i l y w e ll A cted , c h i e f l y th e p a r t of Ben th e a y l o r . . • . "3.69 I t m ight seem t h a t w ith su c h a s p le n d id s t a r t e t t e r t o n ' s company would p ro c e e d from triu m p h t o triu m p h I t h o u t th e I n t e r f e r e n c e t h e r e t o f o r e e n c o u n te re d from th e r a f t y R ic h , b u t l a s t i n g s u c c e s s I n p r o d u c tio n was n e v e r g a in t o be B e t t e r t o n 's . I n c r e a s in g age and e v id e n t I n a b l l - t y t o c o n t r o l h is company boded 111 f o r h is new v e n t u r e . 8 C ib b e r p o in ts o u t , B e t t e r t o n made a s e r io u s e r r o r , b o th rom t h e p o in t o f h o ld in g c a p a b le t a l e n t an d from t h a t o f a l n t a l n l n g good w i l l . In th e b e g in n in g when he r e f u s e d to co e p t M rs. V erbruggen (fo rm e r ly M o u n tf o r t's W ife) th e n th e I f e o f c a p a b le a c t o r Ja c k V erb ru g g en , and a l s o Jo se p h 168 Downes, op . c l t . , p p . 43-44 3.69 L o c . G i t . 86 l l l l e m s a s s h a r e r s In th e new p r o j e c t . 3-70 These w ere a b le nd p o p u la r a c t o r s , and, a s m ight have b een e x p e c te d , when e l o s t M rs. V erb ru g g en , he a l s o l o s t h e r husband, and t h a t e c o u ld i l l a f f o r d to d o .3-71 Hence, a lth o u g h he began w ith g l o r i o u s a r t i s t i c and f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s a s a p r o d u c tio n , B had done a g r e a t d e a l to d e f e a t h is company even b e f o r e he f i r s t p la y was p r e s e n te d . Throughout t h e re m a in d e r o f th e c e n tu r y t h e r e em alned f o r B e t t e r t o n 's company a s u c c e s s io n o f d l f f l c u l - le s b o th from w ith in and w i t h o u t . 3-72 A g ain , a s I n th e e r lo d o f th e u n io n th e r e was a r e l a t i v e d e a r t h o f good ra m a tlc l i t e r a t u r e . The t h e a t r i c a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f th e f f e r l n g s o f th e L in c o l n 's Inn F ie ld s company may be g u e sse d rom th e s e t y p i c a l e n t r i e s by Downes: I p h lg e h la a T ragedy, w ro te by Mr. D en n is, a good T ragedy and w e l l A cted; b u t a n s w e r'd n o t th e Expences th e y w ere a t In C lo a th ln g I t . The F a i r P e n ite n t . . . a v e r y good p la y f o r t h r e e A c ts ; b u t f a l l i n g In th e two l a s t , a n s w e r'd n o t t h e i r E x p e c ta tio n . The B i t e r , a F a rc e . . . I t had a s i x Days ru n ; th e s i x Days ru n n in g I t out o f B re a th , I t S ic k e n 'd and E x p i r 'd . J u s t i c e B u sy , a Comedy w ro te by Mr. Crown; 'tw a s w e ll A c te d , y e t p r o v ' d n o t a l i v i n g P la y : However, M rs. 170 C ib b e r, Low e's e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p . 200. 171 I b i d . . V o l. 1 , p . 193. 1 7 2 N lc o l l, R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 3 0 3 . F i n a l l y , In , B e tte r t o n was made s o le m anager. 87 B r a c e g ir d le , by a P o te n t and M agnetick Ghana in P erfo rm in g a Song in ' t ; c a u s 'd th e S to n es o f th e S t r e e t s to f l y i n th e M en's F a c e s .173 I f i t be co n te n d e d t h a t th e a u d ie n c e s of t h a t tim e o u ld su p p o rt no p l a y s , one h as o n ly to c i t e C o n g re v e 's t h e r g r e a t s u c c e s s o f th e tim e . The M ourning B r id e , a ra g e d y , w hich l i k e I t s comic p r e d e c e s s o r . Love f o r L o v e , a d a n o th e r am azing ru n o f t h i r t e e n days when I t was p r o - uced a t L in c o l n 's Inn F ie ld s In 1697* R e la te d , a s I t seems o have b e e n , t o th e E liz a b e th a n drama o f F o rd and W eb ster, t c a p tu r e d th e Im a g in a tio n o f l a t e R e s to r a ti o n a u d ie n c e s as ew o th e r p la y s o f th e p e r io d had done.3-74 As f o r B e t t e r t o n 's c o m p e tito r s . R ic h and company, hey to o had g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y In m e re ly e x i s t i n g . From l6 9 5 o 1704 R ich p a id no d iv id e n d s to th e s h a r e r s , and p a i d no e n t t o th e b u i l d i n g s h a r e r s o f D o rset Gard e n . 3.73 In n o th e r C hancery s u i t o f 1701, R ic h and S k lp w lth In t h e i r newer s t a t e d t h a t s in c e B e t t e r t o n 's s e c e s s io n t h e i r p r o f i t s ad n o t been s u f f i c i e n t t o pay th e ex p e n se s o f th e house.3-76 nnexed to t h i s C hancery b i l l was a s c h e d u le o f p e rfo rm a n c e s 3-73 Downes, qp. c l t . , p p . 45-^46. 174 N l c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p p . 133-^134. 3-75 H otson, o p . c l t . , p . 3 0 0 . I t seems q u ite p ro b a le t h a t he d e fra u d e d th e b u i l d i n g s h a r e r s , b u t t h e r e I s no ro o f o f i t . 176 I b i d . . p . 307. 88 t te n d e d by Lady M o rley , th e p l a i n t i f f in th e c a s e , w hich hows t h a t she saw V an b ru g h 's The R e lap se on November 25, 6 9 6 . Hotson p r e s e n t s a l e t t e r from R o b e rt Je n n en s w r i t t e n n T h u rsd ay , November 1 9t h w hich s t a t e s t h a t The Sham o c t o r , o r The A n ato m ist • . . h as b e e n f o r f o u r o r f i v e days to g e th e r a t th e p l a y house In L i n c o l n 's Inn F ie ld s . . . w e ll enough done and p l e a s e s th e town e x tre m e ly . The o th e r house h a s no company a t a l l , and u n le s s a new p la y comes out on S a tu rd a y r e v iv e s t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n , th e y must b re a k .1 7 7 A lth o u g h I t I s by no m eans c e r t a i n t h a t th e p r e d l c - lo n o f Jen n en s w ould have come t r u e , V an b ru g h 's f i r s t p la y , he R e la p s e , a r r i v e d f o r th e D rury Lane Company and became ne o f th e n o ta b le s u c c e s s e s o f th e w hole p e r io d . Not o n ly as t h e p la y t h e a t r i c a l l y e f f e c t i v e . I t was a l s o l l t e r a r l l y u c c e s s f u l and h as b een p r i n t e d In r e c e n t c o l l e c t i o n s o f th e o rk s o f t h a t t i m e . 3-78 That a u d ie n c e s were s t i l l g iv in g some su p p ort to th e h e a tr e s even In t h e s e tu r b u le n t c lo s in g days o f th e c e n - Eiry, I s shown In s t i l l a n o th er Chancery s u i t o f 1704-5.3-79 3-77 Loc. c l t . 3-78 B r i t i s h D ra m a tis ts from Dryden t o S h e r id a n , Borge H. N e tt le t o n and A rth u r E. C ase, e d i t o r s ( New York : Dughton M i f f l i n Company, 1939)* 1 7 9 G8 5 9 9 /7 7 , s u i t o f S i r Edward S m ith e t a l a g a in s t 3rd Jo h n Harvey e t a l o v er p r o f i t s In th e t h e a t r e . C ite d E l H o tso n , p . 3 0 8 . 89 ?hat th e house f o r a l l th e s e p erfo rm a n ce s was not f u l l i s « ran te d , b u t th e f a c t rem ains t h a t from 1695 to 1700 e v e ry ic tln g se aso n c o n ta in e d th e f u l l , r e g u l a r two hundred Lctlng d ay s o r m ore; from O cto b e r 9 , 1699, to J u ly 26, 1700, L lch 's company p la y e d 218 d a y s . I t I s h a r d ly l i k e l y t h a t he f u l l number o f days w ould have been u s e d I f th e a u d ie n ces w ere so sm a ll t h a t th e p a t e n t e e s w ere l o s i n g money. In th e b a t t l e f o r A udiences w ith B e t t e r t o n , S k lp w lth md R ic h u se d p r a c t i c a l l y e v e ry means a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l , mong th e s e was th e I n tr o d u c tio n o f f o r e i g n tro u p e s In ro p e - Lanclng, tu m b lin g , d a n c in g , an d buffoonery.180 B e t t e r t o n l e t l t l o n e d a g a i n s t t h e s e , b u t u l t i m a t e l y had " to f i g h t f i r e 1 th f i r e " and I n tro d u c e d some o f th e same In h i s own h e a t r e . 1^1 The end o f th e s t r u g g l e f o r suprem acy was not re a c h e d t th e end o f th e c e n tu ry b u t c a r r i e d o v e r some y e a rs I n to he n e x t when B e t t e r t o n , w e a rie d w ith I n c r e a s in g y e a r s , was o rc e d f i n a l l y t o p a s s th e t h e a t r i c a l t o r c h from h i s f a l l i n g 3-®^ N l c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 303. 3-81 I b i d . . p . 304. B e t t e r t o n 's p e t i t i o n t o th e Lord h a m b e rla ln p r o t e s t i n g t h i s s o r t o f c o m p e titio n s t a t e s th e two Company's have by t h e i r b id d in g a g a i n s t o t h e r s o r S in g e r s , D ancers & c who a r e g e n e r a lly S tr a n g e r s , a l s e d th e P r ic e s so h ig h t h a t b o th a r e Im p o v e rlsh t by I t nd m ost of t h e i r P r o f l t t s c a r r y 'd away by F o r e ig n e r s , h a t b o th company8 have . . . d e b a s 'd th e T h e a tre , and Im o st l e v e l l 'd I t w ith B artholom ew f f a i r e . " land to t h a t o f young, e n e r g e t i c C a p ta in Jo h n V anbrugh. At he en d o f 1704 C a p ta in V anbrugh o f f e r e d t o b u i l d a new h e a t r e f o r B e t t e r t o n 's group in th e H aym arket, and th e r e a t a c t o r was q u i t e w i l l i n g to t r a n s f e r t o th e r i c h , young r a m a t l s t h is l i c e n s e a s m anager o f th e company. VI. SUM M ARY C r i t i c s and h i s t o r i a n s have s t r e s s e d th e s m a lln e s s of u d le n c e s d u rin g t h e R e s to r a ti o n and th e l a c k o f I n t e r e s t on he p a r t of any e x c e p t th e c o u r t c l iq u e . The e v id e n c e n d l c a t e s , how ever, t h a t w h a te v e r d i s i n t e r e s t e d n e s s e x i s t e d ro b a b ly was th e r e s u l t r a t h e r th a n th e c a u s e o f th e sm a ll electl^ o n In t h e a t r i c a l f a r e c r e a t e d by t h e r o y a l g r a n t of on o p o ly to K l lll g r e w and D av e n an t. The m ost r e l i a b l e r e s e a r c h I n d i c a t e s a s e a t i n g sa p a i t y o f a p p ro x im a te ly tw elv e h u n d red ea ch In b o th D rury Lane nd D o rse t Garden t h e a t r e s . The f i n a n c i a l c o n d itio n o f th e u k e 's T h e a tre re m a in e d good u n d e r th e g u id a n c e o f Davenant nd In d e e d c o n tin u e d good to th e u n io n o f th e com panies In 682, th u s , show ing c o n s id e r a b ly g r e a t e r a tte n d a n c e t h e r e han h as been I n d i c a t e d h e r e t o f o r e by t h e a t r e h i s t o r i a n s , he f i n a n c i a l c o n d i tio n o f th e T h e a tre R oyal u n d er l l l l g r e w , a c c o rd in g to th e b e s t f i g u r e s a v a i l a b l e , was not s sound as t h a t o f th e D uke's T h e a tre . T h is seems to have 91 een b ro u g h t a b o u t, how ever, a s th e r e s u l t m a in ly o f n t e r n a l d i s s e n s i o n , b i c k e r i n g , and p o o r management on th e a r t o f Thomas K llll g r e w . The s o - c a l l e d "Union o f t h e om panles" a c t u a l l y was th e a b s o r p tio n o f th e K in g 's Company y th e D uke's Company. A f te r th e u n io n . I t h a s been shown w ith r e l i a b l e I g u r e s t h a t th e a v e ra g e d a l l y r e c e i p t s f o r th e a p p ro x 1 - a t e l y te n y e a r p e r io d from 1682 to 1692 w ere about £ 5 2 . h i s I n d i c a t e s a h e a lth y a u d ie n c e av e ra g e d u rin g a lm o st th e h o le p e r io d of th e U n ite d Company. In th e p e r io d from t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e com panies In 6 9 4 -5 , t h e r e was much I n t e r n a l b ic k e r in g w ith b o th g ro u p s , h io h ca u se d s m a lle r a u d ie n c e s In b o th t h e a t r e s and c a u se d o th to r e s o r t t o f o r e ig n t h e a t r i c a l I m p o r ta tio n s . D uring th e p e r io d as a w h o le, th e e v id e n c e p o i n t s I g n l f I c a n t l y t o a u d ie n c e s o f g r e a t e r s i z e In th e t h e a t r e han c r i t i c s and h i s t o r i a n s have h e r e t o f o r e s t a t e d . Even o. I t i s a d m itte d t h a t th e t h e a t r e s co u ld have c o n ta in e d e n e r a l l y many m ore th a n a t te n d e d . CHAPTER IV AUDIENCE COMPOSITION I . COM M ENTARY F re n ch v i s i t o r s to London d u rin g th e l a t t e r p a r t o f he s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y have h e lp e d to d is c o v e r th ro u g h h e i r m em oirs, p u b lis h e d o r u n p u b lis h e d , th e t r u e n a t u r e o f he R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e and I t s a u d ie n c e .3 - Among t h e s e I s l t o r s one came d u r in g t h e c lo s in g y e a rs o f th e c e n tu r y nd l e f t a most I n t e r e s t i n g n o te on th e E n g lis h "C om édie." e w ro te : I I y a deux T h e a tre s à L o n d re s, l ' u n g ra n d & b e a u , ou se f a i t t a n t ô t 1 ' o p e ra , t a n t ô t l a Comedle: l ' a u t r e T h é â tr e , q u i e s t p lu s p e t i t , n 'e s t que p o u r l a Comédie. Le P a r t e r r e e s t en A m p h lté a tre , & r e m p li de b an cs sa n s d o s s i e r s , g a r n ie & c o u v e rts d 'u n e é t o f e v e r t e . Les hommes de q u a l i t é , p a r t i c u l i è r e m e n t l e s je u n e s g e n s; q u e lq u e Dames sa g es & h o n n e te s ; & b eaucoup de F i l l e s q u i c h e rc h e n t f o r t u n e , s 'a s s e y e n t to u s l à p e s l e m ele; c a u s e n t, j o u e n t , b a d in e n t, e c o u te n e , n 'e c o u t e n t p a s . P lu s ^ lo in , c o n t r e l e m ur, so u s l a p re m ie re G a l e r i e , à v i s à v i s de l a S cene, s ' é l è un a u t r e A m p h ith é â tre q u i e s t occupé p a r l e s p e rs o n n e s de l a p lu s h a u te Q u a l i t é , e n t r e l e s q u e l l e s on v o l t p eu d'hommes. Les G a l e r i e s , d o n t 11 y a se u lm en t un d o u b le r a n g , ne s o n t re m p lie s que de gens du commun, p a r t i c u l i è r e m e n t c e l l e s d 'e n h a u t .2 3 - Among t h e s e v i s i t o r s w ere S o r b le r e s , C happuzeau, r u n e t , S t. Evremond, and, o f c o u r s e , de Gramo n t . 2 M isson, F ra n c o is M a x lm ille n , lÿ a ib o u rg , H enri I s s o n dq|. M émoires E t O b s e rv a tio n s F a i t e s p a r un V oyageur n A n g le te r r e (A La Haye, Chez H enri Van B u ld e re n , 1 6 9 8 ), 93 e n c e . I t seems t h a t a lth o u g h th e r e was i n th e m a tte r o f e h a v io r some a t t e n t i o n and some i n a t t e n t i o n , some p la y in g , a l k ln g and jo k in g t h e r e was much enjoym ent o f th e a u d ie n c e I t u a t l o n . As f o r th e p e o p le com posing th e a u d ie n c e , I f I s s o n 's word can he a c c e p te d , a l l c l a s s e s w ere I n c lu d e d , e w r i t e s o f men o f q u a l i t y , e s p e c i a l l y th e young, o f c h a s te nd m odest l a d l e s , o f many women " s e e k in g f o r tu n e " who s a t 11 t o g e t h e r In th e p i t . He s t a t e s t h a t th e boxes w ere c o u p le d by p e o p le of h ig h e r q u a l i t y and t h a t th e g a l l e r i e s r e f i l l e d o n ly w ith th e common p e o p le and p a r t i c u l a r l y th e op g a l l e r y . 3 As has a l r e a d y been shown,4 t h i s s ta te m e n t d o es n o t a l l y w ith th e d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e a u d ie n c e g iv e n by N l c o l l . The noblem en In th e p i t and b o x e s , th e fo p s and beaux an d w its o r w o u ld -b e -w lta who hung on t h e i r s o c i e t y , th e women o f th e c o u r t , d e p ra v e d and l i c e n t i o u s as th e men, th e c o u r te s a n s w ith whom t h e s e women o f q u a l i t y moved p. 6 3 -6 4 . I t I s I n t e r e s t i n g , p e rh a p s am using, to n o te u r t h e r t h a t M lsson I s n o t so r e s t r a i n e d In h is r e a c t i o n to n g l l s h comedy a s was B ru n e t. (See b elo w , c h a p te r V) . I s s o n w r i t e s , "S ' 11 y a q u e lq u e chose q u i me c h a g rin e s u r ' a r t i c l e d es Comédies A n g lo ls e s , c ' e s t que j ' y v o ls to u s 08 g en s p i l l e z , c o p ie z , & meme temps I n s u l t e z . Tous ce u ' i l s o n t de m e i l l e u r v i e n t de n o u s, & au l i e u de nous c a v o ir g r e ' de n o t r e b ie n . I l s nous m é p ris e n t de l a m a n ié ré a p lu s o u tr a g e a n te . En v é r i t é c e l a n ' e s t p as t r o p o n n e te ." ^ As w i l l be shown. R ic h opened th e u p p e r g a l l e r y re e t o footm en ab o u t th e tim e M lsson made h i s v i s i t t o n g la n d , t h a t I s , about 1697. 4 Chanter II. n. 6. 94 and c o n v e rse d a s on e q u a l te rm s , made up a t l e a s t f o u r - f i f t h s o f th e e n t i r e a u d i e n c e .5 T his s ta te m e n t i s g iv e n w ith o u t q u a l i f i c a t i o n by ^rofe s s o r N ic o ll a s to tim e o r p la c e , h e n c e , p resu m ab ly he e f e r s to th e R e s to r a ti o n p e r io d as a w hole and t o b o th of he t h e a t r e s . F u r th e r e v id e n c e to be p r e s e n te d p e rh a p s w i l l e t erm ine in p a r t a t l e a s t th e p rim ary q u a l i t y o f su c h t a t e m e n t s • A lfre d H arb ag e, who h as w r i t t e n in th e s e v e r a l f i e l d s f E liz a b e th a n , C a v a li e r , and R e s to r a tio n dram a, te n d s t o u p p o rt N ic o ll* a o p in io n when he comments on some v e r s e s by T. L. p r e f i x e d t o t h e e d i t i o n s o f S i r W illia m K illig re w * s l a y s $ ^ These v e r s e s a r e com m endatory, n a t u r a l l y , and th e y n d i c a t e t h a t S i r W illiam *s p la y s m ight be a tte n d e d , a s f a r 8 t h e i r m o r a lity i s c o n c e rn e d , by th e " s t o l e d m atro n " and he "g ra v e d i v i n e . " W ith u n v e ile d sarcasm Harbage rem arks h a t " u n f o r t u n a te ly th e * s to le d matron* and th e * g ra v e iv in e * c o n s t i t u t e d a v e ry m in o r elem ent i n th e R e s to r a tio n a d ie n o e , and S i r W illiam K illi g r e w f o rs o o k th e f i e l d . " h is i s q u i t e p o s s i b l y a f a i r l y a c c u r a te s ta te m e n t, b u t th e ^ A lla rd y c e N ic o l l, A Hi s t o r y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama Cambridge U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , T h ird E d it i o n , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 8 . ' ^ A lf re d H arbage, Thomas K illig r e w ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : d i v e r s i t y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 33. S i r W illiam as Thomas K illig r e w * s e l d e s t b r o t h e r . 95 m p re ssio n l e f t p r o b a b ly I s n o t , t h a t i s , th e im p l ic a tio n eema t o be t h a t su ch a u d i t o r s w ere p r a c t i c a l l y non- x i s t e n t . But th e eye w itn e s s r e p o r t o f M isson above le a d s ne to b e l i e v e w ith a d e q u a te r e a s o n t h a t " c h a s te and m odest" a d ie a form ed a p a r t o f t h a t a u d ie n c e a lth o u g h a d m itte d ly ot a s g r e a t a s th e women who w ere i n s e a r c h o f " f o r t u n e ." h i l e th e "g rav e d iv in e " w ould a t anytim e in any p e r io d o f e c e s s i t y p ro b a b ly form a v e r y sm a ll p a r t o f a t h e a t r e u d ie n c e , i t i s known t h a t th e n o n - ju r in g C o l l i e r was a t e a s t an o c c a s io n a l i f n o t a f r e q u e n t s p e c t a t o r a t th e p la y - o u s e s .7 M o d o u b t he u se d h i s a tte n d a n c e to form th e b a s i s f h i s th u n d e rin g a t t a c k on t h e t h e a t r e in th e l a s t y e a rs f th e c e n tu r y . I t i s n o t l i k e l y t h a t C o l l i e r was a lo n e mong th e c le r g y i n a tte n d a n c e . A h y p o t h e t i c a l c o m p o sitio n o f an a u d ie n c e a t a prem - e re o f Thomas S h a d w e ll’ s Epsom W ells in December, 1 6 ?2 , i s iv e n by Montagué Summers in th e I n tr o d u c tio n to h is e d i t i o n f S h a d w e ll*s W orks.^ Among th o s e p r e s e n t , a c c o rd in g to h is y p o th e s is , w ere t h e Duke o f Buckingham , L ord B u c k h u rs t, S i r 7 S i s t e r Rose A nthony, S. 0 . , The Jerem y C o l l i e r ta g e C o n tro v e rs y , 1698-1726 (M ilw aukee, W isco n sin : a r q u e t t e U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1937)> p# 226. 8 The Com plete Works o f Thomas S h a d w e ll, Montague ummers, e d i t o r (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), V ol. 1 , . x c i v . 96 h a r l e s S e d le y , th e E a r l o f R o c h e s te r, S i r G-eorge E th e r e g e , i r Oar S croope, Henry S a v ile , W illiam W ycherley, S i r George ewi 1 1 , Heningham . . . and t h e r e s t ; w h i l s t f o p - c o r n e r f a i r l y hummed w i t h th e c h a t t e r o f f l a x e n - h a i r e d beaux e a g e r to se e w h ich way th e c a t m ight jump b e f o r e th e y v e n tu re d to an o p in io n upon th e p ie c e , and solem n c r i t i c s a lr e a d y r e s o lv e d t o b l e s s o r damn w h ate v er th e m e r its o r f a u l t s o f th e new p l a y , f o r t h a t r a c e has n e v e r a l t e r e d . e th e n sup p o ses t h a t Edward Howard "and h i s c liq u e " w ere r e s e n t and a n x io u s to c e n su re " a l l w ith a month* s m ind f o r m is c a r r ia g e " b e c a u se p resu m a b ly th e y had n o t f o r g o t t e n S i r o s i t i v e A t - a l l an d P oet Ninny from S h ad w ell* s e a r l i e r The a l i e n L o v e rs. 9 The p r e s e n c e o f M rs. Jo h n so n , "one o f th e l o v e l i e s t amen upon th e s t a g e , " in th e c a s t b ro u g h t o u t h e r " f u l l )ro e " o f a d m ire rs.^ ® Q u ite p o s s i b l y b e c a u s e o f h e r , in 9 S ir P o s i t i v e A t - a l l was supposed t o be a s a t i r e on Lr R o b e rt Howard who, a s S hadw ell d e s c r ib e s th e c h a r a c t e r 1 th e D ram atis P e rso n a e to The S u lle n L o v e r s , was "a j o l i s h K n ig h t, t h a t p r e te n d s to u n d e rs ta n d e v e ry th in g in le w o rld , and w i l l s u f f e r no man to u n d e r s ta n d a n y th in g in Ls Company; so f o o l i s h l y P o s i t i v e , t h a t he w i l l n e v e r be >nvinced o f an E r r o r , th o u g h n e v e r so g r o s s e ." Of P o e t Lnny, who was t o be th e im age o f Edward Howard, S ir ) b e r t * 8 b r o t h e r , S hadw ell w ro te , "A c o n c e ite d P o e t, alw ays d o u b lin g men w ith im p e r tin e n t D isc o u rse s o f P o e try , an d le r e p e t i t i o n o f h i s own V e rse s ; in a l l h i s D isc o u rse he 3es su c h a f f e c t e d Words, t h a t * t i s a s b ad as th e C a n tin g o f G y p s ie ." W ith h i s u s u a l m agnanim ity o f s o u l c o n c e rn in g th e s r i t s o f o th e r s i n any c a p a c i t y . Summers w r i t e s , on what i t h o r i t y he n e g l e c t s to m e n tio n , "T his l a d y 's a d m ire rs . 97 a r t a t l e a s t , C h a rle s I I e n jo y e d th e p la y so much t h a t he o t o n ly went to th e D uke's t h e a t r e a se c o n d tim e t o se e i t n December 4 th "b u t commanded a p erfo rm a n ce a t W h ite h a ll wo days a f t e r C h ristm a s. W hether o r n o t t h i s g iv e s a t r u e p i c t u r e o f t h a t p art i c u l a r a u d ie n c e , i t i s d i f f i c u l t to s a y . That i t p r o b a b ly oes n o t p a i n t an a c c u r a te p i c t u r e o f a l l o r even th e y p i c a l R e s to r a ti o n a u d ie n c e may be shown l a t e r in t h i s i s c u s s i o n . That p la y s h ad been c o u r t l y to y s in e a r l i e r days of ra m a tic h i s t o r y h a s been shown by H arbage in h is C a v a lie r ram a.^2 In d eed " p la y s w ere one of th e m ost wholesome E ite re sts a t th e c o u r t o f King C h a rle s I , and l i k e p r e c i - s i t é i t s e l f , th e y h e lp e d to c i v i l i z e o u r ancestors."^3 tiom she did not love to disappoint either in the theatre or a yet more familiar trifling abed, had gathered in full Dree. " I b i d . , p*_^xcv. N ic o l l, R e s to r a ti o n Drama, o p . o i t . , p . 309* adeed C h a rle s l i k e d th e p la y so w e ll t h a t he saw i t once gain a t th e D uke's t h e a t r e th e f o llo w in g y e a r on December bh and a g a in on F e b ru a ry 20, 1680, in a command p e rfo rm - ic e a t W h ite h a ll. 12 A lf r e d H arbage, C a v a li e r Drama, An H i s t o r i c a l and r i t i o a l Supplem ent to th e S tu d y o f th e E liz a b e th a n an d 35t o r a t i o n S tage (New York: Modern Language A s s o c ia tio n o f n e r ic a , 1 9 2 6 ), p . 44. He c o n tin u e s " th e g a l l a n t r i e s o f Lchard Edwardes a n d th e a f f e c t a t i o n s of Jo h n L yly had been a -lc u la te d to p le a s e g e n t i l i t y . " 13 I b i d . . p . 45. 98 he m ere f a c t t h a t C h a rle s I I to o k su ch g r e a t p e r s o n a l n t e r e s t In th e t h e a t r e , how ever, does n o t s i g n i f y t h a t i t as o n ly a c o u r t l y to y . Harbage l a t e r m en tio n s th e a u d ie n c e o f th e C a v a lie r e r i o d and s t a t e s , w ith o u t g iv in g h is a u t h o r i t y , t h a t B ecause o f t h e grow th o f P u rita n is m and th e g r a d u a l l o s s o f th e c i t y a u d ie n c e , th e t h e a t r e s w ere d ep e n d in g more and more upon a tte n d a n c e by th e g e n t r y o f W hite h a l l , th e in n s o f c o u r t, and th e e n v iro n s of H o lb o rn , D rury Lane, F l e e t S t r e e t , and th e S t r a n d .14 i s r e a s o n in g may s e rv e to s u g g e s t such a th in g ; i t i s a r d ly c o n c lu s iv e . As f u r t h e r "e v id e n c e " he c i t e s th e e n o v a tin g o f th e C o ck p it in W h ite h a ll a s a " t h e a t r e r o y a l" Dr th e p e rfo rm a n ce o f p la y s a t c o u r t . 15 He a l s o c i t e s th e atm o sp h ere a t th e B l a c k f r i a r s jirin g th e t h i r t i e s as n o t u n lik e t h a t o f th e e a r l y R e s to r a - io n h o u s e s . The g a l l a n t s w ere in f u l l s t r u t th e n a s l a t e r and a combat betw een W ill C r o f ts and th e p u g n a c io u s Lord Digby rem in d s us o f a s i m i l a r one betw een Henry K illig r e w and Buckingham a t th e D uke's House in 1 6 6 ?. i t th e a c t o r s "w ere g r a t e f u l f o r , even f l a t t e r e d b y , th e I b i d . , p . 149. As argum ent, n o t e v id e n c e , f o r l i s he c i t e s th e geography o f th e t h e a t r i c a l d i s t r i c t w hich L g ra ted s t e a d i l y w estw ard in th e r e ig n s o f Jam es I and l a r l e s I . L oc. c i t . Thus he a rg u e s t h a t t h e two R e s to r a ti o n l e a t r e s g o v ern ed by th e p a t e n te e s w ere n o t a p e c u l i a r and 3W p r o d u c t "b u t w ere a cu lm k n atio n o f a t r e n d a l r e a d y d i s - i c t in 1633*” 99 ro w th o f t h e i r f a s h io n a b le c l i e n t e l e , " even th o u g h th e y e r e , o f c o u rs e , somewhat r e g r e t f u l " f o r th e l o s s o f t h e o ld i t y a u d ie n c e , w ith i t s e n th u sia s m and u n c r i t i c a l t a s t e s . . ,1 ^ The a c t u a l e x te n t o f t h i s l o s s even in R e s t o r a t i o n im e s, how ever, may n o t have b een a s g r e a t a s i s h e re u g g e s te d . I I . CHARLES AS AUDITOR I t i s , o f c o u r s e , u n n e c e s s a ry t o r e p e a t t h a t C h a rle s and H e n r i e t t a M a r ia 's i n t e r e s t in th e t h e a t r e was i n - r e a s e d many f o l d i n b o th t h e i r e x i l e d s o n s , C h a rle s I I and ames I I . The m ag n itu d e o f t h e lo v e o f C h a rle s I I f o r th e h e a t r e i s shown i n p a r t by th e f a c t t h a t in 1675 "S c a r a - ouche" r e tu r n e d to E ngland an d was a llo w e d to s e t up a h e a tr e in In ig o Jones* B a n q u e tin g H a ll in W h ite h a ll P a la c e t w h ich th e p u b l i c was a d m itte d f o r a f e e a s a t th e p u b l i c beat res .1 7 Some o f th e more c o n s e r v a tiv e w ere shocked and c a n d a liz e d a t su c h u n k in g ly p r a c t i c e s , b u t th e u n d i g n i f i e d ing was r a t h e r c a r e l e s s o f th e f e e l i n g s o f th e c o n s e r v a tiv e roup i n b o th m anners and m o ra ls and q u i t e p ro b a b ly w ould I b i d . . p . 150. 1? W . J . L aw rence, E liz a b e th a n P la y h o u s e , F i r s t e r i e s , p . 146. I t i s t r u e t h a t a c c o rd in g t o Law rence, tiere w ere some " u n d is c h a rg e d l i a b i l i t i e s , " t o Scaram ouche p p a r e n t ly , and t h e s e w ere a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e « /N ta f ta a In 4 /a va 100 o t have been a v e r s e to su ch p ro c e d u re had t h e r e b een no i n a n c i a l o b l i g a t i o n in v o lv e d . On J u l y 2 4 , 1675* Andrew a r v e l l , th e p o e t , w ro te to h i s f r i e n d , W illiam Ramsden, Soaram uccio a c t i n g d a i l y in t h e h a l l o f W h ite h a ll, and a l l s o r t s o f p e o p le f l o c k in g t h i t h e r and p a y in g t h e i r money a s a t a common p la y h o u se ; nay even a tw e lv e pen n y g a l l e r y i s b u ild e d f o r th e c o n v e n ie n c e o f h i s m a j e s t y 's p o o r s u b je c ts .I G n s p i t e o f John E v e ly n 's s c r u p le s a g a i n s t th e " sc a n d a lo u s" ro c e e d in g s a t W h ite h a ll, h e , a s on num erous o c c a s io n s u r in g th e R e s to r a ti o n p e r i o d , denounced them b u t a ls o a t r o n i z e d and e n jo y e d th e o f f e r i n g s o f th e t h e a t r e — b o th u b l i c and c o u r t . The in h e r e n t i n t e r e s t o f t h e p e o p le in th e t h e a t r e a s e l l a s t h a t o f t h e King can b e se en from t h i s i l l u s t r a t i o n , t i s t r u e t h a t p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f t h a t n a t u r e a t W h ite h a ll i g h t be presum ed to a t t r a c t a l l c l a s s e s o f p e o p le to a omewhat g r e a t e r d e g re e th a n w ould p la y s a t th e p u b lic h e a t r e f o r two p r i n c i p a l r e a s o n s : ( l ) i t gave th o s e u n a c - ustom ed to a s i g h t o f th e p a l a c e an o p p o r tu n ity to b o c . c i t . ^9 The D ia ry o f John E v e ly n , w ith an I n t r o d u c t i o n and o te s by A u s tin Dobson (London : M acm illan and Company, im ite d , 1 9 0 6 ), V o l. 2 , p . 385. He w ro te , " I saw th e t a l i a n Soaram uccio a c t b e f o r e th e King a t W h ite h a ll, p e o p le iv in g money to come i n , w hich was v e r y s c a n d a lo u s , and e v e r so b e f o r e a t C o u r t- d iv e r s io n s . H aving se en him a c t e f o r e in I t a l y , many y e a rs p a s t , I was n o t a v e rs e from e e in g t h e m ost e x c e l l e n t o f t h a t k in d o f f o l l y , " 101 x p e r le n c é i t a t c lo s e hand, and (2) th e t h e a t r i c a l f a r e f f e r e d by Soaram uccio m ight r e a d i l y be c a l c u l a t e d t o t t r a c t many who w ould o th e rw is e s c a r c e l y be e n tic e d by th e la y s so o f te n p r e s e n te d i n t h e r e g u l a r playhouses.20 o n e t h e l e s s , t h i s example i s i n p a r t i l l u s t r a t i v e o f th e h e a t r i c a l i n t e r e s t o f th e p e o p le of th e tim e a s w e ll a s h a t o f t h e i r K ing. E vidence o f th e King and c o u r t 's a tte n d a n c e a t th e h e a t r e s f o r many y e a rs i s p r o f u s e . F or a lm o s t th e f u l l i r s t d ecade o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n , one o f th e m ost f r e q u e n t nd d o u b tle s s m ost r e l i a b l e w itn e s s e s o f th e K in g 's p r e s e n c e h e re , a s w e ll a s o f in n u m e ra b le o th e r t h i n g s , was Samuel e p y s .2 ^ D uring th e f i r s t few y e a rs a f t e r th e r e t u r n o f b a r l e s , n o th in g c o u ld g iv e Pepys and h is w ife a g r e a t e r Scaram ouche, o f c o u r s e , was th e s t a r o f th e k a lia n d r ^ a t i c fo rm , Commedia d ' e l l A r te . T his p a r t i c u l a r Daramouche was th e g r e a t F i o r i l l i who was th e m ost famous f a l l p o r t r a y e r s o f th e r o l e d u rin g th e s e v e n te e n th c e n - i r y , i f n o t, in d e e d , of a l l tim e . He was a c t i n g i n I t a l y , ran ee and E ngland o v er a p e r i o d o f a t l e a s t f o r t y - f i v e B ars, 1640-1685- He was known to have b e e n i n London on a t s a s t t h r e e d i f f e r e n t o c c a s io n s , 1673 (when he was v e r y Lkely se e n by E v ely n , D ia r y , o p . c i t . , V o l. I I , p . 3 5 8 ), 575 and 1678. See N ic o l l, Masks Mimes and M ira c le s London, George G, H arrap;& Company, L im ite d , 1931)* p p . 37-289. 21 Examples o f th e f re q u e n c y w ith w h ich Pepys a t t e n - 3d th e t h e a t r e a r e seen in th e s e b r i e f f i g u r e s : M arch 2 5 th D A p r i l 2 , 1661, a p e r io d o f n in e d a y s , f i v e v i s i t s ; Dvember 1 3 th to November 27* 1661, a p e r i o d o f two w eeks, Lve v i s i t s ; May 1 9 th to Mary 23* 1662, a p e r io d o f f i v e ays, f o u r v i s i t s ; November 6 th to November 13, 1667* a od o f elfi*ht d a v s . fo u r v i s i t s . — — ^ b r i l l th a n to a t t e n d th e t h e a t r e a t th e same tim e h i s a j e s t y and one o r more o f h i s m is t r e s s e s w ere t h e r e . For sam ple, on A p r il 20, 1661, Pepys and h i s f r i e n d C reed saw he Humorous L ie u te n a n t by Beaumont and F l e t c h e r a t t h e D c k p it.22 The K ing, th e Duke and Duchess o f York (Ann yde, d a u g h te r o f th e Lord C h a n c e llo r— a p l a i n woman l i k e s r m o th e r, g o s s ip e d Pepys) w ere t h e r e . The p la y was n o t a l l done, Pepys w r i t e s , b u t "My p l e a s u r e was g r e a t to se e he m anner o f i t , and so many g r e a t b e a u t i e s , b u t above a l l , PS. P alm er, w ith whom th e K ing do d is c o v e r a g r e a t d e a l o f a m i l i a r i t y. "^3 Even a t t h i s g r e a t d is t a n c e one may v i s u a l i z e and L c a rio u s ly e n jo y k e e n ly th e r e a c t i o n s of th e young C le rk of 16 A c ts to a l l th e glam or and c irc u m s ta n c e o f th e s e u n u su a l 'o c e e d in g s w here r o y a l t y and n o b i l i t y w alk ed and s a t h e a r 10ugh to a v e ra g e p e o p le t h a t th e y , i f one h ad d a re d , m ight î t u a l l y have to u c h e d th e s e " s u p e r i o r b e in g s " w ith th e h a n d s , T his C o c k p it, q u i t e a p p a r e n tly , was th e one a t l i t e h a l l . P ep y s, OP. c i t . . A p r i l 20, l 6 6 l . The o p en n ess o f la r le s * d a l l i a n c e s w ith h is m i s t r e s s e s i s h e re e v i d e n t , l i s was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f h i s freedom o f a c t i o n in t h i s jg a rd th ro u g h o u t h i s tw e n ty - f iv e y e a rs a s K ing. M rs. ilm e r, o f c o u r s e , was th e fo rm e r B a rb a ra V i l l i e r s , "w ife " r R oger P alm er, l a t e r E a r l o f C a s tle m a in e . She was h e r - 3 lf l a t e r made D uchess of C le v e la n d and h e r c h i ld r e n by l a r l e s were a l l g iv e n n o b le t i t l e s . She was p ro b a b ly th e ) s t p r o f l i g a t e and c e r t a i n l y th e m ost n o to r io u s o f a l l th e id ie s o f i l l fame who e v e r "g race d " h is b e d cham ber. 103 th e r i s i n g son o f a London t a i l o r t h i s was in d e e d heady n e . 24 Only a l i t t l e more th a n two m onths l a t e r , and f o u r ys a f t e r th e o p e n in g o f S i r W illiam Dave nan t * s "Opera,** pys a g a in had th e good f o r t u n e to be a p a r t o f th e a u d i - ce when th e K ing was t h e r e , and w ith him was h is a u n t , th e een o f Bohemia. The p la y was th e seco n d p a r t o f The S iege . and t h i s tim e p e rh a p s Pepys was becom ing more custom ed to th e s i g h t o f r o y a l t y a t c l o s e hand b e c a u s e he s a b l e , a p p a r e n tly , to c o n c e n tr a te more on th e p la y s e l f . They had to w a it q u i t e a lo n g tim e f o r th e arriveO . th e King and h i s r o y a l r e l a t i v e , b u t f i n a l l y th e "K ing in g come, th e sc e n e ^opened; w hich in d e e d i s v e ry f i n e and g n i f i c e n t , and w e ll a c t e d . . . ,"2 5 On August 2 7 t h o f th e same y e a r Pepys r e c o r d s t h a t he d h i s w ife w ent to th e T h e a tre where th e y saw The J o v i a l 24 PepygI r e a c t i o n h e r e , and in many s i m i l a r s i t u s ons , rem inds one o f n o th in g q u i t e so much p e rh a p s a s t h a t a "m ovie-^struck" g i r l o r boy a t a p r e m ie re where many o f e * * r o y a l t y and n o b i l i t y " o f th e cinem a w alk by s m ilin g , op a t th e m icrophone f o r a few vacuous re m a rk s, and p a s s to th e " p it " o f th e t h e a t r e to be gaped a t by a l l th o s e 0 , a s Tom Brown p u t i t , "have a g r e a t d e a l o f i d l e tim e in g upon t h e i r hands and c a n 't t e l l how t o employ i t r s e . " 25 P ep y s, q p . c i t . . J u l y 2 , 1 6 6 I . D av en an t*s "O pera" s th e D uke's T h e a tre in L i n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s . The two r t s o f The S ie g e o f Rhodes w ere p la y e d on a l t e r n a t e d a y s , us Pepys e v i d e n t l y saw th e seco n d p a r t th e second tim e i t B p e rfo rm e d on th e f o u r t h day a f t e r th e o p e n in g . 104 ‘ ew o r The M erry B e g g a rs , by R ich ard Brome. There " th e .ng, Duke and D u ch esse, and Madame P alm er w ere; and my w ife ' h e r g r e a t c o n t e n t, had a f u l l s i g h t o f them a l l th e d i e . " W hether h i s w ife had se en them b e f o r e he does n o t a t e , b u t i t i s e v id e n t t h a t she had n o t " f e a s te d h e r eyes . th e r o y a l g ro u p to s a t i e t y up to t h a t p o i n t . No d o u b t le ir p re s e n c e was a l s o an added s tim u la n t to Pepys who o te "The p la y f u l l o f m i r t h . "26 Less th a n two weeks l a t e r 2 ? he and h i s w ife to o k " th e ung l a d i e s a t th e W ardrobe" to se e B artholom ew F a i r b y Ben nson p la y e d by p u p p e ts , "w here we s e a te d o u r s e lv e s c lo s e th e K ing, and Duke of Y ork, and Madame P alm e r, w hich was e a t c o n te n t: a n d , in d e e d , I can n e v e r enough adm ire h e r a u t y ." Thus d u r in g th e e a r l y y e a rs o f th e p e r io d he con- nued to "rub elbow s" w ith r o y a l t y w ith t h e k e e n e s t o f r s o n a l p le a s u r e i n so d o in g . On O cto b er 1 0 th , of th e same a r th e y saw th e King a t a p r o d u c tio n o f The T r a i t o r : 28 on e fo llo w in g May 2 1 s t he and h i s w ife saw Lady C a stle m a in e he fo rm e r Madame P alm er) a t a p r o d u c tio n o f The F re n ch The p r e s e n c e o f and a p p ro v a l by im p o rta n t p e o p le th e a u d ie n c e was a d m itte d b y Pepys to i n c r e a s e h i s enjoy- n t o f a p la y t h a t he had e a r l i e r d i s l i k e d c o n s id e r a b ly , e P ep y s, o p . c i t . , May 5» 1668. 27 Septem ber 7* 1661. 28 By Jam es S h ir l e y . Pepys had se e n th e p la y a lm o st y e a r e a r l i e r on November 22, lo 6 0 . “ " 105 n c l n g M a s te r ,2 9 "b u t i t t r o u b l e s us t o s e e h e r lo o k d e je o - d l y and s l i g h t e d by p e o p le a l r e a d y . "30 On November l ? t h o f th e same y e a r, h e , h i s w ife and l e n d C reed went to th e C o ck p it a t W h ite h a ll where th e y had c e l l e n t s e a t s and saw th e K in g , Queen, Duke o f Monmouth,31 dy C a s tle m a in e , "and a l l th e f i n e l a d i e s " a t a p erfo rm a n ce The S c o rn fu l L ad y , a comedy by Beaumont and F l e t c h e r , o weeks l a t e r a t th e same t h e a t r e , presumably,32 " w ith ch crow ding and w a i t i n g ," P e p y s, unaccom panied, saw The l i a n t C id .33 The King and Queen d id n o t sm ile once d u r in g e w hole p la y " n o r any o f th e company seem to ta k e any Pepys, o p . c i t . , May 21, 1662. T his p la y was rmed from th e Duke o f N e w c a s tle 's The V a r i e t y . They p e c i a l l y l i k e d Jo h n Lacy a s th e d a n c in g m a s te r . 30 Loc. c i t . At t h i s tim e C h a rle s had gone to P o r t s - u th t o meet and m arry h is Q ueen, C a th e rin e o f B ra g a n z a . s o , a t t h i s tim e Lady C a stle m a in e was a lm o s t re a d y t o be l i v e r e d o f h e r f i r s t c h i l d by C h a rle s w h ich was b o rn i n ne 1 6 6 2 and c h r i s t e n e d C h a rle s F itz r o y . He was made Duke Southam pton i n 1675 and su c c e e d e d h i s m o th er a s Duke o f e v e la n d in 1709# He d ie d in 1730. 3 1 W heatley sa y s t h i s e n t r y was e v i d e n t l y a l t e r e d a t l a t e r d a te s in c e James C r o f ts o r F i t z r o y , C harles* e l d - t s o n , was n o t c r e a t e d Duke o f Monmouth u n t i l F e b ru a ry , 63# 3 2 At th e C o c k p it. 33 T his was a t r a n s l a t i o n o f P i e r r e C o r n e i l l e 's Le d. A lth o u g h Pepys en jo y e d r e a d in g th e p l a y , he th o u g h t "a m ost d u l l t h i n g a c te d . . . . " See e n t r y f o r December 1 6 6 2 . 106 .e a su re b u t w hat was i n th e g r e a t n e s s and g a l l a n t r y o f th e m pany•" F iv e y e a rs l a t e r th e theme was s t i l l th e same, p y s , h i s w if e , h e r g i r l , 34 H ew er,35 and S i r W illiam Penn36 1 w ent to th e D u k e's house to se e th e f i r s t day o f The m p e s t.37 The t h e a t r e was so crow ded, a s i t u s u a l l y was on e o p e n in g day o f a new p l a y , t h a t Pepys and S i r W illiam r e . . . f o r c e d t o s i t in th e s id e b a lc o n e o v er a g a i n s t th e m usique-room a t th e D u k e's h o u se , c lo s e by my Lady 34 M rs. Pepys* g i r l was Deborah W ille t who, Pepys o u g h t, was "a l i t t l e to o good f o r my f a m ily , and so w e ll r r i a g e d as I h a r d ly e v e r saw ." She became th e p r i n c i p a l c t o r in th e g r e a t e s t m a r i t a l d is tu r b a n c e Pepys e v e r h ad . e W h e a tle y * 8 Random ^House e d i t i o n o f Pepys D ia r y , V o l. 2, 950 e t se q . I b i d . , V o l. 1 , p . 1 3 7 . W illiam Hewer began w ith p y s , i t seem s, a s a s o r t o f c o m b in a tio n c l e r k and p e r s o n a l r v a n t in J u l y , 1660. H is f a t h e r d ie d o f th e p la g u e in 65 and W ill, th r o u g h many up s and downs w ith Pepys u l t i - t e l y became h i s g r e a t h e l p e r and f r i e n d . A ccording to e a t l e y he was in l a t e r y e a rs a p p o in te d D eputy Judge V Oc a t e o f th e F l e e t , C om m issioner o f th e Navy in 1685* and a c te d M. P. f o r Yarmouth, I s l e o f W ight, a l s o i n 1685. was a ls o T r e a s u r e r f o r T a n g ie r. S i r W illia m Penn, f a t h e r o f th e fo u n d e r o f P enn- I v a n i a , was a l s o a f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r a t t h e t h e a t r e s . On merous o c c a s io n s Pepys n o te s t h a t he and Penn w ent to th e e a t r e t o g e t h e r . P epys, o p . c i t . . November 7* 1 667. He s t a t e s a t t h i s was "an o ld p la y of S h a k e s p e a r e 's ." In a n o te aybrooke w r i t e s t h a t th e song m en tio n ed by Pepys e v id e n t- was th e one sung by F e rd in a n d in A ct I I I , Scene 4, o f v en a n t and D ry d e n 's a d a p ta t io n o f S h a k e s p e a r e 's p la y b l i s h e d in 1674. 107 D o rs e t and a g r e a t many g r e a t o n e s . 38 The hou se m ig h ty f u l l ; th e King and C ourt t h e r e : and t h e m ost in n o c e n t p l a y t h a t e v e r I saw. . . . J u s t a l i t t l e more th a n a y e a r l a t e r P epys, h i s w if e , .11 Hewer, and T a lb o t Pepys39 w ere a t th e D uke's T h e a tre •r a p e r f o r m a n c e of M acbeth. The King and C ourt t h e r e ; and we s a t j u s t u n d e r them and my Lady C astlem ay n e. . . . And my w if e , by my t r o t h , a p p e a re d , I t h i n k , as p r e t t y a s any o f them; I n e v e r th o u g h t so much b e f o r e ; and so d id T alb o t and W . Hewer, a s th e y s a i d , I h e a r d , to one a n o th e r . The King and Duke of York m inded me, and sm ile d upon me, a t th e handsome woman n e a r me. . . . 4 0 th e s t a r o f Pepys was a s c e n d in g i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te 8 i n c r e a s i n g s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e even to th e p o in t t h a t , when i s b ro u g h t to h i s a t t e n t i o n , h i s w i f e 's p r e t t i n e s s seems g r e a t to him a s t h a t o f "any o f t h e m . " 4 1 38 Loc. c i t . Lady D o rset was th e m o th er o f th e o to r io u s " Lord B u c k h u rs t, l a t e r t h e " c e le b r a te d " E a r l o f r s e t . 39 T alb o t Pepys was th e son o f S a m u e l's c o u s in R oger, e P e p y s, 0£ . o i t . . V ol. 2 , p . 556. 40 I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 9 8 6 . This v i s i t was on December , l6 6 8 . I t was h e r e t h a t Lady C a stle m a in e lo o k e d up i n t o e b o x es o v er th e K in g 's h ea d to se e whom he had b een o k in g a t o n ly to d is c o v e r a r i v a l , M oll D av is, and "when e B a s tle m a in e l saw h e r , she lo o k e d l i k e f i r e ; w hich o u b le d m e," s a i d P epys. 41 U n fo r tu n a te ly , i f r e p r o d u c tio n s o f p a i n t i n g s can t r u s t e d , t h i s was n o th in g more th a n th e r e s u l t o f an p a n s iv e mood Pepys m ust have b een in a t th e tim e . M rs. pys f o r f a c i a l b e a u ty c o u ld s c a r c e l y com pare w ith s tle m a in e o r any o th e r o f th e m i s t r e s s e s o f C h a rle s u n le s s rh a p s i t w ould be Mary D av is— he h av in g cho sen h e r a p p a r- t l y on th e b a s i s o f f i g u r e and d a n c in g a b i l i t y r a t h e r than 108 These a r e , o f c o u rs e , r e f e r e n c e s t o o n ly a v e r y few is ta n c e s o f C h a r l e s ' a tte n d a n c e a t th e t h e a t r e in th e e a r l y a r s o f h i s r e i g n . B e g in n in g in December, 1666, a f t e r th e lopening o f th e p la y h o u se s f o llo w in g th e d i s a s t e r s o f th e 'e a t p la g u e and th e g r e a t f i r e , C h a rle s , on th e b a s i s o f le p a r t i a l r e c o r d s a v a i l a b l e , i s known to have a t te n d e d th e b l i c t h e a t r e no l e s s th a n two hundred t h i r t y tim e s b e f o r e 8 d e a th in F e b ru a ry , 1665*^^ The in a d e q u a c y o f t h i s a s a t a l f i g u r e , o f c o u r s e , i s shown in t h e a b se n c e o f d ocu n t s f o r a tte n d a n c e , f o r exam ple, to th e T h e a tre R oyal from y 6 , 1 6 6 9 to M arch 26, 1674. Nor a r e r e c o r d s shown f o r e e a r l y p e r io d up to th e c l o s i n g of th e t h e a t r e s in 1665. v e r a l o th e r p e r i o d s a r e a l s o b la n k in th e record.43 It i s t i r e l y p o s s i b l e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h i s f i g u r e —*two h u n d red i r t y p u b lic t h e a t r e p e rfo rm a n c e s w itn e s s e d — in c lu d e s no r e th a n h a l f h i s a c t u a l a tte n d a n c e . c i a l b e a u ty . C f. th e f r o n t i s p i e c e , V o l. 5» W h e a tle y 's , B e l l and Sons, L t d . , e d i t i o n o f Pepys D ia r y , 1928, g ra v in g s in t h e Memoirs o f Count Gramo nt e d i t e d by A lla n a (London; B ic k e r s and Son, I 9 0 6 ) , p p . 3 2 , 186, 216, 230, 6 , 3 1 4 , 334. lip N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, o p . c i t . , p p . 3 0 5 -3 1 2 . ese r e c o r d s a r e from docum ents and books i n th e L ord a m b e r la in 's d e p a rtm e n t o f t h e P u b lic R eco rd O f f ic e . T his g u re does n o t in c lu d e p e rfo rm a n c e s a t c o u r t . 43 Among t h e s e a r e th e d a te s A ugust 9» I 6 6 8 , to r c h 9 , 1 6 7 1 * M arch 12, 1673 t o J u ly 3» 1673, March 2 , 7 4 t o May 28, 1675. 109 Examples o f th e fre q u e n c y w ith w h ich he v i s i t e d th e b l i c t h e a t r e s can be seen i n th e w a r ra n ts o f J a n u a ry 2 ?, 75* f o r th e K in g 's Company and June 14, 1675* f o r th e h e 's Company.. D u rin g th e m onth o f November, 1674, he and 8 c o u r t i e r s a t te n d e d p la y s a t th e T h e a tre R oyal f i v e tim e s d a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre a l s o f i v e tjm e s f o r a t o t a l number t e n v i s i t s to th e p u b lic p l a y h o u s e s . 44 There a r e s t i l l o th e r e v id e n c e s o f C h arles* fo n d n e s s r th e t h e a t r e . When D u r f e y 's A ^ond Husband was p ro d u c e d D o rs e t Garden i n th e s p r in g o f I 6 7 6 , S te e le r e p o r t s t h a t a r l e s was p r e s e n t on t h r e e o f i t s f i r s t f i v e n i g h t s . 45 c o r d in g to Doran "T his c o u r t p a tro n a g e , p u b l i c and i v a t e , in c r e a s e d th e p o p u ls - r ity o f th e dram a, as th e v ic e s th e King in c r e a s e d th e f a s h i o n o f b e in g d i s s o l u t e . . . . ^^ 4 4 i h i d . , p p . 3 0 7 » 3 1 0 . At th e T h e a tre R oyal he and s g ro u p saw The A lch em ist on November 1 2 th ; A g la u r a , by r Jo h n S u c k lin g , on November I 6 , th e Queen a tte n d e d t h i s ay ; The Mock Tempest by Thomas Duff e t on November 1 9 th ; e C h an g es, o r Love in a M aze, by Jam es S h i r l e y , on Vember 2 4 th ; Bartholom ew F a i r on November 3 0 th . At th e k e 's T h e a tre th e y saw Love a n d Revenge by E lk an ah S e t t l e November 9 th ; The Tempest p ro b a b ly a r e v i v a l o f Dryden d D avenant*s a d a p ta t io n o f S h a k e s p e a r e 's p la y f o r w h ich ey p a i d d o u b le p r i c e s on November 1 7 th and 1 8 th ; The ium phant Widow by th e Duke o f N ew castle on November 2 6 th ; d on November 2 8 th a r e p e t i t i o n of The T em pest. 45 The G u a rd ia n , Number 82, Ju n e 15* 1713• 46 D oran, q p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p a r t . 1 , p . 234. The id e n c e c i t e d , a lth o u g h i n t e r e s t i n g , i s s c a r c e l y c o n c lu - v e . He r e f e r s to th e o c c a s io n on w hich when C h a rle s sh e d to have a f u l l o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e g ro u p o f members o f 110 th o u g h C h a rle s n e v e r a tte m p te d th e c o u r t e x tra v a g a n z a s ch a s th o s e in th e r e ig n s o f James I and C h a rle s I , he d have th e t h e a t r e a t c o u r t w hich p r e s e n te d p la y s f o r him th e members o f b o th K illig re w * s and D avenant*s eompan- 8 .4 7 C ib b er I n d i c a t e d t h a t , as w ith many o th e r b i l l s , he s n o t prompt i n th e s e ttle m e n t o f h is t h e a t r e b i l l s , and us he s t a t e s t h a t a c c o rd in g t o common r e p o r t When I f i r s t came i n t o th e T h e a tre -R o y a l, in I 6 9 0 , . . • t h e r e was th e n due t o th e company from t h a t C ourt a b o u t One Thousand F iv e H undred Pounds f o r P la y s com m anded, e t c . , and y e t i t was th e g e n e r a l C o m p lain t, in t h a t P r i n c e 's R eign t h a t he p a id to o much Ready-money f o r h is P l e a s u r e s . . . .48 The p e r s i s t e n c e o f C h a rles* d e v o tio n to th e t h e a t r e s u g g e s te d in E v e ly n 's e n t r y f o r O cto b e r 18 , I 6 6 6 . He i t e s , T his n ig h t was a c te d my Lord B r o g h ill * s tr a g e d y , c a l l e d M u stap h a, b e f o r e t h e i r M a je s tie s a t C o u rt, a t w h ich I was p r e s e n t . . . . I was i n v i t e d by my L ord r lia m e n t p r e s e n t f o r a v o t e , he s e n t to b o th t h e a t r e s and 1 th e bawdy h o u se s t o c o l l e c t and b r in g i n th o s e a b s e n t m bers. 47 C ib b e r, op. c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 209# C ib b er s t a t e s a t he knows o f o n ly one masque a c te d a t c o u r t by th e b i l i t y , t h a t o f C a l i s t o by Jo h n Crowne. T h is was p resen - d e a r l y in 1675• E velyn had seen one, how ever, te n a r s e a r l i e r "by s i x g en tlem en and s i x l a d i e s , s u r p r i s i n g s m a je s ty , i t b e in g C an d lem as-d ay ." E v e ly n , o p . c i t . , 1 . 2 , p . 2 2 3 . 48 C ib b er a d m its , how ever, t h a t he o n ly gave in f o p t i o n a s he r e c e i v e d i t "w ith o u t b e in g a n s w e ra b le f o r t s R e a l i t y ." C ib b e r, op. c i t . , V ol. 2 , p . 210. I l l C ham berlain to see t h i s tr a g e d y , e x c e e d in g ly w e ll w r i t t e n , th o u g h in my mind I d id n o t ap p ro v e o f any su c h p a s tim e in a tim e o f su ch judgm ents and c a l a m i t i e s .49 When C h a rle s was i n t h e mood f o r e n t e r ta in m e n t, ow ever, th e o p in io n o f nobody was l i k e l y t o d e t e r him . epys i n d i c a t e s th e p r o b a b le f e e l i n g s of th e p e o p le i n th e s itte r o f re o p e n in g th e t h e a t r e s so soon a f t e r th e two g r e a t 3.1 a m itie s in h i s e n t r y f o r December 7* 1 6 6 6 , So away a f t e r d in n e r , le a v in g my w if e and h e r M rs. Wood , and by w a te r to th e S tra n d , and so to th e K in g 's p la y h o u s e , w here two a c t s w ere a lm o st done when I come i n ; and t h e r e I s a t w ith my c lo a k a b o u t my f a c e , and saw th e re m a in d e r o f The M ayd's T ragedy; a good p la y . . . and i s t h e f i r s t p la y I have se e n in e i t h e r o f th e h o u se s s in c e b e f o r e th e g r e a t p la g u e , th e y h a v in g a c te d now ab o u t f o u r te e n days p u b lio k l y . B ut I was in m ig h ty p a i n l e s t I s h o u ld be se en by anybody to be a t a play.50 E velyn g iv e s o t h e r e v id e n c e o f s e e in g th e King an d Ls m i s t r e s s e s a t p l a y s , one o c c a s io n b e in g a t a p e rfo rm a n c e r t h e tra g e d y H orace on F e b ru a ry 4, 1 6 6 8 .5 1 He w r i t e s t h a t E v ely n , o p . o i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 263# Lord B r o g h i l l !is R oger B o y le 's t i t l e b e f o r e he became th e E a r l of O rre y , 3 r e , a s n o t i n f r e q u e n t l y , E v ely n r a i l s a t th e e n te r ta in m e n t it d o e s n o t f a i l t o a t t e n d a n d en jo y i t . 50 P ep y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 368. He was a t th e in g 's t h e a t r e a g a in th e f o llo w in g day "w hich t r o u b l e s me in c e , and h a th c o s t me a f o r f e i t of 1 0 s . , w hich I have lid , and th e r e d id se e a good p a r t o f ' The E n g lis h Mon- Leur, ' by James Howard. . . . Here I was in p a in to be >en, and h id m y s e lf; b u t a s God w ould have i t . S i r John l i c h l y come, and s a t j u s t by m e." 5^ Summers, A B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . K T h is was a t r a n s l a t i o n o f th e p la y by P i e r r e C o r n e i lle ide by " th e v i r t u o u s M rs. P h i l l i p s , " as E velyn c a l l s h e r , id p r e s e n te d a t D rury Lane b e g in n in g J a n u a r y , 1668. 112 tiere was “a m asque and a n tiq u e dance" b etw een each two a c t s id t h a t "The e x c e s s iv e g a l l a n t r y o f th e l a d i e s was i n f i n - be, th o s e e s p e c i a l l y on t h a t . . . C a s tle m a in e , e stee m ed a t W ,000 and m ore, f a r o u ts h i n in g th e Q u e e n . "52 J u s t how g r e a t was th e lo v e o f C h a rle s I I f o r p la y s 3 shown f u r t h e r i n S i r John R e re s b y 's Memoirs i n w h ich he a s c r ib e s a more o r l e s s t y p i c a l day in t h e l i f e o f th e King l i l e on a h o lid a y a t Newmarket. He r e l a t e s how th e King . . . w alk ed in th e M orning ' t i l l t e n o f th e C lock; th e n he w ent to th e C o c k p it, f o r an Hour o n ly ; th e n he w ent to th e P la y , th o th e A c to rs w ere b u t of a t e r r i b l e S o r t; from th e n c e to th e Supper; th e n to th e D uchess o f P o rtm o u th 's ' t i l l Bed— tim e ; and so to h is own A partm ent t o ta k e h i s R e s t . "53 aus even on v a c a t i o n days i n th e c o u n try , th e King w ould ive h i s t h e a t r e e n t e r ta in m e n t, a lo n g w ith h i s o th e r ï p o r t s , " a lth o u g h f o r p la y e r s he had o n ly th e s o r t one >uld s e e a t th e f a i r a t B artholom ew . 52 E v ely n , o p . c i t . . V o l. 2 , p p . 2 8 5 -2 8 6 . On A p r il nd o f th e same y e a r E velyn a g a in w r i t e s of th e same m is - r e s s . "Amongst o t h e r l i b e r t i n e l i b e l s , t h e r e was one now T in te d and th ro w n a b o u t, a b o ld p e t i t i o n o f th e p o o r — -a to Lady C a s tle m a in e ." Pepys a l s o n o te s t h i s p e t i - lon i n h i s e n t r y o f A p r il 6 , 1668, when he rem arks t h a t ady C a stle m a in e " i s h o r r i b l y vexed a t th e l a t e l i b e l , — th e e t i t i o n o f th e p o o r p r o s t i t u t e s ab o u t th e town whose h o u se s e re p u l l e d down th e o th e r d a y ." I t was cu sto m ary f o r p r e n t i c e s " to g iv e th e p r o s t i t u t e s i l l tr e a tm e n t d u r in g e n t . On t h i s o c c a s io n th e y seem to have outdone them - e l v e s . 53 The Memoirs o f th e H onourable S i r John H e re sb y , a r t . , and l a s t G overnor o f Y o rk . ( P r in te d f o r Samuel a m A 4 M m » T.r»r»/4rMO . 1 \ " rs 1 ft A 113 A p p a re n tly t h e l a s t p la y C h a rle s e v e r a tte n d e d was h a t g iv e n a t th e T h e a tre R oyal on J a n u a ry 27, 1 6 8 5 .5 4 The ueen was w ith him a s she had b een on two o th e r o c c a s io n s h a t m onth. She h ad n o t u s u a l l y accom panied him so f r e - u e n t l y . ! He became i l l on Monday, F e b ru a ry 2nd, and in p i t e o f a l l th e m e d ic a l tr e a tm e n t t h a t c o u ld be g iv e n , he iv e d u n t i l th e f o llo w in g F r id a y , F e b ru a ry 6 t h . 55 j I I I . JOHN EVELYN A side from C h a rle s and h i s m i s t r e s s e s and c l o s e s t r ie n d e t h e r e w ere many o t h e r s who a tte n d e d th e t h e a t r e in tiis p e r i o d . Pepys h as a l r e a d y been m e n tio n e d f r e q u e n t l y Id w i l l be a g a in , b u t th e o t h e r famous d i a r i s t , who h a s Lso b ee n c a l l e d a s w itn e s s , was a r a t h e r f r e q u e n t p la y g o e r L m self.56 A lth o u g h E velyn c o u ld in no w is e com pete w ith 54 This was a p e rfo rm a n c e o f Thomas S o u th e rn s ' s >medy. The D is a p p o in tm e n t. See N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, 1* o i t . , p . 3 1 2 . 55 L u t t r e l l , V ol. 1 , p . 327. When C h a rle s became LI, a l l th e m e d ic a l p r a c t i c e s o f th e tim e w ere u se d on him p p a r e n tly w ith o u t r e g a r d to t h e n a tu r e o f th e d i s e a s e . The l i e f tr e a tm e n t , o f c o u rs e , was b le e d in g w h ich was done on j v e r a l o c c a s io n s . L u t t r e l l s t a t e s t h a t C h a rle s "had e v e ry Lght s in c e h i s i l l n e s s f o u r p h y s i t i a n s and two c h iru r g e o n s i t t up w ith him , and was a l s o a tte n d e d i n l i k e m anner in le d a y tim e , who a p p lie d su c h th in g s a s th e y th o u g h t L t t i n g . " 5 6 D oran, q p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 238. He was "obably n o t, a s Doran s a y s , " in fre q u e n c y o f p la y - g o in g ily se co n d to P e p y s ," a s a com parison o f t h e two d i a r i e s 114 spys f o r b e in g o f t e n a t th e t h e a t r e , he c o n tin u e d a p e r s i s - snt a u d i t o r f o r many y e a rs a f t e r th e r e t u r n o f Charles.57 In h is i n i m i t a b l e s t y l e Doran makes th e p o in t w e ll tiat E velyn g r a v e l y e x p o s tu la t e d a g a i n s t th e l i c e n t i o u s n e s s f th e p la y s and th e t h e a t r e b u t c o n tin u e d to p a t r o n iz e ) t h p u b lic and c o u r t p la y h o u s e s f o r many y e a r s . 58 a r a t h e r y p ic a l exam ple o f t h i s c e n s u re o f th e t h e a t r e by Mr. E velyn 3 h i s l e t t e r t o L ord Cornbury59 a few w eeks b e f o r e th e a n ten se aso n o f 1665# He w r i t e s , . . . In t h i s one town o f London . . . t h e r e a r e more w re tc h e d and o b scen e p la y s p e r m it te d th a n in a l l th e w o rld b e s i d e s . At P a r i s 3 d a y s , a t Rome two we eke 1 y . . . w h ile s o u r e n t e r lu d e s h e re a r e e v e ry day a l i k e ; so a s th e la d y s & t h e g a l l a n t s come r e a k in g from th e p la y l a t e on S a tu rd a y n i g h t , t o t h e i r Sonday d e v o tio n s ; th e id e a s o f th e f a r c e p o s s e s s e s t h e i r f a n t s i e s to th e i n f i n i t e p r e j u d i c e o f d e v o tio n , b e s id e s th e a d v a n ta g e s i t g iv e s t o o u r r e p r o c h f u l l b l a s p h e m e r s . 80 L ll r a t h e r q u ic k ly r e v e a l . I t i s d o u b tf u l t h a t E velyn :te n d e d th e t h e a t r e , b o th p u b l i c and c o u r t , as much d u rin g le w hole f o r t y y e a r s o f th e p e r io d a s Pepys d id d u r in g th e 388 th a n t h r e e y e a r s from December, 1666, h i s f i r s t tim e a t le p la y h o u se when th e y re o p e n e d a f t e r th e f i r e , t o May, 569* when he c lo s e d th e d i a r y . 57 Evelyn beg an a t t e n d i n g th e t h e a t r e s h o r t l y a f t e r le r e t u r n o f C h a rle s and c o n tin u e d u n t i l th e l a t t e r y e a rs r th e c e n tu r y . 58 Doran, op. c i t . , V o l. 1, p a r t 1 , p . 239. 59 Henry Hyde, Lord C ornbury, son o f th e f i r s t E a r l ! * C la re n d o n , a f te r w a r d s second E a rl o f C la re n d o n , I 6 3 8 - ^ 0 9 . 80 D iary and C o rresp o n d en ce o f Jo h n E v e ly n , W illiam ?ay, e d i t o r , w ith l i f e by H. B. W heatley, B ic k e rs an d Son, >ndon. IQ0 6. V ol. 3. PP. 301—302. 115 3 c o n tin u e s i n th e same v e in t h i s h i t t e r a t t a c k even to th e Dint o f a d v o c a tin g t h a t F r id a y and S a tu r d a y 's p la y s "be u p lo y 'd f o r th e s u p p o rt o f th e p o o re , o r a s w e ll ♦ . . some D rke-house a s a few d e b a u c h 'd co m ed ian s," th u s u s in g , in D ite o f h i s g r e a t C h r i s t i a n i t y , th e re m a rk a b ly s n o b b is h and ) r y - l i k e th e o ry o f economic d e te rm in is m . In s h o r t , even lough th e a c t o r s be d e s p o ile d o f a h u n d red pounds o r so a s a r , th e y w ould s t i l l e n jo y "more th a n th e y w ere b o rn e t o . . . " He c o n c lu d e s t h i s t i r a d e w ith a s l a s h a t p la y s w hich 3 s a y s have "now become w ith us a l i c e n t i o u s e x c e s s e , & a Lee, & neede s e v e r e c e n s o r s , t h a t s h o u ld lo o k e as w e l l to a e ir m o r a l i t y a s t o t h e i r l i n e s and n u m b ers." But a s D oran p o in ts o u t , "He o b j e c t s b u t does n o t 3frain." 8 l I t c o u ld s c a r c e l y be m a in ta in e d t h a t E velyn was le " ra k e " t h a t Pepys became a s th e y e a rs o f h is d i a r y grew 1 n u m b e r ; 82 i t c a n n o t be d e n ie d , how ever, t h a t E velyn was g r t a i n l y i n c o n s i s t e n t in h i s a lm o st P u r i t a n i c a l r e f e r e n c e s > s i n and t o r e l i g i o n and i n h i s a c t i o n s w hich b o th reced ed and fo llo w e d th e s e r e f e r e n c e s .83 For exam ple, on 81 D oran, o n . c i t . , V o l. 1, p a r t 1, p . 239* 82 See P e p y s, op. c i t . . V ol. 1, p p . 735* 938, 940, )4, 1025* 1049* V o l. 2, p p . 126-127* 222, 294, 337* and m y o t h e r s . 83 C o n s is te n c y may o r may n o t be " th e h o b g o b lin o f L ttle m in d s," b u t c o n tin u e d p r e a c h in g a g a i n s t a t h i n g t h a t le c o n tin u e s to p a t r o n i z e I s an in c o n s is te n c y t h a t 116 une 1 6 , 1 6 7 0 , he w ent w ith some f r i e n d s t o th e B ear Garden w h e r e was c o c k - f i g h t i n g , d o g - f i g h t i n g , b e a r and b u l l b a i t - ng" w hich he d enounces a s " b u tc h e r ly s p o r t s , o r r a t h e r a rb a ro u s c r u e l t i e s . " He was enough o f a c o n n o is s e u r o f ic h s p o r t s , how ever, t h a t he o b se rv e d t h a t th e b u l l s d i d ery w e l l , . . . b u t t h e I r i s h w o lf-d o g e x c e e d e d , w hich was a t a l l grey h o u n d , a s t a t e l y c r e a t u r e in d e e d , who b e a t ^ a c r u e l m a s t i f f . One o f t h e b u l l s t o s s e d a dog f u l l i n t o a l a d y 's l a p a s sh e s a t e i n one o f th e boxes h ig h above th e a r e n a .64 wo o f th e "p o o r dogs" w ere k i l l e d , and a l l in a l l he was most h e a r t i l y w eary o f th e ru d e and d i r t y p a s tim e ," b u t le r e i s no i n d i c a t i o n t h a t he d e p a r te d b e f o r e th e show was D ncluded. A lthough P epys c o u ld h a r d ly be c a l l e d a model f o r a )ung boy to f o llo w , he a t l e a s t seems to have been more m e s t i n h is r e a c t i o n to t h i s s o r t o f s p o r t th a n was re ly n . When he saw th e same ty p e of show f o u r y e a rs i r l i e r , he w ro te i n h i s d i a r y . W ith my w if e and M ercer (the mai(^ t o th e B e a re - g a rd e n . . . an d saw some good s p o r t o f th e b u l l ' s res e n t l y becomes somewhat i r r i t a t i n g even to th e c a s u a l ) s e r v e r . Nor can i t be l o g i c a l l y a rg u e d t h a t E velyn ^tended th e t h e a t r e f o r th e same p u rp o se t h a t C o l l i e r d id 1 t h e l a t t e r y e a rs o f th e c e n tu r y . R a th e r o b v io u s ly E velyn )ught and o b ta in e d enjoym ent in th e t h e a t r e . 64 Evelyn, op. c i t . . V ol. 2, p. 307. 117 t o s s i n g o f th e d o g s: one i n t o th e v e r y b o x e s. B ut i t i s a ru d e an d n a s ty p l e a s u r e . . . . Thence home, w e ll enough s a t i s f i e d , how ever, w ith th e v a r i e t y o f t h i s a f t e r n o o n 's e x e r c i s e . . . .85 Evelyn was n o t so c e n s o r io u s of Dryden*s C onquest o f ran ad a when he saw i t on F e b ru a ry 9 , 1671* a t th e t h e a t r e 1 W h i te h a ll . 86 The day b e f o r e he had se e n " th e g r e a t b a l l m e e d by th e Queen and d i s t i n g u i s h e d l a d i e s " a t th e same Lace. He s t a t e d t h a t th e p l a y was a c te d two days s u c c e s s - r e ly , b e in g a p p a r e n tly unaw are t h a t i t was c o n s tr u c te d in \ T 0 p a r t s . He was l a v i s h in h i s p r a i s e o f th e " g lo r io u s Denes and p e r s p e c t i v e s " o f Mr. S t r e e t e r . A lth o u g h he d id )t p r a i s e th e p l a y i t s e l f , he d id r e f e r t o i t as "fam o u s." la t th e f a s t i d i o u s gen tlem an o f f e r e d no o b je c ti o n to i t , )w ever, sp eak s much f o r i t s m o ra l q u a l i t i e s . The re m a rk a b le f r i e n d s h i p betw een E velyn and M rs. i r g a r e t B la g g e , l a t e r M rs. S id n ey G o d o lp h in , i s one o f th e lu s u a l c irc u m s ta n c e s o f th e R e s to r a ti o n p e r i o d . As a la d y ' th e c o u r t she was a p p a r e n tly t h a t r a r e s t o f f lo w e rs who )u ld rem ain c le a n and f r e s h i n th e m id s t o f v e r y uns a l u t a r y ir ro u n d in g s . E velyn was a m ost i n t e r e s t e d and am orous > la to n ic ) a u d i t o r o f h e r p e rfo rm a n ce o f th e r o l e o f D iana Pepys* o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 269. T his was A ugust k, 1666, n o t 1665 a s Dobson w r i t e s , E v e ly n , o p . c i t . , V ol. p . 3 0 7 . 88 Evelyn, op. p it.. V ol. 2, p. 319 » 118 1 Jo h n Crowne*s masque C a l i s t o p erfo rm e d a t c o u r t by many r th e h ig h e s t l a d i e s in c lu d in g th e two l a t e r Q ueens, Mary Eld Anne.87 That th e lo v e o f E velyn and th e young g i r l f o r sich o t h e r was b o th p l a t on i c and s in c e r e i s s u g g e s te d by th e tiir ty — t h r e e y e a rs d i f f e r e n c e in t h e i r a g e s a s w e ll a s by le r e c e n t e d i t o r o f The L if e o f M rs. G o d o lp h in , H a r r i e t a m p s o n . 8 8 P l a t o n i c o r n o t, on E v e ly n 's p a r t , h i s g r e a t Dve f o r M rs. G odolphin was one o f th e m ost d e e p ly moving c p e rie n c e s in h i s lo n g and a c t i v e l i f e . 8 9 IV. MISCELLANY But t h e r e w ere s t i l l o t h e r s who a t t e n d e d th e t h e a t r e L ther f r e q u e n t l y o r o c c a s i o n a l l y . The F re n c h w ere n o t th e ily f o r e i g n e r s to become s p e c t a t o r s a t E n g lis h p l a y s . When 87 Thia masque was p r e s e n te d e a r l y in 1675 "By ïv e r a l P e rso n s o f G reat Q u a li ty . See Summers B ib lio g r a p h y L R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 46. 88 John E v e ly n , The L if e o f M rs. G o d o lp h in , H a r r i e t impson, e d i t o r (The O xford U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1939)* p p . :x an d x x x l, x ix - x x . M iss Sampson a l s o w r i t e s t h a t o t h e r Idles o f t h i s "infam ous" c o u r t o f C h a rle s w ere v i r t u o u s , î l i g i o u s , and h o n o ra b le . Among t h e s e , she w r i t e s , "Lady irw ick sp e n t two h o u rs o f e v e ry day in m e d i t a t i o n . Lady i l k e t t sp e n t f i v e . " M a rg a re t B lagge s p e n t unnumbered h o u rs le r e , Sampson s t a t e s . Lady M ordaunt, a n o th e r f r i e n d o f TS. B lag g e* s " e x c e l le d in s e l f - e x a m i n a t i o n ." 89 In s p i t e o f th e d e c l a r a t i o n s o f " f a t h e r l y " a n d .a t o n ic lo v e by E v e ly n , m odern F re u d ia n p s y c h o lo g is ts .ght d is c o v e r c e r t a i n i n t e r e s t i n g sym bols i n h is " a l t a r " ’aw ing o f h i s a f f e c t i o n f o r M a rg a re t. See Sam pson's 1 1 + : 1 mn r»f* T ’V ift T ^ 1 f A m f* Mr»n . ■ n'h'l r» . . 9 9 119 tie Amtoasaador from Morocco a r r i v e d in J a n u a r y , 1682, he ro u g h t w ith him many g i f t s in c lu d in g l i o n s . He was ’ ’much Look’ t a f t e r to be s e e n , ” and he ”h a th b e e n a t th e p l a y - )U8 e s . ”70 L u tt r e l l w r i t e s a g a in ”th e M o sc o v ite A m bassador a.d h i s a d u ie n c e o f le a v e of h i s m a j e s t i e , and d u rin g h i s bay h e r e he h as b e e n s e v e r a i l tim e s a t th e playhouses.”71 b. E v r e m o n d 7 2 who became an e x i l e i n E n g la n d from h i s aitive F ra n ce was a t l e a s t an o c c a s io n a l v i s i t o r t o th e l e a t r e . A lth o u g h he nowhere names s p e c i f i c p e rfo rm a n c e s , 3 a d m its ” I have se e n P la y s i n E n g lan d , w h e re in t h e r e i s a re a t d e a l o f m u s i c k . ” 7 3 70 L u t t r e l l , op.. c i t . , V ol. 1 , p p . 154, 156, 1 5 8 . 7^ I b i d . , p . 157. T h is e n t r y was f o r J a n u a ry 1 0 , >82. 72 The S e ig n e u r de S t . Evremond h ad b een d r iv e n in to c ile i n E ngland th ro u g h th e m is f o r tu n e o f h a v in g h ad a 3t t e r he had w r i t t e n c r i t i c i z i n g th e c o n d u c t o f th e o r d in a l M azarin a t th e T re a ty o f th e P y re n e e s f a l l i n t o lands f o r w hich i t was n e v e r in te n d e d . ” He was f o r t y — f i v e len he w ent to E n g lan d , and he l i v e d a n o th e r l i f e t h e r e and 1 H o lla n d a lm o st a s lo n g a s th e one he h ad f i n i s h e d in ?an ce. He was n o t a llo w e d t o r e t u r n u n t i l he was so o l d id so much a t home i n E ngland t h a t he w ould n o t go. The ’ony o f f a t e , when he was a lm o st s i x t y , s e n t to him f o r Ls u l t i m a t e enjoym ent th e b e a u t i f u l D uchess o f M a z a rin , le n ie c e o f th e man who had r u in e d him , an d who had h e r - 3 l f s c o rn e d p r o p o s a ls o f m a rr ia g e from th e e x i l e d C h a rle s C y e a r s b e f o r e i n F ra n c e . At t h i s l a t e r tim e she became ï r e l y a n o th e r member o f C h arles* e v e r g ro w in g ’ ’h a re m .” 7 3 The L e t t e r s o f S t. Evremond, Jo h n Hayward, e d i t o r , jondon: George R o u tle d g e & S o n s, L t d . , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 212. 120 E vidence t o s u p p o rt th e known f a c t o f th e d e v o tio n of be E a r l o f R o c h e s te r to th e t h e a t r e was h i s ta k in g a house 1 " L in c o ln s e n d f ie ld th e hou se n e x t to th e Duke* s p la y h o u s e 1 P o r t u g a l l r o w ,” d u r in g th e summer o f 1 6 7 0 .7 4 The v e r y h a rn e s s s tr o n g ly s u g g e s ts a d e s i r e , i n p a r t a t l e a s t , to be s n v e n ie n t to th e t h e a t r e . 75 When a c t o r s and a c t r e s s e s r e t i r e d from th e s t a g e , aey to o u s u a l l y became f a i t h f u l a u d i t o r s a t th e t h e a t r e . 3l l Gwyn, f o r exam ple, saw The Tempest f o u r tim e s , M acbeth ic e a n d Hamlet once betw een S eptem ber and December, 1 6 7 4 .7 6 b may be d o u b te d t h a t even t h e s e s c a r c e l y r e p r e s e n t th e ) t a l f i g u r e o f h e r a tte n d a n c e d u rin g t h a t p e r io d s in c e i t 3 n o t u n l i k e l y t h a t she may h av e p a id h e r own f a r e a t th e )o r on o th e r o c c a s io n s th u s e l i m i n a t i n g th e n e c e s s i t y f o r a re a s u ry o r d e r . P la y w rig h ts w ere c o n s t a n t l y i n a tte n d a n c e a t p l a y s , 74 The R o c h e s te r - S a v ile ' L e t t e r s , l671-*l680, Jo h n i r o l d W ilson, e d i t o r (Colum bus: The Ohio S ta te U n i v e r s i t y r e s s , 1 9 4 1 ) , p . 7 . That th e Duke*s t h e a t r e was p e rh a p s l e s s f r e q u e u ed by th e n o b i l i t y th a n was t h e K in g ’ s h o u se i s o f l i t t l e >nsequence h e r e . T here w ere s t i l l many o f b o th r o y a l t y id n o b i l i t y in a tte n d a n c e t h e r e . I t i s h a r d ly l i k e l y t h a t 78. B a rr y , who was o n ly tw e lv e y e a rs o ld a t th e tim e , Layed any p a r t i n h i s d e s i r e t o b e n e a r t h e t h e a t r e . 76 T h ird R e p o rt o f th e H i s t o r i c a l MSS Com m ission, ip e n d ix , p . 2 6 6 , Summers, R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tr e . One m ig h t 3 m ark th e c a t h o l i c i t y o f N e l l y ’ s t a s t e i n p la y s as demon- : r a t e d . a t anv r a t e , bv t h i s p a r t i c u l a r srroup. 121 D s e e t h e i r own, to c r i t i c i z e th e p la y s o f o t h e r s , to g e t 3W i d e a s , and f o r a v a r i e t y o f o th e r r e a s o n s . The a u th o r f The C ountry W ife and The P l a i n D e a le r once a tte n d e d ecau se o f a b o ld f l i r t a t i o n w ith th e n o to r io u s D uchess of Leveland.77 In W ych erley ’s p la y Love in a Wood, o r S t . ames’ s P a r k , t h e r e i s th e l i n e in a so n g , "G reat w i t s and r e a t b ra v e s have alw ay s a punk to t h e i r m o th e r." The s to r y 3 t o l d by D ennis i s t h a t th e D uchess, w h ile d r i v i n g brough P a ll- M a ll to w ard S t. James* P ark a f t e r th e p l a y , 6t W ycherley; she le a n e d f a r from h e r c o a c h window t o c a l l e a r t i l y , "You, W ycherley, you a r e a son o f a w h o re." ev e r h a v in g spoken a t any l e n g t h w ith t h i s g r e a t la d y g f o r e , W ycherley was n a t u r a l l y dum bfounded u n t i l th e l i n e Î h i s own ple.y was r e c a l l e d to m ind. He th e n o r d e r e d h is )achman to d r iv e b a c k , r e p l i e d in t h e p r o p e r f a s h io n to h e r m eeting, an a s s i g n a t i o n was m ade, and She was t h a t N ight i n th e f i r s t Row o f th e K in g ’ s Box in D rury L a n e , and Mr. W ycherley i n th e P i t u n d er h e r , w here he e n t e r t a i n e d h e r d u rin g th e w hole p l a y . And t h i s . S i r , was th e b e g in n in g o f a C o rresp o n d en ce b etw een th e s e two P e r s o n s , w hich a f te r w a r d s made a g r e a t N oise i n th e Town.78 77 L e t t e r "To th e H onourable M ajor P ack. C o n ta in in g )me re m a rk a b le P a s s a g e s o f M r. Wycherley* s L i f e ," S eptem ber I 1 7 2 0 , in The C r i t i c a l Works o f John D e n n is , Edward N ile s )o k er (B a ltim o re : The Johns Hopkins P r e s s , 1943)» V o l. 2 , ). 409-410. 78 Loo. c i t . 122 V. VIZARD MASKS W earers o f "V iz ard M asks" seem to have f r e q u e n te d th e l e a t r e s in g r e a t num bers, b u t th e e a r l y e x p o n e n ts o f th e s e > s s ib ly w ere n o t o f t h e same q u a l i t y as th e l a t e r o n e s . le o f th e e a r l i e s t r e f e r e n c e s to th e s e a r t i c l e s o f costum e id th o s e who wore them was made by Pepys i n h i s e n t r y f o r me 1 2 , 1 6 6 3 , when he w ro te , Here a t th e T h e a tre R o y al I saw my Lord F a lc o n - b r i d g e and h i s Lady, my Lady Mary C rom w ell, who lo o k s as w e l l a s I have known h e r , and w e ll c la d ; b u t when th e House began to f i l l she p u t on h e r v i z a r d , and so k e p t i t on a l l th e p la y ; w h ich i s o f l a t e become a g r e a t f a s h i o n among th e l a d i e s , w hich h id e s t h e i r w hole f a c e . So to th e E xchange, to buy th in g s w ith my w ife ; among o t h e r s , a v i z a r d f o r h e r s e l f . 79 At w hat p a r t i c u l a r d a t e th e " lo o s e women" b eg an to le t h e s e a r t i c l e s f o r d i s g u i s e can h a r d ly be shown a c c u r - :e ly , b u t i t may be re a s o n a b ly assum ed t h a t th e y s t a r t e d le p r a c t i c e v e ry soon a f t e r r e s p e c t a b l e women d id . le a tl e y s t a t e s t h a t th e masks soon becam e g e n e r a l and th e n he m ark of lo o s e women, and t h e i r u se was d is c o n tin u e d by men o f repute."80 79 P epys, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , pp . 652-653* Lady Mary s O liv e r C rom w ell’ s t h i r d d a u g h te r who h ad m a rr ie d Thomas l l a s y s e . V isc o u n t and l a t e r E a r l o f F au co n b e rg . b o c . c i t . See f o o tn o te 1. On Ju n e 1, 1704, a ng was sung a t t h e t h e a t r e i n L in c o ln ’ s Inn F i e l d s c a l l e d he m i s s e s ’ L a m e n ta tio n f o r w ant of t h e i r V iz a rd M asques t h e T h e a tr e ." 123 G ib b er comments on th e u se o f " v iz a r d masks" by b a tin g t h a t b e c a u s e of th e e x t r a o r d i n a r y l i b e r t i e s w hich i t h o r s o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r io d to o k w i t h t h e i r w i t , th e id le s w ere th e n a f r a i d of v e n t u r in g b a r e — f a c e d to a new m edy u n t i l th e y had been a s s u r e d tjie y m ig h t do so . . . w ith o u t th e R isq u e o f an I n s u l t t o t h e i r M odesty— O r, i f t h e i r C u r i o s i t y w ere to o s tr o n g f o r t h e i r P a tie n c e , th e y to o k C are, a t l e a s t , to save A p p e a ra n c e s, and r a r e l y came upon th e f i r s t Days o f A c tin g b u t i n M asks, ( th e n d a i l y worn and a d m itte d i n t h e P i t , t h e s i d e B oxes, a n d G a lle ry ) w hich Custom, how ever, had so many i l l C onsequences a t te n d i n g i t , t h a t i t h as been a b o l i s h ’d t h e s e many y e a r s .81 lu s, a c c o r d in g to C ib b e r, t h e r e w ere d e c e n t and m odest >men who f r e q u e n te d th e p la y h o u s e s , and a lth o u g h one may ) i n t to some l a c k o f s i n c e r i t y in t h e i r d o n n in g masks t o Lde t h e i r i d e n t i t y and t h e i r p o s s i b l e b lu s h e s a t th e some- Lmes obscene m a t e r i a l w hich m ight be p r e s e n t e d to them , one Lkely w ould a l s o be c o n s tr a in e d to go t o a n o th e r M a rg a re t )d o lp h in o r to th e age o f Queen V i c t o r i a t o f i n d women t h a t 3re o u tw a rd ly d i f f e r e n t . The F i r e - a h i p s . a b r o a d s id e s a t i r e o f I 6 9 I , c o n ta in s i t e r e s t i n g , i f f a c t i t i o u s , m a t e r i a l on " P la y -h o u se P u n k s." Not T urks by T u rb a n ts , S p a n ia rd s by t h e i r H a ts , Nor Q uakers by D im in u tiv e C ra v e ts Are b e t t e r known, th a n i s th e Tawdry Crack By V izo r-m ask , and R ig g in g on h e r B ack. 81 C ib b e r, Lowe’s e d i t i o n , op. c i t . . V ol. 1 , p p . > 6- 2 6 7 . 124 The P la y -h o u s e i s t h e i r p la c e o f T r a f f i c k , w here N ig h tly th e y s i t , to s e l l t h e i r R o tte n W are: Tho* done i n s i l e n c e and w ith o u t a C ry e r, Yet he t h a t b id s th e m o st, i s s t i l l th e B uyer; F or W hile he n ib b le s a t h e r Am’ro u s T rap, She g e ts t h e mony, b u t he g e t s th e C la p .82 None c o u ld e f f e c t i v e l y a rg u e t h a t p r o s t i t u t e s d id n o t seq u en t t h e p la y h o u s e s d u r in g th e R e s t o r a t i o n . I t i s o f i t e r e s t to t h i s d i s c u s s i o n , how ever, to n o te t h a t i f one i s > a c c e p t a l l o r any o f t h i s v i t u p e r a t i o n a s e v id e n c e , l i n e 3 v en h as c e r t a i n s i g n i f i c a n c e , t h a t i s , t h i s trem endous ? a f f i c i s "done i n s i l e n c e an d w ith o u t a C ry e r." Lowe s t a t e s t h a t r e g a r d l e s s of th e tim e th e m id d le i l l e r y "was g iv e n up to b a s e u se s" by t h e v i z o r m ask s, " i t i c e r t a i n t h a t i t was n e v e r f r e q u e n te d b y t h e q u a l i t y . "83 * M rs. P in c h w ife , in W y ch erley ’ s The C o u n try W ife, may be î l i e v e d , th e p la c e was p r o b a b ly o c c u p ie d by o r d in a r y p e o p le ’ a l l c l a s s e s . She co m p lain ed o f th e c l a s s o f h e r n e ig h - »rs an d s a i d . W e s a t am ongst u g ly p e o p le . He (her husband| w ould n o t l e t me come n e a r th e g e n t r y , who s a t u n d er u s , so t h a t I c o u ld n o t se e ’em. He t o l d me, none b u t n a u g h ty women s a t t h e r e . . . . But I w ould have v e n tu r e d , f o r a l l th a t.8 4 - In s p i t e o f su c h broad.8 ld.es as R o b e rt Gould* s "The O p Q uoted i n Summers, R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a t r e , p . 90 . Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 31. 84 Act I I , Scene 1 . ___ 125 la y -H o u se , a S a t y r ," i n w hich he w r i t e s : The M iddle G a l l ' r y f i r s t demands o u r View: The f i l t h o f J a k e s , and s te n c h o f e v ’ r y Stew! Here r e e k in g Punks l i k e E y’n in g I n s e c t s swarm; The P o l e c a t s ' Perfum e much th e H a p p ie r Charm. T h e ir v e ry S cen t g iv e s A p p o p le e tic k F i t s , And y e t t h e y 'r e th o u g h t a l l G iv it by t h e G its ; Nor can we blam e 'em; f o r th e T ru th t o t e l l , The want o f B ra in s may be th e want o f Sm ell . . . D is c r e e t in t h i s t h e i r F aces n o t t o shew: The Mask t h e b e s t Com plexion o f th e tw o .85 Piters o f prologues and epilogues, f o r example, John pyden, t h a t p a s s f o r p rim a ry e v id e n c e w ith many make r e f e r - Eices t h a t a r e i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h su ch s ta te m e n ts . In h i s p ilo g u e on th e U n i o n , 86 p ry d en w r i t e s . B ut s ta y ; m e th in k s some v iz a rd -m a s k I s e e , C ast out h e r l u r e from th e mid g a l l e r y : ' About h e r a l l th e f l u t t e r i n g s p a rk s a r e ra n g e d . . . . t , th e n , G o u ld 's w r i t i n g i s t o be a c c e p te d a t f a c e v a lu e 3 e v id e n c e , D ry d e n 's m a tte r i n h is e p ilo g u e above does n o t 3 k e s e n s e , b e c a u s e i t seems r a t h e r o b v io u s t h a t i f t h e Lddle g a l l e r y i s "swarm ing" l i k e ev e n in g i n s e c t s w ith th e 3e k in g p u n k s, i t w ould h a r d ly be n e c e s s a r y f o r a l l th e L u tte r in g s p a rk s t o be ra n g e d about o n e . E a r l i e r Dryden had w r i t t e n a p ro lo g u e to The C onquest R o b e rt G ould, "The P la y h o u se , a S a t y r ," in The >rks (London: W . L ew is, 2 V o l s ., 1 7 0 9 ), V o l. 2 , p . 228. 86 When th e t h e a tr e s were u n ite d in l6 8 2 . See The )rks o f John Dryden, S ir W alter S c o tt, e d i t o r , B a r t . , 3V . by George S a in ts b u r y ( E d in b u rg h : W illia m P a t t e r s o n , 385), V ol. X, p . 399. 126 r G ranada t h a t I n d i c a t e s f u r t h e r a r e l a t i v e s c a r c i t y o f Iz a rd -m a sk s i n th e t h e a t r e . 87 B u t, a s when v iz a rd -m a s k a p p e a rs i n p i t , S t r a i g h t e v e ry man who th in k s h im s e lf a w i t . P erk s up , a n d , m anaging h is comb w ith g r a c e . W ith h i s w h ite wig s e t s o f f h i s n u t brown f a c e ; T hat done, b e a r s up th e p r i z e , and view s each lim b , To know h e r by h e r r i g g i n g and h e r t r i m . . . . aus, i t a p p e a rs from t h i s s o r t o f "e v id e n c e " t h a t t h e r e are fe w e r th a n th e "swarm" o f p r o s t i t u t e s t h a t G ould w r i t e s E * i n h i s s a t i r e . I t cannot b e d is p u te d , on th e o t h e r han d , l a t M iseon a s an eye w itn e s s i n th e l a t t e r y e a rs o f t h e s n tu ry m e n tio n e d numbers o f women o f th e town in th e i d i e n c e .8 8 V I. PEPYS AND OTHER CITIZENS P erh ap s a r a t h e r c l e a r c o n c e p tio n o f th e a t t i t u d e of )me w r i t e r s , p o s s i b l y more th a n a few , can be g a in e d by a j n s i d e r a t i o n o f L ow e's s ta te m e n t c o n c e rn in g th e o c c u p a n ts r t h e p i t o f a R e s to r a ti o n t h e a t r e . 89 He w r i t e s : F i r s t , l e t us d is p o s e o f th e m ost s o l i d and p e rh a p s l e a s t i n t e r e s t i n g o f i t s o c c u p a n t s - - t h o se p r o s a i c p e o p le who came to s e e th e p la y . They seem t o have a f f e c t e d th e c e n tr e o f t h e p i t . . . . But nobody c a re d f o r th e s e 87 I b i d . , V o l. IV, p . 121. T his i s th e p ro lo g u e to le se co n d p a r t o f th e p la y . 88 See ab o v e , p . 9 3 - 89 Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 34. 127 d u l l a t t e n t i v e a u d i t o r s ; t h e p i t t i t e s i n whom th e p o e ts to o k an i n t e r e s t w ere th e fo p s and th e c r i t i c s — o r p e rh a p s I o u g h t to sa y th e fo p s who w ere th e c r i t i c s . r . Lowe m ight v e r y w e ll have added t h a t w r i t e r s i n a l l lb s e q u e n t ag es seem to have ta k e n th e same p o in t o f v iew Lth th e alm o st i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t t h a t th e so b e r o c c u p a n ts f th e t h e a t r e came to be sh o v ed alm o st c o m p le te ly a s id e and L tim a te ly alm o st d e n ie d e x i s t e n c e . 90 Such an a t t i t u d e , o f D urse, m ight be ad ju d g e d c o n s i s t e n t w ith e f f e c t i v e new s- a.per r e p o r t i n g ; i t i s s c a r c e l y d e f e n s i b l e a s s c h o l a r s h i p t o r e a t o n ly th e b i z a r r e , th e a s to u n d in g , t h e re m a rk a b le in l y c a s e u n d er i n v e s t i g a t i o n sim p ly b e c a u s e i t o f f e r s i t e r e s t and m ig h t in c r e a s e th e s a l e of a book. Q uoting Dryden once a g a in , who had more t o say o f th e id ie n c e as w e ll a s o f a lm o st e v e ry th in g e l s e c o n c e rn in g th e l e a t r e th a n any o t h e r d u rin g t h a t p e r io d , one can show t h a t ren i n h i s p r e j u d i c e d view t h e r e w ere o t h e r s th a n fo p s and lo re s i n th e p i t . He w r i t e s , H e r e 's good Accommodation in th e P i t The Grave d em u re ly i n t h e m id st may s i t . . . .91 le re i s no i n d i c a t i o n o f th e r e l a t i v e s i z e o f th e g ro u p . 90 gee N i c o l l , A H is to r y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 8 . ) p o i n t o u t th e s a t i r e o f Lowe’ s s ta te m e n t i s n o t to show ;s in a c c u r a c y . 91 "P ro lo g u e f o r th e Women, when th e y A cted a t t h e .d T h e a tr e , L i n c o l n ’ s Inn F i e l d s . " T h is was in 1672 jc o rd in g t o S a in ts b u r y . See S c o tt and S a i n t s b u r y ’ s e d i t i o n ' The Works o f Jo h n D ryden, V o l. X, p . 317'. 128 i s t a r e c o g n i t i o n o f th e p o i n t t h a t i t e x i s t s . By c o n tin u in g t h i s somewhat q u e s tio n a b l e method o f Lacing f u l l c re d e n c e in th e t r u t h o f p r o lo g u e s and e p i - >gues, one can d e te rm in e by a f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e to t h i s ane p ro lo g u e t h a t o r d in a r y c i t i z e n s f r e q u e n te d th e t h e a t r e 1 th e tim e o f C h a rle s I I . Dryden c o n c lu d e s w ith th e s e Lnes, W e who lo o k u p , can y o u r a d d r e s s e s m ark. And se e t h e c r e a t u r e s c o u p le d in th e a rk : So we e x p e c t t h e l o v e r s , b r a v e s , an d w its ; The gaudy h o u se w ith s c e n e s w i l l s e r v e f o r c i t s .92 le same p o e t made th e same s o r t o f r e f e r e n c e in th e p r o - )gue to M a rria g e A 3 ^ Mode when he w ro te , Our c i t y f r i e n d s so f a r w i l l h a r d ly come. They can ta k e up w ith p l e a s u r e s n e a r e r home; And se e gay shows and gaudy s c e n e s e lse w h e re ; F o r we presum e th e y seldom come t o h e a r . B ut th e y h ave now t a ’ en up a g l o r i o u s t r a d e . And c u t t i n g M o re c ra ft s t r u t s in m a s q u e ra d e .93 R a v e n s c ro ft in th e e p ilo g u e t o h is C i tiz e n t u r n ’ d m tle m a n , w hich was a c te d a t D o rse t G arden in J u l y , 1 6 ?2 , 92 Loo. c i t . "The gaudy house w ith sc e n e s" was ’y d e n ’ s sn o b b is h way of r e f e r r i n g to D o rs e t Garden t h e a t r e lic h was e l a b o r a t e by co m p ariso n w ith th e T h e a tre R o y a l. 93 I b i d . , V o l. 3 o f th e D ram atic W orks, p . 258. As med th e r e f e r e n c e i s u n c o m p lim e n tary . S c o tt su p p o ses lat Dryden i s a l l u d i n g to R a v e n s c r o f t*s C i t i z e n t u r n ’d ; n tl e m a n ."à t r a n s m ig r a tio n somewhat r e s e m b lin g t h a t of L ttin g M o r e c r a f t." R a v e n s c r o f t’ s p la y was th e n b e in g p r o - iced a t th e Duke’ s Company i n D o rset G arden w hich, îc o rd in g t o M alone, was much f r e q u e n te d by c i t i z e n s i r t i c u l a r l y b e c a u s e o f i t s l o c a t i o n . 129 Lsowned the patronage o f th e c o u r t ie r s who kept m is t r e s s e s ^ohably because th ey c o n s t it u t e d the minor p o r tio n o f h is id ie n c e . From th e c o u r t p a r t y we hope no s u c c e s s ; Our a u th o r i s not one o f th e n o b le s s e . That b r a v e l y does m a in ta in h i s m iss in tow n. W h ilst my g r e a t la d y i s w ith sp e ed s e n t down; And f o r c e d in c o u n try m an sio n -h o u se t o f i x , That m iss may r a t t l e h e r e i n Coach— an d s i x . 94 >re an d m ore, t h e n , i t seems t h a t o r d in a r y p e o p le a tte n d e d le t h e a t r e and i n p a r t i c u l a r , D orset G arden. S ince Dryden * s (Mr 2 Lim berham , o r The Kind K e e n e r, 18 "a s a t i r e upon a C ourt v i c e , i t was deemed p e c u l i a r l y i l c u l a t e d f o r " t h e D u k e's T h e a t r e .95 U n f o r tu n a te ly f o r him le p l a y seems n o t to have b ee n c a l c u l a t e d f o r t h a t t h e a t r e ; a l l , i f in d e e d f o r an y . I t had a ru n o f o n ly t h r e e ly s. 9 6 F a r e a r l i e r i n th e p e r i o d th a n t h i s , how ever, th e t u r e S e c r e ta r y o f th e A d m ira lty had w r i t t e n o f o r d in a r y t i z e n s in th e t h e a t r e . On t h e day a f t e r C h ris tm a s , 1662, ipys w ent a lo n e , b u t w ith a g u i l t y c o n s c ie n c e f o r h a v in g 94 Edward R a v e n s c r o f t, E p ilo g u e to The C i tiz e n t u r n 'd m tle m a n , o r Mamamouchi (London: Thomas D rin g , l 6 ? 2 ) . 93 D ryden, W orks, S c o t t 's e d i t i o n . V o l. VI," p . 3 . 96 The in d e c e n c ie s p e r p e t r a t e d by Dryden u n d e r th e me o f comedy v e r y p ro b a b ly s ic k e n e d th e r e s p e c t a b l e p e o p le L O t r i e d to a t t e n d so t h a t i t s i l l q u a l i t i e s w ere n o is e d ro a d in th e m ost e f f e c t i v e m ethod o f a d v e r t i s i n g d u rin g lat p e r io d — word o f m outh— and th e p la y was c lo s e d . 130 >ne w ith o u t h ie w if e , t o th e D uke's T h e a tre w here he saw lomas P o r t e r 's h i t p la y . The V i l l i a n . 9 7 Here he a l s o saw > s n e ll, h i s w i f e 's in te n d e d m aid , and h e r s i s t e r who, w ith woman a f t e r th e p l a y , d e p a r te d f o r home o v e r th e f i e l d s on )ot " w ith o u t any m an." He w an ted t o a c c o s t them , h u t ïc id e d i t w ould n o t be w ise to do s o . 98 Of th e G o s n e ll who was M rs. Pepys* m aid f o r a v e r y ? ie f p e r io d and o f h e r s i s t e r v e ry l i t t l e i s known, i n i c t , n o t even t h e i r g iv e n nam es. Thus f a r no t h e a t r i c a l ïc o rd o f th e p e r i o d has been found t o in c lu d e th e name o f le m aid tu r n e d a c t r e s s ; o n ly Pepys r e f e r s t o h e r p e rfo rm - ice a t th e t h e a t r e . 99 itr may be r e a s o n a b ly assum ed, l e r e f o r e , t h a t th e y w ere, t o sa y th e l e a s t , from a f a m ily r m o d e ra te means and p o s i t i o n . 188 At m ost she m ust have 97 P epys, o ^ . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 5 3 5 * T his was one o f le o c c a s io n s on w h ich Pepys la m e n te d h i s i n s a t i a b l e a p p e l é f o r " p l e a s u r e , “ b u t he s a i d he w ould u se h i s o ld o a th ) c u rb t h a t u rg e " a f t e r two o r th r e e p la y s m ore." 98 To one f a m i l i a r w ith P e p y 's l a t e r a s s o c i a t i o n s .th women, h i s f e e l i n g s a s he saw th e two g i r l s and a iman s t a r t a c r o s s th e f i e l d s in th e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e i r home .ght be a s s a y e d w ith a c c u r a c y , no d o u b t, a s somewhat a k in > th o s e of th e w o lf a s he w a tc h e d L i t t l e Red R id in g Hood .s a p p e a r in th e f o r e s t on th e way t o h e r g r a n d m o th e r 's . 9 9 Pepys in tr o d u c e s h e r and h e r s i s t e r m e re ly by la tin g t h a t th e y w ere " a c q u a in ta n c e s o f my w i f e 's b r o t h e r 's , 10 a r e d e s ir o u s t o w a it upon some l a d i e s . . . . " Op. 1 . , V ol. 1 , p . 512. 180 I t I s s c a r c e l y t o be im agined t h a t th e d a u g h te r “ an u p p e r c l a s s f a m ily w ould be i n t e r e s t e d in s e r v in g a s 131 )me from what would he now c o n sid e r e d a "middle c la s s " «nily ,181 On s e v e r a l o c c a sio n s Pepys m entions th e p resen ce o f c itiz e n s " in th e th e a tr e . On December 2 ? , 1662, he and h is .f e v i s i t e d th e D uke's house to se e th e secon d p art o f th e Lege o f Rhodes > but he was n ot . . . so w e l l p le a se d w ith th e company a t th e house to d a y , w hich was f u l l o f c i t i z e n s , th e r e h ard ly b e in g a gentlem an or woman in th e house; a co u p le o f p r e t t y l a d i e s by us th a t made sp o rt in i t , b e in g j o s t l e d and crowded by p r e n t i c e s .182 le can h ard ly r e s i s t s m ilin g a t the l o f t i n e s s o f tone w ith lic h t h i s son o f a London t a i l o r r e f e r s to c i t i z e n s and lid in th e h ou seh old o f a government o f f i c i a l o f no v e r y ’e a t s t a t u s . I t i s tru e th a t Pepys r e f e r s to her as a gentlewoman" and remarks th a t "I f e a r she hath been bred ) w ith to o g rea t l i b e r t y f o r my fa m ily , and I fe a r g r e a te r icon ven ien ces o f ex p en se s, and my w i f e ’s l i b e r t y w i l l )llo w , w hich I must stud y to a v o id t i l l I have a b e t t e r ir s e . . . . " This by no means e s t a b lis h e s her fa m ily > s itio n as upper c l a s s . 181 L ouis B. W right, M iddle C laes C ulture in E liz a - ?than England (Chapel H ill: The U n iv e r s ity o f North ir o lin a P r e s s , 1935)» P* 2 . Wright g iv e s an e x c e lle n t [p la n a tio n o f th e "m obility" o f the d if f e r e n t c l a s s e s . )ut th e l i n e s o f d i s t i n c t i o n , even in th e s t r a t i f i e d ) c ie t y o f th e s ix t e e n t h and se v e n te e n th c e n t u r ie s , were not .a t in o t and m u tu a lly e x c lu s iv e . The h ig h e s t c a s te was :e r n a lly b ein g r e c r u it e d from th e ranks o f th e r i c h mer- la n ts , and th e lo w e s t was alw ays b ein g s w e lle d by econom ic î r e l i c t s . From b o th extrem es th e m iddle c l a s s absorbed iw r e c r u it s ." That such m o b ilit y i s p r e se n t in modern ► c i a l s tr u c tu r e s may be seen in John P. Mar quand. P o in t o f I Return (B oston: L i t t l e , Brown and Company, 1949)» ’ 3 8 5 e t seq . 102 Pepys, op. c i t .. V ol. 1, p. 536. 132 'e n tic e s as though he h im s e lf had been born to th e n o b il- y. Only f i v e days l a t e r he and h is w if e were a g a in at le Duke's house to se e once more The V iI li a n by P o r t e r .^83 ipys adm its th a t th e more he s e e s i t , th e b e t t e r he l i k e s . . . i t b e in g v ery good and p le a s a n t , and y e t a tru e and a llo w a b le tr a g e d y . The house was f u l l o f c i t i z e n s , and so th e l e s s p le a s a n t, but tha,t I was w i l l i n g t o make an end o f Ay g a d d in g s, and to s e t to my b u sin e ss f o r a l l th e year a g a in tomorrow. t h i s perform ance th ey a ls o saw "the Old R oxalana, " iz a b e th D avenport, "in th e c h ie f b ox, in a v e lv e t gown . . a t w hich I was g l a d . "104 Two years e a r l i e r he had been a t a perform ance o f The s t L ad y , 103 where he was tr o u b le d a t b e in g seen by fo u r erks from h is o f f i c e . ^^6 Hot o n ly were th e s e c i t i z e n s a t e t h e a t r e , th e y were a ls o s i t t i n g in what Pepys c a l l s "the 103 I b id . . V o l. 1 , pp. 5 4 2-543. 104 E liz a b e th Davenport had been th e f i r s t Roxalana D evenant' s S ieg e o f Rhodes (e x c e p tin g Mrs. Coleman who t e d th e part in l 6 5 5 - - s e e Lowe's e d it io n o f C ib b er's o l o g y , Volé 1, p . 9 0 , n ote) and had been seduced a f t e r e a t t r ic k e r y by Aubrey de V ere, Earl o f Oxford. See m oirs o f Count Gramont by Anthony H am ilton, A llan Fea, i t o r , {London: B ick ers and Son, I 9 0 6 ) , pp. 247-248. 1 0 5 A t r a g i — comedy by S ir W illiam B a r cla y , p u b lish e d 1 6 3 8 . Pepys, op. c i t ., V ol. 1 , p. 223 » 133 ilf-cro w n box" w h ile he h im s e lf sa t in th e 18d. g a l l e r y . 107 leth er h is d istu r b a n c e at b e in g seen by h is c le r k s stemmed *om h is r e a l i z a t i o n o f th e bad example he was s e t t i n g by ling away from h is work f o r th e always q u e stio n a b le purpose ' en terta in m en t a t th e t h e a t r e , or from a f e e l i n g o f b a r r a s sment a t occupying a l e s s e x p e n siv e se a t than h is i f e r io r s , or b o th , i s not p e r f e c t l y c l e a r . I t i s c l e a r , however, th a t he d isap proved o f g oin g lyond o n e 's means fo r such d iv e r s io n s , as he s e t s f o r t h in te manner o f the self-m a d e man who never m isse s an op p ortu - t y to expound th e s t o r i e s o f h is e a r ly s t r u g g le s and h is b sequent r i s e to prominence and power. On January 1 , • 6 8 , h e, a p p a r e n tly a lo n e , went to the Duke o f Y ork's p la y - luse to se e a perform ance o f S ir Mart in M a r-a ll w hich he d "seen so o f t e n ," but he l i k e d i t so much th a t he n tin u ed t o a t t e n d .188 Here he saw A m ighty company o f c i t i z e n s , ' p r e n t i c e s , and o th e r s ; and i t makes me o b serv e, th a t when I begun f i r s t t o be 107 The m a tter of th e "h alf-crow n box" has been cause r s c h o la r ly r e f l e c t i o n s in c e i t i s known that th e p r ic e o f m is s io n to th e p i t was a h a lf-c r o w n . Lowe, Thomas t t e r t o n , p . 20, surm ises th a t Pepys erred in t h i s s t a t e - nt and su g g e sts th a t he may have meant "the e ig h te e n - nny box," Ta d o u b tfu l gu ess s in c e Pepys in d ic a t e s a j f i n i t e d i s t i n c t i o n between th e h a lf-cro w n box and th e I 8d . : ace where he h im s e lf s a t ) th e p i t i t s e l f , or p o s s ib ly an I mnibus box" a t t h e same r a te as th e p i t . ! 108 Pepys, op. c i t . , V o l. 2, p . 756. The p la y was by •vden from M o lie r e 's 1'E to u rd i. 134 a b le to bestow a p la y on m y s e lf, I do not remember th a t I saw so many by h a lf o f th e ord in ary 'p r e n t ic e s and mean p eop le in th e p it a t 2 s . 6 d. a p ie c e as now; I goin g f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s no h ig h e r than th e l 8d. p la c e s , though I s tr a in e d hard to go in them when I d id : so much th e v a n ity and p r o d ig a lit y o f th e age i s to be ob served in t h i s p a r t ic u la r . I t i s p e r tin e n t to t h i s d is c u s s io n to ob serve th a t o f e s s o r N ic o ll has s t a te d th a t th e p re se n c e of c i t i z e n s L th e th e a tr e was noted by Pepys "always as an e x c e p tio n ," lic h , o f co u rse, i s e x a c t ly th e o p p o site o f what th e above em says.189 Not o n ly does Pepys g iv e no in d ic a t io n th a t le p resen ce o f c i t i z e n s in th e th e a tr e was e x c e p tio n a l, he a t e s v er y c l e a r l y th a t s in c e he began a tte n d in g p l a y s , me e ig h t years e a r l i e r , he d oes not remember "so many by I f o f the o rd in a ry 'p r e n t ic e s and mean p eo p le in th e p it at • 6 d . a— p ie c e as now." Nor does he r e f e r to th a t p a r t ic u - r perform ance; th e "as now" i s a d ir e c t in d ic a t io n th a t he ans in th at tim e g e n e r a lly . At f i r s t g la n c e P ep y s' statem ent seem s to be in n tr a d ic t io n to th a t made by K illig r e w to Pepys alm ost a ar earlier. 118 A c tu a lly , however, when K illig r e w s a id to pys "that th e C ity audience was as good as th e Court, but w th e y are most gone," th e th e a tr e s had been reopened t e r th e p lagu e and the f i r e f o r o n ly a l i t t l e more than ^89 H ic o ll, R e sto r a tio n Drama, p . 7 , n o te 2 . 110 P en v s. on. c i t . . V o l. 2. o . 422. 135 ro m o n th s, and I t c o u ld be e x p e c te d t h a t th e c i t i z e n s , who •e alw a y s g r a v e ly a f f e c t e d by su c h c a l a m i t i e s , w ould n o t len have been a b le to r e c o v e r in s u f f i c i e n t num bers to (tu rn i n volume to th e t h e a t r e s . In f a c t , th e problem was .ch t h a t t h e r e was g r e a t c o n c e rn on th e p a r t o f C h a rle s and le governm ent t h a t th o u sa n d s of s k i l l e d c ra fts m e n and adesm en who w ere f o rc e d t o e v a c u a te t h e c i t y d u rin g th e r e w o u ld sim p ly n e v e r r e t u r n b e c a u se th e y c o u ld f i n d more e a s a n t s u r ro u n d in g s i n a r e a s somewhat rem oved from n d o n •^^1 The m a j o r i t y of th e c i t i z e n s w ere e i t h e r l i v i n g a s b e s t th e y c o u ld in th e in c o n v e n ie n c e an d d is c o m fo rt o f te m p o ra ry h a b i t a t i o n s o r p a y in g heavy r e n t s f o r h o u se s i n th e s u b u rb s . Thus i t can b e seen t h a t i t would have been e x c e p - o n a l in d e e d i f th e c i t y a u d ie n c e had r e t u r n e d to th e e a t r e s by e a r l y F e b ru a ry , 1 667. There i s , t h e r e f o r e , no c e s s a r y d is a g re e m e n t betw een t h e s ta te m e n ts o f Pepys and l l i g r e w . M oreover, i t has n e v e r been c o n te n d e d t h a t l a r g e m bers o f c i t i z e n s a tte n d e d K i l l i g r e w 's T h e a tre R oyal 111 See T. F . Reddaway, The R e b u ild in g of London t e r th e G reat F i r e (London: Jo n a th o n C ape, 194b) p p . 46 e t q. The governm ent was so f r i g h t e n e d a t th e p r o s p e c t o f s in g p o s à ib ly th o u s a n d s o f c i t i z e n s t h a t in i t s d r a f t o f a b u i l d i n g A ct, i t p u t c la u s e s w hich w ould have "c o m p elled 1 m e rc h a n ts l i v i n g w ith in tw e n ty m ile s o f th e c i t y an d a d i n g t h e r e i n , i n p e rso n o r th r o u g h a g e n t s , t o ta k e up f i c e i n th e c i t y i f e l e c t e d t o i t . " 112 Ibid., p. 48. 136 3g u l a r l y . But th e y d id a tte n d . N ic o l l has t r i e d to make a )in t o f the in fr eq u e n c y o f r e fe r e n c e by Pepys to ord in ary L tizens in th e th e a tr e and to e s t a b l i s h th ereb y th e absence * t h i s elem ent a t plays.H 3 In h is apparent h a ste to 5Complish this, he has overlooked at least one o c c a s io n , ly 1 , 1667, on w hich Pepys accompanied S ir W illiam Penn to le T heatre Royal to se e a g a in S h ir le y 's The Changes, or ye in a Maze.H ^ The f a c t th a t he thou ght i t a "sorry ay" was no doubt accoun ted f o r in p a rt by th e a u d ie n c e. lere was but l i t t l e , and th a t o rd in a ry , company." He and r W illiam sa t on th e upper bench . . . n ex t th e boxes; and I fin d i t do p r e t t y w e l l , and have th e advantage o f s e e in g and h ea rin g th e g re a t p e o p le , w hich may be p le a s a n t when th e r e i s good s t o r e . Now was o n ly P rin ce Rupert and my Lord L auderdale, and my Lord — — — — — — * . . .115 n e e , alth ou gh " c itiz e n s " by name are not m entioned, th e re l i t t l e ch o ic e h ere excep t to b e lie v e th a t th e s e were ^^3 N i c o l l , R e sto r a tio n Drama, p . 7, n ote 2 . 11^ He had se en the p la y tw ice b e f o r e . May 22, l6 6 2 , ne 1 0 , 1 6 6 3 » and was to s e e i t tw ic e more a f t e r th a t t e , February 7» 1668 and A p r il 2 8 th o f th e same y e a r . Of s f i v e tim es to se e the p la y Penn was w ith him on th r e e c a s io n s . In s p i t e o f t h e i r freq u en t p e r so n a l and p r o f e s - onal d if f e r e n c e s , Penn was prob ably Pepys* most c o n s is t e n t mpanion to th e th e a tr e — e x c e p tin g Mrs. P ep ys, o f c o u r se , p y s , op,, c i t . , V o l. 2 , p# 5 0 6 . 115 L oc. C i t . Braybrooke in a n o te s t a t e s th a t t h i s a p rob ably Lord Craven. I 137 ■dinary c i t i z e n s or a t b e s t th a t b o r d e r lin e m iddle c l a s s .rough w hich th e f a i n t , f i n e l i n e between "gentleman" and it iz e n " can r a r e ly be c l e a r l y d is t in g u is h e d . In any even t e ev id en ce i s again q u ite damaging to N ic o ll* s C onclu sion , n a l l y , t h i s was a d a te n ot even approaching any h o lid a y d on a day, t h i s perhaps on ly too fr e q u e n t, when th ere re few p e o p le a t th e p l a y , and l a s t b ut not l e a s t s i g n i f i â t , th e p la y was a t th e K in g 's and n o t th e Duke's Theatre ere c i t i z e n s were ex p ec te d to go-— i f a t a l l . Pepys r e f e r s a g a in to o r d in a r y c i t i z e n s by name on e in g F l e t c h e r 's o ld p l a y . Women P l e a s e d , a t th e D u k e's e a t r e in December, 1 6 6 8 He s t a t e s t h a t th e house s f u l l o f o r d in a r y " c i t i z e n s . " T h is w as, o f c o u r s e , th e r is tm a s s e a s o n when i t was to be e x p e c te d t h a t more p e o - e o f a l l c l a s s e s w ould a t t e n d th e t h e a t r e . T here i s no atem en t o r even s u g g e s tio n t h a t t h i s was a v ery u n u s u a l c u rre n o e , a lth o u g h many c i t i z e n s w ould p ro b a b ly f i n d i t re c o n v e n ie n t to a t t e n d th e t h e a t r e i n th e h o lid a y se a so n . There i s s t i l l fu r th e r r e fe r e n c e by Pepys to a tte n d ee a t the th e a tr e by c i t i z e n s . He went a lo n e to the : e 's T heatre where he met h is w ife and h is c le r k . W ill lÿjzÉ" » Vol. 2, p . 988. The p la y was f i r s t pub- ïhed in l6 4 ? . Pepys and h i s w ife saw i t on December 26, )8. 138 ewer, to se e ^ Quoque when i t was f i r s t a c t e d . A g a i n 3 d is p l a y e d a s u p e r c i l i o u s and p a t r o n i z i n g a t t i t u d e when he ?ote t h a t th e p l a y was v e r y s i l l y " f o r I , and o t h e r s t h a t it by me, Mr. Povy and Mr. P r o g e r s , w ere w eary of i t ; b u t : w i l l p le a s e th e c i t i z e n s . " Once m ore, th e n , Pepys w r i t e s r c i t i z e n s a s su c h a t th e t h e a t r e a lth o u g h n o t of t h e imber o r o f a p a r t i c u l a r o c c a s io n ; t h i s i s a sim p le r e c o g - L tlon o f th e f a c t o f t h e i r norm al p r e s e n c e th e r e and of h i s n o p in io n o f t h e i r t a s t e in dram a. There a r e in n u m e ra b le r e f e r e n c e s by Pepys to th e e s e n c e o f h i s own c l a s s o f p e o p le — h i s a n d h is w i f e 's s o c i a t e s — i n t h e t h e a t r e . Many tim e s th e y a r e l i s t e d a s 8 com panions in a t t e n d i n g th e p la y ; a t o t h e r s he sim p ly t e s t h e i r p r e s e n c e and makes any rem ark c o n c e rn in g them a t he th in k s a p p r o p r i a t e . I t i s o f p a r t ic u la r concern to f in d th a t even c h i l - en a tte n d ed th e p layhouse w ith t h e ir p a r e n ts . On December , 1 6 6 8 , Mr. and Mrs. Pepys were at a perform ance o f King nry th e E ig h t3 :^ , w hich he and many o th e r s li k e d v e r y much, ere th ey happened t o s i t by "Hr. Andrews, our n eig h b o r, o t a lk e d so fo n d ly to h is l i t t l e boy. « H 8 The f a c t th a t I b i d . . V ol. 2, p . 655* Septem ber 12, 1667. Tu oque was o r i g i n a l l y by Jo h n Cooke; D evenant had a l t e r e d somewhat f o r t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n . Ibid. , V ol. 2, p . 989# This was at th e Duke's 139 e r e i s no n o te o f s u r p r i s e a t th e p r e s e n c e o f t h e l i t t l e y i n d i c a t e s r a t h e r c l e a r l y t h a t a t l e a s t such a c irc u m - an ce was n o t u n iq u e . I t w ould be i d l e to c o n te n d t h a t i l d r e n a t t e n d e d o f te n an d in g r e a t num bers, b u t th e p r e s - ce o f Mr. Andrew* s l i t t l e boy w ith a n o te o f p l e a s a n t mment on th e m a tte r by Pepys s tr o n g ly s u g g e s ts t h a t th e e a t r e was g e n e r a l l y a much more c i v i l i z e d p la c e o f e n t e r - inm ent th a n i t h a s h i t h e r t o been p i c t u r e d . S hould one choose to compare th e number o f r e f e r e n c e s Pepys to g a l l a n t s i n th e t h e a t r e w ith th e pumber r e f e r - ng to c i t i z e n s o r th e m id d le c l a s s , one w ould d is c o v e r a t th e l a t t e r a r e m e n tio n e d more o f t e n , u n l e s s , o f c o u rs e , e ch o o ses t o co u n t C h a rle s I I a g a l l a n t . ^^9 N o n e th e le s s , pys does m e n tio n t h i s g roup and i n s u c h a way t h a t t h e i r esen ce seem s n e i t h e r more n o r l e s s e x c e p tio n a l th a n t h a t c i t i z e n s . He w r i t e s : e a t r e . K ing Henry th e E ig h th e n jo y e d one o f th e l o n g e s t, n o t th e l o n g e s t , ru n s i n R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tre h i s t o r y , a t in u in g a t i t s f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i o n f o r a p e r i o d o f f i f - en days a c c o r d in g to Downes, p . 24. A to n e o f w i s t f u l - 3S i s s u g g e s te d in Pepys la n g u a g e h e r e ; he once^ Ja n u a ry 1660, w ro te h o p e f u lly t h a t he th o u g h t h i s w ife was p r e g - a t and v ery d i s a p p o in te d ly when sh e was found n o t to b e . ^^9 A lth o u g h by c h a r a c t e r and a c t i o n C h a rle s c o u ld q u e s tio n a b ly q u a l i f y a s a g a l l a n t , h e , th ro u g h h i s u n iq u e a i t i o n can h a r d ly be c l a s s e d w ith them . 140 A f t e r d in n e r . . . my w ife [he does n o t m e n tio n him s e l f b u t e v i d e n t l y he a l s g went to th e K in g 's p la y h o u se t o se e ' The N o rth e rn C a s tle ,* w hich I t h in k I n e v e r d id s e e b e f o r e . K nipp a c te d i n i t , and d i d h e r p a r t v e r y e x t r a o r d i n a r y w e ll; b u t th e p la y i s b u t a mean s o r r y p la y ; b u t th e house v e ry f u l l o f g a l l a n t s . 120 lu s , i f one chose to make a c a s e f o r th e e x c e p tio n a l p r e s - ice i n th e t h e a t r e o f g a l l a n t s a s su c h , one c o u ld do so on le e v id e n c e fo u n d , o r n o t fo u n d in Pepys* D ia ry . To : tem p t su c h a t h i n g , how ever, would be m a n if e s tl y f o o l i s h . ' th e same to k e n i t i s s c a r c e l y th e b e t t e r p a r t o f wisdom I i n s i s t on th e a b se n c e o f c i t i z e n s b e c a u s e o f th e a l l e g e d ifre q u e n c y w ith w h ich th e y a r e m e n tio n e d in th e D ia r y . E x c lu d in g M rs. Pepys an d S i r W illia m Penn, Pepys* >st c o n s i s t e n t p la y h o u s e com panions, th e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f le p e o p le who a t t e n d e d th e t h e a t r e w ith him w ere th o s e of .8 own c l a s s , t h a t i s , th e s t r u g g l i n g and r i s i n g m id d le a s s . Among t h e s e w ere F e r r e r s a n d C ree d , l i t t l e more th a n 'USted s e r v a n ts in th e r e t i n u e o f Edward M ontagu, E a r l o f n d w ic h , j u s t a s was Pepys h im s e lf b e f o r e he became C le rk th e A cts o f th e N avy.1^1 On August 1 7 , 1664, he an d h i s f e h a d q u i t e a d i s c u s s i o n o f th e p la y H enry V, one o f th e 120 P ep y s, OP. c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 656. N othing f u r t h e r known of t h i s p la y . 121 A rth u r B ry a n t, Samuel P e p y s, The Man in th e k in g (C am bridge: The U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), p p . 3 2 , 37- 141 .t s o f th e p e r i o d , w ith D r. an d M rs. G i e r k e . ^^2 on Decem- >r 2 6 , 1666, M rs. Pepys to o k a s h e r g u e s ts t o th e D u k e's m se M rs. Andrews and M rs. B a t e l i e r a s w e l l a s h e r fo rm e r Lid, Mercer.^^3 On F e b ru a ry 13 , 1667, a t dinner a t Dr. . e r k e 's . C a p ta in Cooke^^4 . . . had th e a rr o g a n c e to sa y t h a t he was f a i n to d i r e c t S ir W . D avenant i n t h e b r e a k in g o f h i s v e r s e s i n t o su ch and su c h l e n g t h s , a c c o rd in g a s w ould be f i t f o r m u sick , and how he u se d to sw ear a t D avenant. . . . '. C le rk e th e n ad d e d h is c r i t i c i s m t h a t S i r W illiam was "no •od Judge o f a d r a m a tic k poem. . . ." T h is was fo llo w e d by comment from P e p y s, and t h u s w ent a s p i r i t e d d i s c u s s i o n o f le t h e a t r e , dram a, and m usic by i n t e r e s t e d m id d le c l a s s o p le i n R e s to r a ti o n tim e s . On March 7 , 1667, M rs. P epys, and M rs. Hewer, W i l l 's t h e r , went to t h e D u k e's T h e a tre to se e The E n g lis h i n c e a s , o r R ic h a rd th e T h ird by John Caryl.^^5 Only a n t h l a t e r th e s e two w ith W ill Hewer and B a rk e r, M rs. I b i d . , p. 103# He an d Dr. C le rk e had s h a re d th e r p e n t e r 's c a b in on th e s h ip t h a t b ro u g h t th e King and Duke ck to E ngland in l6 6 o . 123 124 P e p y s, op.. c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 283. B ry a n t, o p . c i t . » p . 234. Cooke was a c o u r t s i c i a n . 125 I b i d . . p . 118. B e t t e r t o n p la y e d R ic h a rd , Henry r r i s , th e Elarl o f Richmond, and W illiam S m ith , S i r l l i a m S ta n le y . M rs. Hewer was a s i s t e r o f R o b ert a c k b u rn , fo rm e r S e c r e ta r y to th e A d m ira lty . 142 pys* m aid a t t h a t tim e , saw Jo h n Lacy p l a y Sawny i n h i s m a d a p t a t i o n o f S h a k e s p e a r e 's Taming o f a S h r e w . 1^8 Time a f t e r tim e r e f e r e n c e i s made t o m id d le c l a s s o p le by name in th e p la y h o u s e s and i n t h e a t r e d i s c u s s i o n s Lich em p h asizes t h e i n t e r e s t an d a tte n d a n c e o f t h a t g ro u p L th e t h e a t r e o f th e tim e . As f o r m o r a ls , e x c e p t f o r .r g a r e t G o d o lp h in , p o s s i b l y no more m o ra l p e rs o n th a n i z a b e t h Pepys e v e r e n t e r e d t h e p la y h o u s e .127 F a m ilie s te n d e d th e t h e a t r e a s i s shown by th e p r e s e n c e o f th e drew s and by M rs. Hewer and h e r so n . W i ll. The m ost p e r s i s t e n t p la y h o u s e v i s i t o r o f a l l , a s f a r th e r e c o r d s show, was m ost c e r t a i n l y a man o f th e o p l e . 128 H is f a t h e r was n o t o n ly a London t a i l o r , he was t h e g ro u p known a s " f o r e ig n " t a i l o r s , who, a lth o u g h th e y d s e rv e d a p p r e n t i c e s h i p s in London, w ere n o t o f th e 1 2 6 P ep y s, o p . G i t . , V o l. 2 , p p . 4 8 3 -4 8 4 . L acy a p t e d th e t i t l e a lo n g w ith th e p la y and c a l l e d i t Sawny S c o t > 'o r The Taming o f a Shrew . U n f o r tu n a te ly f o r h e r , o f c o u r s e , no su c h a c cu t i on c o u ld be made a g a i n s t h e r hu sb an d . Samuel was i t e J e a lo u s o f E l i z a b e t h , i n s p i t e o f h i s own im p e rf e c - o n s , b u t he n e v e r c o n v ic te d h e r o f i n f i d e l i t y a s he d id m s e lf . 128 To th o s e who a rg u e a tte n d a n c e o n ly by th e c o u r t d i t s s a t e l l i t e s , i t m ust be s t a t e d t h a t th e s a t e l l i t e s n s i s t e d q u i t e l a r g e l y o f t h e m iddle c l a s s who w ere l a r g e l y th e modern v e r n a c u l a r , r i c h o r w e l l - t o - d o " s o c i a l im b e r s ." 143 I v l l e g e d G u ild o f M erchant Tailors.129 He t h e r e f o r e was r e e d t o o p e r a te "u n d er c e r t a i n r a t h e r d u b io u s r i g h t s in le n e ig h b o rh o o d o f B l a c k f r i a r s and S a l i s b u r y C o u rt." In i t e o f h is h a v in g b een a d m itte d to th e G u ild o f M erchant i l o r s in 1653, Jo h n Pepys was n e v e r f i n a n c i a l l y s u c c e s s f u l t h a t when he f i n a l l y r e t i r e d , he was due a b o u t t 4 5 from b t o r s and owed th e same amount to c r e d i t o r s . 130 P ep y s' m o th e r was M a rg a re t K ite , s i s t e r o f a W h ite- a p e l b u tc h e r , "a young woman o f humble s to c k who b e f o r e r m a rria g e h ad b e e n a w a sh m a id ."131 P e p y s ' h a l f — u n c l e , g h t, was a fish m o n g e r; h i s u n c l e F e n n e r, a b l a c k s m i t h . ^3? As f o r th e fa m ily o f h i s w ife E l i z a b e t h , h e r f a t h e r 129 B r y a n t, P e p y s, The Man in th e M aking. See t h e o r t e n e d P e d ig re e of Samuel Pepys o p p o s ite p . 1 . To b e lo n g th e M erchant T a i l o r s G u ild one had t o be b o m in London, th o u g h S am u e l's f a t h e r was b o rn a t Im p in g to n , he was n o t th e i n f l u e n t i a l b ra n c h w h ich came from th e supposed cond m a rria g e o f th e e a r l y Jo h n Pepys o f C ottenham who ed i n 1589. From t h a t b r a n c h , th ro u g h th e m a rria g e o f u l i n a w ith S i r S id n ey M ontagu, came th e E a r ls o f Sandw ich, e f i r s t o f whom was Sam 's g r e a t e s t b e n e f a c t o r . I b i d . , p . 31. In 1649 b u s in e s s was so b ad t h a t e G u ild members p e t i t i o n e d th e Lord Mayor to s u p p r e s s th e o re ig n " t a i l o r s and John Pepys was even d e n ie d th e r i g h t v o te a s a " f r e e m an." 1 3 1 I b i d . . p . 4. She seems t o have b ee n so m e th in g of sh rew , b u t a l t o g e t h e r sh e b o re h e r h u sb an d e le v e n c h i l - e n , o n ly two o f whom, Samuel and P a u lin a , l i v e d even to d d le a g e . I b i d *, p . 8. ' H is U ncle Thomas and h i s "Aunt mes" w ere f a n a t i c a l l y r e l i g i o u s P u r it a n s and a l l t h e hei»a least moderate Puritans. 144 ,d b e e n th e son o f a p ro m in en t F re n c h family,^33 and h e r t h e r th e d a u g h te r o f an A n g l o - I r i s h g e n tle m a n , named S ir a n c is K in g s m ill .^ 3 4 In s p i t e o f t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l l y g e n t l e r t h , E liz a b e t h was th e d a u g h te r o f a r e l a t i v e l y p o v e r ty r i c k e n fa m ily t h a t had moved downward in t h e s o c i a l s c a l e i t d id in th e econom ic, th u s show ing th e ‘ ‘m o b i l i t y ” of e “lo w e r— u p p e r ” c l a s s in s o c i e t y when econom ic a d v e r s i t y m e t,1 3 5 Her b r o t h e r , “B a i t y , ” was a b l e t o g e t work and come s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g m a in ly th ro u g h th e in f lu e n c e of pys- Thus i t can be se en t h a t a lth o u g h P epys and h i s w ife me t o be a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e m ig h ty , th e y came from f am i es t h a t e i t h e r th ro u g h h e r i t a g e o r m is f o r tu n e w ere r t a i n l y n o t above th e ra n k o f c i t i z e n o r m id d le c l a s s , pys c o u ld s ig n h im s e lf “E s q u i r e , **^36 o n ly by d i n t o f ^33 I b i d . . p . 27* H is name was A le x a n d e r l e M archant S t . M ic h e l. He had e n te r e d G-erman s e r v i c e and had become H uguenot in t h e p r o c e s s . L a te r he came t o E ngland in th e t i n u e o f th e young Queen H e n r i e t t a , b u t , a c c o rd in g to h i s o r y , when she le a r n e d he d id n o t a t t e n d m ass and had l e f t e C a th o lic f a i t h , she d is m is s e d him. He was th u s l e f t in f o r e i g n c o u n try w ith o u t m eans o r means o f s u p p o r t. I b i d . . p . 2 6 . A p p a re n tly S i r F r a n c is was h im s e lf t f i n a n c i a l l y w e l l o f f s in c e h i s d a u g h te r was c a l l e d e n n i l e s s . ” 1 3 5 W rig h t, op>. G i t . , M iddle C la s s C u ltu re in E l l z a - th a n E n g lan d , p . 3* 1 3 6 3ee Q ". M. T re v e ly a n , E n g lis h S o c ia l H is to r y cndon: Longmans, Green an d Company, se c o n d e d i t i o n , 1 9 4 6 ), 145 .ev e r management and h a rd w ork d i d he r e a c h t h a t e x a l t e d , ► r him , s t a t e a f t e r th e i n i t i a l im petus g iv e n him by th e i r l o f Sandw ich. C i tiz e n Pepys and h i s l o f t y o r s n e e r in g r e f e r e n c e s to t i z e n s and m id d le c l a s s p e o p le in th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e s of le day by no means c o n s t i t u t e th e o n ly e v id e n c e of t h e •oup th e re * The E a r l o f C la re n d o n , f i r s t L ord C h a n c e llo r ‘ E n g lan d u n d er C h a rle s I I , i n h is “D ia lo g u e C o n cern in g .u o a tio n ” w ro te o f th e e x tra v a g a n c e o f a p l a i n c i t i z e n who u l d o f t e n spend “a s h i l l i n g to se e a P la y when he h ad not it *em so much t h a t Day t o s u p p o rt h i s W ife and C h ll- •en. “^37 When S i r C h a rle s S e d le y , Lord B u c k h u rs t, S i r Edward Im e r, and S id n ey G odolphin, u n d e r th e s u p e r v is io n o f mund W a lle r,' t r a n s l a t e d C o r n e i l l e * s W M ort de Pompe e i n to .g l i s h f o r th e R e s t o r a t i o n s t a g e , Thomas B e t t e r t o n p o s s i b l y ,ayed th e p a r t o f C a e s a r . ^38 As was th e custom o f th e me, th e c h a r a c t e r s l a r g e l y assum ed th e d r e s s n o t o f d e n t Rome b u t o f s e v e n te e n th c e n tu ry E n g lan d . C a e sa r 277- “E s q u ir e ” i s one ra n k above “G e n tle m a n ,” one ra n k low “K n ig h t.” Edward Hyde, E a r l o f C la re n d o n , “D ialo g u e Con- r n i n g E d u c a tio n ” in Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , p . 41. ^38 Y, de S o la P in to , S i r C h a rle s S e d le y (New Y ork: n i and L i v e r i g h t , 1 9 2 7 ), p . 82. 146 >peared w ith “a f e a t h e r and a s t a f f ” and was h i s s e d from le s t a g e . “The ‘ c i t i z e n s w iv e s * - - th e y w o u ld n a t u r a l l y form l a r g e p a r t o f t h e a u d ie n c e o f th e L i n c o l n ‘ s Inn House— a r e i d t o have b ee n c h i e f l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s d i s a s t e r . . ."139 I f p r o lo g u e s and e p ilo g u e s can be a d m itte d a s e v i n c e , th o s e to The G entlem an D ancing M a s te r by W illiam c h e r l e y make i n t e r e s t i n g m a t t e r on a u d ie n c e co m p o sitio n .^ ^ ^ le “P ro lo g u e to t h e C i t y ” s t a t e s : Our a u th o r ( l i k e u s) f i n d i n g *t w ould s c a r c e do At *t o th e r end o ‘ th* tow n, i s come t o you; And, s in c e t ' i s h is l a s t t r i a l , has t h a t w it To throw h im s e lf on a s u b s t a n t i a l p i t ; Where need y w it o r c r i t i c d a re n o t come L e s t N e ig h b o r i* th e c lo a k , w ith lo o k s so grum. Should p ro v e a dun; Where punk i n v i z o r d a r e n o t r a n t and t e a r To p u t u s o u t , s in c e B r id e w e ll i s so n e a r: In s h o r t , we s h a l l be h e a r d , be u n d e r s to o d . I f n o t, s h a l l be a d m ire d , and t h a t ' s a s good. L oc. c i t . There i s t h e s u g g e s tio n , how ever, t h a t )t o n ly th e d r e e s o f C a esa r b u t a ls o th e p l a y i t s e l f may Lve b e e n a t f a u l t . The c i t i z e n s may have found The F re n c h convey t h e i r arg u m e n ts to o much In D ia lo g u e ; t h e i r Speeches a r e to o lo n g . 140 P ro d u c ed a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre , D o rset G arden, imetime betw een Decem ber, l 6 ? l , and M arch, l6 ? 2 . W . C. trd , in h is e d i t i o n . The M ermaid S e r i e s , o f W v ch erlev *s *am atic Works (London: T. F i s h e r Unwin, L t d . ) , pp. 1 2 6 - 17$ s t a t e s t h a t t h e o p en in g l i n e s o f th e p ro lo g u e im ply lat th e same company had p ro d u c e d t h i s p l a y a t th e o ld luse in L i n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s u n s u c c e s s f u l l y and t h a t i t L d th e n been b r o u g h t t o t h e new t h e a t r e i n D orset G arden lere i t was n o t v e r y s u c c e s s f u l , b e in g p r e s e n t e d o n ly s i x .mes. 147 Nay, w here no se n se w as, you a j e s t w ould f i n d : And n e v e r was i t h e a rd of t h a t th e c i t y Did e v e r ta k e o c c a s io n to be w i t t y Upon d u l l p o e t , o r s t i f f p la y e r s a c t i o n . But s t i l l w ith c la p s oppose th e h i s s i n g f a c t i o n . t o n ly w ere t h e r e c i t i z e n s i n th e a u d ie n c e in I 6 7 I , i f th e ove be a c c e p te d , th e y w ere a l s o th e g r e a t l y p r e f e r r e d d i t o r s o f th e tim e . Here i s r e f e r e n c e t o th e “s u b s ta n a l " p la y g o e r who w i l l n o t l i k e l y f i n d t h e needy w it o r i t i o b e s id e him b e c a u se th e s a i d w it o r c r i t i c knows t h a t m ig h t f i n d h im s e lf b e s id e a c r e d i t o r a t t h e D uke's House, r e a l s o i s r e f e r e n c e to t h e u n w illin g n e s s o f t h i s g ro u p to f f e r annoyance from p o s s i b l e d i s t u r b e r s among th e a u d i - c e . The s l i g h t s l u r c a s t upon th e w it o r i n t e l l i g e n c e o f le g ro u p ends w i t h a r e a l n o te o f a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e i r t i t u d e . The e p ilo g u e to th e same p la y c o n tin u e s i n more o r as th e same v e i n . Y et l e s t th e m e rc h a n ts ' d a u g h te rs s h o u ld to d a y Be s c a n d a l i s e d , n o t a t o u r h a rm le ss p la y , But o u r H ip p o l i t a , s i n c e s h e 's l i k e one Of us b o ld f l i r t s o f t ' o t h e r end o ' t h ' town; Our p o e t s e n d in g to you (th o u g h unknown) H is b e s t r e s p e c t s by me, does f r a n k l y own The c h a r a c t e r to be u n n a t u r a l ; H ip p o lit a i s n o t l i k e you a t a l l : You, w h ile y o u r l o v e r s c o u r t you, s t i l l lo o k grum . And f a r from w ooing, when th e y woo, c ry mum And i f some o f you e ' e r w ere s t o l ' n away, Your p o r t i o n 's f a u l t ' t was o n ly , I d a re s a y .^ ^ ^ I b id .. p . 2kZ. 148 lis i s f u r t h e r s u g g e s tio n o f th e a tte n d a n c e and th e m o ra ls * t h e m iddle c l a s s a t th e t h e a t r e i n D o rs e t G arden. Even .th t h e r e l a x e d R e s t o r a t i o n m o ra ls , t h i s g ro u p seems t o Lve c o n tin u e d in so m e .d eg ree i t s p u r i t a n s ta n d a r d s . The P ro lo g u e t o S h a d w e ll's Epsom W e lls ,14% p ro d u c e d ; D o rs e t G arden, December 2 , 16?2, c o n t a in s t h i s r e f e r e n c e , Judge f o r y o u r s e lv e s th e n G a ll a n ts a s you p a y . And l e a d n o t e a c h of you h i s b en c h a s t r a y : L e t e a s i e G i t t s be p l e a s 'd w ith a l l th e y h e a r . Go home a n d t o t h e i r N eig h b o u rs p r a i s e o u r W are. They w ith good stom achs come, and f a i n w ould e a t . You n o th in g l i k e , and make them l o a t h t h e i r m eat B ut you k in d B u rg e rs who had n e v e r y e t . E ith e r y o u r Heads o r B e l l i e s . f u l l o f w it: Our P oet h o p es to p l e a s e ; b u t n o t to o w e l l . . . .143 S t i l l l a t e r r e f e r e n c e t o c i t i z e n s i n th e a u d ie n c e i s ►ntained in th e e p ilo g u e to S h a d w e ll's The L i b e r t i n e , p ro - loed a t D o rset G arden i n J u n e , 1 6 7 5 In w r i t i n g t o “th e in o f w i t , “ S h ad w ell s a y s . B ut do n o t sw ear so lo u d to f r i g h t t h e C ity Who n e i t h e r c a re f o r w ick e d men, n o r w i t t y ; N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, A ppendix D, p . 3 7 8 , a t e s t h a t th e p ro lo g u e was w r i t t e n by S i r C h a rle s S e d le y . nee o n ly th e i n i t i a l s S i r 0 . 3. a r e g iv e n , how ever, i t may t h a t S i r Car S c ro o p e , who w ro te o t h e r p r o lo g u e s , w ro te T h is d a t e , a lm o s t t h i r t e e n y e a rs a f t e r th e R e s t o r a t i o n , ,n s c a r c e l y be c a l l e d , a s N i c o l l c a l l s i t , an “e a r l y f e r e n c e ” to c i t i z e n s in th e t h e a t r e . I t i s more a c c u r - e l y a “m id d le r e f e r e n c e . “ 1^3 The C om plete Works o f Thomas S h a d w e ll, M ontague m m ers, e d i t o r (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), V o l. 2, 1 0 4 . 144 Summers, B ib l 1 o g rap h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 149 They s t a r t a t i l l s th e y do n o t l i k e to do But s h a l l i n shops be w ic k e d e r th a n you,145 By e v id e n c e o f t h i s same s o r t , when th e g r e a t d i s t u r - inces o f th e P o p is h P lo t o c c u r r e d , i t m ust be a d m itte d t h a t lere m ust have b e e n a tim e when r e s p e c t a b l e c i t i z e n s d id lun t h e t h e a t r e s . In h i s P ro lo g u e to The Woman C a p ta i n ,1^^ ladw ell w r i t e s . The C i t t , who w ith h is W ife and h o p e fu l Son Would come t* a m erry P la y , now a l l does sh u n . And on th e G uard l e a r n s to l e t o f f a Gun. 147 i t h i s s u g g e s ts , th e c i t i z e n may have s ta y e d away from th e le a tr e s d u rin g a p a r t o f t h i s p e r io d o f g r e a t d is t u r b a n c e c a u se he f e l t i t unw ise to v e n t u r e o u t e x c e p t a s n e c e s s i t y m anded, In th e e p ilo g u e to S h a d w e ll' s The L a n c a s h ire W itches •e a few l i n e s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t even th e t h e a t r e and c e r t a i n r t s o f th e a u d ie n c e may have k e p t some o f th e c i t i z e n s ‘ om a t t e n d i n g , M rs, B a rry spoke t h i s e p ilo g u e when th e ay was f i r s t g iv e n in th e Autumn o f 168 1 . 1^3 S h a d w e ll, W orks, o p . c i t . . V o l. 3 , P# 82. 146 The p l a y was p ro d u c e d a t D o rse t Garden in Septem - r , 1679* Bee Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, 112. 1^7 S h a d w e ll, W orks. V o l. k , p . 15- Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 . Summers s a y s I t was p ro b a b ly p r e s e n t e d In S ep tem b er, 81. 150 Our Popes an d F ry e rs on one s i d e o f fe n d , And y e t a l a s th e C i t y 's n o t o u r F r ie n d : The C ity n e i t h e r l i k e u s n o r o u r W it, They sa y t h e i r Wives l e a r n o g lin g i n th e P i t . T h e y 're from t h e Boxes ta u g h t t o make a d v a n c e s, To answ er s t o l e n S ighs and n a u g h ty Glances.149 But i f f o r any r e a s o n th e y s ta y e d away f o r a w h ile , . le c i t i z e n s o f London seem to have r e g a i n e d t h e i r a s s u ra n c e L tim e to be b ac k in t h e a u d ie n c e by Ju n e o f 1685, when y d e n '8 Opera A lb io n and A lb a n iu s was p r e s e n t e d a t D o rs e t r d e n .1 5 0 In F ra n c e , so th e p ro lo g u e g o e s , a t th e o p e ra ,ch s in g s h i s p a r t from p i t and box— Le p lu s g ra n d Roy du Monde, i s alw a y s r in g in g . . . On t h a t c o n d i tio n , s e t up e v e ry T h ro a t; You Whiggs may s in g f o r you have c h a n g 'd y o u r N o te. C its and C i t e s s e s , r a i s e a j o y f u l s t r a i n . ' T is a good Omen to b e g in a R eign . . .151 St why Dryden w ould s u g g e s t t h a t th e c i t i z e n s and t h e i r v e s sh o u ld “r a i s e a j o y f u l s t r a i n ” a t th e b e g in n in g o f th e ig n o f James I I i s r a t h e r d i f f i c u l t to u n d e r s t a n d , 152 1^9 S h a d w e ll, W orks. V o l. k , p . 1 8 9 . 150 D ryden, The D ra m atic W orks. M ontague Summers, i t o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 1 9 3 2 ), V o l. 5 , P# 341. 1 5 1 I b i d . , p . 3 5 3 ' T h is was n e a r th e b e g in n in g o f e r e i g n o f Jam es I I . In f a c t , th e p e rfo rm a n c e s w ere o pped a f t e r s i x tim e s when i t was l e a r n e d t h a t th e Duke of nm outh had la n d e d “i n th e W est” and was p r e p a r in g to vade th e i s l a n d . 1 5 2 The p r o t e s t a n t c i t i z e n s in th e m ain w ere, o f u r s e , b i t t e r l y o p p o sed to C a th o lic Ja m e s. I t was o n ly e i r overw een in g s e n s e o f t h e r i g h t o f h e r e d i t a r y k in g s h i p a t a llo w e d him to ta k e th e th r o n e in t h e f i r s t p l a c e . 151 t t h e I m p lic a ti o n of t h e i r p re s e n c e i n t h e t h e a t r e i s e a r enough. By 1 6 9 3 th e c i t i z e n s w ere even a t t e n d i n g D rury m e . 1 5 3 They h ad no o th e r c h o ic e j u s t th e n b e c a u se o n ly L fre q u e n tly d i d t h e U n ite d Company u se D o rs e t G arden, h u t le f a c t t h a t t h e c i t i z e n s w ould t r a v e l th e e x t r a d i s t a n c e ► D rury Lane i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e y w ere becom ing s t i l l more L d icted t o th e t h e a t r e th a n when th e y h ad i t r e g u l a r l y In l e i r end o f tow n. When P o w e l l 's comedy, A V ery Good W ife , L s p ro d u c e d a t D rury Lane in 1693» C o n g re v e 's p ro lo g u e to ; c o n ta in e d t h e s e l i n e s . Now y e , o u r C ity F r ie n d s , who h i t h e r come By t h r e e a C lock to make s u re Elbow-room . . . P ra y ye be k in d . , . .1 5 4 The E p ilo g u e to A phra B e h n 's The Younger B r o th e r o r L Ë . Amorous J i l t , p ro d u c e d p o sth u m o u sly i n I 6 9 6 i n d i c a t e s r t h e r n o t o n ly th e c o n tin u e d b u t a l s o th e grow ing i n t e r e s t ‘ th e c i t i z e n s i n th e t h e a t r e — a s w e ll a s in some o t h e r Lings. 1 5 5 I t r e a d s . 1 3 3 In 1 6 9 3 , o f c o u r s e , o n ly one company was p la y in g , le K in g 's Company w hich had come m a in ly from th e fo rm e r k e 's Company when th e Union o c c u rre d in 1682. 1 5 4 Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , p . 8. 1 55 A phra B ehn, W orks, M ontague Summers, e d i t o r , ndon: W illiam Heinem ann, I 9 1 5 ) , V ol. 4 , 398. The p ro lo g u e .8 spoken by H ild e b ra n d H orden, a handsome young a c t o r who .8 k i l l e d , a s C ib b e r p u t i t “a t th e b a r o f th e R o se -T a v e rn , 152 We've grown im p a tie n t t o be out o f P a in , And f a i n w ould know o u r F o rtu n e , L o s s , o r G ain: The M e rc h an ts P h ra se m a y n 't be im p ro p e r now, I f ye o u r C ity C h a ra c te r a llo w . But some s p r u c e C r i t i c k , I h e a r , sw ea rs ' t i s s tr a n g e To ta k e a p o u d e r 'd Beau o f f from th e Exchange; A p la c e m ore fa m 'd f o r Band, and D ress p r e c i s e . F o r g r e a s y C u ck o ld s, S to c k jo b b e rs , an d L y e s, Than f o r a S park o* th * Town: b u t now— a -d a y s The G it s e t s up in Box, p u f f s , p e rfu m e s , p l a y s . . . . The word t h a t seems to sum up th e c h a r a c t e r of th e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e b e s t o f a l l comes from Tom Brown “ o f c e t i o u s memory" i n h i s d i s c u s s i o n o f “The P la y h o u s e . “156 s t a t e s , “ 'T i s f r e q u e n te d by p e rs o n s o f a l l d e g re e s and a l i t i e s w h a ts o e v e r, t h a t h av e a g r e a t d e a l o f i d l e tim e in g upon t h e i r han d s and c a n 't t e l l how to employ i t r s e . “ The em in en t s c h o l a r , R o b e rt W. Lowe, ech o es t h e i n t made by e y e - w it n e s s . Brown, when he w r i t e s , “ I t m ust ve b e e n an i d l e a g e , f o r a l l s o r t s and c o n d itio n s o f men em to have s u b m itte d to th e in c o n v e n ie n c e o f p a s s in g th e o l e a f te r n o o n in th e p l a y h o u s e .“157 a f r i v o l o u s , r a s h , a c c i d e n t a l q u a r r e l , “ in th e same y e a r i s p l a y was p ro d u c e d . 1 5 6 Tom Brown, A m usem ents, S e rio u s and C o m ica l, i t e d w ith n o te s by A rth u r L. Hayward (London: George u tle d g e & Sons, L t d . , I 9 2 7 ) , p . 31. 1 5 7 Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 17. 153 SU M M A R Y AND CONCLUSIONS The a u d ien ce o f th e R e s to r a tio n was composed in p a r t th e K ing, h is c o u r t , and i t s s a t e l l i t e s . The p e o p le o f e c o u r t , h a v in g much tim e f o r e n te r ta in m e n t, were m ost e q u e n tly in a tte n d a n c e . They p ro b a b ly d id n o t, h ow ever, m p rise th e e n t ir e a u d ien ce a t e it h e r t h e a tr e e x c e p t on re o c c a s io n s . Even th e t h e a t r e in W h ite h a ll was a tte n d e d c i t i z e n s who p a id a d m issio n to th e p erfo rm a n ces. The D uke's T h eatre was more g e n e r a lly p a tr o n iz e d by e m id d le c l a s s and th e c i t i z e n s than was th e T h eatre y a l , p a r t ic u la r l y when th e D uk e's Company o c c u p ie d th e r s e t Garden p la y h o u se ; but even Drury Lane came to be s i t e d by c i t i z e n s when D o rset Garden was seldom u se d by e U n ite d Company betw een 1682 and 1695- The R e s to r a tio n th e a tr e a u d ie n c e , c o n tr a r y to p r e - ous a s s e r t io n s , was com posed o f ev e ry c l a s s o f p e o p le in ndon. I t i s n o t e v id e n t t h a t th e m id d le and lo w e r c l a s s e s te n d e d as fr e q u e n tly as th e u p p er. I t i s e v id e n t, w ev er, th a t th e y a tte n d e d b o th r e g u la r ly and, a s o p p o rtu - ty p r e s e n te d i t s e l f , in c o n s id e r a b le num bers. CHAPTER V AUDIENCE BEHAVIOR I . SERIOUS DISTURBANCES I f one s h o u ld r e a d o n ly The P la y - h o u s e , A S a ty r by >uld o r th e c h a p te r s on th e a u d ie n c e in N i c o l l 's H i s t o r y o f ) s t o r a t i o n Drama o r Summers' R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , one c o u ld s a r c e ly r e s i s t t h e c o n c lu s io n t h a t to h av e a tte n d e d th e l e a t r e a t any tim e betw een I 6 6 0 and 1 7 0 0 was d e l i b e r a t e l y > have r i s k e d o n e 's l i f e . Summers, a f t e r h a v in g m e n tio n e d h a l f - d o z e n r a t h e r s e r io u s d is t u r b a n c e s i n th e p la y h o u s e , ÎO o f w h ich a c t u a l l y ended i n k i l l i n g s , w r i t e s , " I t w ere a s g e d le ss a s i t w ere e a s y to m u l t i p l y exm aples o f t h i s f a t a l ir b u le n c e an d r i o t . Whereupon, he c o n tin u e s w ith t h i s le e d le s s " e x p e d ie n t to name s e v e r a l o t h e r s e r io u s i n c i d e n t s lic h d i d n o t ta k e p l a c e i n a t h e a t r e . I n h i s a p p a r e n t ig e rn e s s to m u l t i p l y h i s " n e e d le s s e x a m p le s," he moves » m p letely o u t o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d a n d s e v e r a l y e a r s syond i t to 1 7 1 8 i n o r d e r to t e l l th e b lo o d y s t o r y o f two m k i l l e d by th e a c t o r Q u in n , b o th o f whom, to ju d g e from .a s t o r y , w e ll m e r it e d t h e i r p u n is h m e n t.^ 1 Montague Summers, The R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tre (London: ïgan P a u l, T re n ch , T ru b er an d Company, 1 9 3 4 ), p . 81. ^ Loo. c i t . 155 K lo o ll, t o o , t e l l s o f s t r i f e and b lo o d . He names Lne s e r i o u s c a s e s o f a f f r a y i n t h e t h e a t r e (n o t in c lu d in g la t fam ous b a t t l e o f th e r i v a l q u e e n s, B a rry and B ra c e - L rd le , w hich c o u ld h a r d ly be c a l l e d an a u d ie n c e f i g h t ) and r th e n in e , t h r e e a r e d u p l i c a t e d by Summers.3 Thus b o th l i t e r s t o g e t h e r o f f e r o n ly t e n s e p a r a te i n s t a n c e s o f ï r io u s f i g h t s i n v o lv i n g a c t u a l t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e s , and o f lese o n ly f o u r en d e d f a t a l l y . ^ A cc o rd in g to t h i s e v id e n c e , le re was an a v e ra g e o f one s e r i o u s d i s t u r b a n c e i n th e l e a t r e e v e ry f o u r to f i v e y e a r s and a k i l l i n g once i n e v e ry m to tw elv e y e a r s . F o r a p e r i o d so p o l i t i c a l l y , s o c i a l l y , id r e l i g i o u s l y t u r b u l e n t a s t h i s a p p r o x im a te ly f o r t y y e a rs is, one m ig h t be i n c l i n e d to rem ark upon th e r e l a t i v e l y ► od c i t i z e n s h i p d is p l a y e d i n t h e t h e a t r e . T hat r e a l t r a g e d i e s d id o c c u r i n t h e t h e a t r e can be la d ily s u b s t a n t i a t e d . L an g b ain e i s th e a u t h o r i t y f o r th e o ry o f " a r e a l T ragedy i n t h e p i t , when Mr. Scroop îc e iv e d a m o r ta l wound from S i r Thomas A rm stro n g , a n d d ie d p o s i t e th e T h e a tre in D o rset Garden. “5 T here i s no 3 These w ere f i g h t s b etw een Cary a n d Young, Vaughan d B e rin g , and A rm strong an d S croop. 4 A lla rd y c e N i c o l l , A H is to r y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, lir d E d itio n (C am bridge U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ) , p . 1 0 . 5 G erard L a n g b a in e , ^ Account o f th e E n g lis h a m a tio k P o e ts (O x fo rd , 1691)7 p . 4 éo . F a te h as a way o f 156 L a b o ra tio n a s to t h e o r i g i n o f t h i s q u a r r e l . I t s r e l a t i v e g r i t s a r e t h e r e f o r e u n c e r t a i n . P erh ap s i t was a s p e c i f i c i s t a n c e o f G o u ld 's S a ty r, "A H arm less J e s t , o r A c c id e n ta l Low. “ A r a t h e r s e r i o u s f i g h t o c c u rre d on J u l y 20, 1667» on le s t e p s o u ts i d e th e D uke's P lay h o u se when two n o to r io u s ikes fo u g h t o v e r th e a t t e n t i o n s o f an e q u a l l y i l l — fam ed m a n . On t h a t o c c a s io n th e Duke o f Buckingham a t t a c k e d i r r y K illi g r e w b e c a u s e o f re m a rk s K illi g r e w made p u b l i c >out h i s r e l a t i o n s w ith Lady S h re w sb u ry .^ Pepys s a i d , "The ike d i d so u n d ly b e a t H arry K i l l i g r e w , and ta k e away h i s rord an d made a f o o l o f Qtiiid , t i l l th e f e llo w p ra y e d him ) s p a r e h i s l i f e . "7 K illi g r e w was so b a d ly h u r t t h a t he IS n o t s e n t t o t h e Tower, a s he w ould have been o th e r w is e , it was a llo w e d t o go home t o r e c u p e r a t e , w here he e s c a p e d i t t l i n g a c c o u n ts , how ever, an d S i r Thomas was h im s e lf cecu ted f o r c o m p lic ity in t h e Rye House P l o t # Ju n e 2 0 , ^ Lady W in ifre d B u r g h c le r e , G eorge V i l l e r s , Second ike o f B uckingham , 1628— 1687 (New York: E. P . D u tto n and > m p an y ,1903)» p p . 1 9 1 -1 9 2 . Not lo n g b e f o r e t h i s th e ir d id d u e l had ta k e n p la c e b etw een Buckingham and L ord irew sbury in w h ic h S hrew sbury was k i l l e d and w here Lady irew sbury i n th e d r e s s o f a p ag e s u p p o se d ly h e ld B u c k in g - im's h o r s e d u rin g th e f i g h t . I t was a l s o r e l a t e d t h a t sh e ' i r r i e d c o n c e a le d p i s t o l s w i t h w hich sh e in te n d e d t o k i l l irew sbury and h e r s e l f i f Buckingham had n o t k i l l e d him . 7 Samuel P e p y s, D ia r y . H. B, W h e atley , e d i t o r , 2 ►Is. (New York: Random H ouse, 1 9 4 6 ), V ol. 2, p . 602. The it;T»v I n J i i l v 2 2 n d . 157 ) t h e C o n tin e n t an d s e n t w ord h ac k t h a t he w ould he b a c k (Then he was r e c o n c i l e d t o a l l p a r t i e s ." ® Pepys* r e p o r t h e re i s o f n o te b e c a u s e o f th e a t t i t u d e lown by th o s e who t a l k e d o f t h e f i g h t l a t e r . He h im s e lf L S g l a d t h a t Buckingham h ad b e a te n K illi g r e w f o r i t seems i n t h i s b u s in e s s th e Duke o f Buckingham d id c a r r y h im s e lf v e r y in n o c e n tl y and w e l l , an d I w ish he h a d p a i d t h i s f e l l o w 's c o a t w e l l . I h e a r d so m e th in g o f t h i s a t th e * Change to d a y : and i t i s p r e t t y to h e a r how p e o p le do sp eak k i n d l y o f th e Duke o f Buckingham , a s one t h a t w i l l e n q u ir e i n t o f a u l t s ; and t h e r e f o r e th e y do m i g h t i l y f a v o u r him . lis s u g g e s ts in p a r t , a t l e a s t , t h a t t h e r e was a s e n tim e n t 'en i n h ig h p l a c e s f o r j u s t i c e and d ecen cy even th o u g h le re was l i t t l e t o choose b etw een th e p e r s o n a l m o ra ls o f le two c o m b a ta n ts . H ere was an exam ple o f a d is t u r b a n c e w hich d id n o t icu r i n a t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e n o r d id i t h av e th e t h e a t r e a s ‘i g i n in any s e n s e ; i t c u lm in a te d o u t s i d e th e D uke's .ayhouse an d , t h e r e f o r e , came t o be a s s o c i a t e d w ith i t and I d e t r a c t from t h e good name o f th e t h e a t r e . Of t h e two • i n c i p a l s , one becam e a r a t h e r im p o rta n t t h e a t r i c a l g u r e ; 9 th e o th e r was th e s c a p e g ra c e son o f Thomas ® H i s t o r i c a l MSS., Rep. X II, Le F le m in g , A ugust 9 , 67, a s q u o te d in B u r g h c le r e , p . 191. ^ B u r g h c le r e , I b i d . . p . 259. B uckingham 's (and h e r s ) The R e h e a rs a l was one o f th e m ost p o p u la r p la y s in g l i s h s ta g e h i s t o r y . 158 L lllg re w , m anager o f th e T h e a tre R o y a l. 10 The Duke o f Buckingham was n o t s a t i s f i e d w ith su c h id iv i d u a l r a i l l e r y a s t h a t i n w hich he was s a i d t o have lused t h e a c t r e s s who f o r g o t h e r l i n e s t o be h i s s e d o f f th e :age; he a c t u a l l y o rg a n iz e d a g ro u p o f "gentlemen** to h i s s le "fu lso m e new way o f w r i t i n g " o f f th e s t a g e . H T h is new ly o f w r i t i n g , o f c o u r s e , was th e h e r o i c tr a g e d y in A le x - id rin e v e r s e . In one p a r t i c u l a r i n s t a n c e Buckingham came la r t o l o s i n g h i s l i f e f o r t h i s s o r t o f p e r s i f l a g e . Mhen C o lo n e l Henry Howard, b r o t h e r to S i r R o b e rt w a rd and b r o t h e r - i n - l a w t o Jo h n D ryden, h ad h is p l a y . The k ite d Kingdom s, p ro d u c e d in O c to b e r, I 6 6 0 , a t th e C o ck p it I D rury L ane, Buckingham and h i s g ro u p made th e a u t h o r and .8 f r i e n d s , t o sa y n o th in g o f th e r e s t o f t h e a u d ie n c e , so .s e r a b le t h a t t h e Howard f a m ily and t h e i r a d h e re n ts l a y in l i t f o r th e Duke. As B r is c o e p u t i t i n 1 7 0 4 : Some o f th e a u t h o r 's r e l a t i v e s and f r i e n d s p e r c e i v in g h i s G race to head a p a r t y , who w ere v e ry a c t i v e in dam ning th e p l a y , by h i s s i n g and la u g h in g im m o d erately a t th e s t r a n g e co n d u ct t h e r e o f , t h e r e w ere p e r s o n s l a i d i n w a it f o r him a s he came out : b u t t h e r e b e in g a g r e a t tu m u lt and u p r o a r i n th e h ouse and th e p a s s a g e s n e a r i t . V. de S o la P in to , S ir C h arles S e d le y (New York: n i and L i v e r i g h t , 1 9 2 7 ), p . 6 6 , F o o tn o te 3 . 11 E n g lis h R e p r i n t s . Edward A rb e r, e d i t o r , B ib lio g - p h y , "Keys to t h e R e h e a r s a l," in c lu d e d w i t h L y ly 's [phues (London: A le x . M urray and Son, 1 8 6 8 ) , p . 46. 159 he e sc a p e d ; But he was t h r e a t e n 'd h a r d . 12 L U S t h e "w ild d o in g s o f h im s e lf and h i s c la q u e " a lm o s t c o s t m h i s l i f e . I t i s d o u b tf u l t h a t t h e r e w ould h av e b een n y t o mourn h i s p a s s in g i f th e y h ad . These e a r l y " R e s to r a tio n Rakes" i n some c a s e s l i v e d i n l y to a p o in t s* m o ra l, i t s e e m s , ^3» 14 i n o t h e r s v e d on i n t o ag e and r e s p e c t a b i l i t y . ^3 >16 Among t h e fo rm e r s t h e E a r l o f R o c h e s te r w hose e s c a p a d e s co m p rise some o f e m ost s c a n d a lo u s and s o r d id p i c t u r e s o f t h a t o r an y o th e r r i o d . But b e f o r e h i s c o n v e rs io n to C h r i s t i a n i t y and h is c i t . C f. Thomas S h a d w e ll, The C om plete r k s , M ontague Summers, e d i t o r (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 27) , V ol. 1 , p . I v . Summers a t t r i b u t e s t h e a c t i o n o f ckingham and h i s group to "some p u r e ly p e r s o n a l r e a s o n . " 13 Buckingham— a s he l a y on h is d e a th b e d , was a s k e d th e clergym an whom Lord A rra n had b ro u g h t w hat h is l i g i o n w as. The Duke r e p l i e d , " I t i s a n i n s i g n i f i c a n t e s t i o n , f o r I h av e been a shame and d i s g r a c e to a l l l i g i o n s ; i f you can do me an y good, d o ." See E. B e r e s f o r d .a n c e l l o r . The R e s t o r a t i o n R a k e s, V ol. 2 , in L iv e s o f th e k e s (New York: B r e n ta n o s , 1 9 2 6 ), p . 14 I b i d . , p . 1 1 3 . R o c h e s te r d ie d i n h is t h i r t y - u r t h y e a r a p p a r e n t l y a s t h e r e s u l t o f h i s d i s s i p a t i o n b u t 8 c o n v e rte d to C h r i s t i a n i t y by B u rn et b e f o r e h is d e a th . 13 I b i d . , p . 112. S e d le y u l t i m a t e l y became a s p e c t e d member o f P a r lia m e n t and p a i d i n p a r t f o r some o f 8 e a r l y w ild n e s s by h a v in g f o r a d a u g h te r th e n o t o r i o u s u n t e s s o f D o r c h e s te r . 1^ I b i d . , p . 211. B u c k h u rst became th e s i x t h E a r l o f r s e t and f o u r t h E a r l o f M id d le se x . He was L ord Chamber- in t o C h a rle s , f o r a s h o r t tim e to Ja m es, and a f t e r t h e v o l u t i o n to W illia m and M ary. la th he made a u d ie n c e h i s t o r y b o th in E n g lan d and in •an o e. " R o c h e s te r, th e Rake" a p p a r e n tly was c o m p le te ly l o o r r i g i b l e ; he seems n e v e r t o have m is s e d an o p p o r tu n ity ► e m b a rra ss o t h e r s , t o d i s t u r b , t o c r e a t e i l l - w i l l o r LCite to r i o t . When E lk an a h S e t t l e ' s Cam bvses, King of i r s i a was p ro d u c e d in 1 6 6 6 , t h e f i r s t new p l a y o f t h e y e a r, was a success.1 7 P ro b a b ly th e g r e a t crow d was n o t n e c e s - iry t o s t i m u l a t e R o c h e s t e r 's im a g in a tio n t o se e w hat w ould ippen i f somebody s t a r t e d a f r a c a s . I t was h e , a p p a r e n t l y , 1 0 s t a r t e d one an d th e n , i n t y p i c a l R o c h e s te r f a s h i o n , th d re w t o th e b a lc o n y and p e rh a p s l a t e r t o th e o u t s i d e a s I w a tc h e d th e b a t t l e no d o u b t w ith t h e g l e e o f th e p u i s s a n t 'a c t i c a l j o k e r .1® N o n e th e le s s , R o c h e s te r w ith h i s I n e x p l i - b l e ch an g es o f p r e f e r e n c e f o r p e o p le was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r v in g S e t t l e ' s Em press o f Morocco p e rfo rm e d a t C o u rt.^ 9 A p p a re n tly " a l l th in g s " w ere n o t q u i t e so c i v i l a g a in e J u n e a f te r n o o n in 1679 when J a c k C h u r c h i l l , th e f u t u r e e a t Duke o f M a rlb o ro u g h , ^7 The p l a y was p ro d u c e d a t th e New T en n is C o u r t, f o r d , J u l y 1 2 , 16?1> a t th e " O e le b r e tio n s " and a g a in th e llo w in g y e a r on th e same o c c a s io n . See Summers, s t o r a t i o n T h e a t r e , p p . 127-128. 1® S h a d w e ll, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . x c i x . 19 Loc. c i t . John D ennis s t a t e s t h a t t h i s p la y r a n r a "month t o g e t h e r " i n t h e public t h e a t r e . 161 . . . f o r b e a t i n g an o ra n g e wench i n th e D u k e's p la y h o u s e , was c h a lle n g e d by O apt. Otway ( th e p o e t ), and w ere b o th w ounded, b u t C h u r c h i ll m o st. The r e l a t i o n b e in g t o l d th e K ing by S i r John Holmes, a s C h u r c h i ll th o u g h t t o h i s p r e j u d i c e , he c h a lle n g e d Holmes, who f i g h t i n g d is a rm e d him , C h u r c h i l l . 20 “ t h i s s t o r y i s t r u e , and t h e r e i s no p a r t i c u l a r r e a s o n to •ubt i t , th e g r e a t g e n e r a l - t o - b e h a r d ly a p p e a rs t o good [v an tag e; i t i s d o u b t f u l , how ever, t h a t he a c t e d s u c h a •gue a s one c r i t i c has p a i n t e d him . 21 in any e v e n t, u n t i l i l l a n t C a p ta in Tom Otway c h a lle n g e d him an d re n d e re d him !ss f e r o c i o u s th a n he a p p a r e n t l y h ad b e e n , t h e r e m ust n o t v e b e e n v e ry much i n th e p l a y o f th e d ay t o k e e p th e t e n t io n o f th e a u d ie n c e away from th e show i n th e p i t — i f le p l a y w ere in p r o g r e s s a t th e tim e . T here i s no e v id e n c e lat i t w a s. Alm ost t h r e e y e a rs l a t e r , ^ L e t t e r from John V erney in London to S i r R ic h a rd rn e y o f Claydon H ouse, C o m ita tu B ucks, J u n e 23» 1 6 7 9 » om t h e Royal Commission on H i s t o r i c a l M a n s c r ip ts , 1879» 473» a s q u o te d i n Otway, The Com plete W orks. M ontague m m ers, e d i t o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 1 9 2 6 ), V o l. 1 , LXX. 21 Summers, R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tr e , p p . 78-79» in h i s u a l d o g m atic f a s h i o n , s t a t e s t h a t A phra Behn was r e f e r r i n g t h i s b a t t l e when sh e w ro te h e r P ro lo g u e t o The Young n g ; o r The M is ta k e , p ro d u c e d a t D o rset G arden i n t h e mmer o f T ? 7 9 • I t i s d o u b t f u l , how ever, t h a t i t w o u ld be c e s s a r y f o r a man to use a c u d g e l in b e a t i n g an o ra n g e n c h , o r t h a t t h e " ra k e s " i n t h e p i t a f t e r c a n in g him w e ll u l d r e f u n d h i s t i c k e t and o ra n g e money b e f o r e th ro w in g m o u t . Summers g iv e s no a u t h o r i t y o t h e r th a n h i s own f o r c h a s ta te m e n t. 162 In A p r i l , 1 6 8 2 , I n th e p i t a t th e T h e a tre R oyal C h a rle s D erin g an d Mr. Vaughan drew on e a c h o t h e r , and th e n c lam b e re d on to th e s ta g e t o f i n i s h t h e i r d u e l ' t o th e g r e a t e r c o m fo rt o f th e a u d ie n c e .* D erin g b e in g b a d ly w ounded, Vaughan was h e ld in c u s to d y u n t i l he r e c o v e r e d . 2 2 lere i s no i n d i c a t i o n o f th e o r i g i n of t h i s q u a r r e l , n o r le th e r th e p la y was i n p r o g r e s s a t th e tim e th e d u e l i s t s im bed t o th e s t a g e t o f i n i s h th e b a t t l e . I f th e p l a y w ere in g on a t th e ti m e , a t l e a s t th e s e v e n te e n - f o o t a p ro n •fo rd ed a r a t h e r good a r e n a b etw een th e a u d ie n c e and t h e iner s ta g e t o w h ich th e a c t o r s c o u ld r e t i r e an d view a r e a l •ama i n p r o g r e s s . 23 I I . MILDER DISTURBANCES Of th e l e s s e r s o r t o f d i s t u r b a n c e s and humorous i n c i - n t s , t h e r e a r e many. The a m a te u r s ta g e o f to d a y i s no r a n g e r t o t h e s e , b u t n o t p r e c i s e l y th e k in d e n c o u n te re d r e . George V i l l i e r s , a s one o f a q u a r t e t o f R e s t o r a t i o n k e s was a l s o an i n c o r r i g i b l e c h a r a c t e r who c o n t r i b u t e d ch t o th e i l l - f a m e o f th e t h e a t r e o f t h a t p e r io d , an d d id 8 s h a r e to b r i n g d is g r a c e on th e p la y h o u s e a s w e ll a s on 22 Dr. Jo h n D oran, A nnals o f th e E n g lis h S t a g e , om Thomas B e t t e r t o n t o Edmund K ean, 2 V o I s . (London: S¥) , V o l. 1, p a r t 1, p . 243. 23 See a b o v e , p . 56.* 163 m s e l f . Buckingham i s s a i d t o have been a t one o f D ryden*s ay s a t th e T h e a tre R oyal in 1671 when . . . an a c t r e s s e n d e a v o u re d to s p e a k in a s m oving an d a f f e c t i n g a to n e a s s h e c o u ld — •My wound i s g r e a t — b e c a u s e i t i s so sm all* a n d th e n sh e p a u s e d and lo o k e d v e ry d i s t r e s s e d — t h e Duke, who was in one o f t h e b o x e s , r o s e im m e d ia te ly from h i s s e a t , and added in a lo u d r i d i c u l i n g v o ic e — * Then 'tw o u ld be g r e a t e r , w ere i t none a t a l l . 24 llo w in g t h i s th e a u d ie n c e i s s a i d t o have h is s e d th e p o o r man o f f th e s t a g e an d , a c c o r d in g to Dr. L o c k ie r, "w ould v e r b e a r h e r a p p e a ra n c e i n t h e r e s t o f h e r p a r t s — a s t h i s s o n ly th e se co n d n ig h t th e p l a y was p e rfo rm e d Dryden l o s t s b e n e f i t n i g h t . "25 G enest d o u b ts t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f i s . 2# Summers, who v a lu e s h i s own o p in io n above t h a t o f 1 o t h e r s , sa y s t h e r e i s no f o u n d a tio n f o r t h i s s t o r y . 2 ? 24 J o s e p h S p en ce, A n e c d o te s . O b s e r v a t io n s , and a r a c t e r s . o f Books and Men, Samuel W . S in g e r , e d i t o r ond o n : W . H. C a rp e n te r , 1 8 2 0 ), p p . 6 1 -6 2 . T h is a n e c d o te from Dr. F r a n c is L o c k ie r, Dean o f P e te rb o ro u g h . 25 John G e n e s t, Some A ccount o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e om th e R e s t o r a t i o n in 1660-1830 (B ath ; H. E. C a r r in g to n , 3 ^ 9 V ol. 1 , p p . 11 7 -1 1 8 . G enest q u e s tio n s th e r e l i a b l l - y o f t h i s e v i d e n c e s in c e th e names o f th e p la y and o f th e t r e s s a r e ^ o t g iv e n . He d o u b ts t h a t th e a u d ie n c e w ould ow a l a s t i n g d i s p l e a s u r e and t h a t Dryden e v e r l o s t a n e f i t n i g h t . 26 I b i d . . V o l. 1 , p . 1 1 8 . 27 M ontague Summers, The P la y h o u se o f Pepys (New r k : The M acm illan Company, 1 9 3 5 ), p p . 2 8 4 -2 8 5 . As h appens t h Summers a t tim e s , he does not even tell the atorv 164 T here i s o t h e r e v id e n c e t h a t p la y s w ere h i s s e d o f f le s t a g e , f o r exam ple, th e t r a n s l a t i o n o f C o r n e i l l e 's »agedy, M ort d e Pompee, by Edmund W a lle r , S e d le y , ic k h u r s t. S i r Edward F ilm e r, and S idney G o d o lp h in . C a e sa r ly h av e been p la y e d by Thomas B e t t e r t o n when t h i s tr a g e d y IS p ro d u c e d a t t h e D uke's House o r "o p e ra " i n L i n c o l n 's Inn .e ld s p e rh a p s a b o u t C h ristm a s tim e 1 6 6 3 .2 8 A lth o u g h i t was le custom in R e s t o r a t i o n tim e s to make a h a l f - h e a r t e d tem pt to s i m u l a t e , f o r exam p le, Roman c o s tu m e s , th e a c t o r s ► r t h i s p la y w ere m e re ly d r e s s e d in E n g lis h c l o t h e s o f th e ir io d . A l e t t e r d a te d J a n u a r y 22, 1664, from " th e m a tc h - 88 O rin d a ," M rs. K a th e rin e P h i l l i p s , to M rs. Temple ( l a t e r d y Temple) s t a t e s , I b e l ie v e e r e t h i s you have se e n t h e new Pompey e i t h e r a c t e d o r w r i t t e n . . * b u t I w onder much w hat p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r i t c o u ld p r e j u d i c e W ill D evenant when I h e a r th e y a c t e d in E n g lis h h a b i t s and y t so a p ro p o s y t C esar was s e n t in w ith a f e a t h e r a n d a s t a f f t i l l he was h i s s e d o f f ye s ta g e and f o r th e s c e n e s I do n o t se e w here th e y c o u ld p la c e any t h a t a r e v e r y e x t r a o r d i n a r y b u t i f t h i s p l a y h a t h n o t d i v e r t e d th e C i tiz e n s w iv e s enough S r. W. D. w i l l make them amends f o r th e y s a y H a rry th e 8t h and some l a t e r ones a r e l i t t l e b e t t e r th a n r r e c t l y . The a n e c d o te d i d n o t sa y t h a t th e a u d ie n c e o o te d th e p ie c e from th e b o a r d s ; " i t s t a t e d r a t h e r t h a t e a u d ie n c e h i s s e d th e p o o r woman o f f th e s ta g e and "would t b e a r h e r in t h e r e s t o f h e r p a r t s . " Summers comments th e p r o b a b le o r ig in e ^ tio n o f th e "c o n tem p o rary jo k e " a r e t h e r f a r - f e t c h e d and u l t i m a t e l y a l i t t l e a b s u rd . 28 P in to , qp.. c i t .. 1639-^1701, pp. 80-82 165 p u p p e t p l a y s . 29 le s t r a n g e s t p a r t o f t h i s phenom enon, h ow ever, w a s . n o t t h a t le g r e a t Thomas B e t t e r t o n was h i s s e d from t h e s ta g e ( i f ideed I t w ere h e), h u t t h a t th o s e who d i d th e h i s s i n g w ere >t t h e f o p s , b e a u s and w its t h a t have b e e n g iv e n t h e d i s - * ed it f o r t h e s e p e rfo rm a n c e s ; th e y w ere i n s t e a d th e j s i t i z e n s w iv es" t h a t "would n a t u r a l l y f o r m a l a r g e p a r t o f le a u d ie n c e o f t h e L i n c o l n 's Inn House. . . .30 S e d le y , l i k e many o f t h e w i t s , p e r h a p s , a t te n d e d th e le a t r e a t l e a s t i n p a r t i n o r d e r to d i s p l a y h i s a b i l i t y i n ipartee.31 On O c to b e r 4 , 1 6 6 4 , P ep y s, h i s w ife and h e r lid , M e rc er, h i s a u n t , and two c o u s in s w ent to t h e t h e a t r e L L i n c o l n 's Inn Fields32 t o s e e The G e n e r a l i . by L ord r e r y , and a s was f r e q u e n t l y t h e c a s e , P epys th o u g h t i t th e »rst p la y and t h e w o rs t a c t e d t h a t he e v e r saw. T h ere he 29 M artha L ady G i f f o r d , J u l i a G. L onge, e d i t o r ,o n d o n ; George A l l e n , 1 9II)» p p . 3 9 -4 0 . M rs. P h i l l i p s r s e l f had made a t r a n s l a t i o n o f Pompe y a b o u t th e same me, 1 6 6 3 , and made some r a t h e r c r i t i c a l rem a rk s a b o u t d l e r ' s an d Company. See B io g ra p h ie D ra m a tic a , D avid s k in e B a k e r, I s a a c Reed, and S tephen J o n e s , e d i t o r s ,o n d o n : Longman a n d o t h e r s , 1812), V o l. 3» p p . 1 7 1 -1 7 2 . P in to , o p . P i t . , p . 82. The C o u n try W ife. A ct I I I , Scene 1 , in W illia m c h e r l e y , W. G. W ard, e d i t o r . The M ermaid S e r ie s (London: F i s h e r Unwin, L t d . , 19— ) , p . 290. T h is can s c a r c e l y be c e p te d a t f a c e vaJLue a s e v id e n c e t h a t t h i s was t y p i c a l o r en u s u a l f o r " w its " in th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e . P in to , O P . c i t . , p. 85- it n e x t t o S i r C h a rle s and h e a r d him make " w itty " re m a rk s )out a lm o st e v e r y th in g in th e p l a y . W ith h i s lo w e r m id d le Lass a d m ir a tio n f o r w h a te v e r th e u p p e r c l a s s e s d i d , how- r e r , Pepys "was m i g h t i l y ta k e n w ith " S i r C h arles* c l e v e r L ttic is m s .3 3 P in to w r i t e s t h a t th e " e f f e c t o f su c h im arks, made in a p e r f e c t l y a u d i b le v o i c e , m ust have b een >re th a n a l i t t l e d i s c o n c e r t i n g to th e a c t o r s . "34 P e p y s , ►wever, was annoyed o n ly w ith h im s e lf f o r l o s i n g so much me from h i s w ork and so much money, "above tw e n ty s h i l - .n g s ," t o se e s u c h a b ad p l a y . One o f S i r C h arles* fam ous s a l l i e s on t h i s o c c a s io n L S b e e n p r e s e r v e d f o r us by t h e i n i m i t a b l e d i a r i s t . In la t h e r o i c dram a an a r d e n t l o v e r r e s o l v e s t o re s c u e h i s v a l and th e n s u r r e n d e r t o him h i s own m i s t r e s s : l i e sa v e my R i v a l l and make h e r c o n f e s s T hat I d e s e r v e w h ile he do b u t p o s s e s s . 35 "Why w hat P o x ," c a l l s S i r C h a rle s from th e p i t , "ould he have him have m ore, o r w hat i s t h e r e to b e h ad r e o f a woman th a n th e p o s s e s s i n g h e r . " H arbage w r i t e s . P ep y s, o p . P it. , V o l. 1 , p . 982. 34 P in to , q p . c i t ., p . 86. 35 Pepys s a y s t h i s p l a y w s.s c a l l e d The G e n e r a l i , t N i c o l l shows t h a t i t was n o t p u b lis h e d u n t i l 1702 when a p p e a r e d a s A l t e m i r a . See N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Dram a, 3 5 4 . 167 Such b l a s t s w ould have s p e l l e d q u i e t u s f o r th e p la y s o f lo v e and h o n o r had n o t Dryden f u r n i s h e d them w i t h a t e c h n i c a l b r i l l i a n c e w h ich made s u s c e p t i b i l i t y to t h e i r m essag e u n n e c e s s a r y .36 Pepys r e c o r d s s t i l l a n o th e r exam ple o f S e d le y 's Ludience w it" when on F e b ru a ry 1 8 , 1667» he and h i s w i f e , ’t e r h a v in g gone f i r s t to t h e Duke * a House t o s e e a new .ay o n ly t o f i n d t h e r e was n o n e , w ent to th e King * s House id saw "The M ay-d*s T rag ed y ."- T h e re , he s a y s , th e y w ere . . . v e x e d a l l th e w h ile w ith two t a l k i n g l a d i e s an d S i r C h a rle s S e d le y ; y e t , p le a s e d to h e a r t h e i r d i s c o u r s e , he b e in g a s t r a n g e r . 37 And one o f th e l a d i e s w ould, a n d d id s i t w ith h e r mask on a l l t h e p la y , a n d , b e in g e x c e e d in g ly w i t t y a s e v e r I h e a rd woman, d id t a l k m ost p l e a s a n t l y w ith him; b u t w as, I b e l i e v e , a v i r t u o u s woman, and o f q u a l i t y . He w o u ld f a i n know who sh e w as, b u t sh e w ould n o t t e l l ; y e t d id g iv e him many p l e a s a n t h i n t s o f h e r know ledge o f him , by t h a t means g e t t i n g h i s b r a i n s a t work to f i n d o u t who sh e w as, and d i d g iv e him l e a v e to u s e a l l means t o f i n d o u t who she w as, b u t p u l l i n g o f f h e r m ask. He was m ig h ty w i t t y , and sh e a l s o m aking s p o r t w ith him v e r y i n o f f e n s i v e l y , t h a t a more p l e a s a n t r e n c o n t r e I n e v e r h e a r d . But by t h a t m eans l o s t t h e p l e a s u r e o f th e p la y w h o lly , t o w h ich now and th e n S i r C h a rle s S e d le y * s e x c e p tio n s a g a i n s t b o th w ords and p ro n o u n c in g w ere v e ry p r e t t y . 38 36 A lf r e d H arb ag e, C a v a l i e r D r ^ a (New York: Modern n g u ag e A s s o c ia ti o n o f A m erica, 1 9 3 6 ), p . 253* 37 T his l a s t p h r a s e seem s v e ry s t r a n g e in v iew o f pys * h a v in g r e c o r d e d t h e s i m i l a r o c c u rr e n c e h a r d ly two and h a l f y e a rs b e f o r e . I t i s e s p e c i a l l y s t r a n g e in v iew o f d l e y 's g e n e r a l r e p u t a t i o n i n th e c i t y a n d o f Pepys* lo v e know ledge o f a n d a s s o c i a t i o n w ith th e u p p e r s t r a t a o f 38 P ep y s, o p . c i t . , F e b r u a ry 1 9 , 1667» V ol. 2 , p . 0 . One c o u ld a s k by w hat c u r io u s means Pepys d e te rm in e d lat S e d le y * s p a r t n e r i n c o n v e r s a tio n was b o th a " v ir tu o u s man" and a woman " o f q u a l i t y . " 1 6 8 I t I s p o s s i b l e to g a in from t h i s e n t r y a r a t h e r c l e a r in c e p tio n o f t h i s ty p e o f a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r , w h ich , i n c i - m t a l l y , d o es n o t seem to be u s u a l b e c a u s e Pepys and h i s f e w ere "vexed a l l th e w h ile " w ith i t . I t i s m ost i l i k e l y t h a t p r e c i s e Mr. P epys w ould have c o n tin u e d t o i t r o n i z e so f r e q u e n t l y an i n s t i t u t i o n i n w h ich he c o u ld n o t it h i s "m oney's w o r th ." On a t l e a s t one o c c a s io n an e x t r a o r d i n a r y c irc u m - ;ance was th e e x c u se i f n o t a s a t i s f a c t o r y re a s o n f o r undue h a v i o r from one fo p in t h e , p i t . When A phra Behn' s The itc h L o v er was p ro d u c e d in F e b r u a r y , 1673» a t th e D o rs e t irden theatre,39 sh e w r i t e s , T hat day ' tw as a c te d f i r s t , t h e r e comes me i n t o th e p i t a lo n g , l i t h e r , p h le g m a tic , w h ite , i l l - f a v o u r e d , w re tc h e d f o p , an o f f i c e r i n m asq u erad e new ly t r a n s p o r t e d w i t h a s c a r d and f e a t h e r o u t o f F r a n c e , a s o r r y a n im a l t h a t h as n a u g h t e l s e to s h i e l d i t from th e u tte r m o s t co n tem p t o f a l l m ankind b u t t h a t r e s p e c t w h ich we a f f o r d t o r a t s and to a d s . . . t h i s th in g . . . o p en in g t h a t w h ic h s e r v e s i t f o r a m o u th , out is s u e d su c h a n o i s e a s t h i s to th o s e t h a t s a t a b o u t i t , t h a t th e y w ere to e x p e c t a w o e fu l p la y , God damn him , f o r i t was a woman* 8 .4 0 n ee A phra was th e f i r s t E n g lis h woman t o e a r n , o r a tte m p t e a r n , h e r l i v i n g by w r i t i n g , 41 x t was t o b e e x p e c te d t h a t 39 M ontague Summers, A B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n ama (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 3 4 ), p . 24 . 40 V. S a c k v ille - W e s t, A phra B ehn. The In co m p a ra b le t r e a (Mew York: The V ik in g P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), p . 105- 41 Thtd.. o. 16. 169 le w o u ld m eet w i t h o p p o s itio n i n h e r e f f o r t s , h u t sh e r o s e > c h a lle n g e i t a n d became v e r y b i t t e r a b o u t ^ ‘th e c o n s p i r - 5y t h a t was o r g a n iz e d a g a i n s t her.**^^ Beyond a d o u b t she e rca m e, a s d id many o f h e r c o n te m p o r a r ie s , th o s e r e s t r i c - ons p la c e d by m o d e sty upon t h e f r e e a c t i v i t y o f t h e fe m a le ^x.^3 W ith th e young “gentlem an,** how ever, show ing o f f a t le t h e a t r e a s w e l l a s e ls e w h e re h ad become som eth in g o f a • a d i t i o n . C ib b e r, i n w r i t i n g o f h i s f r i e n d . C o lo n e l B r e t t , uys t h a t a f t e r B r e t t l e f t O x fo rd , he w ent to th e Temple t o ►Ilow th e la w , b u t t h a t **the la w ( l i k e some o f h i s f a i r and • a i l a d m ire rs ) v e r y o f t e n f o llo w &d] h i m .” B ecau se o f h i s .t a n d s o c i a l g r a c e s , h i s f r i e n d s d e c id e d he s h o u ld f o llo w m ore l i v e l y v o c a tio n th a n t h e law — i n t h i s c a s e , th e l e a t r e . The f i r s t v ie w t h a t f i r e s th e h ead o f a young g e n t l e man o f t h i s m o d ish a m b itio n , j u s t b ro k e lo o s e from b u s i n e s s , i s t o c u t a f i g u r e (a s th e y c a l l i t ) i n a s id e - b o x , a t t h e p la y , from whence t h e i r n e x t s t e p i s t o th e Green Room b e h in d t h e s c e n e s , som etim es t h e i r n o n - u l t r a . ^2 I b i d . , p . 1 0 5 . ^3 I b i d . . p . 16 . G ib b e r, C o lle y , ^ A pology f o r t h e l i f e o f , >bert W . Lowe, e d i t o r (London: John C. Nimmo, 1888T, V o l. p . 3 5 . C ib b e r a d m its , how ever, t h a t p r o b a b ly th e t h i n g la t i n t e r e s t e d B r e t t m ost o f a l l was th e “f a i r - f u l l i l s s ta te m e n t may have b ee n t r u e o f C o lo n e l B r e t t , b u t i t Lso rem in d s one o f th e p i c t u r e s drawn by Thomas D ek k e r, m V in c e n t and o t h e r s o f th e p la y h o u se b e a u s ; in s h o r t , i t i a s t e r e o t y p e . I t was i n e v i t a b l e t h a t Pepys in h i s many v i s i t s to le th e a tire w ould e x p e rie n c e some a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r n o t o f le h i g h e s t ty p e , b u t h i s in f r e q u e n t r e f e r e n c e to su c h jh a v io r i s h ig h ly s i g n i f i c a n t . N o n e th e le s s , on one o c c a - Lon, A ugust 1 2 , 1667, he w ent a lo n e to t h e K in g 's h o u se t o »e B r e n o r a l t a g a i n . ^5 T h ere he * . . d id happen t o s i t j u s t b e f o r e M rs. P ie r c e and M rs. Knepp, who p u l l e d me by th e h a i r ; and so I a d d r e s s e d m y s e lf to th em , and t a l k e d t o them a l l th e i n t e r v a l s o f th e p la y , and d i d g iv e them f r u i t . : f i r s t r e a d in g t h i s m ight g iv e an im p r e s s io n o f im p ro p e r ïh a v io r , in th e t h e a t r e , b u t on c l o s e r e x a m in a tio n i t cem Î s e e n t h a t he t a l k e d to them “a l l th e i n t e r v a l s o f th e a y . ” The m e tic u lo u s P epys, i f he had t a l k e d th ro u g h o u t le p l a y , i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y w ould have s a i d s o . I t may be isumed t h a t th e h a i r — p u l l i n g w ould be b r i e f an d p r o b a b ly ft c o n tin u e d . A f e a t u r e o f a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r a f t e r th e show, n o t ►ttom*d P e r r iw ig w h ich I th e n wore in my f i r s t p la y o f th e >ol i n F a sh io n . . . . ” Pepys, op. c i t . . V ol. 2 , p . 624. 171 iknown to d a y , i s c o n ta in e d in t h a t same d a y 's e n t r y by sp y s. He, Knepp, P i e r c e , and M rs. C o r b e t t, a l l “f r i e n d s ”^^ r h i s an d h i s w i f e , w ent by co a ch to M rs. M a n u e l's , a >rmer a c t r e s s h e r s e l f , and t h e r e had s in g i n g b o th by h e r id an I t a l i a n . A l i t t l e more th a n sev en m onths l a t e r , W a i r t o f th e same g ro u p p l u s H enry H a r r i s , t h e a c t o r , Mr. L erce, Mr. M anuel, and B a n i s t e r , “th e g r e a t m a s te r of i s i q u e , ” a f t e r t h e f i r s t p e rfo rm a n c e o f D e v e n a n t' s The i n ' 8 t h e M a s te r , a l l w ent t o “th e -B lu e B a l l s , ” a n e a rb y iv e rn , and d a n c e d and sa n g u n t i l a lm o st m id n ig h t. Even in ie.t d ay a f t e r — t h e a t r e p a r t i e s w ere e v i d e n t l y p o p u l a r - — and long th e m id d le c l a s s . R eal a u d ie n c e “dram a” was by no means l i m i t e d t o L ghts, and when on November 2 , 1667, th e Kings* House was . . . f u l l o f p a r lia m e n t men, i t b e i n g h o ly d a y w ith them . . . i t was o b s e rv a b le how a g e n tle m a n o f goo d h a b i t s i t t i n g j u s t b e f o r e u s , e a t i n g o f some f r u i t i n t h e m id s t o f t h e p la y , d i d d ro p down a s d e a d , b e in g choked; b u t w i t h much ado Orange M oll d i d t h r u s t h e r . f i n g e r down h i s t h r o a t , a n d b ro u g h t him t o l i f e ag a in .^ ® h o c . G i t . A lth o u g h Knepp i s known c h i e f l y by th e îf e r e n c e s to h e r in Pepys* D ia r y , sh e i s n e v e r e x p r e s s l y id ic a te d a s h i s m i s t r e s s a s , f o r ex a m p le , was M rs. M a r tin , lere i s no r e a s o n t o d o u b t, how ever, t h a t he was a d m itte d I K nepp'8 * 'fa v o rs“ on num erous o c c a s io n s . ^7 I b i d . , M arch 26 , 1 6 6 8 , V ol. 2 , p . 835- P ep y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 7 0 k . T h is was a t a irfo rm an ce o f H enry th e F o u r th w ith W illia m C a rtw r ig h t a s tl s t a f f . 172 h e t h e r th e g e n tle m a n 's u n f a m l l i a r i t y w ith th e f r u i t , h i s r e o c o u p a tio n w ith th e p la y o r a sudden shook c a u se d h i s o w n fa ll can be o n ly a m a t t e r o f c o n j e c t u r e , b u t th e r e i s i t t i e need f o r c o n j e c t u r e a b o u t th e i n d i s p e n s a b i l i t y o f ran g e M oll i n th e R e s t o r a t i o n t h e a t r e . She s e rv e d i n n u - e ro u s c a p a c i t i e s , one o f w hich was to b r i n g p e o p le t o - e t h e r who w ere i n t e r e s t e d in b e in g t o g e t h e r . H a rd ly two o n th s a f t e r sh e r e s c u e d th e s t r i c k e n " P a rlia m e n t m a n ," sh e nform ed P epys d u r in g th e f i r s t a c t o f S h i r l e y 's Love * s r u e l t y t h a t M rs. P i e r c e an d Knepp d id d in e a t h i s house Oat d ay , an d t h a t he was d e s i r e d to come hom e.^^ He w en t, i t th e y had a l r e a d y g o n e; when he r e t u r n e d to th e t h e a t r e , 3 l l came to m eet him to t e l l him t h a t th e g i r l s w ere t h e r e . 1 t h a t way he f i n a l l y fo u n d them and s a t w ith them d u rin g le re m a in d e r o f th e p l a y . A h i l a r i o u s i n c i d e n t , o f w h ich th e p r u d is h m ight Lush to h e a r b u t to w h ich a lm o st any a u d ie n c e m ight be d e - 3nded on to re s p o n d a s th e o r i g i n a l one d id , o c c u r r e d d u r - ig th e p r o d u c tio n o f Romeo and J u l i e t , "w rote by Mr. l a k e s p e a r . "30 Downes r e c a l l s t h a t I b i d . , V ol. 2, p . 753. 50 As alw a y s t h e r e i s c o n j e c t u r e among c r i t i c s co n - îr n in g th e p a r t i c u l a r v e r s i o n o f a p la y when a c e r t a i n ic id e n t i s m e n tio n e d . Downes c l e a r l y s t a t e s , p . 22, t h a t ; was "some tim e a f t e r " t h a t Jam es Howard made th e p la y 173 T here b e in g a F ig h t and S c u f f le in t h i s P la y , b etw een th e House o f G ap u let and House o f P a r i s : M rs. H olden A c tin g th e W ife, e n t e r 'd i n a H u rry , C ry in g , 0 my D ear C ount! She i n a d v e r t e n t l y l e f t o u t, 0 , in t h e p r o n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e Word Count I g iv in g i t a Vehement A c c e n t, p u t t h e House i n t o su c h a L a u g h te r, t h a t London B rid g e a t low— w a te r was s i l e n c e t o i t . 51 The g le e o f a R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e , o r any o t h e r , f o r la t m a t t e r , a t su c h a s l i p may e a s i l y be im a g in e d . I n view ! * th e a d m itte d m o ra ls o f many a c t r e s s e s o f th e p e r i o d , one .g h t w onder w h e th e r o r n o t M rs. H olden s l i p p e d d e l i b e r a t e l y I h e r p r o n u n c ia tio n o f th e w o rd .3^ In any c a s e , th e e r r o r Lve t h a t a u d ie n c e so m eth in g t o la u g h a t a n d no d o u b t t o ito a t r a g i — comedy "he p r e s e r v i n g Romeo an d J u l i e t a l i v e ; f t h a t when th e T ragedy was R e v iv 'd a g a i n , ' tw as P l a y 'd t e r n a t e l y , T r a g i c a l one Day an d T ra g i- c o m ic a l a n o t h e r . . . " M ontague Summers, h o w ev er, in h i s e d i t i o n o f Jo h n fwnes* R o sc iu s A n g lic a n u s (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , '2 8 ), p . 180, s t a t e s "As th e a l t e r a t i o n by th e Hon. Jam es w a rd h as n o t b e e n p r i n t e d , we can b u t presum e t h a t i t was L t h i s v e r s i o n t h a t th e c h a r a c t e r o f Count P a r i s ' w if e f p e a r e d ." In h i s S h a k e sp e a re Im proved (C am bridge: H a rv a rd l i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), p* 7 ^ , H a z e lto n S p en cer a s k s "does »t t h e a n e c d o te i n d i c a t e t h a t Downes' p en o r memory s l i p p e d >r Lady M ontague. The r e f e r e n c e may be t o e i t h e r o f th e i r s i o n s . " Summers p ro b a h ly to o k h is i d e a o f th e a p p e a r - ice i n H ow ard's a l t e r e d v e r s i o n from G e n e s t. V o l. 1 , p . 4 2 , lo s t a t e s "Count P a ris * W ife m ight p o s s i b l y be in tr o d u c e d L t h e a l t e r e d p l a y . " ' 51 , o p . Git.. p . 22. 52 T here i s n o th in g i n th e p e r s o n a l l i f e o f M rs. Id e n known to t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y , h ow ever, t h a t w ould k e t h i s a p p e a r l i k e l y . She was t h e d a u g h te r o f Jo h n I d e n , th e p u b l i s h e r and f r i e n d o f S i r W illia m D avenant i t t e r t o n t o l d Pope t h a t i t w as H olden t o whom he was ap- e n t i c e d a s a y o u th . M rs. H o ld e n 's p a r t s w ere q u i t e lim p o rta n t and l i t t l e i s a c t u a l l y known o f h e r . See w n e s . on- c i t . . P. 175. 174 ilk a b o u t for some tim e afterwards.33 When John Downes, th e p ro m p te r a t t h e D u k e's House Id a u t h o r o f R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s , one o f th e m ost im p o rta n t l e a t r i c a l docum ents o f th e e ra., was a young man, h e , l i k e ;way an d L ee, h ad an a m b itio n t o be an a c t o r . A f t e r h av in g m tio n e d t h e i r f a i l u r e he w r i t e s : 1 m ust n o t f o r g e t m y s e l f . b e in g L i s t e d f o r an A c to r in S i r W illiam D a v e n a n t' s Company in L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s : The v e r y f i r s t Day o f o p e n in g th e House t h e r e , w i t h th e S ie g e o f R ho d es. b e in g t o A ct H aly; Cfhe K in g , Duke o f Y ork, an d e tll t h e N o b i l i t y i n t h e H ouse, a n d th e f i r s t tim e t h e K ing was in a P u b lic k T h e a tr e ) The s i g h t o f t h a t A ugust p r e s e n c e , so s p o i l 'd me f o r an A c to r t o o . B ut b e in g 80 i n th e Company o f two s u c h Em inent P o e t s , a s th e y p r o y 'd a f t e r w a r d , made my D is g ra c e so much th e l e s s . . 1 .5 4 I f Summers i s to be b e l i e v e d , Pepys was a w i t n e s s t o lis a c t i n g d e b a c le o f D ow nes', b u t t h e r e i s r e a s o n a b le u b t t h a t . t h i s i s t r u e .35 on J u l y 2 , l 6 6 l , Pepys n o te d : Home, from W e stm in ste r H a ll and a f t e r my s in g i n g 33 An i n t e r e s t i n g d i f f e r e n c e b etw een o utw ard s t a n - r d s o f t h a t day and th o s e o f c e n t u r i e s f o llo w in g i s t h a t b l i s h e r s in th e n i n e t e e n t h an d t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r i e s p resu m - l y r e f u s e d to p r i n t th e s t o r y o r e l s e w r i t e r s have r e f u s e d r e t e l l i t . G e n e s t, o p . c i t . . V ol. 1 , p . 4 2 , w r i t e s of he l u d i c r o u s s t o r y , w h ich h e , Downes, r e l a t e s o f M rs. Id e n (an d w h ich m ust n o t b e q u o te d ). . . S p e n c e r, o p . t . , p . 74, w r i t e s th e e a r l y p a r t o f th e s t o r y . ". . .'M r s . Id e n A c tin g h i s W ife, e n t e r 'd in a H u rr y ," and so f o r t h , " it he r e f u s e s to go on w ith i t . 54 Downes, o p . c i t . . p . 34. 35 I b i d . , p . 212. Summers s t a t e s t h a t Downes a c t e d l y "who i s d e s c r i b e d i n th e p r i n t e d C a st a s 'E unuch 175 m a s te r had d o n e , to o k c o a c h and w ent t o S i r W illia m D a v e n a n t's O pera; t h i s b e in g th e f o u r t h d ay t h a t i t h a th b e g u n , and th e f i r s t t h a t I have se en i t . Today was a c t e d th e se c o n d p a r t o f The S ieg e o f R hodes. W e s t a i d a v e r y g r e a t w h ile f o r t h e King an d th e Queen o f Bohemia# And by th e b r e a k in g o f a b o a r d o v er o u r h e a d s , we had a g r e a t d e a l o f d u s t f e l l i n t o th e l a d i e s ' n e c k s and th e m e n 's h a i r , w hich made good s p o r t . The King b e in g come, th e sc e n e o p en ed ; w h ich in d e e d i s v e ry f i n e and m a g n if i c e n t , and w e ll a c t e d , a l l b u t th e Eunuch, who was so much o u t t h a t he was h i s s e d o f f th e s t a g e . 56 Downes, r e g a r d l e s s o f h i s o c c a s i o n a l i n a c c u r a c i e s , •obably rem em bered c o r r e c t l y t h e d ay he f i r s t t r i e d t o a c t id was "so much o u t , " euid i f i t w ere th e f i r s t day o f t h e rfo rm a n c e , he p r o b a b ly was r e p l a c e d by a n o th e r a c t o r by le tim e Pepys w itn e s s e d th e s e c o n d p a r t on th e f o u r t h d ay a c t i n g . 57 Even th o u g h th e p a r t c o n ta in e d o n ly f i f t y - r e e l i n e s , 38 i t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l e t h a t a p e rs o n f o llo w in g 56 P e p y s , o p . c i t . . V o l. I I , p p . 6 2 -6 3 . The d a t e r e c l a s h e s w i t h t h a t g iv e n b y Downes who s t a t e s , R o s c iu s g l i c a n u s # p . 2 0 , t h a t D avenant opened h i s house in .n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s w ith t h e two p a r t s o f th e S ie g e o f lo d e s, i n th e s p r i n g o f 1662. 37 Downes, R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s , p . 3 4 , h a s s t a t e d i t IS t h e v e ry f i r s t day th e p la y was a c t e d t h a t he was i p o i l 'd • . . f o r an actor.** Pepys saw t h e p la y on t h e ►urth d a y , t h a t i s th e se co n d tim e th e se c o n d p a r t was ite d . Thus, i t i s d o u b tf u l t h a t Downes was th e a c t o r who IS h i s s e d o f f th e s ta g e on t h e day Pepys saw i t . 3 GSummers i n R o sc iu s A n g lic a n u s , p . 212, s t a t e s th e t r t c o n ta in e d o n ly f o r t y - f i v e l i n e s . The p a r t i n th e d l e c t e d works e d i t i o n , The D ram atic Works o f S i r W illia m a v e n a n t , Jam es M aidment an d W. H. Logan, e d i t o r s Edinburgh: W illia m P a ,tte rs o n , 1 8 7 5 ), V o l. I l l , p . 231, h as f t y — n in e l i n e s . The f i r s t e d i t i o n o f t h e Second P a r t o f le "opera** c o n t a i n s f i f t e e n sp e e c h e s o f f i f t y - t h r e e l i n e s r Eunuch Bas s a o r H aly . See S i r W illia m D 'A v en an t, The .ege o f R h o d es. F i r s t and Second P a r t (London: Henry n srtm n . l 6 6 3 ) . >wnes i n th e p a r t w ould h av e b ee n u n s u re o f h im s e lf t o have > p e rfo rm on su c h s h o r t n o t i c e . At any r a t e th e a u d ie n c e was n o t i n c l i n e d t o be i t i e n t w ith H aly an d th u s su m m arily d is m is s e d him . They .8 0 , a c c o rd in g t o Pepys* J u l y 2nd e n t r y , had o c c a s io n f o r a i r t a i n amount o f d o u b tf u l m i r t h o r "good s p o r t ” when t h e tard above t h e i r h ea d s b ro k e an d l e t d u s t f a l l i n t o t h e i r Lir an d down t h e i r b a c k s . T h is w ould n o t seem a t a l l ra n g e e x c e p t t h a t i f Downes i s c o r r e c t i n s t a t i n g t h a t th e rfo rm a n c e in w h ich he p a r t i c i p a t e d o c c u r r e d i n th e New n c o ln * s Inn F i e l d s t h e a t r e , i t h a r d ly seem s l i k e l y t h a t a w c e i l i n g w ould c o n ta in a c o l l e c t i o n o f d u s t auid a b o a rd r e a d i l y broken.59 N o n e th e le s s , th e b e s t r e s e a r c h seems show t h a t i t was th e new t h e a t r e in w h ich th e p la y was e s e n te d and in w h ich Pepys saw " th e K ing [ C h a r ie ^ and th e een o f B o h em ia.” 39 Maidment and L ogan, The D ram atic Works o f S ir l l i a m D avenant V o l. 3 , p . 2 4 5 , g iv e S a lis b u r y C ourt a s th e c a t i o n o f The S ie g e o f Rhodes a t th e tim e Pepys saw th e a y . T h is w ould e x p la in l o g i c a l l y th e b r e a k in g b o a r d and l l i n g d u s t w h ich ca n n o t be r e a s o n a b ly a c c o u n te d f o r o t h e r s e . S a lis b u r y C o u rt was an o ld t h e a t r e d a t in g b a c k a t la s t t o 1 6 2 9 , and t h e r e f o r e w o u ld be q u i t e e x c u s a b le f o r LVing a b o a rd b ro k e n and d u s t f a l l i n g on th e p a t r o n s . See o rg e F r e e d le y , an d Jo h n A. R e ev e s, A H is t o r y o f th e le a tr e (New York: Crown P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 4 1 ), pT 101. U n f o r tu n a te ly f o r th e th e o r y t h a t t h i s p r e s e n t a - on o c c u r r e d a t S a lis b u r y C o u r t, R o b e rt W . Lowe, Thomas t t e r t o n (London: Kegan P a u l, T re n c h , T ru b n e r an d Company, : d . . I B O l) . shows t h a t th e o n e n in s o f th e new t h e a t r e 177 A udience d is t u r b a n c e o c c u rr e d on o c c a s io n b e c a u s e o f le e le m e n ts o r b e c a u s e o f f a u l t y b u i l d i n g s t r u c t u r e . On ily 1 , 1664, Pepys and h i s w if e saw The S i l e n t Woman a t th e im p a ra tiv e ly new T h e a tre R o y al where . . . i t f e l l su c h a sto rm o f h a y l e , t h a t we in th e m id d le o f th e p i t w ere f a i n t o r i s e ; an d a l l th e house i n a d i s o r d e r , and so my w if e and, I o u t and g o t i n t o a l i t t l e a le h o u s e , and s t a i d t h e r e an h o u r a f t e r th e p la y was done b e f o r e we c o u ld g e t a c o a c h , w h ich a t l a s t we d i d and by ch an ce to o k up Jo y c e N o rto n and M rs. Bowles and s e t them a t home, a n d so home o u r s e l v e s . l i l i e s p e r f e c t l y w ith th e n o te s made by Pepys f o r th e p la y s v i s i t e d in th e summer and f a l l o f l 6 6 l . M oreover, Downes a t e s s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t t h e o p en in g o f The S ieg e o f Rhodes L th e New L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s P la y h o u se was th e o c c a s io n t h e K in g 's f i r s t v i s i t to a p u b l i c p la y h o u s e . B ut Downes a t e s t h a t he was t h e r e th e f i r s t n ig h t o f th e p r o d u c tio n , d Pepys sa y s he was t h e r e t h e f o u r t h n i g h t . Maidment and g a n , o p . P i t . , e s s e n t i a l l y d is p r o v e t h e i r own p o in t t h a t pys saw th e p l a y a t S a l i s b u r y C ourt T h e a tre when t h e y , 1 . 1 , p . LXIX, q u o te P e p y s ' e n t r y o f November 4 , 1 6 6 1 , in Lich he w ro te " w ith my w ife t o th e o p e r a , where we saw he Bondman," th o u g h t o b o th o u r t h i n k i n g n o t so w e l l a c te d r e (h a v in g to o g r e a t e x p e c t a t i o n s ) a s f o r m e rly a t l i s b u r y C o u rt." They a l s o s t a t e t h a t D a v e n a n t' s t h e a t r e s known a s th e "O pera" b e c a u s e o f h i s h a v in g p ro d u c e d s i c a l dram as. S t i l l f u r t h e r t o r e f u t e Downes' s ta te m e n t a t t h e p la y h o u s e opened in th e s p r in g o f 1662, Lowe shows a t C h a rle s I I a t t e n d e d a p u b l i c t h e a t r e lo n g b e f o r e 1662, d o f c o u r s e , Pepys* s ta te m e n t o f J u l y 2 , l 6 o l shows t h a t a r l e s was t h e r e a t th e p e rfo rm a n c e . P e p y s ' r e f e r e n c e t o he King and th e Queen o f B ohem ia," does n o t i n d i c a t e th e e s e n c e o f th e K ing o f Bohem ia s in c e th e Queen was a t t h a t me a widow. The r e f e r e n c e , o f c o u rs e , i s t o C h a rle s I I . From t h i s e n t r y i t can be se e n t h a t even th e hew e a t r e R oyal s t i l l had a r e l a t i v e l y open p i t . P e t e r nningham . The S to r y o f N e ll Gwyn. Jo h n D rin k w a te r, e d i t o r , r i v a t e l y p r i n t e d f o r th e Navane S o c ie ty L im ite d , London, 2 7 ) , p . 25, s t a t e s t h a t "The p i t l a y open to th e w e a th e r r t h e sak e o f l i g h t , b u t was s u b s e q u e n tly c o v e re d in w ith 1 7 8 ince London, p a r t i o m l a r l y i n w in te r h as n e v e r b een known >r i t s e s p e c i a l l y s a lu b r i o u s c l i m a t e , i t was to be e x p e c te d la t th e o c c u p a n ts o f th e p i t m ig h t b e in c o n v e n ie n c e d p e r - ip® s e v e r a l tim e s d u r in g an y one s e a s o n . Pepys* r e f e r e n c e s en to d i s t u r b a n c e s o f t h i s s o r t , how ever, a r e e x tre m e ly if r e q u e n t, and s i n c e th e r e i s a d e f i n i t e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t i w ould have r e p o r t e d them i f th e y had o c c u r r e d , i t may be isumed t h a t he a v o id e d th e p la y h o u s e o r a t l e a s t th e p i t on lys o f v e ry in c le m e n t w e a th e r . I t i s h a r d l y t o be w ondered a t t h a t th e f a l l i n g i n o f t h e a t r e r o o f ^2 w ould c a u se c o n s id e r a b le a u d ie n c e u p s e t a s I d i d d u r in g t h e p r o d u c tio n o f S e d le y 's B e l l a m i r a . o r The s t r e s s . a t D rury Lane in May, 1687-^^ By some c o i n c i - n e e , n o t , a p p a r e n t l y , b e c a u s e of th e s m a lln e s s o f th e g la z e d c u p o la , w h ic h , h ow ever, o n ly im p e r f e c t l y p r o t e c t e d le a u d ie n c e , so t h a t in sto rm y w e a th e r t h e house was throw n t o d i s o r d e r , and th e p e o p le in th e p i t w ere " f a i n t o r i s e ." Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 5. The p la y seem s t o have opened on May 1 2 th , b u t th e a c t d a t e th e r o o f f e l l in i s n o t m e n tio n e d in H a z l i t t o r h e r a v a i l a b l e s o u r c e s . 83 H a z l i t t , o p . c i t . , p . 2 5 . I t a p p e a rs from t h e e f a c e t h a t S e d le y gave h i s t h i r d n ig h t t o a " f r i e n d , " an d , c o r d in g to H a z l i t t , t h a t f r i e n d was S h a d w e ll. Summers, in e Works o f Thomas S h a d w e ll, V o l. I , p p . c x c iv , c x c v , a t e s t h a t S e d le y o f f e r e d S h ad w ell th e p l a y t o be p ro d u c e d d e r h i s own nam e, b u t a t t h a t tim e S h ad w ell was in c o n s id - a b le d i s f a v o r i n th e t h e a t r e f o r h is p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s d th u s was u n a b le h im s e lf t o g e t th e p l a y p ro d u c e d , n e e , S e d le y p ro d u c e d i t and gave S h ad w ell th e t h i r d fi*ht • a •necelpta. 179 i d i e n c e , 8 4 v e ry few p e o p le w ere h u r t , b u t among t h e s e few IS S e d le y h im s e lf whose s e n s e o f humor even w ith a r a t h e r )rio u 8 i n j u r y seem s t o have rem a in ed w i t h him . When S i r .eetw ood S hepherd rem ark ed to S e d le y t h a t " th e r e was so ich f i r e i n h i s p l a y , t h a t i t blew up t h e P o e t, h o u s e , and .1 ," S e d le y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y r e p l i e d , "Ho, th e p la y was ) h e a v y , i t b ro k e down th e h o u se and b u r i e d th e p o e t i n h i s rn r u b b i s h . "^5 i t i s w o rth n o tin g h e r e t h a t a p p a r e n t l y no •eat d is t u r b a n c e was c r e a t e d even by t h i s u n u s u a l i n c i d e n t )c a u se no comment c o n c e rn in g a u d ie n c e r e a c t i o n i s r e c o r d e d . An a u d ie n c e r e a c t i o n a r i s i n g n e a r t h e r o o f , i f n o t »cause o f th e r o o f , and o f a m ore o r l e s s perm anent n a t u r e L s t h a t w hich b eg a n ab o u t t h e tim e Jerem y C o l l i e r w ro te h is i l e b r a t e d A S h o rt View o f th e ImmorsüLity. an d P ro f a n e n e s s 1 th e E n g lis h S t a g e . ^ 4 See S h a d w e ll* s C om plete W orks, Summers* e d i t i o n , 1 . I , p . cx cv . He s t a t e s t h a t th e com plim ent S h ad w ell c e iv e d was " f a r from an em pty o n e ." ^3 Carew H a z l i t t , A M anual f o r t h e C o l l e c t o r and a t e u r o f O ld E n g lis h P la v s “"( London ; P ic k e r in g and C h a tto , 92) , p . 25* C r i t i c s a r e a g r e e d t h a t t h i s p l a y , t>aken from r e n c e *s E unuch, was t h e b e s t o f S i r C h a rles* p r o d u c tio n s , e p a r t i c u l a r l y G e n e s t, o p . c i t . . V o l. I , p . 455, H i c o l l , S t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 223. C o l l i e r * s a t t a c k on t h e s ta g e was f i r s t p u b l i s h e d 1 6 9 8 . The fo o tm en w ere g r a n t e d th e p r i v i l e g e o f t h e p e r g a l l e r y g r a t i s by C h r is to p h e r R ic h e i t h e r th e n o r th e a r b e f o r e . See Lowe*a e d i t i o n o f C ib b e r, V o l. 1 , p . 237, t e 1 . C h r is to p h e r R i c h ,87 in c o m p e titio n w ith B e t t e r t o n * 8 )re famous g ro u p , became c o n v in c e d t h a t * * P e o p le o f Q u a lity " îr e p a t r o n i z i n g B e t t e r t o n more th a n th e y w ere h is g ro u p . 5 t h e r e f o r e in a u g u r a te d th e custom o f a llo w in g fo otm en to 5cupy th e to p g a l l e r y i n o r d e r . . • n o t o n ly t o i n c l i n e them t o g iv e u s a good Word in th e r e s p e c t i v e F a m ilie s th e y b e l o n g 'd t o , b u t . . . to i n c i t e them t o come a l l Hands a l o f t i n th e C rack o f o u r A p p la u s e s: And in d e e d i t so f a r s u c c e e d e d , t h a t i t o f t e n th u n d e r* d from th e f u l l G a ll e r y a b o v e , w h ile o u r t h i n P i t and Boxes below w ere in th e u tm o st I b i d . , V o l. 1 , p . 1 8 1 , n o te 1 . In A C om parison (tween th e Two S t a g e s , S t a r i n g B. W e lls, e d i t o r s ( P r in c e to n L iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 4 2 ), p . 1 1 , he i s c a l l e d "an o l d s n a r l - ig Lawyer M a ste r a n d S o v e re ig n ; a w a s p is h , ig n o r a n t i t t i f o g g e r in Law and P o e tr y ; one who u n d e r s ta n d s P o e tr y no ire th a n A lg e b ra ; he wou*d s o o n e r have th e G race o f God lan do e v e ry body j u s t i c e . . . * " G e n e s t, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3 , p# 499. T his custom s r s i s t e d f o r a b o u t f o r t y y e a r s u n t i l i t was a b o l is h e d in 3 7 . I t h ad b e e n p re c e e d e d b y t h e custom o f p e r m i t t i n g otm en i n t o t h e g a l l e r y a t th e end o f th e f o u r t h a c t . On ly 5 , 1737, a b o u t t h r e e h u n d re d footm en became so in c e n s e d ; t h e management o f D rury Lane t h a t th e y b ro k e i n t o th e le a tr e and c a u s e d g r e a t dam age. G enest t e l l s o f th e en d ' t h i s t r a d i t i o n t h a t had b e e n begun by R ic h in t h e l a s t >ars o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . He w r i t e s , "A body o f C o f them , arm ed w ith o f f e n s i v e w eapons, b ro k e upon th e lor o f D. L . , and f o r c i b l y o b tr u d in g th e m s e lv e s on th e age wounded 25 p e r s o n s — th e P r in c e and P r in c e s s o f W ales, t h some o th e r s o f t h e R oyal F am ily , w ere i n th e h o u se a t le t i m e ." Some t h i r t y o f t h e r i n g l e a d e r s w ere s e n t t o (Wgate p r i s o n from w hich th e y w ro te a l e t t e r c la im in g id m issio n i n to t h e g a l l e r y a s a m a tte r o f r i g h t , and tr e a te n e d to re d u c e th e p la y h o u s e to th e g ro u n d s , i f t h e i r aim s h o u ld b e r e f u s e d —b u t a g u a rd o f 50 s o l d i e r s b e in g ^p o in te d f o r s e v e r a l n i g h t s , th e footm en made no f u r t h e r te m p t s ." 181 .8 p r i v i l e g e w h ich from cu sto m , C ib b e r a d m its , became a ; h t , was in h i s o p in io n , . . . th e m ost d i s g r a c e f u l H usance t h a t e v e r d e p re c i a t e d th e T h e a tr e . How o f t e n have t h e m ost p o l i t e A u d ie n c e s, in t h e m ost a f f e c t i n g S cenes o f th e b e s t P la y s , b ee n d is t u r b * d an d I n s u l t e d by t h e N oise and Glam our o f t h e s e sav ag e S p e c t a t o r s .89 From t h i s i t can be s e e n t h a t by a n o t h e r e y e - w itn e s s > o rt, t h e r e w ere **most p o l i t e Audiences'* even in th e t e r y e a rs o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n e x c e p t f o r th e " d i s g r a c e f u l lance" o f fo o tm en whose a p p la u s e " t h u n d e r 'd from th e f u l l l e r y " to th e g r e a t annoyance o f th o s e p r o p e r people.70 When p la y s o r a u th o r s d i d n o t p l e a s e , th e y som etim es I an u n f o r tu n a te r e c e p t i o n a t th e hands o f th e a u d ie n c e . Lging from th e number o f c o n s o la to r y poems p u b lis h e d w ith a r d Howard' s The S ix Days * A d v e n tu re . o r The New U t o p i a , ! c o n c lu d e s t h a t th e p la y m ust have b e e n ro u g h ly t r e a t e d n i t s f i r s t p r é s e n t â t i o n .7 1 in h e r p a n e g y r ic "To th e 89 L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 234. 70 That th e " p o l i t e " p a r t o f th e a u d ie n c e was v e r y n a t t h i s tim e a l s o ca n n o t b e d e n ie d in view o f t h i s same w itn e s s r e p o r t . T his te n d s a l s o to b e co n firm e d by e r M o tte u x 's p ro lo g u e to M rs. P i x 's The In n o c e n t t r e s s , p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s , J u l y , 1697. W e lls ' e d i t i o n o f A C om parison Betw een th e Two S t a g e s . X I I , n o te 4. 71 Edward Howard, The S ix Days * A d v e n tu re , o r The New p i a (London: Thomas B rin g , l 6 7 l ) « T h ere w ere f o u r , one h from A phra B ehn, J , T ., Edward R a v e n s c r o f t, an d Sam. a t . 182 Shor o f th e New U to p ia ," A phra Behn w ro te : Not a l l y o u r power i n P ro s e n o r Rhimes Can f i n i s h t h e d i s p u t e , * Twixt th o s e t h a t dam n, and th o s e t h a t do a d m ire The h e a t o f Your P o e t i c f i r e : Your s o u l o f th o u g h t you may im ploy A n o b l e r way Than in rev en g e* u p o n a m u l t i t u d e , whose ig n o r a n c e o n ly make them r u d e . i r a , a s th e f i r s t woman t o e a r n h e r l i v i n g , in good p a r t l e a s t , by w r i t i n g and f e e l i n g th e n eed f o r more in d e p e n - ice an d power f o r women g e n e r a l l y 72 w ould s a n c tio n th e sme o f H ow ard's p l a y , o f c o u r s e , s i n c e i t p la c e d th e rernm ent o f U to p ia a l t e r n a t e l y in th e h an d s o f b o th ces.73 A lth o u g h in th e end "A p r in c e o f th e o ld U to p ia n >od" i s r e s t o r e d t o pow er, he ta k e s S e r in a to be h i s Queen L t e l l s h e r o f th e crown: You s h a l l p a r t a k e i t w i t h me. S e r in a , and m o re , I W ill acknow ledge t h a t * t i s th y lo v e and V e rtu e made Me K in g .74 A n o th er c o n d o le n c e was e x p r e s s e d by J . T. who s t a t e d : F a c tio n ! t h e w e ig h t t h a t re n d e r s good to o l i g h t ; F i r s t m o v 'd by envy, m a lic e , and d e s p i g h t . . . So was t h i s P la y , by a c o n s o r te d c r y 72 I t i s t r u e t h a t women o f th e u p p e r c l a s s e s had lat freedom d u r in g th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d , b u t no pow er e r th a n t h a t t h e y c o u ld g a in by sex o r w i t . L _ _ 73 I b i d . , A ct I . I b i d . , A ct V. 183 Of w itB an d w i t t a l s , b a f f l e d and l a i d by. 75 R a v e n s c ro ft i s u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y hum orous in h i s "To 5 A u th o r o f t h e New U to p ia ," a ls o p u b l i s h e d w ith th e p la y , 3n he s t a t e s : F or a f t e r d e a th L ik e o t h e r P o e ts you s h a l l have , The Bays you m e r it P l a n t e d on y o u r g r a v e . 7® The l a s t o f t h i s g roup o f " h e r a ld s " i s Sam C ly a t who i t i n u e s in th e same v e in : Y ou've b a n i s h 'd from t h e S ta g e t h e i r J i l l and R u f f ia n t o o , (Enough a th o u s a n d P o e ts to undo) F o r t h i s th e y h a t e and s n a r l e a t you.77 One h as no d i f f i c u l t y i n s u rm is in g from th e s e p a n e - r i c s o f c o n d o le n c e and from Howard h im s e lf th ro u g h h i s g fa c e , t h a t a m ost d i s a p p o i n t i n g r e c e p t i o n o c c u rre d a t :h t h e f i r s t a n d seco n d p e rfo rm a n c e s o f t h e p l a y . 78 f a r d Howard n a t u r a l l y to o k g r e a t o f f e n c e a t t h i s and w ro të .e n g th y p r e f a c e J u s t i f y i n g h im s e lf and c a s t i g a t i n g h i s 75 From "To th e A u th o r o f th e New U to p ia , on th e c a r r i a g e o f h i s P la y in A c tin g ," p u b l i s h e d w ith t h e p l a y , 1. 78 Q u ite p o s s i b l y a l l th e p u rv e y o rs o f th e s e encom- ;S h ad in m ind some f a v o r o r f i n a n c i a l p a tr o n a g e from one th e r i c h an d p o w e rfu l Howard b r o t h e r s . 77 From "To th e A u th o r o f th e New U to p ia " p u b lis h e d h t h e p la y . 78 The " P re fa c e o f th e A uthor" t o The S ix Days * e n t u r e . 184 Lemles.79 He i n d i c a t e d t h a t he c o n s id e r e d th e d i s t u r b e r s I be a f a c t i o n among th e p o e t s who w ere j e a lo u s o f h i s “ i t i n g a b i l i t y . 80 He s t a t e s : I w i l l presum e to sa y t h a t t h e r e was so much good f o r t u n e in t h e f a t e o f t h i s p la y , t o r e c e i v e i t s condem n a t i o n from s u c h , who w an te d e i t h e r c a p a c i t y to r e c e i v e i t , o r a t l e a s t w ere r e s o l v 'd to jo y n in a c o n fe d e ra c y to oppose t h a t esteem , w h ich th e more j u s t and know ing m ig h t have p ro b a b ly a l l o w 'd i t , e i t h e r b e in g c o n s c io u s , t h a t i t was b e t t e r th a n th e y w ere w i l l i n g i t s h o u ld be th o u g h t, o r a t l e a s t n o t i n f e r i o u r to w hat th e m ost c e l e b r a t e d am ongst them c o u ld p ro d u ce on th e S ta g e ; w h ich c o n s i d e r a t i o n d id p e rh a p s i n d u s t r i o u s l y o c c a s io n th e d is t u r b a n c e o f th e A c to rs in th e R e p r e s e n t a tio n o f t h i s P la y , a s a l s o th e A udience in t h e h e a r in g o f i t , who c o u ld n o t w ith any q u i e t g iv e t h e i r a t t e n t i o n to th e A c tio n . . . .81 lis same th o u g h t i s c o n tin u e d when he s a y s t h a t th e "h e c k - *rs" h ad t h e i r way, and a f t e r th e seco n d d a y 's p e rfo rm a n c e :here w ere few o f th e s o b e r s p e c t a t o r s who w ould v e n t u r e lat d i s r e s p e c t t o th e m s e lv e s t o se e i t o f t e n . " By t h i s 79 The p r e f a c e i s se v en and a f r a c t i o n p ag es in n g th . 00 Howard m ust have b e e n a r a t h e r im p o s s ib le coxcomb o b ro u g h t on h im s e lf a good p a r t o f th e t r o u b l e t h a t came him . He w as, a c c o r d in g t o th e D ic tio n a r y o f N a tio n a l o g ra p h y , S id n ey L ee, e d i t o r (London: S m ith , E ld e r , an d mpany, 1 9 0 8 ), V o l. X, p . 1 2 , th e f i f t h son of Thomas w ard , f i r s t E a r l o f B e r k s h ir e , and b r o t h e r o f S i r R o b e rt w ard . S hadw ell s a t i r i z e d him a s "P oet Ninny" in The l i e n L o v e rs , o r The I m p e r t i n e n t s . and Jam es Nokes, t h e e a t com edian, a c t e d th e p a r t . See N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n ama, p . 6 8 . Buckingham s a t i r i z e d him in The R e h e a rs a l " a t r e h e a r s a l o f one o f h i s own s t e r i l e p l a y s . " He i s made to y o f one o f h i s own d r a m a tic e f f o r t s "Gad, i t w i l l p i t , X , an d g a l l e r y w ith any p l a y in E u ro p e. " From "The P r e f a c e o f the Author. 185 m e a n s, o f c o u r s e , t h a t th e p la y met w ith su c h an u n f a v o r - .e r e c e p t i o n t h a t i t was w ith d raw n a f t e r th e se c o n d d a y . Summers* d e s c r i p t i o n o f Edward Howard p ro b a b ly ) l a i n s th e a t t i t u d e o f many p e o p le to w a rd s h i s p l a y . "He IS . . . i n s u f f e r a b l y c o n c e it e d , and he was th e one •son in th e w o rld ( th e y s a i d ) who to o k .h i m s e l f s e r i o u s - ”82 R o c h e s t e r 's s a t i r e , o r r a t h e r h i s b r u t a l a t t a c k , on I Howard s t a t e s t h a t th e m aids and c o u r t i e r s w ould c r y a s s t a l k e d down t h e c o r r i d o r s o f W h ite h a ll w i t h h i s lo n g il i s h i y -so lem n f a c e and c o d f i s h e y e s , "T h ere g o es th e .a n c h o ly K n ig h t I "83 He w r i t e s f u r t h e r : F o r o f a l l F o l l y , s u r e th e v e ry Top I s a c o n c e it e d Ninny an d a Fop. seem s q u i t e p o s s i b l e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t th e p la y f a i l e d in ► d p a r t b e c a u se o f th e p e r s o n a l u n p o p u l a r i t y o f th e ih o r. But th e p l a y i t s e l f h a s d o u b tf u l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s . 8 4 im ers, who v a l u e s p r a c t i c a l l y n o b o d y 's o p in io n e x c e p t h i s L , s a y s o f th e p l a y t h a t i t i s f a n t a s t i c , a n d " i s a ;hly am using c o m e d y . " 8 5 N i c o l l i s p r o b a b ly more a c c u r a t e 82 The P la y h o u se o f Pepys « p . 180 The C o l l e c t e d Works o f John W ilm o t, E a r l o f i h e s t e r , Jo h n Hayward, e d i t o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 8 ) , p 7 63. 8 4 The e d i t o r o f th e D i c t io n a r y o f N a tio n a l B io g rap h y I s i t "a p o o r com edy." V o l. X, p . 1 2 . 85 The P la y h o u s e o f P e p y s , p . 1 8 ?. 186 m he te rm s th e p la y o n ly "a f a i r p r o d u c t i o n . "86 x t w as, 3r e f o r e , no d o u b t t h e c o m b in a tio n o f u n p o p u la r a u t h o r and l i o c r e p la y t h a t b ro u g h t a b o u t su c h a ro u g h r e c e p t i o n a s r e c e i v e d from a t l e a s t a " f a c t i o n " i n th e a u d i e n c e .87 m r d was o u t, t h e r e f o r e , n o t o n ly th e tim e and e f f o r t to Lte th e p la y b u t a l s o th e ^ 3 0 0 i t c o s t him to p ro d u c e When P epys saw S i r R o b e rt H ow ard's The Duke o f L erm a, f e v e r , he e x p e c te d so m e th in g to happen i n th e a u d ie n c e , ; n o th in g d i d . The p la y so o b v io u s ly a t t a c k e d th e K ing ? h i s m i s t r e s s e s t h a t Pepys s t a t e s he was t r o u b l e d a t i t id e x p e c te d i t s h o u ld be i n t e r r u p t e d ; b u t i t ended a l l .1 w h ic h s a lv e d a l i i "89 Q u ite a p p a r e n t l y C h a rle s was n o t s e n s i t i v e on th e s c o r e o f h i s m i s t r e s s e s a s he had b een c o r r u p t i o n i n governm ent l e s s th a n a y e a r b e f o r e when I H ow ard's The Change o f Crowns c a u se d Lacy t o be th ro w n R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 202. N i c o l l s t a t e s t h a t Î p l a y i s one o f th e few o m is s io n s by G enest# I t was g i n a l l y p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s c a . M arch 1 6 ?1 . 87 A lth o u g h t h e r e i s no s t a t e d c o n n e c tio n , i t i s •haps p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e " f a c t i o n " t h a t h i s s e d t h i s p l a y r th e s ta g e was composed i n p a r t a t l e a s t o f th e satme lb e r a t h a t h e lp e d to p u t C o lo n e l H enry H ow ard's The .te d Kingdoms o f f th e b o a rd s some e i g h t y e a rs e a r l i e r , îkingham h e a d e d th e e a r l i e r g ro u p . See a b o v e , p . 1 5 8 . S h a d w e ll, W orks, o p . c i t . « V o l. 1 , p . L I I I . Pepys, op. c i t ., February 20, 1668. 187 :o p r i s o n . 90 Of c o u r s e , Ned H ow ard's p l a y and L a c y 's a c t - ; to u c h e d a more v u l n e r a b l e p o in t th a n d i d S i r R o b e r t 's . 91 It i s , S i r R o b e r t, a s a k e e p e r h im s e lf , c o u ld h a r d ly irow s to n e s " w ith im p u n ity . At any r a t e Pepys* e x p e c t a - m o f an i n t e r r u p t e d p la y d i d n o t m a t e r i a l i z e .92 In th e P r e f a c e t o h i s The H u m o ris ts , S hadw ell s t a t e s it th e p la y . . . came upon th e s t a g e w ith a l l th e d is a d v a n ta g e s im a g in a b le . . . n o tw ith s ta n d i n g I had ( to th e g r e a t p r e j u d i c e o f t h e P lay ) g iv e n s a t i s f a c t i o n to a l l th e e x c e p tio n s made a g a i n s t i t , i t met w ith th e clam o ro u s o p p o s i t i o n o f a num erous p a r t y , b a n d ie d a g a in ô t i t , a n d r e s o l v e d , a s much a s t h e y c o u ld , t o damn i t , r i g h t See b e lo w , p p . 2 5 6 -2 6 0 . 91 S in ce "k e ep in g " was m ore o r l e s s a g e n e r a l p r a c - ;e among th o s e who w ere f i n a n c i a l l y a b l e , p resu m a b ly t r i e s f e l t h im s e lf more s u s c e p t i b l e t o a t t a c k on t h e sc o re " s e l l i n g p la c e s a t c o u r t . " See P e p y s ' e n t r y f o r A p r i l 1667- F u rth e rm o re , S i r R o b e rt, who was s a t i r i z e d by d w e ll in The I m p e r t i n e n t s , o r The S u lle n L o v ers (p ro d u c e d L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s May 2 , 1668, o n ly a b o u t t h r e e m onths e r t h e p r o d u c tio n o f The Duke o f L erm a) a s S i r P o s i t i v e A l l , was known a t t h a t tim e t o be a " k e e p e r" h im s e lf ; .y Vane i n S h ad w ell* s p la y w as a s a t i r e on S i r R o b e r t 's t r e s s , Susanna U p h i l l . 92 S h a d w e ll, The C om plete W orks, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , X L II, w r i t e s , "more th a n one o f th e a u d ie n c e e x p e c te d 1 s t u rb a n e e i n t h e t h e a t r e . The King a n d t h e C o u rt w ere (S e n t, and th e dram a was m ost p a l p a b ly d e s ig n e d t o t i g a t e t h e lo o s e n e s s and l i c e n t i o u s n e s s o f W h i te h a ll." in he c o n v e n ie n tly n e g l e c t s to name h is a u t h o r i t y f o r ( s ta te m e n t t h a t more th a n one i n t h e a u d ie n c e e x p e c te d I s t u r b a n c e . He p ro b a b ly to o k h is in f o r m a tio n from ly s, 188 o r w rong, b e f o r e th e y had h e a rd o r s e e n a word o n 't . 9 3 Im m e d ia te ly a f te r w a r d s s t a t e s t h a t th e p l a y e r s w ere " a t •at e x tre m e ly im p e r f e c t i n th e A c tio n o f i t ." 9 4 Q^n ir c e ly b e d e n ie d t h a t R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e s w ere im p a tie n t h a c t o r s who "w ere o u t" i n t h e i r l i n e s o r a c t i o n . 95 That y may have d e m o n s tra te d t h e i r im p a tie n c e on o c c a s io n in a I'ner n o t so f r e q u e n t l y ch o sen by a u d ie n c e s o f th e n i n e - m th and t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r i e s i s , p e r h a p s , a n a t u r a l lo tio n o f t h e i r more r o b u s t l i v e s . The problem o f d e te r m in in g w h e th e r o r n o t t h e r e I l y was a " c l i q u e " t h a t h ad form ed f o r th e p u rp o s e of (osing th e p l a y r i g h t o r w rong r e q u i r e s more th a n t h e m ere te m e n t o f S h ad w ell t o s o l v e . T hat he was h im s e lf a h e r c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i g u r e o f th e p e r io d i s a d m is s ib l e . 93 S h a d w e ll, The C om plete W orks, o p . c i t . , V o l. I , 183• The p la y was f i r s t p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's Inn I d s , December, 1670. See A l f r e d H arb ag e , A nnals o f l i s h Drama, 975-1700 ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : U n i v e r s i t y o f n s y l v a n i a P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 1 3 4 . 9 4 S h ad w ell r e c o g n i z e s , he t h i n k s , th e im p o rta n c e o f f e e t a c t i o n t o th e s u c c e s s o f a p l a y when he r e f e r s t o i l l l u c k o f E t h e r e g e 's She Wou'd i f She C ou'd i n t h i s p e c t . There i s , o f c o u r s e , no a s s u ra n c e t h a t e i t h e r playj I d have s u c c e e d e d w e ll w ith th e m ost p e r f e c t p r e s e n t a t i o n s i b l e . 95 See b e lo w , p . -225* 96 See A phra B e h n 's " E p i s t l e to t h e R eader" a s a f a c e t o h e r The D utch L o v e r , p ro d u ced a t D o rse t G ard en , r u a r y , 1673> ii^ The W orks, M ontague Summers, e d i t o r ndon: W illiam H einem an, 1 9 1 5 ), V o l. 1 , p . 221. Summers 189 : t h a t he was enough in th e i l l f a v o r o f t h e Howards, a s 3 b e e n s u g g e s te d , t o c a u se them to a c t i n su c h m anner i s : t l e more th a n c o n j e c t u r e .9 7 i t i s , p e r h a p s , a r e a s o n a b le 3, how ever, i n v ie w o f th e e g o tism o f b o t h S i r R o b e rt and Edward— n o t to m e n tio n t h e i r s o c i a l p o s i t i o n and p r e s se- I f C h a rle s G ild o n i s c o r r e c t , A phra Behn h e r s e l f was j e c t t o th e i l l tr e a tm e n t o f an a u d ie n c e c liq u e ev en e r h e r d e a t h . 98 i t came a b o u t th r o u g h a p r o d u c tio n o f ‘ m a n u s c rip t p l a y . The Y ounger B r o t h e r , o r The Amorous t^, by G ildon h i m s e l f .99 r© s t a t e s t h a t "M rs. Behn* a S h ad w ell* s W orks. V ol. 1 , p p . LXX an d LXXI, s t a t e s t h a t r a was v e ry f r i e n d l y w ith t h e Howards, h e n c e , s in c e d w e ll p ro b a b ly h a d a t t a c k e d h e r p la y The D utch L o v e r » ,e s c e n e o f w h ic h l i e s in M adrid and th u s i s n o t c o n s i s - t w i t h J o n s o n ia n comedy w h ic h S h ad w ell more o r l e s s s h ip p e d ) she h a d d o u b le r e a s o n t o a t t a c k him and d i d so t h i s " E p i s t l e . " 97 Summers, i n S h ad w ell* s W orks. V o l. 1 , p . LX II and V I I I , i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h i s c l i q u e was p r o b a b ly h e a d e d by Howards b e c a u s e o f t h e i r re s e n tm e n t a t S hadw ell*s t r e a t - t o f two o f th e m , S i r R o b e rt a s S i r P o s i t i v e and Edward P o e t Ninny in The S u lle n L o v e r s . He even su p p o se s t h a t Howards w ere r e s p o n s i b l e , a s S hadw ell n o t e s , f o r h i s in g t o e l i m i n a t e much o f t h e " b e s t" p a r t o f t h e p l a y o r e i t c o u ld b e a c c e p te d by th e t h e a t r e f o r a c t i n g . 98 V. Sack v i l l e - W est, o p . c i t . , p . 1 3 2 , s t a t e s t h a t e r A phra*s d e a th one G eorge J e n k in s p ro d u c e d h e r m anu- i p t p l a y . The Widow R a n t e r , t h a t f a i l e d a t D rury Lane i n em ber, 1 6 8 9 j b e c a u s e o f b a d c a s t i n g . A phra had d i e d i l l 6t h o f th e same y e a r . T h is was in November o r Decem ber, 1696, some seven 190 ïiïiles w ere r e s o l v e d t h a t I t s h o u ld . . . f a i l • The p la y I, i n f a c t , h o o te d o f f th e s t a g e . G ild o n was g r ie v e d . A phra B e h n 's m e r i t was su c h t h a t X c o u ld n o t su p p o se a v e r y s e v e re tr e a tm e n t from th e town . . . So t h a t I may r e a s o n a b ly im p u te i t s m is c a r r i a g e t o some f a c t i o n t h a t was made a g a i n s t i t , w h ich in d e e d was v e r y e v id e n t on th e f i r s t d a y , and more on th e en d e av o u rs em ployed, to r e n d e r t h e p r o f i t s o f th e t h i r d so s m a ll a s c o u ld b e . ^01 The a b i l i t y o f no g r e a t d e t e c t i v e i s r e q u i r e d t o •mise w ith p r o b a b le a c c u ra c y t h a t th e " m is c a r r ia g e " was lau se o f th e p r o d u c e r and n o t th e a u t h o r of t h e p l a y . He i i t s t h a t A phra * s r e p u t a t i o n a s a d r a m a t i s t was n o t su c h It one sh o u ld su p p o se h e r p l a y would r e c e i v e su c h t r e a t - t ; he a l s o i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e a u d ie n c e p a r t i c u l a r l y t r i e d f - k e e p th e t h i r d d a y 's p r o f i t s a s "s m a ll a s c o u ld b e ." 8 stro n g ly s u g g e s ts t h a t th e y r e a l i z e d t h a t th e p r o f i t s oh s h o u ld have gone t o " th e in c o m p a ra b le A p h ra ," h ad she n a l i v e , w o u ld , i n s t e a d , in a l l l i k e l i h o o d go t o th e much s in c o m p a ra b le G ild o n .^ 8 2 r s a f t e r G eorge J e n k in s ? p r e s e n t a t i o n o f h e r o t h e r u s e r i p t p l a y . See Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n m a, p . 2 Ô. 100 S a c k v ille - W e s t, op. c i t . , p . 1 3 2 . A p ro lo g u e an unknown hand" p le a s e d h e r c a u se b u t w ith o u t s u c c e s s . 1 0 1 L o g * fiU l* 102 A lth o u g h A phra was su p p o sed t o have been m a r r ie d a D utch m e rc h a n t, t h e r e i s now here any r e f e r e n c e t o I d r e n b o rn t o th em . See Summers, "Memoirs o f M rs. Behn" a c h e d to h i s e d i t i o n o f h e r W orks, p . X X II.________________ 191 I I I , CONTEMPORARY CRITICISM As H arbage so a p t l y p h r a s e d i t f o r th e E liz a b e t h a n s , It i s n o t t o th e p r o lo g u e s , d e d i c a t i o n s , and e p i s t l e s t h a t ( m ust lo o k f o r a f a i r e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e q u a l i t y o f" t h e , x ( S to r a tio n a u d ie n c e . He c o n tin u e s m ost e f f e c t i v e l y : The c o m p la in in g a u th o r s a i r to o many g r ie v a n c e s , and t h e i r c o m p o site in d ic tm e n t, nam ing a s i t does b o th th e h ig h and th e lo w , th e c r i t i c a l and t h e u n c r i t i c a l , i s to o a l l - i n c l u s i v e . The o n ly p e rs o n s w o rth y o f th e p la y s a p p e a r to h av e b een th e d e d i c a t e e s , a s m a ll b u t s u p e r b ly d i s c r i m i n a t i n g s e c t . W e m u st lo o k a b o u t f o r th o s e who, p e r v e r s e l y , a p p e a re d to a p p r e c i a t e good t h i n g s .103 tese p h r a s e s may b e w e ll a p p l i e d to t h e c o n tem p o rary c r i t i - sms o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e . That t h e same p o i n t may I made on b r o a d s i d e s , s a t i r e s , and much o f th e g e n e r a l n te m p o ra ry comments may be s e e n from t h e in c o n s i s t e n c y o f r t a i n sp e c im e n s, an e x a m in a tio n o f w h ich may be q u i t e v e a l i n g . Venom o f e x p r e s s io n may g iv e im p re s s io n s t o th e w ary o f th e g r e a t e r s i g n i f i c a n c e o f a lm o s t any s ta te m e n t, lis i s p r o b a b ly t r u e o f t h e f o llo w in g : The M iddle G a l l 'r y f i r s t demands o u r View; The f i l t h Of J a k e s , a n d s te n c h o f e v 'r y Stewl H ere r e e k i n g Punks l i k e E v 'n in g I n s e c t s swarm; The P o l e c a t 's Perfum e much th e H a p p ie r Charm. 1^3 A lf r e d H arb ag e, S h a k e s p e a r e ' a A udience (New York: lu m b ia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ), p , 1 3 4 . He, m ig h t w e l l ve in c lu d e d b r o a d s id e s in th e c r i t i c i s m f o r th e y f o llo w e d n e r a l l y t h e same t a c k . H ere e v 'r y N ig h t th e y s i t t h r e e H ours f o r S a le ; The N i g h t - r a i l alw ay s c l e a n l i e r th a n th e T a y l. 5 i s c o n s tr a in e d to t h i n k from t h i s t h a t th e m id d le g a l - ?y a t l e a s t i s c o m p le te ly ta k e n o v er by th e p r o s t i t u t e s , ; i t i s d i f f i c u l t to know j u s t how num erous th e y r e a l l y ?e b e c a u s e r e l i a b l e te s tim o n y i s n o t e a s i l y fo u n d . Note 5 in c o n s i s t e n c y i n th e same a u t h o r 's t i r a d e when he It e s : About one J i l t a H undred Apes s h a l l move, _ And w hich i s s t r a n g e , a t once a l l C h a t t 'r i n g L ove. ( s tr a n g e n e s s i s n o t , a s he s a y s , i n t h e i r " a l l C h a t t ' r i n g e" b u t in t h e r e b e in g a h u n d re d "Apes" a b o u t one " J i l t " in, a c c o rd in g t o h i s own a c c o u n t th e m id d le g a l l e r y i s irm ing w ith " r e e k in g P u n k s." C o n sid e r f u r t h e r th e pronouncem ent o f su c h a b r o a d - L e a s t h a t w hich in c lu d e s t h e f o llo w in g : What a lo n g L i s t m ig h t J u s t i c e h e r e P roduce Of B lo o d , o f F ig h t i n g , B anning an d Abuse? What W eekly B i l l , f o r Number, can com pare To Those t h a t have b ee n b a s e ly B u t c h e r 'd h e r e . W ith in th e Compass b u t o f Twenty Y ear? R o b e rt G ould, "The P la y -h o u s e , a S a ty r ," i n The "ks (London: W . L ew is, 1 7 0 9 ), V ol. 2, p . 228. ^85 I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 2 2 9 . H is rh y m in g d e s c r i p t i o n M rs. B a rry a s Z a ra c o n ta in s t h e f o llo w in g c h o ic e t i d - ;s : Her M other was a common S trum pet known. Her F a th e r h a l f t h e R abble o f t h e Town . . . At Twelve s h e 'd f r e e l y in C o itio n j o i n . And f a r s u r p a s s 'd t h e Honour o f h e r L in e . 193 One A c tr e s s has a t l e a s t , to name no m ore, Been h e r own s e l f th e S la u g h te r o f a S c o re . M urder * s so R if e , w ith l i k e C oncern we h e a r Of a man k i l l ' d , a s B a i t i n g o f a B e a r. A ll p e o p le now, th e p la c e i s grown so i l l . B e fo re th e y s e e a P la y s h o u 'd make t h e i r W ill:^® 8 ih w r i t i n g g iv e s a f o r c e f u l im p re s s io n o f th e p la y g o e r s o f I tim e , h u t i t d o es n o t e s t a b l i s h th e a c c u r a c y o f su c h an > re ssio n . S ta te m e n ts l i k e th e s e become even m ore s u s p e c t when 5 d is c o v e r s t h a t th e a u th o r was a w ould be p la y w r ig h t, who e r p u b lis h in g t h e " S a ty r" i n 1689» t r i e d to have a p la y d u ced a t D rury Lane an d , i n f a c t , f i n a l l y d id have a d u e t i o n t h e r e o f h i s The R iv a l S i s t e r s : o r The V io le n c e Love in 1 6 9 5 .^ ^ 7 H is own te s tim o n y on th e poem shows a f ;k o f h o n e s ty on t h e one hand and a p e c u l i a r ty p e o f l e g r i t y on th e o t h e r when he a d m its : I have d e s c e n d e d even b elo w my own C h a ra c te r (w h ich f o r t h a t r e a s o n m ust n ee d s be v e r y low ) to g e t m y s e lf and my P la y s i n t o t h e i r good G ra ce s: ( B e t t e r t o n 's and B a r r y ' ^ I p u t 'em i n m ind I was v e r y Young when t h i s S a ty r was W r itte n and by C onsequence c o u 'd n o t know th e V alu e o f w hat I s l i g h t e d . 108 even b a r g a in e d w ith th e g r e a t a c t o r and a c t r e s s to om it 106 I b i d . . V o l. 2 , p p . 2 3 5- 2 3 6 . 1 0 7 By t h a t tim e B e t t e r t o n , B a rr y , a n d Company h ad leded and s e t up a r i v a l p la y h o u s e a t t h e o ld L i n c o l n 's I F i e l d s T h e a tr e . 108 Ibid., V ol. 2, p . 2 2 6 , "The A dvertisem ent." 194 )m th e new e d i t i o n o f th e s a t i r e **any c o u p l e ts w h ich ‘e n d e d , ” b u t when th e y w ould n o t f o r g i v e him , he ad d ed l 11 a t h i r d p a r t and b ade M rs. B a rry **take t h i s a lo n g w ith t h a t * t i s to h e r own U n e q u a lle d P r id e and I n v e te r a c y Î owes th e A d d itio n o f th e T h ir d P a r t o f t h i s S a ty r ; w h ich C a lc u l a te d f o r Her M e rid ia n o n l y . ^109 i n th e f a c e o f sh i n c o n s i s t e n c y o f th o u g h t an d a c t i o n , i t seems t h a t o n ly 5 m ost o p t i m i s t i c o r p e rh a p s th e l e s s d i s c r i m i n â t lo n g L iv id u a l c o u ld a c c e p t h i s rh ym ing s ta te m e n ts a t f a c e u e . ' S lo a n e , i n h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n on R o b e rt G ould, h a s t t e n t h a t * ‘G ould*s a t t a c k s upon th e s t a g e r u in e d h i s > o r tu n itie s f o r a d ra m a tic c a r e e r . . . .110 But in s p i t e th e a s su m p tio n t h a t G ould*s p l a y . The R iv a l S i s t e r s , was success w ith th e a u d ie n c e when p r e s e n t e d a t D rury L an e, . t h a t b e c a u se o f i t he was in d u c e d t o w r i t e a n o t h e r , looence D i s t r e s s * d , one i s i n c l i n e d t o p a u s e b e f o r e le p tin g su c h s ta te m e n ts a s S lo a n e * s a s more th a n m ere n io n . Loo. c i t . The A d v e rtis e m e n t, a s w e ll a s t h e -tyr,** seems a c o m b in a tio n o f n a i v e t e a n d c h i l d i s h s p i t e , i s u n a b le t o u n d e r s ta n d why B e t t e r t o n and B a rry s h o u ld a n g ry w ith him an d r e f u s e t o c o n s id e r h i s p la y a f t e r he p u b lis h e d a b r u t a l p e r s o n a l a t t a c k on b o th o f them . 110 Eugene H u lse S lo a n e , R o b ert G o u ld , S e v e n te e n th itu ry S a t i r i s t (A D i s s e r t a t i o n in E n g lis h a t th e U n iv e r- y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia , P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 5. 195 B e fo re th e re o p e n in g o f th e p u b l i c t h e a t r e s i n l a t e em ber, 1666, p l a y s w ere a c t e d a t c o u r t . On one o f th e s e a s i o n s , O c to b e r 1 8 th , Jo h n E v ely n saw t h e r e th e E a r l o f e r y 's (th e n L o rd B r o g h ill ) M u stap h a, F o r t h a t day he t e s : V ery seldom g o in g t o t h e p u b l i c t h e a t r e s f o r many r e a s o n s now, a s th e y w ere a b u se d to an a t h e i s t i c a l l i b e r t y ; f o u l and u n d e c e n t women now (an d n e v e r t i l l now) p e r m it te d to a p p e a r a n d a c t , who in f la m in g s e v e r a l young noblem en and g a l l a n t s , became t h e i r m is s e s , a n d to some, t h e i r w iv e s . W itn e ss th e E a r l o f O x fo rd , S i r R. Howard, P r in c e R u p e rt, and th e E a r l o f D o rs e t, and a n o th e r g r e a t e r p e r s o n th a n an y o f th em , who f e l l i n t o t h e i r s n a r e s , t o th e r e p r o a c h o f t h e i r n o b le f a m i l i e s , a n d r u i n o f b o t h body and s o u l , I was i n v i t e d b y ray L o rd C h am b erlain to s e e t h i s tr a g e d y , e x c e e d in g ly w e ll w r i t t e n , th o u g h in my m ind I d id n o t ap p ro v e o f an y su ch p a s tim e in a tim e o f ju d g m en ts an d c a l a m i t i e s , i s to be n o te d t h a t , l i k e Pepys an d p e r h a p s man i n g e n - 1 , Mr, E v ely n was s o r r y f o r h i s s i n i n f o llo w in g "su c h tim e ," b u t he c o n tin u e d t h a t p a s tim e n o n e t h e le s s Jo h n E v e ly n , D ia r y , A u s tin D obson, e d i t o r n don: The M acm illan Company, L im ite d , 1 9 0 6 ), V o l, 2 , p . I n f a i r n e s s t o Mrs* D av e n p o rt, E v ely n * s in a c c u r a c y e s h o u ld be n o te d . In th e e v e n t o f d e l i b e r a t e in a c c u r a c y n t h e tr e a tm e n t i s c e r t a i n l y c a v a l i e r , M rs, D a v e n p o rt, o r d in g t o th e b e s t e v id e n c e , r e s i s t e d A ubrey de V e re , 1 o f O xford, so d e te r m in e d ly t h a t he u l t i m a t e l y r e s o r t e d s u b te r f u g e in o r d e r t o e n jo y h e r . He h ad one o f h i s v a n t s d r e s s a s a clergym an an d p e rfo rm a mock cerem ony l a t e r d iv u lg e d th e t r i c k e r y t o th e g i r l , who a p p e a le d t o r l e s I I f o r j u s t i c e and r e c e i v e d n o th in g more t h a n a n t o f a few h u n d re d pounds a y e a r from th e E a r l , See hony H am ilto n , Memoirs o f Count G ry a o n t, A lla n F e a , t o r (London: B ic k e r s and Son, 1 9 0 6 ), A ppendix A, p p , *»2, Even b e f o r e th e R e s t o r a t i o n , on May 1659» he 196 On Ju n e 19» 1 6 6 8 , by w h ic h tim e Mr. E velyn s h o u ld t a i n l y have h ad o p p o r tu n ity t o l e a r n th e n a tu r e o f t h e p l a y , he " w ith s e v e r a l o f h i s r e l a t i o n s " w ent t o se e t he c a l l e d The Evening L o v e r , a f o o l i s h p l o t and v e r y f a n e ; %t a f f l i c t e d me to s e e how th e s t a g e was d e g e n e r - d and p o l l u t e d by th e l i c e n t i o u s t i m e s . I n v ie w o f u n d o u b te d o p p o r t u n i t i e s to have r e p o r t s a s t o th e k in d p l a y i t was b e f o re h a n d , and a s s u r e d ly i t can h a r d l y be l e d v i r t u o u s , one f e e l s i n c l i n e d to a c c u s e Mr. E v ely n of ew hat b a d f a i t h o r p e rh a p s a s l i g h t h y p o c r is y , n o t o n ly g o in g h im s e lf , b u t a l s o i n ta k in g " s e v e r a l o f h i s a t io n s " w i t h h i m . ^^4 An exam ple o f th e s o r t o f m o ra ls t h a t so d i s t r e s s e d feeel Mr. E velyn i s c o n ta in e d in a s t o r y , th e a u d a c i t y o f oh h a s no d o u b t made g e n e r a t i o n s o f " p r e c ie u s e " l a d i e s t t o se e th e o p e ra " a f t e r t h e I t a l i a n way" (p ro b a b ly e n a n t* s C r u e lty o f th e S p a n ia rd s in P e r u ) , and w ro te "b u t was p r o d ig io u s t h a t in a tim e o f su c h p u b l i c c o n s te r n a - n s u c h a v a n i t y sh o u ld be k e p t u p , o r p e r m i t t e d . I , ng engaged w ith company, c o u ld n o t d e c e n t l y r e s i s t th e ng t o se e i t , th o u g h my h e a r t sm ote me f o r i t . " T h is nds much l i k e Pepys an d h i s vows 1 I b i d . , p# 288. The p la y , w h ich opened Ju n e 1 2 th , D ryden*8 A n E vening*s L o v e, o r The Mock A s t r o l o g e r . Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p p . 56-"57. A lth o u g h E velyn was by no means th e i n v e t e r a t e y g o e r Pepys w a s , in th e c o u r s e o f h i s lo n g l i f e , e i g h t y - y e a r s , he w itn e s s e d many p la y s i n b o th p u b lic an d v a t e t h e a t r e s . 197 'oon and th e same g e n e r a tio n s o f more r o b u s t g e n tle m e n r o a r t h l a u g h t e r , c o n c e rn s two f i g u r e s who w ere "o f" i f n o t n" th e t h e a t r e o f th e tim e . The s t o r y , w h ich i s t o l d in e B io g ra p h ie B r i t a n n i c a an d q u o te d by G e n e s t, f o llo w s : In 1663 when d ru n k e n n e s s was q u i t e t h e f a s h i o n . S i r C h a rle s S e d le y , S i r Thomas O g le, and L o rd B uckhurst. g o t| so i n t o x i c a t e d a t th e Cock in Bow S t r e e t , t h a t th e y e x h i b i t e d th e m s e lv e s in t h e B alco n y i n v e r y in d e c e n t p o s t u r e s , and gave g r e a t o f f e n c e t o p a s s e n g e r s by v e ry u n m an n erly d is c h a r g e s upon them— S i r C h a rle s a t l a s t showed h im s e lf i n h is b i r t h d a y s u i t and a d a p te d h i s c o n v e r s a tio n t o h i s a p p e a ra n c e — in co n seq u en c e o f a l l t h i s , a r i o t e n su e d — S i r C h a rle s was i n d i c t e d in W est m i n s t e r H a ll an d f i n e d — oh w hich o c c a s io n he s a i d , he th o u g h t he was th e f i r s t man t h a t h ad e v e r p a i d f o r e a s in g h im s e lf a p o s t e r i o r i . 115 i s o b s c e n ity d id n o t ta k e p l a c e in a t h e a t r e , b u t S e d le y â h i s com panions w ere known as f r e q u e n t e r s o f t h a t "den o f i q u i t y , " and t h u s th e s t o r y a t t a c h e d i t s e l f t o t h e a t r e s t o r y and h as s e r v e d s in c e t o d e t r a c t from th e good name / t h e p la y h o u se o f t h a t p e r i o d . O ld them es l i k e o l d w iv e s t a l e s , w h e th e r t r u e o r L se, a r e se e n t o be r e p e a te d from g e n e r a t i o n to g e n e ra tio n , en Thomas D ecker p u b lis h e d h i s G u ll * s H orn-book in I609, made comments on th e c o n d u c t o f th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e Ic h w ere c a r r i e d i n t o s u c c e e d in g g e n e r a t i o n s w ith o n ly 1 1 5 G e n e s t, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 8 2 . F o r t h i s b i t o f scen e a c t i o n he had to p ay one th o u s a n d t h r e e h u n d re d and L r t y - t h r e e p o u n d s; s i x s h i l l i n g s ; e i g h t p e n c e , was im p r is - ^d one week w ith o u t b a i l an d bound to good b e h a v io r f o r a r io d o f t h r e e y e a r s . .Ig h t m o d i f i c a t i o n s . He w r o te : H it hence t h e n th e p l a c e i s so f r e e i n e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a llo w in g a s t o o l a s w e ll t o th e f a r m e r 's son a s to y o u r te m p la r ; t h a t y o u r s t i n k a r d has th e s e lf - s a m e l i b e r t y t o be t h e r e in h i s to b a o o o -fu m e s , w h ich y o u r sw eet c o u r t i e r h a t h ; and t h a t y o u r c a r man and t i n k e r claim a s s t r o n g a v o ic e i n t h e i r s u f f r a g e , an d s i t t o g iv e judgm ent on th e p l a y 's l i f e an d d e a th , a s w e ll a s t h e p r o u d e s t Momus among t h e t r i b e o f c r i t i c k s : i t i s f i t t h a t h e , whom th e m ost t a i l o r s b i l l s do make room f o r , when he comes s h o u ld n o t b e b a s e l y , l i k e a v i o l , c a s e d up in a c o r n e r . I f e i t h e r t h e company o r i n d i s p o s i t i o n o f th e w e a th e r b in d you t o s i t i t o u t; my c o u n s e l i s th e n t h a t you tu r n p l a i n a p e : t a k e up a r u s h , an d t i c k l e th e e a r n e s t e a r s o f y o u r f e l l o w g a l l a n t s , t o make o t h e r f o o l s f a l l a la u g h in g ; mew a t p a s s i o n a t e sp e e c h e s ; b l a r e a t m e rry ; f i n d f a u l t w i t h th e m u sic k ; whew a t th e c h ild r e n * s a c t i o n ; w h i s t l e a t th e so n g s ; a n d , above a l l , c u r s e th e s h a r e r s , t h a t w h erea s th e same day you had b esto w ed f o r t y s h i l l i n g s on an e m b ro id e re d f e l t an d f e a t h e r s c o t c h f a s h i o n , f o r y o u r m i s t r e s s i n th e c o u r t , o r y o u r punk i n th e c i t y , w ith in two h o u rs a f t e r you met w i t h t h e v e r y same b lo c k on th e s t a g e , when t h e h a b e rd a s h e r sw ore t o you t h e im p r e s s io n was e x t a n t b u t t h a t m orn i n g . H 6 When Sam V in c e n t s i x t y - f i v e y e a r s l a t e r w ro te The angg G a ll a n ts ' Academy, he s a i d much th e same t h i n g i n much e same way: The P la y -h o u s e i s f r e e from e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a llo w in g Room a s w e ll t o t h e Farm er * a Son a s to a Tem plar ; y e t i t i s n o t f i t t h a t he whom t h e most t a y l o r s b i l l s make room f o r when he com es, sh o u ld be b a s e l y , l i k e a V io l, c a s e d up i n a c o r n e r : T h e r e f o r e , I s a y , l e t o u r G a lla n t (h a v in g p a i d h i s h a l f cro w n , and g iv e n th e D o o rk eep er h i s T ic k e t) p r e s e n t l y ad v a n ce h im s e lf i n t o th e m id d le o f o f th e P i t , w here h a v in g made h i s Honor to th e r e s t of th e company, b u t e s p e c i a l l y t o th e V iz a rd -m a sk s, l e t him 1 1 6 Thomas D ecker, The G u l l *s H ornbook, l6 0 9 P i s t o l : R e p r in te d f o r T. M. G utch, 1 8 1 2 ) , p . 133* 199 p u l l o u t h ie comb, an d manage h i s f l a x e n Wig w ith a l l t h e G race he c a n . H aving so done, th e n e x t s t e p i s to g iv e a hum to th e C h in a-O ran g e-w en ch , an d g iv e h e r h e r own r a t e f o r h e r o ra n g e s ( f o r * t i s b e lo w a G entlem an to s ta n d h a g g lin g l i k e a c i t i z e n * s w i f e ) an d th e n to p r e s e n t th e f a i r e s t to t h e n e x t V iz a rd -m a s k . I I ? The sarcasm i n b o th s u g g e s ts t h a t one s h o u ld b e l i e v e a t t h e s e a c t i o n s w ere th e r u l e . T hat t h e y w ere p r a c t i c e d some e x te n t i n b o th p e r i o d s t h e r e can be l i t t l e d o u b t, so t h e r e can be no d o u b t t h a t a u d ie n c e s o f th e E liz a b e t h a n d R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d s w ere much f r e e r i n t h e i r a c t i o n n e r a l l y th a n o u r p r e s e n t a u d ie n c e s — e x c e p t p e rh a p s a t r l e s q u e and m e lo d ra m a tic p r e s e n t a t i o n s . B ut t h a t su c h t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e d th e o n ly b e h a v io r even o f th e g a l l a n t s m ore th a n s u s p e c t . The u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f p r o lo g u e s an d e p ilo g u e s to th e a y s o f th e p e r i o d seems t o b e c o r r e l a t i v e w ith t h a t o f th e me o f Shakespeare.^^9 The e p ilo g u e t o S i r C o u rtly N ice i n 85 p u r p o r t s t o t e l l o f th e a c t i o n s o f some o f th e p e o p le o w ere f r e q u e n t e r s o f th e p la y s a t t h a t tim e : Our g a l l e r i e s w ere f i n e l y u s e d o f l a t e . Where r o o s t i n g Masks s a t c a c k lin g f o r a m ate; 117 Sam V in c e n t, The Young G a l l a n t s * Academy i n L M ontague Summers, R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tr e , p . 3 2 ?. IIB Cf^ H arb ag e , S h a k e s p e a re * s A u d ie n c e , pp. 1 7 -1 8 . 119 Of. Thomas D ecker, P ro lo g u e to The R o a rin g G i r l . I The D ram atic Works o f Thomas D ec k er, R ic h a r d H. S h ep h erd , . i t o r (London, 1873T. cerne n o t to se e p l a y s , b u t t o a c t t h e i r own, And had th r o n g e d a u d ie n c e s when we h ad n o n e . Our p la y s i t was im p o s s ib le t o h e a r , ‘ , The h o n e s t c o u n try men w ere f o r c e d t o s w e a r . 120 one q u e s tio n s t h e p o in t t h a t p r o s t i t u t e s form ed a c o n s id - a b le p a r t o f many a u d ie n c e s o f th e t i m e , b u t by e x t e n s io n ch r e f e r e n c e s a r e made t o in c lu d e th e w h o le p o p u la tio n o f e g a l l e r y j u s t a s th e p i t seem s to have b een ta k e n o v e r most i n e v i t a b l y by th e g a l l a n t s . The p r o lo g u e t o W y c h e rle y 's P l a i n D e a le r i s in k e e p - g w i t h th e s p i r i t o f t h i s l a s t p o i n t . The P la in D e a le r m s e lf i s th e s p e a k e r and s a y s b l u n t l y : N ex t, you, t h e f i n e , lo u d g e n tle m e n o ' th* p i t . Who damn a l l p l a y s , y e t , i f y 'a v e an y w i t , ' T is b u t w hat ^ e r e you spunge and d a i l y g e t . . .121 S i r C o u r tly Mice was C row n's f i r s t r e a l l y s u c c e s s f u l ay s i n c e h i s p r o d u c tio n o f t h e M asque, C a l i s t o a t c o u r t Q y e a r s e a r l i e r . H is e i g h t p la y s b etw e en had b ee n e i t h e r l l u r e s o r m o d e ra te s u c c e s s e s a t m o s t . 122 H ence, h i s p iq u e th e a u d ie n c e can b e r e a d i l y u n d e r s to o d . W ycherley, how- Br, s h o u ld h av e h ad th e s u c c e s s o f The C o u n try W ife s t i l l 120 Jo h n Crown, S i r C o u r tly N ic e , o r It, C annot Be r i n t e d by H. H. ju n . f o r R. B e n tly an d J o s . H indm arsh, 35)* 121 Ward, W illia m W y c h e rle y , p p . 372-373• 122 A lth o u g h C row ne's e a r l y p la y s w ere p ro d u c e d a t c*set G arden, Downes names o n ly h i s K ing C h a rle s th e V I I I F ra n c e w ith w h ic h th e new p la y h o u s e was opened "y e t 3t e d b u t 6 Days t o g e t h e r . . . Downes, op. c i t . , p . 32. 201 e s h in h i s memory when The P l a i n D e a le r was p ro d u c e d . 123 i l l s u c h a p r o lo g u e was " th e th in g to d o ;" i t was e s t a b - s h e d p r a c t i c e . S in ce A phra Behn was c o n v in c e d o f th e c o n s p ir a c y a i n s t h e r p la y s b e c a u se o f h e r s e x , sh e n e g l e c t e d few p o r t u n i t i e s t o l a s h o u t a t h e r a u d i e n c e . 124 One may q u e s - on t h e wisdom o f h e r s t r a t e g y and a s k w h e th e r o r n o t i t g h t have b een b e t t e r t o f l a t t e r them m o re . In th e il o g u e t o The F a l s e C o u n t, p ro d u c e d i n O c to b e r, 1 6 8 2 ,1 2 5 e w r i t e s : 126 I f to make P e o p le la u g h th e b u s in e s s b e . You S parks b e t t e r Com edians a r e th a n we; You e v e ry d a y o u t— f o o l ev*n Hokes a n d L ee. T h e y 're f o r c 'd t o s t o p , an d t h e i r own F a rc e s q u i t , T*adm ire t h e M erry-A ndrew s o f t h e P i t . . . . en sh e warms t o h e r t a s k : You e v e r l a s t i n g G rie v a n c e o f th e B oxes, You w i t h e r 'd R uins o f s tu rn 'd Wine a n d P oxes; 123 H i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 3 7 6 . T here was a pse o f h a r d ly two y e a rs b etw e en th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f th e 0 p l a y s — J a n u a r y , 1 6 7 5 » t o December, 1 6 7 6 . S e n k v ille - W e s t, o p . c i t . . p . 107. 125 I b i d . , p . 172. 126 A phra B ehn, P l a y s . H i s t o r i e s , an d H o v e ls , w ith fe a n d Memoirs (London: Jo h n P e a rso n , 1 8 7 1 ), V o l. 3» p . 2. T h is e p ilo g u e was sp o k en by M rs. B a rry and "made b y a rso n o f q u a l i t y . " W hether M rs. Behn a c t u a l l y w ro te i t r s e l f o r h ad i t w r i t t e n by some f r i e n d , i t e x p r e s s e s h e r t i t u d e s and was n a t u r a l l y done w ith h e r a p p r o v a l. 202 What s t r a n g e G re e n -s ic k n e s s do you hope i n Women S h o u 'd make 'em lo v e o l d F o o ls i n new P o in t L in e n " The Race o f L if e you r u n o f f - h a n d to o f a s t . Your f i e r y M e ta l i s to o h o t t o l a s t ; Your F e v e rs come so t h i c k , y o u r C la p s so p l e n t y . Most o f you a r e t h r e e s c o r e a t f i v e an d tw e n ty . . . • b e r t Gould m ig h t e a s i l y have " ta k e n a l e a f " from t h i s i l o g u e . The te rm s a r e v e r y s i m i l a r . F o r A phra t o a llo w ch a n a t t a c k i n h e r e p i lo g u e , how ever, i s , to u s e h e r own r a s i n g , f o r "The P o t t o c a l l th e K e t t l e b l a c k - a r s e . "127 Her p r o lo g u e t o The Amorous P r i n c e , how ever, p ro d u c e d th e s p r in g o f 1 6 7 8 ,1 2 8 m akes a v e ry u n u s u a l b u t m ost t e r e s t i n g c o n f e s s io n c o n c e r n in g a u d ie n c e com ponents and o lo g u e s o f R e s t o r a t i o n t i m e s . 129 She b e g in s in a v e r y t t e r - o f - f a c t way: W eill you e x p e c t a P ro lo g u e t o th e P la y And you e x p e c t i t to o p e t i t io n -w a y ; . . . And when you frow n. L ord how you k i l l th e w h ile s Î Or E lse to r a l l y up th e S in s o f t h ' a g e . And b r i n g e a c h Fop in Town upon th e S ta g e ; And i n one P ro lo g u e ru n more V ic e s o ' e r . Than e i t h e r C ourt o r C ity knew b e f o r e . . . i s s tr a n g e t o s e e su c h m a t t e r i n a p r o lo g u e , b u t i t sa y s m eth in g q u i t e c l e a r l y , in f a c t , i t sa y s two t h i n g s : ( l ) a t t h e a u d ie n c e e x p e c ts s u c h a p r o lo g u e ; and (2) t h a t in e s u c h p ro lo g u e more v i c e s a r e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e s e "fo p s" 127 s a c k v i l l e - W e s t , o p . c i t . , p . 1 6 . 1 2 8 I b i d . . p . 1 7 1 . 129 Behn, 0£ . o l t . . V o l, 4 , p . 257- 203 an e i t h e r th e C o u rt o r th e C ity "knew b e f o r e . " Such m is s io n s a r e a l s o l i k e l y t o p u t more t r u t h i n t o one p r o gue th a n a l l t h e o t h e r p r o lo g u e s "knew b e f o r e . " Of a l l c r i t i c a l r e p o r t s c o n c e rn in g a u d ie n c e a c t i v i es i n t h i s p e r i o d none can s u p e rs e d e f o r p ro b a b le t r u t h d a c c u r a c y t h a t o f B ru n et who w ro te i n h i s u n p u b lis h e d ^ oyage d 'A n g l e t e r r e , " in 1 6 ? 6 , th e v e r y h e a r t o f th e a to r a t io n e r a , t h a t he an d h i s f r i e n d s w e re u n a b le to s i t th e L ord Mayor o f London, who h ap p en ed to be b u sy a t e tim e , and t h e r e f o r e p a i d a v i s i t t o La Gomedie de l a tro u p p e de M Z * Le Duc Dyorcq ou nous que b a r a g o u in e s . Les h a b i t s d es Com édiens Sont a l a f r a n c o i s e . La m a g n ific e n c e N 'en e s t p a s p lu s g ra n d e que E l l e d es t r o u p e s q u i v o n t d an s nos P r o v in c e s , Le l i e u ou l ' o n j o i e e s t inco m p arab lem en t p lu s b e a u e t p lu s p r o p re que ceux de nos co m éd ien s, on e s t a s s i s dans l e p a r t e r r e que e s t en a m p h ite a tr e ou l ' o n e n te n d ja m a is de b r u i t . : . .130 o f e s s o r H otson comments t h a t : As m ight b e e x p e c te d . B ru n e t i s s t r u c k by th e c l e a n l i n e s s and r e l a t i v e q u i e t o f th e E n g lis h s e a te d p i t , in c o n t r a s t t o th e P a r i s i a n p a r t e r r e , w h ich was a s d i r t y and n o is y a s a b e a r g a r d e n .131 The v a lu e o f th e te s tim o n y o f a w itn e s s o r e x p e r t i n r e n s i c o r l e g a l c a s e s i n c r e a s e s , t h e o r e t i c a l l y , i n p r o p o r - on t o th e r e l u c t a n c e w ith w h ic h he t e s t i f i e s , t h a t i s . 1 3 0 L e s l i e H o tso n , Commonwealth a n d R e s t o r a t i o n age (C am bridge: H arv ard U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ) , p . 234 1 3 1 I b i d . . p . 235- en th e te s tim o n y p r o b a b ly c o n f l i c t s w ith h i s own w is h e s or t e r e s t s .1 3 2 B r u n e t, i n v iew o f a su b s e q u e n t s ta t e m e n t , i t e p o s s i b l y w ould have p r e f e r r e d t o t e s t i f y o t h e r th a n he d . He w r i t e s : "L'on Joue Les fra n c o i s d a n s l a p lu s p a r t 8 Com edies q u i s o n t f a i t t e s p o u r Se M ocquer de nos m o eu rs. C o m p o sitio n en e s t b o n n e. . . .133 M. B ru n e t m ig h t w e l l ve b e e n f o r g iv e n had he rem a rk e d t h a t E n g lis h p la y s w ere e m e r e s t n o n s e n s e , E n g lis h a c t o r s o n ly b u f f o o n s , and th e g l i s h a u d ie n c e f i t f o r n o th in g b u t a b e a r g a rd e n o r b u l l i t i n g . I n s t e a d , how ever, he w ro te a s he e v i d e n t l y remem- r e d th e s i t u a t i o n an d t h e i n c i d e n t s . I t i s n o t th e p u rp o se o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n to e n t e r t o t h e m e r it s o f th e g r e a t c o n tr o v e r s y o v e r th e s t a g e g in n in g n e a r th e e n d of th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y and co n - n u in g f o r a lm o s t t h i r t y y e a r s . 134 T hat t h e r e w ere e v i l s c o n n e c tio n w ith th e p ro d u c in g o f t h e a t r i c a l e n t e r ta in m e n t r i n g th e R e s t o r a t i o n , j u s t a s t h e r e w ere e v i l s o f th e same A lan N ic h o ls , D is c u s s io n and D ebate (New Y ork: r c o u r t , B race a n d Company, 1 9 4 1 ), p p . 307— 308. 1 3 3 H ot8o n , o p . c i t . . p . 2 3 5 . I n s u l t i n g t h e F re n c h t h e i r f a c e s h ad o c c u r r e d b e f o r e n o t m e re ly u n i n t e n t i o n - Ly, a s h e r e , b u t d e l i b e r a t e l y a s a t Dover i n May, I 6 7 0 , en C h a rles* s i s t e r , l i t t l e M in n e tte , and h e r e n to u ra g e r e v i s i t i n g him . S i s t e r Rose A nthony, S. C . , The Jerem y C o l l i e r ag e C o n tro v e rs y , 1698-1726 (M ilw aukee: M a rq u e tte U n iv e r- t y P r e s s , 1937)» s e e t i t l e p a g e . r t i n o th e r p e r i o d , i s n o t d e n ie d by t h i s o r any o t h e r i t e r . From t h e tim e o f th e e a r l i e s t C h r i s t i a n s , p r e a c h e r s d m o r a l i s t s have in v e ig h e d a g a i n s t th e s i n s o f th e e a t r e . 1 ^ 3 in S h a k e s p e a r e 's tim e was w r i t t e n : W hosoever s h a l v i s i t t h e c h a p p e l o f S a ta n , I meane th e T h e a te r , s h a l f in d e t h e r e no w ant o f yong r u f f i n s , n o r la c k e o f h a r l o t s , v t t e r l i e p a s t a l shame . . . a s e u e r i e man m aie p e rc e a u e by t h e i r w an to n g e s t u r e s • . . F o r o f te n w ith o u t r e s p e c t o f th e p l a c e , an d company whic^L b e h o ld th em , th e y commit t h a t f i l t h i n e s o p e n l i e , w h ich i s h o r r i b l e to be done i n s e c r e t . . . *13o S i r R ic h a rd B laokm ore, w r i t i n g i n th e l a t e y e a r s o f e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d , i n th e p r e f a c e t o h i s poem " P rin c e th u r " may have im proved s l i g h t l y on th e p h r a s in g an d i g h t l y s h i f t e d t h e p o in t o f v ie w , b u t t h e r e f r a i n i s s t i l l c o g n iz a b le : The u n i v e r s a l C o rru p tio n o f M anners and I r r e l i g i o u s D i s p o s i t i o n o f Mind t h a t I n f e c t s t h e Kingdom, seem s t o have b een i n a g r e a t m e a su re , d e r iv e d from th e s t a g e , o r h a s a t l e a s t b e e n h ig h ly p rom oted b y i t , . . . Whence th e y o u th o f t h e N a tio n , have a p p a r e n t l y r e c e iv e d v e r y b a d I m p r e s s io n s . I f a C lergym an be in tr o d u c e d , a s he o f t e n i s , . . . He must n eed s b e a Pimp, a B lo ck h ea d , A H y p o c rite . . . an d a lm o st e v e r be so m anaged a s t o b r i n g h i s O rd e r 1 3 5 F p e e d le y an d R e ev e s, o p . c i t , . , p . 46. " C h r i s t i a n L te rs b i t t e r l y a t t a c k e d o b s c e n ity and c o n te n d e d t h a t s q u e n tly th e m im ic a d u l t e r i e s w ere a c t u a l l y p e rfo rm e d on 5 s t a g e . " 1 3 6 A Second and T h ird B l a s t o f R e t r a i t from P l a i e s I T h e a tre s (1580) in W illiam C. H a z l i t t ' s e d i t i o n o f The g lis h D r ^ a and S ta g e u n d e r t h e Tudor a n d S t u a r t P r i n c e s , i'3-1 ?64^ (London: 18o9) • I n t ô C o n tem p t.137 r R ic h a r d was w r i t i n g from th e h e a .rt; a s w ith C o l l i e r , no u h t , he r e s e n t e d s e e in g a clerg y m an r i d i c u l e d o c c a s i o n a l l y th e s t a g e , and i t i s n o t beyond t h e re a lm o f p o s s i b i l i t y a t t h i s p e r s o n a l a n g le p la y e d a s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t i n h i s c i s i o n t o a t t a c k th e s i n s o f th e P la y h o u s e . R e lig i o n , a s e x e m p lif ie d by C o l l i e r and o t h e r s , a f t e r somewhat e x te n d e d a b s e n c e , was r e t u r n i n g f u r i o u s l y t o th e n f l i c t w ith t h e a t r i c a l s i n . S in ce C ro m w e ll's tim e s e c t s d b e e n so b u sy t r y i n g t o s u r v iv e t h a t t h e y s c a r c e l y h ad d tim e t o g iv e more th a n p a s s i n g a t t e n t i o n to t h e i r o ld emy, th e t h e a t r e . In f a c t , th e r e i s a lm o s t u n b e l ie v a b le id e n c e t h a t a R e s t o r a t i o n t h e a t r e i n one i n s t a n c e was ded b y th e c h u rc h . 138 Hence, i t can be se e n t h a t when t h e n o n - ju r i n g L l i e r ^ 3 9 p u b lis h e d h i s S h o rt View o f th e Im m o ra lity and 37 George k id p a th . The S tag e Condemned (London: bn S a lu s b u ry , 1 s t E d iti o n , I 6 9 8 ) , q u o tin g S i r R ic h a rd ackm ore, p p . 9 2 -9 3 * 1 3 8 N o tes and Q u e r i e s . E ig h th S e r i e s , X, 7 . W heat- y , "London P a s t and P r e s e n t , " i , p . 525* When th e T h e a tre y a l b u rn e d i n 1 6 7 2 , th e management w as, o f c o u r s e , i n n eed money to r e p l a c e i t . The f o llo w in g y e a r a " b r i e f " o r | t t e r was s e n t o u t t o th e p a r i s h c h u rc h e s o f E n g la n d , an d a l l e e t i o n was a c t u a l l y made t o a s s i s t i n th e r e b u i l d i n g I i s i s p o s s i b l y a u n iq u e o c c u rr e n c e in h i s t o r y . 1 3 9 G eorge Sampson, The C o n cise Cam bridge H i s t o r y o f g l i s h L i t e r a t u r e (The U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 2 ), p . 4 4 2 . A ergym an w ith o u t a c h a rg e b e c a u s e o f h i s r e f u s a l t o t a k e o f a n e n e a e o f th e E n g lis h S t a g e , he began th e c o n tr o v e r s y l y i n th e s e n s e t h a t h i s a t t a c k was much more p ro fo u n d a n h ad b een t h o s e o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s . In th e o p in io n o f l e a s t one c r i t i c , how ever, he r u in e d h i s c a s e " th r o u g h e e r e x c e s s ."140 th e o p in io n o f a n o th e r he a t t a c k e d a in g f a s h io n ( l i c e n t i o u s n e s s i n p la y s ) and a t m ost b u t r r i e d i t s end a b i t .141 Sampson a c c u s e s him , r a t h e r s t l y , o f a r r a i g n i n g "a w hole a c t i v i t y upon th e e v id e n c e o f few ch o sen in sta n c e s.* * T h at The C o u n try W ife i s n o t n ic e e s n o t e s t a b l i s h th e w ic k e d n e ss o f The A d v e n tu re s o f F iv e u r s ; n o r does t h e f a c t t h a t an y d r a m a t i s t d e p i c te d r a s c a l s d i c a t e t h a t he a d v o c a te d r a s c a l i t y . I t c a n n o t be d e n ie d , w e v e r, t h a t C o l l i e r a ro u s e d th e p u b l i c a n d p u t th e "b u rd en p r o o f " on th e d r a m a t i s t s he had so v i g o r o u s l y a t t a c k e d . A lth o u g h o n ly i n d i r e c t l y c o n n e c te d w ith th e a u d ie n c e , b i t o f h i s c r i t i c i s m o f The M ourning B r i d e , b r i e f l y exam- s d , w i l l sh e d l i g h t on h i s i d e a o f "sm ut" an d p ro fa n e n e s s ." He w ro te t h a t th e two l o v e r s , Osmin and A lm e ria , o u ld have p a r t e d a s c i v i l l y a s Memelaus an d H elen met 9 se c o n d o a t h o f a l l e g i a n c e when th e k in g to whom he had ken t h e f i r s t was s t i l l a l i v e a lth o u g h d i s p l a c e d by e u l a r law . 140 I b i d . . p . 423. 141 Jo h n H. S m ith , The Gay Couple I n R e s t o r a t i o n nedy ( Cam bridge : H arv ard U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 8 ), p . 134 't e r t h e i r lo n g s e p a r a t i o n d u r in g th e T ro ja n War, b u t LStead their l u s t put sm ut and profanity into their words. That B ant o f Smut and P ro fa n e n e s s m ig h t have b e e n s p a r e d . The R e ad e r s h a l l have some o f i t *0 my A lm e ria What do th e Damn'd e n d u re b u t t o d e s p a i r B ut know ing H eaven, t o know i t l o s t f o r e v e r . Were i t n o t f o r th e C re e d , th e s e P o e ts w ould be cram p t i n t h e i r C o u r ts h ip , and M ig h tily a t a l o s s f o r a s i m i l e .142 a t t h e r e was b o th s u b t l e and o b v io u s f i l t h i n some R e s to - t i o n comedy i s u n d e n ia b le , b u t t h a t th e above f a l l s i n t o a t c a te g o r y c o u ld s c a r c e l y be p ro v e d e x c e p t, p e r h a p s , t o me f a n a t i c a l r e l i g i o n i s t . An e n l ig h te n e d t w e n t i e t h - n t u r y clerg y m an o f a lm o st a n y f a i t h p r o b a b ly w ould do t t l e more th a n s m ile a t C o l l i e r 's d e n o m in a tio n o f t h e ove a s smut a n d p r o f a n e n e s s . But C o l l i e r i s n e a r e r t h e m ark when he w r i t e s : S w earing i n th e P la y h o u se i s an u n g e n tle m a n ly , a s w e l l a s an u n c h r i s t i a n p r a c t i c e . The L a d ie s make a c o n s id e r a b le p a r t o f t h e A u d ie n c e . Now Sw earing b e f o r e Women i s r e c k o n 'd a B re a c h o f good B e h a v io r, and t h e r e f o r e a C i v i l A t h e i s t w i l l f o r b e a r i t . 143 th o u g h he s t a t e d h im s e lf t o b e an i n f r e q u e n t v i s i t o r a t e p la y h o u s e , he may have h e a r d some p r o f a n i t y on some o f 142 je re m y C o l l i e r , A S h o rt View o f th e im m o ra lity i P ro fa n e n e s s o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e (London: S. K e b le , R, r e , an d H. H indm arsh, 1 s t E d i t i o n , 1 6 9 8 ), p . 32 143 I b i d . ; p . 59. o s e v i s i t s ; b u t a f t e r s e e in g h i s o p in io n o f smut an d o f a n e n e s s ab o v e, one h e s i t a t e s , i n th e a b s e n c e o f d i r e c t i d e n c e , to a c c e p t h i s w ord on p r o f a n i t y a s f a c t . I t i s r t h n o t i n g , t o o , t h a t he rem a rk s th e p r e s e n c e o f l a d i e s in; e t h e a t r e w ith no p la y on t h e term " l a d i e s , " a n d m o reo v er a t th e y form a c o n s id e r a b le p a r t o f t h e a u d ie n c e , a r c e l y an o p p o s in g c r i t i c c o u ld f i n d f a u l t w ith h i s c h a rg e a t ev en " a c i v i l a t h e i s t w i l l f o r b e a r " sw e a rin g b e f o r e men, b u t m ight w onder t h a t Mr* C o l l i e r d i d n o t a t t a c k e a r i n g w h e re v e r i t o c c u rr e d . I f C o l l i e r 's famous S h o rt View h as s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r i s s tu d y , how ever, i t i s n o t f o r w hat he w r i t e s b u t w hat f a i l s to w r i t e o f th e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t p e r i o d . A sid e om t h e ite m on s w e a rin g , t h e r e i s h a r d l y a n o th e r d e r o g a - fy re m a rk c o n c e rn in g th e a u d ie n c e i n th e e n t i r e le n g th y e a t l s e by t h e cle rg y m a n . Not u n t i l h i s argum ent h as ach ed th e p o in t o f h is D efence o f th e S h o rt Vlew^44 <ioes s t r i k e a t th e a u d ie n c e , when he w r i t e s o f th e r e p r e s e n t - g o f c h a r a c t e r s on th e s ta g e a s t r u e t o n a t u r e . "When th e e a t e s t p a r t o f Q u a li ty a r e d eb au ch ed on th e S ta g e , ' t i s a oad Innuendo th e y a r e no b e t t e r i n th e B o x e s . "^45 E a r l i e r ^ 4 4 j 0x*emy C o l l i e r , A D efence o f t h e S h o rt View an d o n : S. K e b le , R. S a re , and H. H indm arsh, lé 9 9 )> P* 22. 145 I b id . . p . 22* 210 th e same d i s c u s s i o n he h ad w r i t t e n o f "some few L ib e r ie s i n th e A u d ie n c e . . . . «^46 T hus, when th e m ost v ic io u s o f a l l a t t a c k e r s o f th e s t o r a t i o n s ta g e b a r e l y m e n tio n s th e a u d ie n c e , even tho u g h h im s e lf h ad been a member o f i t on q u i t e a few o c c a - )n a,^4 7 can b u t c o n c lu d e t h a t th e c o n n o ta tio n i s b o th ^ tin e n t an d s i g n i f i c a n t to t h i s d i s c u s s i o n . A u d ien ce la v io r seem s n o t to h av e been a s b ad a s i t h ad b een ite d . The C o l l i e r a t t a c k on th e s t a g e h ad many r e b u t t a l s I r e j o i n d e r s from v a r io u s c o n t r i b u t o r s b e f o r e i t was t a l l y c o n c lu d e d , a c c o r d in g t o S i s t e r Rose A n th o n y , in >6.^48 One o f th e c h i e f d e f e n d e rs o f th e s t a g e , how ever, s p i t e o f th e s t a g e 's r e l a t i v e i n d i f f e r e n c e t o him , was 146 I b i d . , p . 3 . 14? Jo h n D ennis m e n tio n s a t l e a s t t h r e e o c c a s io n s w hich he saw C o l l i e r a t th e t h e a t r e — once a t S h a d w e ll's [om W e lls , once a t O tw a y 's S o l d i e r *a F o r tu n e , a n d once a t 'd e n 's Lim berham . See Jo h n D en n is, The C r i t i c a l W orks, ^ard N ile s H ooker, e d i t o r ( B a ltim o re : The Jo h n s H opkins 88, 1 9 4 3 ), V ol. 1 , p . 3 0 3 . 148 A nth o n y , op. c i t . .- se e t i t l e p a g e . A c c o rd in g to t e r A n th o n y 's re c k o n in g i n h e r d i s s e r t a t i o n t h e r e w ere ;h ty - e i g h t c r i t i c a l r e p l i e s and r e b u t t a l s d u r in g th e n e x t n t y - e i g h t y e a r s f o llo w in g C o l l i e r 's o p en in g c r i t i c i s m o f s t a g e . Many o f th e s e w ere anonym ous, b u t Jo h n D ennis t e a t l e a s t f i v e to w h ich h i s name i s s ig n e d , a l l i n le m easure d e fe n d in g th e s t a g e . 211 hn D e n n is .149 A lth o u g h a t th e p r o d u c tio n o f h i s p l a y , h i g e n i a . he w r i t e s , " I n e v e r in my l i f e a t any P la y to o k t i c e o f a more s t r i c t a t t e n t i o n , o r a m ore p ro fo u n d l e n c e , " th e p l a y d i d n o t make e x p e n s e s .150 A p p a re n tly , w ev er, D ennis was one who c o u ld n o t g e t r i d o f h i s lo n g in g he a s s o c i a t e d w i t h th e t h e a t r e , an d a s a r e s u l t becam e e o f th e fo re m o s t dram a c r i t i c s o f h i s d a y . 1 51 In h i s t r e a t i s e , "The U s e fu ln e s s o f th e S ta g e ," h i s I n c i p a l r e f u t a t i o n o f C o l l i e r 's S h o rt V iew , he q u o te s L l i e r ' s s ta te m e n t t h a t " th e T h e a tre i s t h e p r o p e r e s t p la c e t h e w o rld t o m e e t, o r to f i n d a M i s t r e s s , a n d t h a t ^49 Downes, op. c i t . , p . 4 5 , w r i t e s , "I p h ig e n ia a agedy, w ro te by Mr. D en n is, a good T rag ed y and w e ll A cted ; 3 a n s e r e 'd n o t t h e Expences th e y w ere a t i n G lo a th in g I t was p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s , November, ?9- (Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 53*) m i s , i n th e P r e f a c e to t h i s p la y p u b l i s h e d in 1700, sited t h a t b e c a u s e o f th e g r e a t s u c c e s s o f I p h ig e n ia i n th e aek, Roman, an d F re n c h t h e a t r e s he d e c id e d to w r i t e th e ly h im s e lf . 15 0 P re fa c e to I p h ig e n ia i n The C r i t i c a l Works o f in D e n n is , V o l. 2, p . 390. The p l a y , w h ich h a s been l i e d d u l l , i n d i c a t e d b y i t s p r o d u c tio n t h a t an a u d ie n c e ght b e p o l i t e en ough to s t a n d th e boredom o f d u l l n e s s b u t b t h e i n s u l t o f c a r e l e s s p r e p a r a t i o n a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n a s t h e e a r l i e r m e n tio n e d c a s e s w here a c t o r s w ere " o u t" in e i r l i n e s o r w h ere p a r t s o f p la y s w ere so a b s u rd t h a t th e y re h i s s e d o f f t h e s t a g e . 1 5 1 H is c r i t i c a l w orks have b een e x c e l l e n t l y corn- le d an d e d i t e d i n two volum es by P r o f e s s o r Edward N ile s Dker o f th e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los A n g e le s. See 3 v e, p . 210. 212 v e r a l p e o p le go t h i t h e r on p u r p o s e ."152 He th e n shows a t th e p e rs o n from whom C o l l i e r has ta k e n t h i s s ta te m e n t O v id 's De A rte Amandi a l s o s a i d th e same o f g o in g to u r c h . Thus, D ennis a rg u e s t h a t i f p e o p le d id n o t go t o e t h e a t r e to m eet t h e i r m i s t r e s s e s , th e y w ould go e l s e - e r e w ith w o rse i n t e n t i o n s , b e c a u s e "the* some p e o p le go to e T h e a tre t o m eet t h e i r m i s t r e s s e s , i t i s e v id e n t t h a t S t go t o s e e th e p l a y . . . ."1 3 3 Here a g a in i s eye w i t - 88 e v id e n c e t h a t p e o p le a t t e n d e d t h e t h e a t r e in th e s t o r a t i o n e r a a s in any o t h e r m a in ly to s e e and h e a r th e ay . I t i s t r u e t h a t a lm o st in d i r e c t c o n t r a s t w ith t h i s a te m e n t by D e n n is, Jam es W right has th e f a c t i t i o u s c h a r a c - r o f Truman in h i s H i s t o r i a H i s t r i o n i c a s t a t e : W hereas o f l a t e . The p la y -h o u s e s a r e so e x tre a m ly p e s t e r e d w i t h V izard -M ask s and t h e i r T ra d e , ( o c c a s io n in g c o n t i n u a l Q u a r r e ls and a b u s e s ) t h a t many o f t h e m ore C i v i l i z e d P a r t o f th e Town a r e u n e a sy i n th e Company, an d shun th e T h e a te r a s th e y w ould a House o f Scan d a l . 154 i s t r u e t h a t some s ta y e d away from th e p la y h o u s e s d u r in g p ts o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d who m ig h t h ave gone i n o t h e r ^32 x)e2 i n i s , W orks. o p # c i t . , V o l. 1 , p# 157 133 Log, c i t . 1 3 4 Jam es W rig h t, H i s t o r i a H i s t r i o n i c a . An H i s t o r i c a l co u n t o f th e E n g lis h St age ( London 2 G. Groom and W illia m >rs, 1 6 9 9 ) , P» 2 7 . 213 m es, b u t t h i s s ta te m e n t from " Truman" d o e s n o t c o n s t i t u t e f f i c i e n t e v id e n c e t h a t q u a r r e l s and a b u s e s o c c a s io n e d by z a rd -m a sk s an d t h e i r t r a d e w ere th e r e a l re a s o n f o r i t . s n e x t s ta te m e n t shows c l e a r l y th e p a r t p la y e d by p e r s o n - 1 b i a s i n h i s e v a l u a t i o n o f su c h m a t t e r s . I t i s an Argum ent o f t h e w o rth o f t h e P la y s and A c to r s , o f th e l a s t Age, b e f o r e th e C i v i l War and e a s i l y i n f e r r ' d , t h a t th e y w ere much beyond o u rs in t h i s , to c o n s id e r t h a t th e y c o u 'd s u p p o r t th e m s e lv e s m e e rly from t h e i r own M e rit ; th e w e ig h t o f t h e M a tte r , an d g o o d n ess o f th e A c tio n , w ith o u t S cen es an d M a ch in e s. . . .155 i s o f no c o n c e rn to a rg u e t h a t th e p la y s th e n show ing iild h a r d ly draw an a u d ie n c e " u n le s s t h e r e b e a d d i t i o n a l c i t a t i o n o f a S i g n i o r F i d e l i , a Monas l e u r L* Abbe, o r some ch F o re ig n R e g a le e x p r e s t in th e b o tto m o f th e B i l l . " The s t o r a t i o n , o f c o u r s e , had b e e n a p e r i o d o f in n o v a tio n from 8 tim e D evenant op en ed h i s new p la y h o u se in L i n c o l n 's In n e ld s in th e summer o f l 6 6 l , " h a v in g new S cenes and c o r a t i o n s , b e in g th e f i r s t t h a t e ' e r w ere I n t r o d u c 'd in g l a n d . "^36 The a c t r e s s e s o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n w ere th e L oc. c i t . Such s ta te m e n ts so c l e a r l y d i s p l a y a ck o f l o g i c t h a t th e y a r e r e m in is c e n t o f n o th in g so much, r h a p s , a s o f a d i s c u s s i o n b etw e en two " o ld tim e r s " o f la y c o n c e rn in g t h e r e l a t i v e m e r it s o f b a s e b a l l o r f o o t b a l l a y e rs now p l a y i n g a s com pared w ith th o s e who p la y e d when e g ra y b e a rd s w ere in t h e i r p rim e . Such d i s c u s s i o n s , r t u n a t e l y p e r h a p s , " s o lv e " few p ro b le m s , b u t m ost p a r t i c u - p ly n o t when th e d i s c u s s a n t s th e m s e lv e s a r e c r e a t u r e s of n e o n s 's im a g in a tio n . 156 DownAA. OT5. cit. . n. 20. This does not include 214 r a t t h a t a p p e a re d r e g u l a r l y on th e E n g lis h s t a g e . I t was us c o n s i s t e n t w i t h R e s t o r a t i o n t h e a t r e management p o l i c y in tr o d u c e n o v e l t i e s — to s e c u r e new p a t r o n s , o f c o u r s e , f c a l s o to h o ld t h e o ld o n e s . I t i s e n t i r e l y p o s s i b l e , how ever, t h a t th e e x t e n u a t - g f a c t o r in "T ru m an 's" s ta te m e n t t o " lo v e w it" c o n c e rn in g i i e n c e c o m p o s itio n an d b e h a v io r may be e x p la in e d in fcson's e x p o s itio n o f th e p a r t i c u l a r c o n d i tio n o f t h e s ta g e t h a t tim e . He w r i t e s ; The d i g n i t y o f th e s t a g e had b e e n s e r i o u s l y im p a ire d b y th e d i v i s i o n i n t o two t h e a t r e s , one managed by a fo p an d a la w y e r ( n e i t h e r o f whom knew a n y th in g o f t h e a t r i c a l a r t ) , t h e o t h e r a lm o st in a s t a t e o f d i s i n t e g r a t i o n . The C ontem porary drama was s u s c e p t i b l e o f c e n s u re i n m ore th a n one r e g a r d ; an d when th e R e v e re n d Jerem y C o l l i e r , i n h i s fam ous S h o rt View o f t h e Im m o ra lity and P ro fa n e n e s s o f th e Engelish S ta g e , sm ote i t h ip and t h i g h , th e t h e a t r e s a s w e l l as t h e p la y w r ig h ts s t a g g e r e d u n d e r th e b lo w . 157 3 i m p l i c a t i o n i n "T rum an's" s ta te m e n t i s t h a t th e c o n d i- m he r e f e r s to b e g in n in g w i t h th e p h r a s e , "W hereas o f 36 . . ." i n d i c a t e s q u i t e p o s s i b l y t h e p e r i o d m e n tio n e d by 3son, t h a t i s , t h e tim e a f t e r th e s e p a r a t i o n o f th e s t a g e s m e s f o r m asques a t C ourt w h ic h had b e e n g o rg eo u s s i n c e } tim e o f I n ig o J o n e s . 157 H o tso n , op. c i t . , p p . 302-303* B e t t e r t o n 's g ro u p > a ra te d from R ic h in 1695; C o l l i e r 's a t t a c k came in I 6 9 8 . îsum ably th e "fo p " r e f e r r e d t o was S i r Thomas S k ip w ith ; sh, o f c o u r s e , was th e la w y e r. 2 1 5 1 6 9 5 . ^ - 5 8 F u rth e r e v id e n c e o f th e p ro b a b le t r u t h o f th e above c o n ta in e d i n The C ountry G e n tle m a n 's Vade Mecum p u b lis h e d th e same y e a r a s was th e H i s t o r i a H i s t r i o n i c a . I t | g in s : The S ta g e , I m ust n eed s own, was o r i g i n a l l y ( t i l l so many im m oral P r a c t i c e s an d I r r e g u l a r i t i e s b ro k e i n upon i t ) o f A d m irab le Uses an d D esig n . . . . I f you w i l l come t h e r e now, you m ust t a k e i t a s Men do t h e i r W ives, f o r B e t t e r , f o r W orse; ' t i s a l r e a d y i n a s t a t e o f D e c le n s io n . . . b u t l e t . . . t h e p l a y be w hat w i l l , p r o v id e d i t be sta m p t w ith a New Name, and a s t r a n g e t i t l e , i t c e r t a i n l y r a i s e s t h e Mob, c a l l s t o g e t h e r th e Whores and B aw ds, th e S q u i r e s , B e a u s , C i t e , B u l l i e s , e t c . . . . The t h i r d Day . . . i s commonly t h e g ra n d Day; th e n you may o b se rv e t h e g e n e r a l Humors o f th e H ouse . 1 5 9 e w r i t e r th e n d i v i d e s th e t h e a t r e i n t o s e c t i o n s and s t a t e s a t e le m e n t may be fo u n d in e a c h p a r t . . . . In one c t io n a re th e "Ju d g es and th e W its ," w it h an abundance o f tig e rs— on and " I n t e r l o p e r s " who ta k e t h e "se n c e " f o r th e o n -sen ce" and ta k e any e le v a t e d scen e " fo r t h e i r S u b je c t la u g h a t . S in c e th e y c o u ld n o t u n d e r s ta n d them , t h e s e Koombs damn th e F l i g h t s and E x t a s i e s . a n d th e s h in i n g c*ts" o f th e p l a y . Then, he w r i t e s , t h e r e may be a b a n a tic k " t h a t p ic k s up any e x p r e s s io n s c o n c e rn in g th e rernment th a t " d o n 't e x a c t ly sq u are w ith h is O pinion" and | 1 5 8 W r ig h t's H i s t o r i a H i s t r i o n i c a was p u b lis h e d in ?9. Hot8on, op. c i t . , p . 303* 216 L U S d e c id e s t h a t t h i s p la y i s a " S a ty r a g a i n s t th e G overn- n t , an d have an Embargo l a i d upon i t and th e p o o r A u th o r doom 'd a s an Enemy to t h e P u b lic k , to b e ta k e n i n t o s t o d y , an d W hipt, e t c . " Then in a n o t h e r p a r t o f t h e house e t h e p o e t 's f r i e n d s who a r e d e te rm in e d t o " c a r r y him o f f , g h t o r wrong" a n d w h e th e r t h e p la y be w e l l o r i l l d o n e , e s e , o f c o u r s e , come i n t o c o n f l i c t w i t h an o p p o sin g f a ç o n , . . . and th o s e y o u 'l l o b s e rv e s t r a d l i n g upon th e S e a t s , h o llo w in g , c la p p in g , and f l o u n c i n g , an d m aking su c h an im p e r t in e n t C l a t t e r an d N o is e , an d u s in g so many i n s o l e n t and in d e c e n t A c tio n s t h a t I a d v is e you a s a f r i e n d , t o k e e p a s f a r from 'em a s you c a n . e n , to o , in may come a d ru n k en L ord o r more f r e q u e n t l y a u n tr y S q u ire who h as ta k e n up sc o w e rin g and r e v e l l i n g and show h i s p a r t s an d co u ra g e he may . . . r a i s e a Q u a r r e l, an d p u t th e w hole House i n t o a H u r ly - b u r ly ; th e n y o u 'l l s e e . . . Whores tu m b lin g o v e r t h e S e a t s , and t h e p o o r S q u ire s and B eaus tu m b lin g a f t e r 'em i n a h o r r i b l e f r i g h t , and d i s o r d e r ; th e w hole P i t ' s i n Arms i n a M in u te , and e v e r y M an's Sword draw n, t o d e f e n d h im s e lf ; so t h a t i f t h e U p ro ar be n o t i n s t a n t l y s u p p r e s t , ' t i s g r e a t odds b u t t h e r e 's somebody m ur d e r 'd .Ih O H is f i n a l s ta te m e n t, h o w e v e r, i s t h e m ost im p o r ta n t e i n r e f e r e n c e to t h i s s tu d y , b e c a u se he s t r e s s e s th e i n t t h a t h a s b ee n made h e r e . T h is ite m s t a t e s : These I n s u r r e c t i o n s , I c o n f e s s , d o n 't o f te n h a p p e n . Loc. c i t . 217 and *t I s w e ll th e y do n o t; f o r i f th e y shorn'd, th e y m ig h t e v 'n p l a y /m eaning p r o b a b ly b o th a c t o r s and p la y - b o y C by th e m s e lv e s ; f o r who b u t a mad man w ould ru n th e r i s q u e o f b e in g s t a b 'd , o r tr o d e t o D e a th , t o g r a t i f y h im s e lf w ith a n em pty, i n s i g n i f i c a n t c u r i o s i t y . l o l T h is , a l th o u g h somewhat r e m in is c e n t o f V in c e n t, u l d , and o t h e r s h a s enough h o n e s ty t o a d m it th e i n f r e - ency o f su c h d i s t u r b a n c e s an d t h e r e f o r e seems more n e a r l y m i s s i b l e a s e v id e n c e . The m ost o u ts t a n d in g t r u t h p r o b a b ly t h a t th e s e f r a c a s e s i n t h e p la y h o u s e s o c c u r r e d b u t f r e q u e n t l y , f o r , a s h e s a y s , "who b u t a mad man w o u ld ru n le r i s q u e " o f b e in g s ta b b e d o r tra m p le d to d e a th f o r "an p t y , i n s i g n i f i c a n t C u r io s i ty " in a t h e a t r e . B ut p e o p le n t i n u e d g o in g t o t h e t h e a t r e in g r e a t e r an d g r e a t e r num- r s e x c e p t d u r in g c e r t a i n i n t e r v a l s o f s t r e s s a s , f o r a m p le , th e y e a r s a ro u n d th e tim e o f th e P o p is h P l o t and r i n g th e t h e a t r i c a l u p h e a v a ls o f l 6 8l and 1 6 9 5 t o th e end th e c e n tu r y . F o r th o s e c r i t i c s who have n o th in g b u t i l l w ords f o r e a u d i t o r o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y , me h i t h e r t o l i t t l e n o t i c e d c r i t e r i a o f judgm ent may s e rv e s o f t e n th o s e w o rd s. F o r exam p le, th e comment by C o lle y b b e r t h a t he was s o r r y t h a t S a n d f o r d 's m a s te r ly p e rfo rm - e e s c o u ld n o t be re w a rd e d w i t h th e a p p la u s e w h ich much f e r i o r a c t o r s r e c e i v e d m e re ly b e c a u se th e y p la y e d Ib id . . t). 304 218 am dable c h a r a c t e r s " i s w o rth y o f more th a n s l i g h t c o n s id - a t i o n i n th e s tu d y o f t h i s a u d ie n c e . He p ro c e e d s i n th e s c u s s io n o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e in t h i s f a s h i o n . i s n o t th e a c t o r who s h in e s i n e i t h e r good o r b a d r o l e s e q u a l l y commendable? . . . th e s p e c t a t o r w i l l t e l l you t h a t when v i r t u e i s a p p la u d e d , he g iv e s p a r t o f i t t o h im s e lf ; b e c a u s e h i s a p p la u s e a t th e same tim e l e t s o t h e r s ab o u t him se e t h a t he h im s e lf a d m ire s i t . But when a w ick ed a c t i o n i s g o in g fo rw a rd ; when an Ia g o i s m e d i t a t i n g r e v e n g e , and m is c h ie f tho* a r t and n a t u r e may b e e q u a lly s t r o n g i n th e a c t o r , th e s p e c t a t o r i s sh y o f h i s a p p la u s e , l e s t he s h o u ld , i n some s o r t , be l o o k 'd upon a s an a i d e r o r an a b e t t o r o f th e w ic k e d n e ss i n v iew ; and t h e r e f o r e c h u s e s t o ro b t h e a c t o r o f th e p r a i s e he may m e r i t , th a n g iv e i t him in a c h a r a c t e r w h ic h he w ould have you s e e h is s i l e n c e m o d e s tly d i s c o u r a g e s . From th e same fo n d p r i n c i p l e , many a c t o r s h av e made it a p o in t t o be se e n in p a r t s so m etim es, even f l a t l y w r i t t e n , o n ly b e c a u s e th e y s to o d in th e f a v o r a b le l i g h t o f h o n o u r and virtue. 1 6 2 T h is q u i t e r e a s o n a b le an d l o g i c a l d i s c u s s i o n o f a g i c a l a u d ie n c e p h ilo s o p h y h a r d l y seems t o f i t th e p a t t e r n t h o s e t h e a t r e p a t r o n s so v i v i d l y d e s c r i b e d in many p r o mues an d e p ilo g u e s o f p la y s of th e R e s t o r a t i o n . 163 i t i s , srever, a d i s c u s s i o n o f th o s e v e r y a u d ie n c e s , f o r S a n d fo rd , 3se p e rfo rm a n c e s p ro v o k ed t h e d is c o u r s e , was one o f th e 3t fam ous " v i l l i a n s " o f t h e t h e a t r e from th e b e g in n in g to 1 6 2 C ib b e r, L ow e's e d i t i o n , op. c i t . , V o l. 1 , p p . - 3 5 . 1^3 O f. The P ro lo g u e t o The S p a n ish F ry a r by D ryde n , o duced a t D o rse t G arden, M arch, lé è o ; C o l o g n e to The n q u e s t o f G ra n a d a , Second P a r t , by Dryde n ; a l s o h i s il o g u e on th e U nion and o t h e r s . 219 m o B t th e end o f t h a t e r a . ^ ^ ^ I t c a n n o t be s a i d t h a t t h i s ilo s o p h y n e c e s s a r i l y shows I t to be an e x tre m e ly m o ral d le n c e s in c e f o r w ick ed a c t i o n s **the s p e c t a t o r I s sh y o f 8 a p p la u s e , l e s t he s h o u ld , In some s o r t be lo o k e d upon a s a l d e r o r a b e t t o r o f t h e w ic k e d n e ss I n view;** I t w as, w ever, a c c o rd in g to t h i s , a c o n v e n tio n a lly m o ra l a u d ie n c e yen to th e o b s e r v a t i o n o f p ro c e d u r e s f o r th e sa k e of p ea ra n ce s.^ ^ -^ T h is d e f i n i t e s ta te m e n t o f a u d ie n c e r e a c - on from one o f t h e m ost a s t u t e p r o f e s s i o n a l men o f th e e a t r e ( a l b e i t a c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i g u r e ) who was an eye tn e s s to th o s e p e rfo rm a n c e s m ust be w e ig h te d r a t h e r h e a v - Y In any e v a l u a t i o n of th o s e s p e c t a t o r s . IV. PLAYERS AND AUDIENCE In view o f a l l th e e x tre m e ly a d v e rs e c r i t i c i s m made th e s p e c t a t o r s o f th e p e r i o d , one who a c c e p ts I t s h o u ld re l i t t l e e x p e c t a t i o n o f f i n d i n g c r e d i t a b l e a c t o r s o r rfo rm an ces In t h a t tim e . I t w ould h a r d l y be l o g i c a l to N l c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 69* H lc o l l s a y s id f o r d may have I n s p i r e d P o r t e r t o w r i t e th e p a r t o f L lg n ll In The V i l l a i n . See a l s o p . 340. 1^5 One c o u ld a rg u e t h a t th e s e a c t i o n s w ere m ore th a n Î o b s e r v a tio n o f c o n v e n tio n a l m o r a l i t y a n d s t a t e , t h a t 3y w ere s p o n ta n e o u s n a t u r a l r e a c t i o n s to o b s e rv e d phenom- a,. Such argum ent I s n o t n e c e s s a r y to t h e c a s e in p o i n t , f e v e r , s in c e th e e v id e n c e h e r e Is s u f f i c i e n t to I n d i c a t e ) t h e r and h ig h e r ty p e a u d ie n c e e t h i c a l l y from t h a t we have ün AftnTifltnrnfif? to associate with this oeriod- 220 Lleve t h a t su c h b e h a v io r a s t h a t d e s i g n a t e d a s s ta n d a r d — p u t a l , ’ * * b a r b a r o u s , * “A ll p r e t e n s e o f o r d e r and d e c e n c y 3 ab an d o n ed in th e t h e a t r e s ; “166 «b raw ls commonly I n t e r - p te d p e r f o r m a n c e s “^^7— w ould p e r m i t , t o sa y n o th in g o f 3t e r , any p e rfo rm a n c e o f a h ig h e r q u a l i t y th a n t h a t t o be p e r le n c e d In a b e a r g a rd e n . A c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e a c t o r s I th e q u a l i t y o f a c t i n g d u r in g th e e r a may i n d i c a t e how I I t h e s ta n d a r d o f p e rfo rm a n c e c o in c id e s w ith t h e s e p l c a l e v a l u a t i o n s o f th e a u d ie n c e o f th e tim e . Thomas B e t t e r t o n . A n o th e r eye w i t n e s s , n o t f r e q u e n t - 80 i n t e l l e c t u a l l y d i s c e r n i n g b u t an a s t u t e o b s e r v e r of YaXoa.1 t h i n g s , n o n e t h e l e s s , w ro te on s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s In 3 j o u r n a l h i s own v e r y h ig h o p in io n o f B e tte r to n * s n le t.^ ^ ® He m e n tio n s In th e d i a r y f i v e o c c a s io n s on w hich saw Ham let p r e s e n t e d , an d on t h r e e o f th e s e he w r i t e s p tu r o u s ly o f B e t t e r t o n * s p e rf o rm a n c e . On A ugust 2 4 , l 6 6l . J o s e p h Wood K ru tc h , Comedy a n d C o n scien ce a f t e r L R e s t o r a t i o n (C olum bia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 9 ), p# 33* 167 I b i d . . p . 3 k . 168 Pepys l i k e d B e t t e r t o n p e rh a p s m ost o f a l l i n The idman b u t q u i t e p o s s i b l y n e x t b e s t i n H a m le t. 1 6 9 T hese w e re A ugust 2 4 , 1661, November 2 7 , I 6 6 I , member 5 , I 6 6I , May 28, I 6 6 3 , and A ugust 3 1 , I 6 6 8 . 221 î S t a t e s . . to th e Opera^^O and t h e r e saw ‘H am let, •in c e o f Denmark* done w ith s c e n e s v e r y w e l l , b u t above .1, B e t t e r t o n d i d t h e p r i n c e 's p a r t beyond i m a g i n a t i o n . “^71 I May 2 8 , 1663, he a n d h i s f r i e n d . C reed , and M rs. P epys snt t o th e T h e a tre R oyal w here th e y fo u n d th e h o u se “ so i l l th e y t o l d us we c o u ld h av e no room, an d so to th e ike * s House; and t h e r e saw 'H am let* d o n e , g iv in g u s f r e s h a so n n e v e r to t h i n k enough o f B e t t e r t o n . “172 A gain on g u s t 3 , 1668, Pepys met h i s w if e , h e r g i r l Deb, M e rc e r, | t e l l e r , an d W. Hewer a t th e Duke* a T h e a tr e “and saw [a m le t, * . . . a n d m i g h t i l y p l e a s e d w ith i t ; b u t , above 1 , w i t h B e t t e r t o n , th e b e s t p a r t , I b e l i e v e , t h a t e v e r n a c t e d . “173 O ld Downes s t a t e s t h a t B e t t e r t o n was ta u g h t by v e n a n t "In e v e ry P a r t i c l e o f I t ; w hich b y h i s e x a c t P e r - rm ance o f i t , g a i n 'd him Esteem and R e p u ta tio n , S u p e r la ve t o a l l o t h e r P l a y s . «174 P av en an t h ad se e n T a y lo r a s 170 The new Duke o f Y o rk 's T h e a tre I n L i n c o l n 's Inn e l d s , opened a b o u t two m onths b e f o r e . ^71 P epys, pp.. c i t . . , V o l. 1 , p . 3 0 7 . 172 xbicL, . V o l. 1 , p . 641. 173 I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 9 2 6 . 1 7 4 R o sc iu s A n g llc a n u s . p . 21. Downes s a y s t h a t “No Gs e e d in g T ragedy f o r s e v e r a l y e a rs g o t more R e p u ta tio n ; Money t o th e Company th a n t h i s . " 222 e H am let who h a d b ee n i n s t r u c t e d by S h a k e s p e a re him - I f . 175 F o r f u r t h e r eye w itn e s s a c c o u n ts o f th e trem en d o u s f e e t B e t t e r t o n 's a c t i n g h ad on h i s a u d ie n c e th e encomiums C o lle y G ib b er may be c o n s u l t e d . G ib b er b e g in s I n t h i s s e w i t h a resum e o f a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n w h ic h he had w ith d ls o n a s th e y s a t t o g e t h e r w a tc h in g t h e sc e n e b etw e en m le t (n o t p e rfo rm e d by B e t t e r t o n ) and t h e G host In w h ich mle t th re w h im s e lf “i n t o a l l th e s t r a i n i n g V o c i f e r a t i o n q u i s i t e to e x p r e s s Rage and F u ry . . . ,1 7 6 A ddison a s k e d b b e r i f he “th o u g h t Ham let s h o u ld be i n so v i o l e n t a s s l o n w ith th e G h o st, w h ic h , tho* i t m ig h t have a s t o n - h ed . I t had n o t p r o v o k 'd h i m .«177 C ib b e r th e n d e s c r i b e s e m a tc h le s s p e rfo rm a n c e o f B e t t e r t o n I n t h i s sc en e . . . w h ic h he o p en ' d w ith a P ause o f m ute Amazement I I t I s s t r a n g e to h av e t o n o t e , t h a t th e g e n tle m a n 5t e d by “The L a u r é a t , “ p . 3 2 , a s a f r e q u e n t e r o f B e t t e r - I ' s Hamlet ad d s t h a t “he h a s se e n Mr. B e t t e r t o n , m ore th a n se , p la y t h i s C h a r a c te r t o an A udience o f tw e n ty pounds o r 1 e r . “ In t h e a b s e n c e o f s t a t i s t i c a l e v id e n c e , how ev er, Ls n e e d s p ro o f s t i l l . 176 C ib b e r, Low e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p p . 1 0 0 -1 0 1 . !fe assum es t h a t t h e a c t o r r e f e r r e d t o h e r e I s W ilk s. ^77 A lth o u g h G ib b er d o e s not q u o te h i s d i r e c t an sw e r A d d is o n 's q u e s t i o n , he a n sw e rs i t q u i t e w e ll In L ow e's L tlo n o f h i s A p o lo g y . V o l. 2 , p . 245, w here he w r i t e s o f L k's p o r t r a y a l o f H am let, “I own th e H a lf o f w hat h e spoke 3 a s P a in f u l t o my Ear a s e v e ry L in e t h a t came from : t e r t o n was c h a r m in g .“ 223 th e n r i s i n g s lo w ly to a solem n tr e m b lin g V o ic e , he made t h e G host e q u a lly t e r r i b l e to th e S p e c t a to r a s to him s e l f .3.78 B e t t e r t o n , o f c o u r s e , was a t r u e c o n n o is s e u r o f id le n ce r e a c t i o n , and C ib b e r h e a rd him s a y t h a t . . . he n e v e r th o u g h t any k in g o f a p p la u s e . . . e q u a l to an a t t e n t i v e S ile n c e ; t h a t t h e r e w ere many ways o f d e c e iv in g an A u d ien ce i n t o a lo u d one; b u t to k e e p them h u s h t and q u i e t was an A p p lau se w h ich o n ly T r u th and M e rit c o u ld a r r i v e a t . . . .179 .en ev er B e t t e r t o n made an e n t r a n c e . . . he seem ed to s e i z e upon th e Eyes and E a rs even o f th e Giddy a n d i n a d v e r t e n t I To have t a l k ' d o r l o o k 'd a n o t h e r way w o u ld th e n have b een th o u g h t i n s e n s i b i l i t y o r I g n o r a n c e .180 v ie w o f th e f a c t t h a t B e t t e r t o n was a lm o s t a c o n s ta n t 1 7 8 C ib b e r, L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 101. Thomas v i e s . D ram atic M i s c e l l a n i e s (London: P u b lis h e d by th e t h o r , 1 7 8 5 ), V o l. 3 , p . 3 2 , shows t h a t B e t t e r t o n n o t o n ly de th e G host t e r r i b l e t o t h e s p e c t a t o r s b u t h im s e lf r r l b l e to t h e G h o st. One d a y a t r e h e a r s a l B ooth p ro a c h e d W ilks f o r h i s m anner o f p l a y i n g th e sc e n e s a y in g , th o u g h t. Bob, t h a t l a s t n i g h t you w an ted to p la y a t s t y - c u f f s w ith me: You b u l l i e d t h a t w h ic h you o u g h t to ve r e v e r e d . When I a c te d t h e Ghost w ith B e t t e r t o n , s t e a d o f my aw ing him , he t e r r i f i e d me. But d i v i n i t y hung and t h a t man!** 3-79 C ib b e r, L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 109* 3-80 L oc. c l t . Tony A s to n , A B r i e f Supplem ent t o I l e y C i b b e r 's L i v e s . p u b lis h e d w ith L o w e's e d i t i o n o f b b e r . V o l. 2 , p . 300, q u ip s t h a t B e t t e r t o n 's “V o ice was w a n d g ru m b lin g ; y e t he c o u ld Tune I t by an a r t f u l C lim ax, i e h e n f o r c e d U n iv e r s a l A t t e n t i o n , even from th e F ops d O r a n g e - G i r l s . “ 224 rformerl81 f o r f o r t y y e a r s a n d a f r e q u e n t o r o c c a s io n a l t o r f o r a n o th e r t e n , i t may b e rem ark ed w ith r e a s o n a b le c u ra c y t h a t th e e n t i r e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d m ust have h ad ny p e rfo rm a n c e s when th e a u d ie n c e was In d e e d a t t e n t i v e , t ev en th e g r e a t man was n o t i n f a l l i b l e . The l i f e o f th e t h e a t r e a lo n g w ith n o rm al l i f e g e n - a l l y was c o m p le te ly d i s r u p t e d d u rin g th e lo n g t e r r i b l e n th s o f t h e p la g u e In 1665 a n d 1666, c lim a x e d by th e l o c a u s t t h a t v i r t u a l l y d e s tr o y e d th e c i t y o f London In p te m b e r, 1666.3.82 w ould be o n ly r e a s o n a b le t o e x p e c t u n s t a b l e c o n d i tio n a m o n g t h e w hole p o p u l a t i o n f o r a lo n g me a f te r w a r d s t h a t m ight w e ll be r e f l e c t e d among a c t o r s i t h e a t r e p a tr o n s * On Septem ber 4 , 1 6 6 ? , Pepys saw t t e r t o n and H a r r i s a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre i n a r e v i v a l o f 3-81 Pepya shows t h a t B e t t e r t o n was 111 f o r a p e r i o d s e v e r a l m o n th s. The I l l n e s s e v i d e n t l y b eg an som etim e tw een Septem ber 4 , 166?, a t w hich tim e Pepys saw B e t t e r - n an d H a r r is t o g e t h e r In a “m ost s e r i o u s “ sc en e from r e r y 's M ustapha a n d O c to b e r l 4 t h o f th e same y e a r , when pys n o te d t h a t h e , h i s w i f e , and W ille t a t te n d e d The f f e e House (by Thomas S t. S e r f e ) a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre be m ost r i d i c u l o u s , i n s i p i d p la y t h a t e v e r X saw i n my f e , and g la d we w ere t h a t B e t t e r t o n h ad no p a r t In I t • “ fc te rto n had r e t u r n e d to th e s ta g e by J u l y 6 , 1668, when pys “and Company" saw him a g a in In “H enry t h e F i f t h . “ 3*82 ggg G i l b e r t B u r n e t , H is to r y o f H is Own T im e, omas B u rn e t, E s q . , e d i t o r (London: Samuel B a g s te r , 1 8 1 5 ), 1. 1 , p p . 280, 2 9 5 . 225 i s t a p h a /3-83 w h ich b o th a c t o r s “c o u ld n o t c o n ta in from lu g h ln g In th e m id s t o f a m ost s e r i o u s p a r t , from th e L d lcu lo u s m is ta k e o f one o f t h e men upon th e s ta g e ; w h ich d id n o t l i k e * “ 3 - 8 4 On th e day f o llo w in g , P e p y s, t r u e t o h i s u s u a l f o m , 18 a g a in In t h e D u k e 's T h e a tre to se e a p r o d u c tio n o f > r a c l l u s . 3-85 o n ce a g a in th e p l a y e r s w ere “o u t “ I n t h e i r i r t s , and th e a u d ie n c e s e n s in g th e u n c e r t a i n t y o f t h e ^tora s t a r t e d a hubbub In th e h o u se , a s P epys s u g g e s ts , ► re o r l e s s In d i s g u s t a t th e c a r e l e s s p e rfo rm a n c e b e in g v e n . 3-86 T h is p a r t i c u l a r ty p e o f s i t u a t i o n was p r o b a b ly lat G lld o n had I n m ind when h e w ro te : Our S ta g e a t th e b e s t In d e e d I s b u t a v e ry c o ld R e p r e s e n t a t i o n , s u p p o r te d by lo u d p ro m p tin g , t o t h e e t e r n a l D is g u s t o f th e A u d ie n c e , and s p o i l i n g th e Decorum o f t h e R e p r e s e n t a tio n ; f o r an I n p e r f e c t A c to r 3-83 A tr a g e d y by R oger B o y le , f i r s t p ro d u c e d a t n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s , A p r il 3» 1665* See Summers, B l b l i - ra p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama* p . 29- P e p y s, o p * c l t . . V o l. 2 , p p . 646*^647- 3-83 D avid E rs k ln e B a k e r, The Companion t o th e P la y - u s e (London: B e c k e t and D e h o n d t, 1 7 6 p. HE. He s t a t e s a t t h e H e r a c llu a by C a r l e l l was n e v e r a c t e d , b e c a u se a r s l o n by someone— unknown t o B a k e r--w a s p r e f e r r e d by th e to r s * 186 On F e b ru a r y 1 2 , 1 6 6 7 , Thomas K llll g r e w , p a t e n t e e t h e T h e a tre R o y a l, had t o l d Pepys t h a t th e a u d ie n c e a t s h o u se was n o t “above h a l f so much a s I t u s e d t o be f o r e t h e l a t e f i r e . “ : 223 a f f r o n t s th e A u d ien ce, and b e tr a y s h is own D e m e r i t s . Such a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r , how ever. I s l i k e l y to b e th e t u r a l r e s u l t in any age when th e p la y e r s appear to be so d i f f e r e n t th a t t h e i r p erform an ce d oes n o t g iv e s a t l s f a c - on.3-88 H ere, t h e n . I s a n o th e r exam ple o f what c o u ld c u r a t e ly be term ed "normal" a u d ie n c e r e a c t io n . To show t h e power o f a g r e a t a c t o r over h is a u d ie n c e , en W illiam Mount f o r t was m urdered In 1692,3*89 B e tt e r to n ok th e p a r t o f A lex a n d er In L e e 's The R iv a l Q ueens, o r The a th o f A lexan d er th e G r e a t. and a lth o u g h Mount f o r t had, c o r d in g to G ib b er, p la y e d th e p a rt " w ith s u c c e s s f o r v e r a l y e a r s ," B e tt e r to n . . . im m e d ia te ly r e v i v 'd i t w ith so new a L u str e t h a t f o r th r e e Days t o g e t h e r i t f i l l ' d th e House; and had h is th en d e c lin in g S tr e n g th been eq u a l to th e F a tig u e th e A c tio n g a v e him . I t p r o b a b ly m ight have 3*87 C h a rles G il don, L l f e o f Thomas B e t t e r t on (London: ►bert G o slin g , 1 7 1 0 ) , p . jEl A lth ou gh G lld on p u b lis h e d i l s in th e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , th e id e a h ere i s a s p e r t i - snt a t one tim e a s a n o th er and u n d o u b ted ly was tr u e o f many > sto r a tlo n p erfo rm a n ces. T h is th ou gh t i s r e p e a te d a lm o st ► rd f o r word by E. C u r ll In The H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h :age (London: E. C u r ll, 1 7 4 1 ), p . 5 2 . 188 th e r e w ere e x te n u a tin g c ir c u m sta n c e s In t h i s Lse, th e y do not ap p ear from a p e r u s a l o f th e m a te r ia l a l l a b l e . 189 "Memoirs o f th e A c to r s and A c tr e s s e s " from tllch a m b ers e d i t i o n o f th e A p o lo g y , appended to L ow e's L ltlo n , V o l. 2 , p . 3 4 3 . The murder to o k p la c e on th e n ig h t * December 9 th . 227 d o u b led i t s S u c c e s s . . . .3-90 Decem ber, 1 6 9 2 , B e tte r to n was in h is f i f t y - e i g h t h y e a r i th u s c o u ld s c a r c e ly be e x p e c te d t o e x e r t th e en erg y o f a in g e r a c to r in t h e p a r t , and y e t h is fame was so g r e a t a.t even th o u g h , a s C ibber s a y s , th e p la y was under “t h i s 3a t D isa d v a n ta g e o f th e S a t i e t y I t had g iv e n , “ he s t i l l tre I t a new l u s t r e and t h r i l l e d a f u l l h ou se f o r s e v e r a l y's* As Tony A sto n I n d i c a t e s ,3-91 B e t t e r t o n , c o n t r a r y t o B I m p re s s io n G ib b e r g iv e s , d i d n o t . In s p i t e o f h i s g re s,t l i l t y , alw ays a f f e c t h i s a u d ie n c e a s th e I n d i v i d u a l i z a t i o n p e r f e c t e d g e n i u s . In f a c t . In B e t t e r t o n 's l a t e r a r s , 3-92 A ston w ish e d t h a t he w ould r e s i g n th e p a r t o f D i e t , In w h ich he had g a in e d a good d e a l o f h i s h ig h C ib b er, L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 1 0 8 . Lowe In fo o tn o te on t h i s p age s t a t e s t h a t he can f in d no r e c o r d o f r e v i v a l o f A lex a n d er th e G r e a t. and t h a t he I s u n a b le even g u e s s a t a d a t e . S in ce Downes, o p . c l t . * p . 1 1 , shows ex a n d er to be one o f th e s t o c k p la y s o f th e T h eatre R o y a l, I s n o t u n u su a l th a t I t sh o u ld have b een r e v iv e d a t any me. As f o r t h a t p a r t ic u la r r e v i v a l , C ibber s p e c i f i c a l l y a t e s t h a t I t was "Im m ediately" f o llo w in g M o u n tfo rt' s a th , w hich p resu m ab ly means som etim e In Decem ber, I 6 9 2 . 3-91 A sto n , o p . c l t . , p . 2 9 8 . A s to n 's I n tr o d u c to r y nment I s s e t o f f by a remark p u r p o r te d ly by th e Duke o f cklngham , t h a t , to shew a Man n ot d e f e c t i v e , w ere to draw A f a u l t l e s s M on ster, t h a t th e W orld n e 'e r saw . 3-92 The s p e c i f i c age m en tio n ed by A sto n , o p . c i t . , 3 0 1 , I s 63* 228 put a t i o n . . • . t o some young A c to r (who m ight have P e r so n a te d , th o u g h n ot have A cted , i t b e t t e r ) , f o r when he th rew h im s e lf a t O p h e lia 's F e e t , he ap p eared a l i t t l e to o g r a v e fo r a Young S tu dent . . . and h is R epartees: seem 'd r a t h e r as Apothegms from a sa g e P h ilo s o p h e r , than th e s p o r t in g F la s h e s o f a Young Ham let; . . . b ut no one e l s e c o u ld have p le a s ' d t h e Town, he was so r o o te d in t h e i r O p in io n .3.93 H ence, I t can b e se en t h a t when r e a l m e r it was fe r e d , th e R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e was q u i e t , “h u sh t," and s p o n s lv e . The p la y g o e r s had t h e i r moments o f n o is e and i f u s Io n , but n o t when Thomas B e tte r to n g a v e them th e b e s t h i s t a l e n t i n th o u sa n d s o f p erform an ces o v e r a f i f t y y ea r rlod.3-94 M ich ael Mohun and C h a rles H a rt. That B e tte r to n was ] t h e o n ly p la y e r among th e R e s to r a tio n group who c o u ld :h r a l l an a u d ie n c e I s shown In a cc o u n ts o f th e a b i l i t i e s many o th e r s — b o th a c to r s and a c t r e s s e s . M oreover, a s has m shown w ith B e tt e r to n h im s e lf , th e p la y e r s w ith th e Lent to h o ld and sway an a u d ie n c e w ere c o n fin e d t o no one ^93 I b i d . . p p . 3 0 0- 3 0 1 . 1 9k j f B e t t e r t o n a c te d on th e a v e r a g e no more th a n e hundred tim es a y e a r , p ro b a b ly a v e r y c o n s e r v a tiv e fclm ate, he would"^ have g iv e n a t l e a s t fo u r th ou san d p e r - rm ances by 1 7 0 0 , t e n y e a r s b e f o r e h is d e a th . He p ro b a b ly ire many m ore. sise o f th e p e r i o d . 3-95 H a rt, L acy, and Mohun w ere s t a r s in 3 e a r ly and m id d le y e a r s; W ilk s, B a rry , and B r a c e g ir d le in 3 l a t e r y e a r s w it h B e tte r to n a s th e g r e a t m a s te r - s ta r o f 3 w h o le p e r io d . A lth ou gh th e s t y l e o f a c t in g o f th a t tim e 3 b een d is c u s s e d by c r i t i c s a t l e n g t h , 3-96 th e s e w ere p e r - rmers who m ight v e r y w e ll h ave been s t a r s In any a g e . That Hart and Mohun c o u ld keep t h e i r a u d ie n c e 's tendance a s w e l l as t h e i r a t t e n t io n a g a in s t c o m p e titio n d em o n stra ted by an I n c id e n t re co rd ed In A Comparison ;ween th e Two St ages. 3-97 C r lt lc k , In h i s d is c u s s io n w ith Lien and Ramble, sa y s; I ' l l t e l l y ou . G entlem en, what I have known In my 3-95 H art, Mohun, L acy, and K yn aston , w ith th e K in g 's npany; and B e t t e r t o n , U n d e r h ill, and Jam es Mokes w ere a l l s t a r c a l ib e r a p p r o x im a te ly a t th e tim e o f th e R e s to r a tio n i c o n tin u e d t o be f o r a p e r io d o f tw en ty y e a r s o r ab ou t t i l th e Union In 1 6 8 2 , when Hart and Mohun r e t i r e d . See )rg e C. D. O d e ll, S h ak esp eare from B e tt e r to n to I r v in g 3w York: C h a rles S c r ib n e r 's S on s, 1 9 2 0 ) , V o l. 1 , p . 1 2 . 3-96 A lin e M ackenzie T a y lo r , Next t o S h ak esp eare irham: Duke U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 5 0 ), p p . 1 9 2 -1 9 3 , G lld o n , fe o f Thomas B e t t e r t o n . p . 40 e t . s e q . , L ow e's e d it io n o f b b e r ' s A p o lo g y , V o l. 1 , p . 100 e t . s e q . 3-^7 T his work I s commonly a s c r ib e d t o C h a rles G lld o n , t Summers, R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e . p . 9 2 , n o t e , w ith o u t t h e r in g to s t a t e h is a u t h o r it y , rem arks t h a t t h i s a s c r lp - on I s I n c o r r e c t. Perhaps a more tr u s tw o r th y a u th o r it y on e s u b je c t I s S ta r in g B. W ells In h is e d i t i o n o f A m parlson Betw een th e Two S t a g e s , o p . c l t . , p . X II. See so J o u r n a l o f E n g lis h and Germanic P h ilo lo g y , XXXVIII, . 2 3 3 -2 4 6 . W ells q u o tes a n o th er s c h o la r o f G lld o n ' s r k s , John D'Auby B r is c o e , who a g r e e s w it h him th a t th e rk i s n o t t h a t o f G lld o n . 2 3 0 tim e : The l a t e Duke o f Monmouth was a good ju d ge o f d a n c in g , and a good Dancer h im s e lf; when he r e tu r n e d from F r a n ce, he b rou ght w it h him . Andrë^, th en th e b e s t M aster In F rance; The Duke p r e s e n te d him to th e S ta g e , th e S ta g e t o g r a t i f i e th e Duke a d m itted him , and th e Duke h im s e lf th ou gh t he w ould p rove a m ig h ty advan t a g e t o 'em , th o he had no body e l s e o f h is O p in ion : A Day was p u b lis h 'd in th e B i l l s f o r him to d a n ce, b u t n ot one m ore, b e s id e s th e Duke and h is F r ie n d s came to s e e him; th e r e a so n w as, th e P la y s w ere th e n so g o o d , and H art and Mohun a c te d 'em so w e l l , t h a t th e A udience w ou 'd not be I n te r r u p te d f o r so sh o r t a tim e tho* ' tw as t o s e e th e b e s t m a ster In E u r o p e . 198 But th e h y p o t h e t ic a l “C r itio k " in t h i s work was su p - >rted in h is sta te m e n t o f th e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f Hart and >hun w ith t h e ir a u d ie n c e s by a r e a l c r i t i c in th e p e r so n o f Lr R ich ard S t e e le In “The T at1 e r . “ Under th e h ea d in g b i l l ' s C offe**house, November 25»" he w r it e s : I Have b een t h i s E ven in g r e c o l l e c t i n g what P a ssa g e s . . . have l e f t th e s t r o n g e s t Im p r essio n s upon my Mind; and a f t e r s t r i c t E n q u iry, I am c o n v in c e d , th a t th e Im p u lses I have r e c e iv e d from T h e a tr ic a l R e p re se n ta t i o n s , have had a g r e a te r E f f e c t , th a n o th e r w is e w ould h ave been w rought In me by th e l i t t l e O ccu rren ces o f my p r iv a t e L i f e . My o ld F r ie n d s , Hart and Mohun: th e one by h is n a tu r a l and p ro p er F o rc e, th e o th e r by h is g r e e t S k i l l and A r t, n ev er f a i l e d to sen d me Home f u l l o f su ch Id ea s a s a f f e c t e d my B e h a v io r, and made me I n s e n s i b l y more c o u r te o u s and human to my F r ie n d s and I b i d . , P» 29* In a l l f a ir n e s s i t must be n o te d ire t h a t th e r e I s a s u g g e s t io n o f two o th e r r e a so n s t h a t le " b e st M aster In Europe" m igh t n ot have drawn th e g r e a t d le n c e s th e Duke e x p e c te d him to draw. These a re ( l ) th e in era l a n tip a th y o f th e E n g lis h f o r t h in g s f o r e ig n , and p e o l a l l y f o r th e F ren ch , p e r s e ; and ( 2 ) th e f a c t t h a t le Duke h im s e lf was a lm o st c o n t in u a lly a c o n t r o v e r s ia l g u re and th u s s u b j e c t to th e whims o f f a c t i o n s a t any ven moment. 231 A c q u a in ta n c e . 3-99 th ou gh S t e e le i e no doubt t r u t h f u l when he s t a t e s th e e a t in flu e n c e th e s ta g e has had upon him , he i s a ls o known a s tr o n g c r i t i c o f th e s t a g e and I t s p e o p l e , 2 0 0 &nd I t y b e assum ed t h a t he w ould have w r it t e n th e o p p o s ite o f r t and Mohun had he f e l t i n c li n e d . O ther c r i t i c s and o f d i f f e r e n t t y p e s from S t e e le t e s t to th e a b i l i t y o f Mohun to move an a u d ie n c e . John Im ot c a l l e d him th e “g r e a t Aesopus" o f th e s t a g e . 2 0 1 The e t Lee was so en ra p tu r ed w ith Mohun*s p erform an ce o f th e E v id en ce to th e c o n tr a r y la c k in g , i t I s to be sumed th a t S t e e le w rote The T a t le r . Number 9 9 » f o r th e r io d Thursday, November 2 4 , to S a tu rd a y , November 2 6 , 09* See a l s o , A L ite r a r y H is to r y o f E n g la n d . A lb e r t C. u gh, e d it o r (New York: A p p le to n -C e n tu r y -O r o fts, I n c . , 4 8 ) , p . 8 7 4 . " S te e le had th e more p e d e s t r ia n s e c t io n s to — th e new s, th e t h e a t r e , and a l l t h a t ." G ib b er, Low e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 2 , p . 1 6 2 , sh ow s, w ev er, th a t S t e e l e was a good p u b lic r e l a t i o n s man f o r th e e a t r e when he s t a t e s , "W e knew . . . th e O b lig a tio n s th e age had to h is w r it in g s ; . . . many Days had ou r House en p a r t i c u l a r l y f i l l ' d by th e I n flu e n c e and C re d it o f h is in." I t w as. In f a c t , a s a r e s u lt o f h is "L ucubrations" lat he was u rged to become (and d id ) a p a r tn e r In th e man- :ement o f C ib b e r 's grou p . ^^3. A pology For th e L if e o f C o lle y C ib b e r , Edmund illch a m b er, e d it o r (London: W . Slm kln and R. Ears h a l l , 2 2 ) , p . 83* Mohun was rem arkab le f o r h is d ig n i t y and he e le g a n c e o f h i s s t e p . " He u s u a lly a c t e d , b ec a u se o f 8 s h o r t m u scu lar b u ild , solem n and g ra v e p a r t s , b u t on c a s lo n was e x c e l l e n t In com ic r o l e s , f o r exam ple, 1 en t i n e In Wit W ithout M oney. 2 3 2 ig o f Pontus^^^ th a $ he su d d e n ly e x c la im e d , "0 Mohun, th ou \ t t l e man o f m e t t l e , i f I w ou ld w r it e a hundred p la y s . I 'd Lte a p a rt f o r th y mouth! “203 Downes w ro te o f him “In a l l 3 P a r t s , he was m ost A cc u r a te and C o r r e c t. “204 The g r e a t team mate o f Mohun, C h a rles H art, was p e r - ps n e x t to B e t t e r t o n , th e m ost a b le o f a l l R e s to r a tio n to r s even th ou gh he may n ot have b een a c o l l a t e r a l d e s c e n - i t o f S h a k e sp e a r e '3 .2 0 5 Hart had been n o t m erely a 202 M ith r l d a t e s . K ing o f Pont u s , a tr a g e d y by N athan- L L ee produced a t Drury Lane Ja n u a ry , 1 6 6 8 . Summers, sllo g r a p h y o f R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 85* T his c o u ld s c a r c e ly be c a l l e d g o o d , even f o r promptu v e r s e , b u t I t co n v ey s th e Id ea e f f e c t i v e l y . L ee, a etlm es known a s “th e mad p o e t , “ sp e n t tim e in Bedlam . 3 D ic tio n a r y o f N a tlo n a l B io g r a p h y . 1 9 0 9 , V o l. X I, p . 807. 3 e d it o r o f D. N. B. h as e r r e d In s t a t i n g th a t t h i s b i t d o g g e r e l was made f o r Mount f o r t . 2 0 4 Downes, op . c i t . , p . 1 7 . B e llc h a m b e r s, pp.. c l t . . 8 3 , t r i e s t o show t h a t , a c c o r d in g t o Downes, Mohun t a b lls h e d h is own group w ith th e a s s i s t a n c e o f K ynaston I o t h e r s a f t e r th e Union In 1 6 8 2 , b u t Downes, p . 39» 11c a t e s no su ch t h in g . 205 B e llc h a m b e r s, p p . c l t . , p . 71 » s t a t e s t h a t H art Ï t h e g r e a t nephew o f S h a k esp ea r e, “b e in g th e e l d e s t son our p o e t 's s i s t e r , J o a n . “ Summers, R e s to r a tio n T h e a tr e . 2 9 2 , n o te , r e f u t e s t h i s s ta te m e n t, a s u s u a l, w ith o u t ) t ln g a u t h o r it y . W h eatley, p ro b a b ly e c h o in g B ellch a m b ers h i s o r i g i n a l s o u r c e , r e p e a ts th e sta te m e n t In h is e d it i o n Pepys* D ia r y . V o l. 2 , p . 6 3 6 , n o te . I f B ellch a m b ers >ended s o l e l y on M a lo n e's s ta te m e n t, w h ich he q u o te s In s e d i t i o n o f C ib b e r 's A p o lo g y , p . 7 1 , n o te 1 , to h i s own > tn o te , h is a u t h o r it y I s In d eed s l i g h t . The q u o ta tio n I s th e e f f e c t th a t H a r t's f a t h e r , W illia m , “s e t t l e d In id on, and was an a c t o r . “ Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 78 >eats th e sta te m e n t o f B e llc h a m b e r s, e t a l . 233 ■ e — R e s to r a tio n b u t a ls o a pre-Com m onwealth a c t o r .206 At le R e s to r a tio n he became a member o f K ll llg r e w 's company at' e T h ea tre R o y a l, and f o r many y e a r s s u s t a in e d d o zen s o f p o r ta n t r o l e s . 207 Downes w ro te e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y o f H a r t's rform an ce in s e v e r a l o f h is r o l e s . F ir s t . . . I n th e p a r t o f A r b a c e s. In King and No K in g; Affilntor In The M a id 's T ragedy ; O t h e llo : R o l lo : B r u tu s , In J u liu s C a esa r; A lex a n d er , tow ard s th e l a t t e r End o f h is A c tin g ; i f he A cted In any one o f t h e s e b u t o n ce In a F o r t n ig h t , th e House was f i l l ' d a s a t a New P la y , e s p e c i a l l y A lex a n d er, he A ctin g t h a t w ith su ch Grandeur and A g reea b le M a je s ty , That one o f th e Court was p le a s 'd to Honour him w ith t h i s Commendation; That H art m ight T each any King on E arth how t o Comport him s e l f ; He was no l e s s I n f e r io r In Comedy; a s M o s e a In th e Fox; Don John In th e C hances, W lld b lood In th e Mock A s tr o lo g e r . . . In a l l th e Comedies and T r a g e d ie s , he was con cern ed he P erfo rm 'd w ith th a t E x a c tn e s s and P e r f e c t io n , th a t n ot any o f h is S u c c e s s o r s have E q u a ll'd him . 2 0 8 I t was s a id th a t th e f i r s t p a r t In w h ich Hart g a in e d p u ta tlo n was t h a t o f th e “D utchess" In S h i r l e y ' s tr a g e d y . B e llc h a m b e r s, o p . c l t . , p . 71 * He was a r r e s t e d d Im p rison ed s h o r t ly b e fo r e th e d ea th o f C h a rles I f o r t i n g O tto In R o l l o , Duke o f Normandy, a t th e “C o c k p it. “ Among t h e s e , a c c o r d in g t o Downes, p p . 3— 15» w ere m e tr lu s In The Humorous L ie u te n a n t , C eladon to th e F l o r i - 1 o f N e ll Gwyn in The Malden Queen, M anly In The P la in a l e r , Aureng Zebe In Aureng Z ebe, Marc A nthony In A l l fo r v e , o r th e W orld W ell L o st and Alam anzor In The C onquest G ranada. I b id . . p . 1 6 . D a v ie s , o p . c l t . , V o l. 3» P* 277» a q u o te s Downes' sta te m e n t c o n c e r n in g H a r t's te a c h in g any ng how t o com port h im s e lf . 23^1 e C a r d in a l.2 0 9 He was “b red up" t o a c t wom en's r o l e s a t e o ld B la c k f r la r s t h e a t r e u n d er R ob in so n , an a c to r under e a r l i e r S t u a r t 's r e i g n . 210 Rymer d e s c r ib e s H a r t's e f f e c t on h is a u d ie n c e a p t ly when he w r it e s : The e y e s o f th e A u d ien ce a re p r e p o s s e s s e d and charmed by h is a c t io n , b e fo r e au g h t o f th e P o et can ap proach t h e i r e a r s; and t o th e m ost w retch ed c h a r a c te r he g iv e s a l u s t e r w h ich so d a z z le s th e s ig h t t h a t th e d e f o r m it ie s o f th e p o e t ca n n o t be p e r c e iv e d . 2 1 1 Hart was s a id to have b een a " c o n sta n t o b s e r v e r o f se n cy In m anners, s,nd a r e s p e c t e r o f th e c le r g y . “2 1 2 Ho ib t he g a in e d t h i s com m endation from a, s t o r y w h ich has. Bn r e c o u n te d b y s e v e r a l R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e h i s t o r I a n s .213 W right, H is t o r la H l s t r l o n l c a , p* 2 . ^3-0 L oc. c l t . 211 Downes, o p . c l t . , p . 71* A lm ost th e same t h in g 3 s a id o f M rs. B arry by B e t t e r t o n . See D a v ie s , op . c l t . , L. 3» p* 215* A p p a re n tly , h ow ever, ev en Hart had h i s r f I c u l t l e s w ith th e p i t s in c e a c c o r d in g to D a v ies a l s o , L . 3» p . 278, he “a d d r e sse d th e A udience In a p la in - i l l n g p r o lo g u e , f u l l o f s e v e r e ce n su r e on th e p i t ." ^12 I b id . , V o l. 3» PP* 279—280. T h is In s p i t e o f h is rin g In tr o d u ce d N e ll Gwyn t o th e s ta g e and h a v in g c o n t r lb - îd t o h er d elIn q u e n c y — a s a m in or. 23.3 D a v ie s , o p . c l t . . V o l. 3, PP* 280-281. I t co n - Tns th e o c c a s io n on w hich th e I n c o r r ig ib le com edian, Joe Lnes, w ith a t y p i c a l s e n s e o f th e p r a c t i c a l Joker t o l d a ïrgyman a c q u a in ta n c e o f h is th a t th e p la y e r s a t th e ja tr e R oyal w ish e d to b e re fo r m e d . He f u r th e r t o l d th e >d b u t e v id e n t ly g u l l i b l e m in is t e r t h a t he (H a in es) w ould jommend him to t h e group a s C hap lain and th a t a l l he ?ded t o do was t o ta k e a b e l l b eh in d t h e s c e n e s , r in g I t , I c a l l “P la y e r s ! P la y e r s ! Gome t o p r a y e r s ." When H art 235 A nother s c e n e b etw een H a rt, th e a cto r-m a n a g er and Lnes ,2 1 4 th e p ran k s ter-co rn ed ! a n , was o f much c lo s e r ic e r n to th e a u d ie n c e . In f a c t , th e s p e c t a t o r s w ere h l l - Lous, and r i g h t l y s o , a lth o u g h Hart h im s e lf was e x tr e m e ly a l l l a t e d and c h a g r in e d , and Joe was dis charged. 215 The )ry I s from The L if e o f th e L a te Famous Com edian, Jo m s ,2 1 6 c o n cern s a p r o d u c tio n o f Ben J o n a o n 's Cat 1- l e ' s C on sp iracy In w h ich a la r g e number o f s e n a to r s w ere sded. H a rt, no doubt w is h in g to sa v e money and a t th e ae tim e b e in g u n m in d fu l o f J o e ' s h a v in g r i s e n to su ch it u s th a t he was no lo n g e r o b lig a t e d t o ta k e su ch m anager came In t o s e e t h i s gay f a r c e In a c t io n , he was ?y an gry w ith J o e , i n v i t e d th e clergym an to d in n er and formed him th a t H ain es was “an Im proper com panion f o r a 1 o f h is f u n c t i o n . “ 214 fijoe H a in e s," s a y s Tony A ston in h is " B rie f ap lem en t" in L ow e's e d it io n o f C ib b e r 's A p o lo g y , V o l. 2 , 3 1 4 , " is more rem arkab le f o r th e w i t t y , tho* w ic k e d , inks he p la y 'd , and f o r h is P ro lo g u e s and E p ilo g u e s , than ? A c t i n g ." 215 Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 1 1 4 . Upon h is d l s - ir g e H aines " tem p o ra rily " becam e a member o f th e D u k e's i s e . 216 R obert W . Lowe, A B ib lio g r a p h ic a l Account o f c l l s h T h e a tr ic a l L ite r a t u r e (London: John C. Nlmmo, 1 8 8 8 ), 1 6 7 ." Lowe q u o te s "1 l e a f o f D e d ic a tio n to W illiam Mann, I ., s ig n e d ' Tobyas Thom as'," but In h is own n o te s t a t e s it th e volum e I s a t t r ib u t e d t o Tom Brown. Summers' Lt'lon o f R o sc iu s A n g llc a n u s . h ow ever, s t a t e s w ith o u t 11V o ca t1 on (a s u s u a l) “In Thomas' s l i f e o f J o e H aynes, 2 3 6 rts» ^ ^ 7 ae s o l e g o v ern o r o f th e p la y h o u se s t ip u la t e d th a t in e s m ust f i l l in as s e n a to r w h eth er he l ik e d or n o t . O b v io u sly su ch a r u lin g w ould b e l i k e l y m erely t o Ing out th e p r a c t i c a l Jok in g i n s t i n c t in th e younger to r ; t h i s i t d id , and Joe a s Scaramouche w ith f u l l r u f f , 11 w h is k e r s , M erry-A ndrew 's Cap, sh o r t p ip e In h is m outh, 1 a t h r e e - le g g e d s t o o l In h is hand f o llo w e d th e d i g n i f i e d rt t o th e s t a g e , s e a te d h im s e lf b eh in d th e g r e a t a c t o r on B s t o o l , and began to smoke h is p ip e and p o in t la u g h in g ly him . The e f f e c t t h i s had on th e a u d ie n c e may be e a s i l y sigln ed . T h is " co m ica l f ig u r e put a l l th e h ouse in an ro a r , some la u g h in g , some c la p p in g , and some h o llo w - 5. "218 But H art was alw ays so in t e n t on h is a c t in g th a t id a sc e n e f a l l e n b eh in d him , he w ould n o t a t th a t tim e )k b a ck . . . . " J o e r e a liz e d th a t and to o k f u l l a d van tage I t t o th e . g r e a t g le e o f th e s p e c ta t o r s by c o n tin u in g h is t i c s and sm oking. F or th e p u r p o se s o f t h i s d is s e r t a i o n i t i s w o rth tin g h ere th a t th e word o f th e a u th o r o f th e work from Lch t h e s e r e c e n t q u o ta tio n s have been ta k e n I s th a t o f 2 1 7 Joe was th e n b e in g p a id f i f t y s h i l l i n g s a w eek, ) a r e n t ly J u st o v e r th e s a la r y mark a t w h ich a c t o r s c o u ld c a l l e d on f o r d u ty as e x t r a s when n ee d ed . See L ow e's >mas B e t t e r t o n , p$ 1 1 4 . I b id .. p. 11$. 237 eye w it n e s s , o r a t th e l e a s t th a t o f one who had th e o ry from an ey e w i t n e s s .219 He w r it e s , "Mr. Hart a c t in g , d w on d erin g a t t h i s u n u su a l o c c a s io n o f t h e i r m irth ; som e- mes th in k in g i t some d is tu r b a n c e in th e h o u se , a g a in th a t m igh t be so m eth in g am iss in h is d r e e s . • . H ere, en , i s d ir e c t e v id e n c e th a t su ch d is tu r b a n c e s In th e e a t r e w ere u n u su a l and n o t th e r e g u la r o r d e r o f p ro ced u re many c r i t i c s w ould le a d one t o b e l i e v e . 220 H a r t's g r e a t l s e l e d him to c o n tin u e a c t in g f o r a tim e a f t e r th e n o is e a r te d but so o n , b eca u se o f th e "unusual d is tu r b a n c e ," he 3 I m p e lle d to lo o k b a ck , w here he d is c o v e r e d th e c u l p r i t e and " im m ed ia tely g o es o f f th e s t a g e , sw ea r in g he w ould ler s e t f o o t on I t a g a in , u n le s s Jo was Im m ed ia tely tu rn ed b o f d o o r s , w h ich was no s o o n e r sp oke b u t p u t In p r a c - «221 H a r t's r e p u t a tio n f o r b e in g a " c o n sta n t o b s e r v e r o f ^3-9 The work was p u b lis h e d in 1 7 0 1 . See L ow e's e lio g r a p h ic a l A ccount o f E n g lis h T h e a tr ic a l L i t e r a t u r e , 1 7 1 . 220 N i c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 17; Summers, s t o r a t lo n T h e a tr e , p . 6 9 , Do r a n , T h eir M a je s tie s S e r v a n t s , L. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 2 3 3 » K ru tch , Comedy and C o n scien ce a f t e r L R e s t o r a t io n , p p . 33— 3 4 , e t c . 221 But H a in es w ent h is m erry way a s s c a p e g r a c e , Lng " s i le n c e d " on November 4 , 1 6 7 5 » f o r h a v in g a b u s e d S i r Eiund Windham " w ith 111 and s c a n d a lo u s la n g u a g e , and s o ie n t la n g u a g e ," and a r r e s t e d Ju n e 1 8 , 1677» " f o r : e l t e l n g e . . . a S c u r r i l o u s an d o b sc en e E p ilo g u e ." See ■ ».rkl 1 . R a a i m - n a i T l r&n Dr» Am A . _ P Q lt 2 3 8 ce n c y in m anners"222 d id n ot ex ten d b eyon d th e l i n e o f r a l i t y g e n e r a lly in p r a c t ic e in co u r t c i r c l e s and in g r e a t a su r e in th e t h e a t r e . He i s g iv e n " c r e d it" n ot o n ly fo r tr o d u c ln g N e ll Gwyn to th e s t a g e but a ls o f o r b e in g one o f r e a r ly l o v e r s . 223 John L a cy , t o o , an o ld e r a c t o r th a n r t , was s a id to have been one o f N e l l ' s e a r ly lo v e r s i f t h e r f i r s t one in th e t h e a t r e .224 But N e l l y ' s f i r s t v e r , t r a d i t i o n a l l y , and p ro b a b ly a c t u a l l y , was n o t a man th e t h e a t r e .225 222 B e llc h a m b e r s, o p . c i t . , p . 75* I b id . , p . 7 2 . B ellch a m b ers s t a t e s th a t Hart 3u g h t N e ll to th e s ta g e ab ou t 166?• Lowe, in h is e d i t i o n C ib b e r 's A p o lo g y , V o l. 2 , p . 323» n o t e , c i t e s P e p y s' tr y f o r A p r il 3» 1665» to show th a t N e ll was on th e s ta g e 3n th e n . Pepys* s t a t e s t h a t he and h is w if e and o th e r s I b een to th e D u k e's House t o s e e O r r e r y 's M ustapha, and II t h e p le a s u r e o f th e p la y w as, th e K ing and My Lady s tle m a in e w ere th e r e ; and p r e t t y w i t t y N e l l , a t th e K in g 's xee, and th e Y ounger M a r sh a ll s a t n ex t u s; w hich p le a s e d m i g h t i l y . " T here i s some s u g g e s t io n h e r e p erh ap s th a t 3 was a lr e a d y a c t in g , e s p e c i a l l y in v ie w o f h er b e in g w ith 3 k y M a r sh a ll, b u t no d e f i n i t e e v id e n c e s in c e sh e was s a id have been an o ra n g e g i r l b e fo r e becom ing an a c t r e s s . 224 B e llc h a m b e r s, p . 7 2 , s t a t e s t h a t Hart su c c e e d e d 3y in t h i s c a p a c it y and c i t e s E th e r e g e 's s a t i r i c a l poem D lish ed w ith th e " L ives o f th e Most C e le b r a te d B e a u tie s ," } lis h e d in 1715» a s e v id e n c e . 225 L ew is M e l v i l l e , N e ll Gwyn (New York: G eorge H. ran Company, 1 9 2 4 ) , pp. 37— 4 1 , s u g g e s t s th a t he may have m a c i t y m erchant and th a t h is name may have b een Duncan,; Dongan, o r Durgan but d o u b ts th a t i t was any one o f th e ree. I t w ould b e e a s i l y u n d e r sto o d , o f c o u r s e , th a t N e ll ght n o t have remembered th e name o f h er f i r s t l o v e r - - t h e :a l number was p ro b a b ly r a th e r la r g e . 239 D uring th e f i r s t d e c a d e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d r t and N e ll made t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y w i t h t h e i r a c t i n g g e t h e r . The C le r k o f th e A c ts o f th e Navy saw them d u rin g e C h ristm a s s e a s o n i n 166?» and he e s p e c i a l l y l i k e d t h e i r ad p a r t s . "226 H a rt p la y e d th e comic r o l e o f P h i l i d o r , and LI p la y e d th e com ic fe m a le r o l e o f M ir id a . These p a r t s e , o f c o u r s e , t h e s t a r r i n g r o l e s , and th e two made t h e St o f them.227 P e p y a l i k e d them b o th , b u t he p a r t i c u l a r l y ked N e ll and w ro te o f h e r " i t i s a m ir a c le to me to t h i n k (/ i l l sh e do any s e r i o u s p a r t , . . . an d i n a mad p a r t do Srond a l l i m i t a t i o n a l m o s t. "228 As m e n tio n e d a b o v e , h ow ever. H art a n d N e l l 's names re l i n k e d i n a m ore s u b s t a n t i a l , i f n o t m ore p e rm a n e n t, i th a n t h a t o f t h e i r s ta g e r o l e s . The u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f aor i s shown in P e p y s' e n t r y o f J u l y 1 3 , 1667, when he i t e d t h a t a f r i e n d , Mr. P i e r c e , had t o l d him " t h a t My L ord 5 k h u r s t h a th g o t H e ll away from th e K in g 's H ouse, l i e s 226 P ep y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 750. T his was member 2 8 th , when Pepys saw Jam es H ow ard's A ll M is ta k e n . 227 G en e S t, o p . c i t . , V o l. 4 , p . 1 1 6 . 228 Qjj A ugust 2 2 nd he h ad w r i t t e n " to th e K in g 's ly h o u s e , and t h e r e saw The I n d ia n Em perour; w here I f i n d LI come a g a in , w h ic h I am g l a d o f ; b u t was moat i n f i n i t e l y a p le a s e d w ith h e r b e in g p u t to a c t th e E m p e re u r's i g h t e r ; w h ich i s a g r e a t an d s e r io u s p a r t , w h ich sh e so 3t b a s e l y . " P e p y s , c i t . , V ol. 2, p . 631. 2401 t h h e r , and g iv e s h e r j&lOO a y e a r , so a s sh e h a th s e n t h e r r t s t o th e h o u s e , and w i l l a c t no more.229 A gain on g u s t 2 6 t h , a f t e r h a v in g se en h e r in The In d ia n Em peror on g u s t 2 2n d , he h e a r d m ore g o s s i p t h a t B u c k h u rs t had a l r e a d y f t h e r " t h a t he m akes s p o r t o f h e r , an d sw ea rs sh e h a t h d a l l she c o u ld g e t o f him , and H a r t, h e r g r e a t a d m ire r, w h a t e s h e r . . • ," 2 3 0 E a r l i e r i n th e y e a r H a rt a n d N e ll h ad r a i s e d t h e i r me s t i l l h ig h e r by t h e i r r o l e s o f C elad o n and F lo r i m e l in 5 rden*s The S e c r e t Love o r t h e M aiden Q ueen. 231 The K ing a t h e Duke o f Y ork w ere p r e s e n t a t th e p e rfo rm a n c e , and i . P epys w ro te : I To th e K in g 's House to se e "The Mayden Q ueene," a new| p l a y o f D r y d e n 's , m i g h t i l y commended f o r t h e r e g u l a r i t y , I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p p . 593-594. A n o th e r rum or t h a t Dved u n tr u e , in p a r t a t l e a s t , was t h a t w h ich he r e c o r d e d a e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e above ite m on B u c k h u rs t and N e l l . He L te s , "And y e s t e r d a y S i r Thomas Crew t o l d me t h a t Lacy 38 a - d y in g o f th e p o x , an d y e t h a th h i s w hore by him , whom w i l l have to lo o k o n , he s a y s , th o u g h he can do no m ore; c * w o u ld r e c e i v e any g h o s tl y a d v ic e from a B ish o p , an o ld q u a in ta n c e o f h i s , t h a t w ent to s e e h im ." L acy, o f Jirse, l i v e d f o r m ore th a n f o u r t e e n y e a r s a f t e r to be Lied by L an g b ain e th e s u p e r i o r o f a l l com edians o f h i s 3. 2 3 0 I b i d . , V o l. 2, p p . 6 3 5— 6 3 6 . W h eatley n o te s th e 1 a t t r i b u t e d t o N e ll in w h ic h she l a t e r rem ark ed t h a t H art 3 h e r C h a rle s I , an d th e (K ing) C h a rle s I I was h e r C h a rle s [. B u c k h u rs t, o f c o u r s e , was C h a rle s S a c k v i l l e . 2 3 1 Mr. an d M rs. Pepys saw th e p la y on M arch 2 n d . L d ., V o l. 2, p . 442. 241 o f i t , and th e s t r a i n and th e w i t ; and th e t r u t h i s t h e r e i s a c o m ic a l p a r t done by N e ll , w h ich i s F l o r i m e l , t h a t I n e v e r can hope e v e r to se e t h e l i k e done a g a in , b y man o r woman.232 om t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n of h i s e a r l i e r r e a c t i o n s i t seems r d ly p o s s i b l e t h a t he c o u ld have a p p r e c i a t e d th e p la y r e , an d y e t o n ly t h r e e weeks l a t e r he saw i t a g a in and 3 te t h a t he l i k e d i t even b etter.^^3 When Pepys saw A ll M is ta k e n , o r The Mad C ouple on sem ber 28, 1 667, an I n c id e n t o c c u rr e d t h a t has c e r t a i n g n if ic a n o e i n a s tu d y o f R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r . L lid o r , p la y e d by H a rt, h as a s a r e s u l t o f " h is by b lo w s ," % uired a " l e a s h o f c h i ld r e n " who a r e b r o u g h t upon t h e ige i n th e c o u rs e o f th e p l a y i n th e c h a rg e o f t h r e e r s e s .2 3 4 At t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p e rfo rm a n c e one o f th e c h i l - m e v i d e n t l y became f r i g h t e n e d and b eg a n t o c r y , upon Lch " th e m o th e r . . . by f o r c e g o t upon th e s t a g e , and Pepys a d m ire d N e ll m ost p a r t i c u l a r l y in b o y s ' >thes a s a young g a l l a n t when c e r t a i n p o r t i o n s o f h e r gure w ere b e s t d i s c e r n i b l e , b u t t h e r e can be no d o u b t t h a t a l s o e x p re s s e d g en u in e a d m ir a tio n f o r h e r a c t i n g . The ig was s a id to h av e s u g g e s te d th e p l o t to Dryden a n d t o re c a l l e d i t h i s p la y . See P e t e r Cunningham , The S to r y o f LI Gwyn, Jo h n D rin k w a te r, e d i t o r (London: P r i v a t e l y Lnted f o r th e N a v a rre S o c ie ty , L im ite d , MCMXXVII), p . 42. 2 3 3 T his was on M arch 2 5 th when he was accom panied by }« P e p y s, S i r W illia m and Lady Penn, an d t h e i r d a u g h te r , g, an d h e r h u sb a n d . P e p y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 466. 2 3 4 3ee Summers, R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a t r e > p . 194. 242 ok up h e r c h i ld an d c a r r i e d i t away o f f t h e s ta g e from r t .2 3 5 T h is d i s p l a y o f " n a t u r a l a f f e c t i o n , " sa y s P e p y s, l e a s e d us m i g h t i l y , " and q u i t e a p p a r e n t l y th e "us" e lu d e s th e r e s t o f th e a u d ie n c e . B ut i f th e a u d ie n c e had en o f t h e ty p e so f r e q u e n t l y a t t r i b u t e d to t h e t h e a t r e a t e tim e , th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c re s p o n s e w ould l i k e l y h a v e b een o t s , j e e r s , c a t c a l l s , and m i s s i e s aim ed a t t h e m o th e r and i l d .2 3 6 Such w ere n o t fo rth c o m in g b e c a u s e th e a u d ie n c e ems n o t to have b e e n m e re ly a c o l l e c t i o n o f s e v e n te e n th n tu r y "hoodlum s" from th e c o u r t . A lth o u g h t h e p ro w ess o f H art a s an a c t o r has b e e n e a t l y a t t e s t e d , Truman t e l l s L o v e w it:237 The A c to rs t h a t I have se e n b e f o r e t h e W ars, Low in, T a y le r , P o l l a r d , and some o t h e r s , w ere a lm o st a s f a r b eyond H art and h i s Company, a s th o s e w ere beyond th e s e now i n b e in g . uman made t h i s rem a rk in r e p l y to a s ta te m e n t by L ovew it th e e f f e c t t h a t H a r t, Mohun, Lacy and o t h e r s w ere f a r p e r i o r t o th e a c t o r s on th e s ta g e a t t h e end o f th e a t u r y .2 3 8 These t h r e e w ere f a v o r i t e s o f C h a r le s , a n d on 2 3 5 P ep y s, O P . P i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 2 3 6 See p a r t i c u l a r l y N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . I 6 , 2 3 7 W rig h t, H i s t o r l a H i s t r i o n i o a , op* c i t . , p . XXIV Is d ia lo g u e , i t sh o u ld be rem em bered, was o r i g i n a l l y D lia h e d in 1699 » He d o es n o t e x c e p t B e t t e r t o n a lth o u g h B e t t e r t o n 3 t h e g e n e r a l l y acknow ledged g r e a t œ t a c t o r o f th e tim e 243 e o c c a s io n on s e e i n g b o th H a rt and Mohun i n a p e rfo rm a n c e o b s e rv e d t o h i s c o u r t i e r s t h a t "Mohun, o r Moon, a s he enounced i t , sh o n e , t h a t d a y , l i k e t h e s u n , and H a rt l i k e B moon. "239 U n q u e s tio n a b ly t h e s e p l a y e r s h ad g r e a t pow er Br t h e i r a u d ie n c e . But t h e r e was a t l e a s t one o c c a s io n on w h ich H a r t , rough no f a u l t o f h i s own, n a rro w ly e s c a p e d b e in g h i s s e d f t h e s t a g e . A bout f i v e m onths a f t e r t h e p r o d u c tio n o f Ë . Change o f Crowns w hich c a u s e d s u c h an u p r o a r , th e K ing 3 a g a in a t t e n d i n g th e T h e a tr e R o y a l, t h i s tim e to w itn e s s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f R oger B o y l e 's new p l a y . The B lack P r i n c e , Bn an I n c id e n t o c c u r r e d t h a t , a c c o r d in g t o P ep y s, u n d o u b t- Ly w ould have r e s u l t e d i n an a u d ie n c e d is t u r b a n c e o f 18i d e r a b l e p r o p o r t i o n s had i t n o t b een f o r h is M a j e s t y 's 5 s e n c e . 2 4 0 An i d e a o f th e s i z e o f th e a u d ie n c e may be b h ered from P epys ' s ta te m e n t : Though we come by two o 'c l o c k , y e t t h e r e was no room i n th e p i t , b u t we w ere f o r c e d t o go i n t o one o f th e u p p e r b o x e s , a t 4 s . a p i e c e , w h ich i s th e f i r s t tim e I e v e r s a t i n a box in my l i f e . . . and t h i s p l e a s u r e I 3n t h e n . S in c e t h e s e a r e m a t t e r s o f t a s t e and p e r s o n a l B fe re n c e , how ev er, no s i g n i f i c a n t c o n c lu s io n can be ic h ed from t h i s . See D ry d en ' s P re f a c e t o Don S e b a s tia n IK o f P o r t u g a l . >7. 239 D a v ie s , p p . c i t . , V o l. 3» P* 2 7 8 . 240 Pepyg, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 6 8 6 . O c to b e r 1 8 , h a d , t h a t from t h i s p la c e th e s c e n e s do a p p e a r v e r y f i n e in d e e d , and much b e t t e r th a n in th e p i t . 25-1 i p l a y was e x c e l l e n t , s a i d P e p y s, and The whole h o u se m i g h t i l y p le a s e d w i t h i t a l l a lo n g t i l l to w ard s t h e end he comes t o d i s c o v e r th e c h i e f o f t h e p l o t o f t h e p la y by t h e r e a d in g o f a lo n g l e t t e r , w h ic h was so lo n g and some th in g s ( th e p e o p le b e in g s e t a l r e a d y to t h i n k to o lo n g ) so u n n e c e s s a r y t h a t th e y f r e q u e n t l y begun t o la u g h , a n d to h i s s tw e n ty t i m e s , t h a t , had i t n o t b een f o r th e King * s b e in g t h e r e th e y h a d c e r t a i n l y h i s s e d i t o f f th e s t a g e . 242 y f o u r days l a t e r Pepys saw th e p la y a g a in when th e t e r had been e l im in a te d th r o u g h th e medium o f h a v in g i t n t e d and handed to th e a u d ie n c e a s th e y e n t e r e d . I t i s known, t o o , t h a t a t l e a s t one member o f th e ie n c e had g r e a t i n f l u e n c e w i t h H a r t . In h e r e x te n d e d t o f l o v e r s , t h e Duchess o f C le v e la n d in c lu d e d H a rt whose r t l y b e a r i n g an d " g e n te e l sh ap e" m ust have charm ed, e n t a r i l y , th e i n s a t i a b l e a p p e t i t e s o f t h a t c o u r te s a n . An am using ite m i s t h e e n tr a n c e o f L ord an d Lady k e l e y o f S t r a t t o n i n t o th e box w ith P epys and h i s w i f e , P epys d id n o t lo o k b e h in d him t o b e r e c o g n iz e d an d th u s id e d h a v in g t o g iv e th e Nobleman a n d h i s w ife t h e i r f r o n t t s — one i n s t a n c e in w h ich b o u r g e o is s t r a t e g y m o m e n ta rily rcam e n o b le p o s i t i o n and p r e s t i g e . 242 v e r y lo n g l e t t e r i s i n th e f i f t h a c t and had be r e a d b y H a r t . No d o u b t t h i s was one o f th e e x c e p - n a l l y r a r e t i m e s , i f n o t in d e e d th e o n ly o c c a s io n , on eh H a rt was in any d a n g e r o f b e in g h i s s e d o f f th e s t a g e . 243 I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 6 9 3 . T his was s a t i r i z e d by kingham in The R e h e a rs a l when he had B ayes sa y t h a t he I d i n s i n u a t e t h e p l o t i n t o th e b o x e s . M e lv ille , op. c i t . , p. 184. Among Barbara 245 A p r i l 7» 1668, Pepys met K nipp f o r an " a s s i g n a t i o n " a f t e r I p l a y . The E n g lis h M o n sieu r toy Jam es Howard, and to o k h e r a c o a c h t o " th e P ark " and l a t e r to " th e Lodge" w here he ‘e s,ted h e r ." W hile th e y w ere h a v in g "a deeul o f good ,k," K nipp t o l d him some . . . m ig h ty new s, t h a t my Lady C astlem ay n e i s m ig h t i l y i n lo v e w i t h H art o f t h e i r h o u se : and he i s much w ith h e r in p r i v a t e , and s h e goes to him , and do g iv e him many p r e s e n t s . . . a n d Be eke M a r s h a ll o n ly p r i v y to i t , and t h e m eans of b r i n g i n g them t o g e t h e r . . . and by t h i s means who i s even w i t h th e K in g 's lo v e t o M rs. D a v is .245 l i e r s ' l o v e r s w e re , a c c o r d in g t o th e b e s t evidence,^ Henry myn, a l s o s a i d to have b e e n t h e se co n d husband o f H b n ri- a M a ria , S i r C h a r le s B e r k e le y , John C h u r c h i l l , l a t e r Duke M arlb o ro u g h , W illia m W y ch erley , th e g r e a t p la y w r ig h t, and o r d in g to Andrew M a rv e ll i n h i s " L a st I n s t r u c t i o n s to a n t e r ab o u t th e D utch War, l 6 6 7 ," even one o f h e r own tm en. See Poems and S a t i r e s o f Andrew M a r v e ll, C. A. k e n , e d i t o r (London: L aw rence a n d B u l le n , 1 8 9 2 ), V o l. 2, 2 3 . The l i n e s ru n P a in t C a s tle m a in e i n c o u le u r s w h ich w i l l h o ld H er, n o t h e r p i c t u r e , f o r sh e now grow s o ld . She th ro u g h h e r l a c k e y 's d ra w e rs a s he r a n . D isc e rn e d l o v e 's c a u s e , and a new fla m e b eg an . . . And s t i l l w i t h i n h e r m ind th e fo o tm an ru n s ; H is b ra z e n c a l v e s , h i s braw ny t h i g h s , ( th e f a c e She s l i g h t s ) h i s f e e t sh a p ed f o r a sm o o th er r a c e ! Groodman, o f t h e K in g 's H ouse, a l s o was C le v e l a n d 's l o v e r . 2 4 5 M e l v i l l e , pp. c i t . , p . 184, g i v e s P e p y s' s t a t e - t a n d w r i t e s t h e name H a ll i n s t e a d o f H a r t, th u s c o r r o b - t i n g h i s te s tim o n y t h a t J a c o b H a ll was one o f h e r l o v e r s a r e n t l y , h o w e v e r, Mr. M e l v i l l e d id n o t r e a d W h e a tle y 's t i o n o f Pepys* D ia ry and h i s n o te 4 f o r th e A p r il 7 t h r y . The e n t r y i t s e l f w ould e x p la in th e e r r o r in p r i n t i n g th e e d i t i o n s p r i o r t o W h e a tle y 's th e name o f H a ll f o r t s in c e H a ll was a ro p e d a n c e r n o t an a c t o r , and i f he fo rm ed a t th e K in g 's H ouse, i t w ould be o n ly te m p o r a r i ly r e g u l a r l y a s i n th e c a s e o f H a rt. 246 Among th e g r e a t e s t t r i b u t e s p a i d t o th e p ro w e ss o f »t a s an a c t o r I s t h a t by E lk a n a h S e t t l e in w hich he .t e s : T h is I may m o d e s tly sa y o f him , ( n o r i s . i t my own p a r t i c u l a r O p in io n , b u t t h e Senoe o f a l l M ankind) t h a t th e b e s t T ra g e d ie s on th e E n g lis h S ta g e have r e c e i v e d t h a t l u s t r e from Mr. H a r t 's P e r f o m a n c e , t h a t he h a s l e f t su ch an Im p re s s io n b e h in d him , t h a t no l e s s th a n t h e I n t e r v a l o f Age can make them a p p e a r agen w ith h a l f t h e i r M a je s ty , from any se c o n d Hand. And when he le a v e s t h e S ta g e th e B eign o f T ragedy e x p i r e s . 246 But b e f o r e th e u n io n o f th e t h e a t r e s in 1682, H a rt becom ing o ld an d i l l a s w ere a l l th e l e a d i n g m ale s t a r s t h e K in g 's H ouse, and a s a r e s u l t th e y w ere becom ing l e s s l e s s p o p u l a r . 247 In s p i t e o f th e o p p o s i t i o n o f some b e r s o f th e T h e a tre R o y a l , 248 th e u n io n o c c u rr e d by w hich D uke' s Company was in c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e K in g 's Company, th e com bined g ro u p moved t o th e T h e a tre R oyal in D rury E lkanah S e t t l e in h i s D e d ic a tio n to S ir R obert n o f F a ta l L ove; o r . The F o r e 'd I n c o n s ta n c y , p rod u ced a t T h ea tre R oyal in S ep tem b er, l é 8 0 . C e n e s t, op. p i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 3 7 1 , w r i t e s " In l6 8 2 K in g 's company was much re d u c e d — Lacy and W i n te r s h a l l e d e a d — B u r t— S h a t t e r e l an d M rs. M a rs h a ll seem e i t h e r to e b ee n d e a d , o r t o have r e t i r e d — H art a n d K ynaston had t them . . . t h e i r i l l s u c c e s s i s . . . p l a i n l y p o i n t e d i n th e E p ilo g u e to th e E a r l o f E ssex— i t seems p r o b a b le r e f o r e t h a t i f th e K in g 's company had c o n tin u e d t o a c t by tn s e lv e s , th e y w ould have b e e n d e s e r t e d by th e tow n. . . " 248 B e llc h a m b e r s, o p . c i t ., p . 84, s t a t e s th a t dman jo in e d Mohun in o p p o sin g th e u n io n o f th e co m p a n ies, a f t e r th e y w ere d e fe a te d , Goodman r e tu r n e d in 1685 to y th e h ero in R o c h e s te r 's V a le n t in ia n . 247 A f t e r t h i s H a rt a c t e d no more an d d ie d th e f o llo w - r y e a r . The s t o r y o f th e u n io n i s n o t e s p e c i a l l y f a v o r a b le to 3 memory o f H a r t 's e t h i c a l c h a r a c t e r , b u t t h e r e i s no 3L8on to t h i n k t h a t a "mere a c to r " o f t h a t day s h o u ld d i s - ly h i g h e r m o ra l p r i n c i p l e s th a n th o s e shown by a c t o r s and l e r o r d in a r y p e o p le o f t o d a y . 251 He w as, in h i s a lm o s t : a l l y i n c a p a c i t a t e d c o n d i t i o n , t r y i n g t o t a k e c a r e o f a s e l f i n a w o rld t h a t a t t h a t tim e , a s , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , in l e r s , c o u ld be q u i t e c o l d ly im p e rs o n a l i n i t s a t t i t u d e irard th o s e i t fo u n d no l o n g e r o f any c o n v e n ie n t u se to i t . it h i s c o lle a g u e s a t th e K in g 's House m ig h t s u f f e r a s a m i t o f h i s se ctio n s p o s s i b l y o c c u rre d t o him , b u t D av ies j g e s t s th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a q u a r r e l b etw e en H art and Mohun Tore th e a g re e m e n t— -b etw ee n B e t t e r t o n an d h i s g ro u p and Gene S t , pp . c i t . . . V o l. 1 , p . 371* G enest and lo s t a l l o t h e r w r i t e r s o f R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tre h i s t o r y ;e r C ib b e r have n o te d h i s e r r o r in d a t i n g th e u n io n a s of 54. D a v ie s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 3> p . 2 8 8 , an d Lowe, >mas B e t t e r t o n , p . 128, w ere n o t a b le to d is c o v e r t h e d a te H a r t 's d e a th . H o tso n , o p . c i t . . p . 2 8 1 , h o w ev e r, c i t e s 'c i s s u s L u tt r e l l , A B r i e f H i s t o r i c a l R e l a t i o n o f S t a t e ‘a i r s from S e p te m b e r, 1^78 t o A p r i l , 1714 (O xford: The . v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1857)» V o l. 1 , p . S2, to show t h a t H a rt ;d A ugust 1 8 , 1683» b u t L u tt r e l l ' s D ia ry does n o t g iv e Lt f a c t . C i b b e r 's e s tim a te i s b a s e d , as he s t a t e s , on T 4 4- 4 V I tl T A I â a/4 4 ^ 4 o n \T oT T O C O ^ 248 i r t and K ynaston— s in c e M ohun's name i s n o t i c e a b l y a b s e n t *om th e "memorandum. «252 N e ll Gwyn. Of H a r t 's m ost famous fe m a le c o - s t a r , i l l Gwyn, c o u n t l e s s s t o r i e s an d s e v e r a l b o o k s have b e e n * itte n .2 5 3 Her s u c c e s s w ith h e r a u d ie n c e seems alw a y s to ive b e e n e x c e l l e n t when sh e r e c i t e d p r o lo g u e s o r e p ilo g u e s • p la y e d comic r o l e s , 254 b u t when sh e to o k s e r i o u s o r a g io p a r t s th e r e s u l t s a p p a r e n t l y w ere n o t so g o o d .255 le h e r s e l f r e a l i z e d h e r in a d e q u a c ie s i n s e r i o u s r o l e s a s e e p ilo g u e w h ich she spoke t o S i r R o b e rt H ow ard's Duke o f rma i n d i c a t e s . 256 A lth o u g h Pepys th o u g h t M oll Davis* n c in g i n f i n i t e l y s u p e r i o r t o N e l l 's , sh e h e r s e l f was v e ry ^•^2 D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3» P# 2 7 9 . 2 5 3 Among t h e s e a r e C unningham 's, M e l l v i l l e 's a n d s e n t '8 . 2 5 4 Pepys* e n t r i e s f o r December 8 , I 6 6 6 , J a n u a r y 23 , 6 7 » M arch 2 , 1 6 6 7 , M arch 2 5 , 1667, a l l c o n t a in d e f i n i t e id e n c e to t h a t e f f e c t . 2 5 5 Pepys* e n t r y f o r A ugust 22 , 1 6 6 7 , i s i n d i c a t i o n t h i s . 2 5 6 sbe was w rong i n "k n o w in g ," a s t h e l i n e s s a y . a t th e a u d ie n c e h a t e d s e r i o u s p l a y s , a s w i l l b e shown t e r , b u t e v i d e n t l y she h a te d s e r io u s p a r t s . The l i n e s e: I know you i n y o u r h e a r t s H ate s e r i o u s p l a y s , a s I h a te s e r i o u s p a r t s , e W h e a tle y 's Random House e d i t i o n o f P e p y s ' D ia r y , V o l. 2, 6 3 1 , n o te 3* 249 c c e s s f u l in t h i s c a t e g o r y .257 j n f a c t , N e ll was s a i d t o IVe become fam ous f o r h e r d a n c in g a j i g . 258 A p p a re n tly M rs. Davis* f i g u r e a n d movements c a p t i - ite d C h a rle s I I b e c a u s e on J a n u a r y 1 1 , 1 6 6 8 , Pepys was iform ed t h a t sh e was l e a v in g th e D u k e's p la y h o u s e t o l i v e ; th e hou se th e K ing w anted h e r t o have.259 He was t o l d .so t h a t th e K ing had s e n t f o r N e ll " s e v e r a l t i m e s . «260 ily t h r e e d ay s l a t e r a t t h e i r f r i e n d s , t h e P i e r c e 's , he and •s. Pepys w ere t o l d o f a p r o d u c tio n o f D ry d e n 's The In d ia n ip e ro r a t c o u r t t h e p r e c e d in g n ig h t a t w h ic h Lady C a s t l e - in e was so o u t o f humor a t t h e K in g 's h a v in g M oll f o r h i s 2 5 7 On M arch 7 , 1667, Pepys w ro te " l i t t l e M iss D avis d d an ce a j i g a f t e r th e end o f th e p l a y . . . in b o y 's o t h e s ; and th e t r u t h i s t h e r e i s no co m p a riso n b etw e en 1 1 * s d a n c in g th e o t h e r day a t th e K in g 's House i n b o y 's o th e s and t h i s ; t h i s b e in g i n f i n i t e l y b eyond th e o t h e r . " 2 5 8 See M e l v i l l e , o p . c i t . , p . 77* In h e r r o l e o f r i d a in A ll M is ta k e n , o r A Mad C o u p le , sh e i s made to sa y , :*d have a dan ce i f I h ad n o th in g b u t my smock o n ." 2 5 9 A c t u a l l y , Pepys* in f o rm a n t t o l d him M oll an d N e ll t h w ere "becom ing m i s t r e s s e s o f th e K in g ." I t was j u s t tat M oll seems t o have b een s e t up " i n s t a t e " f i r s t . In 6 8 , o f c o u r s e , N e ll was an " o l d woman" o f s e v e n te e n . Pepys r a t h e r s a n c tim o n io u s ly re m a rk e d t h a t th e ng h ad " s p o i l e d M rs. W eaver," a n o th e r a c t r e s s , "w hich i s r y m ean, m e th in k s , i n a p r i n c e , an d I am s o r r y f o r i t . " . s h o r t , Pepys seem ed to t h i n k su c h a t h i n g b ad f o r a k in g t q u i t e a l l r i g h t f o r h i m s e l f . He " s p o i l e d " l i t t l e M rs. o k e r , when h i s w if e was o u t o f th e c i t y d u r in g th e p l a g u e , O bably b e f o r e sh e was even f o u r t e e n y e a rs o f a g e . See t r y f o r Ju n e 7$ I 6 6 6 , V o l. 2 , p . 214. 2 5 0 w m i s t r e s s t h a t sh e d i d n o t s m ile once d u r in g th e e n t i r e a y . 2 6 1 But l i k e i t o r n o t , Lady C a s tle m a in e was a b l e to n o th in g t o s to p th e r e l a t i o n s betw een t h e new m i s t r e s s d "O ld R o w l e y . "262 s l i g h t l y more th a n a y e a r l a t e r th e n i s e i e n t C le rk o f th e A cts w i t h w ife and f r i e n d s w ere a t e D u k e 's House t o s e e The T e m p e st, "b u t i t i s b u t i l l done G o s n e ll, i n l i e u o f M oll D a v is # "263 But i f H e ll came s l i g h t l y a f t e r M oll to th e K in g , she a a in e d w ith him much l o n g e r . 264 C ib b e r w r i t e s t h a t she is a s V i s i b l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d , by h e r p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n a l î l i n a t i o n t o t h e k in g , a s h e r r i v a l s w ere by t h e i r t i t l e s The I n d ia n E m peror, b e in g a h e r o i c tr a g e d y , ?m ally o f f e r e d few o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s m i lin g , b u t i n t h i s îe t h e Duke and D uchess o f Monmouth, M rs. C o rn w a llis and j o t e r i B o f l a d i e s and g e n tle m e n o f th e c o u r t d id t h e a c t - 5, a n d a l l e x c e p t th e D uchess and M rs. C o rn w a llis ifo rm ed " l i k e f o o l s and s t o c k s , jfsticksj b u t t h a t th e s e ) d i d do m ost e x t r a o r d i n a r y w e l l . " See P ep y s, o p # c i t . , m a r y 1 4 , I 6 6 8 , V o l. 2 , p p . 769-770. 2 6 2 s@g W h e a tle y 's Random House e d i t i o n o f P e p y s, L. 2 , p . 7 7 0 , n o t e . W h eatley s t a t e s t h a t M oll D avis l i v e d S u f f o lk S t r e e t in th e h o u se w here sh e was e s t a b l i s h e d by 3 K ing from 1667 to 1676. A p p a re n tly i t was th e v e r y end 1 6 6 7 b e f o r e sh e became e s t a b l i s h e d t h e r e . 263 J a n u a r y 2 1 , 1669* G o sn e ll had a g re e d to become >man" to M rs. Pepys a few y e a r s e a r l i e r b u t had ch an g ed ’ m ind and h ad gone i n t o t h e t h e a t r e i n s t e a d . 264 The Rev. J . G ra n g e r, B io g r a p h ic a l H is to r y o f el a n d (London: W illia m B aynes an d Son, F i f t h e d i t i o n , Î 4 ) , V o l. 5 , p* 395* H e ll c o n tin u e d a s m i s t r e s s t o th e ig t o th e tim e o f h i s d e a th , w ith a p e c u l i a r l y u n s p o tt e d 5ord o f f i d e l i t y t o him , w h ile as shown above M rs. D avis 251 d g r a n d e u r . "265 She was a l s o c o n s p ic u o u s f o r n o t m e d d lin g a f f a i r s o f s t a t e , f o r w h ich th e p e o p le so h a te d L o u is e de e r o u a l l l e (Madam O a rw e ll, th e y c a l l e d h e r ) , th e D uchess o f rts m o u th and C h a rle s* F re n c h C a th o lic m i s t r e s s who r e p r e - n te d th e i n t e r e s t s o f L o u is XIV a t th e E n g lis h C o u r t . 2 6 6 N o tw ith s ta n d in g G ib b e r 's encomiums a n d h e r own r s o n a l an d s t a g e p o p u l a r i t y w i t h th e p e o p l e , N e ll h ad an r e p r e s B ib le w it an d a p r a c t i c a l Jo k in g i n s t i n c t t h a t a i d a lm o s t e q u a l t h a t o f J o e H aines on o c c a s io n . I f a n g e r 's s t o r y o f h e r t r i c k p la y e d on M o ll D avis i s c r e d i - e, sh e e v i d e n t l y com bined t h e th e o r y t h a t " A l l 's f a i r in r e a n d w ar" w i t h h e r own fe m in in e in g e n u i t y t o d e v i s e a L a rious l y d i a b o l i c a l scheme f o r e l i m i n a t i n g an an n o y in g A p o lo g y . L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 2 , p . 212. C ib b e r v e r y d e c id e d i n h i s o p in io n o f N e ll an d r e f u t e s B u r n e t 's ite m e n t t h a t sh e was th e " i n d i s c r e e t e s t a n d w ild e s t m ature th a t e v e r was in a C o u r t," by w r i t i n g " i f we i s i d e r h e r i n a l l th e D is a d v a n ta g e s o f h e r Rank and i c a t i o n , sh e d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o have h ad any c r im i n a l ?ors more re m a rk a b le th a n h e r S e x 's F r a i l t y t o an sw e r L oc. c i t . An exam ple o f N e l l 's p o p u l a r i t y and ?tsm o u th ' 8 u n p o p u l a r i t y i s shown in th e i n c i d e n t d e s - Lbed by G ra n g e r, l o c . c i t . , i n w hich a mob a t O x fo rd sto o k N e l l 's c o a c h f o r L o u i s e 's coach an d b egan t o i n s u l t r, w hereupon N e ll lo o k e d o u t th e window "and s a i d , w i t h ? u s u a l good hum or. P ra y good p e o p le , b e c i v i l ; I am th e )t es t a n t w h o re. T h is l a c o n i c sp e e c h drew upon h e r th e îs s i n g s o f th e p o p u la c e , who s u f f e r e d h e r t o p ro c e e d :h o u t f u r t h e r m o l e s t a t i o n . " 252 .v a l. 2 6 ? No d oubt th e m ost fam ous b i t o f a u d ie n c e r e s p o n s e re r g a in e d by N e ll Gwyn was t h a t in w h ich sh e i s s a i d to IVe i m i t a t e d th e g r e a t co m ed ian , Jam es N o k es, i n w e a rin g î r t a i n a r t i c l e s o f a p p a r e l w h ic h he u s e d t o g a in much pub- L c i t y . 2 6 8 T h is o c c a s io n was t h a t o f h e r a p p e a r in g t o speak le p ro lo g u e t o P a r t I o f D ry d e n 's The C onquest o f G ranada 1 a m o n stro u s w a i s t - b e l t and a h a t w ith a brim th e s i z e o f 267 O panger, op. c i t . , p . 393» n o t e . The s t o r y lo te d by G e n e s t, V o l. 5> P* 8 8 , and many o t h e r s who, a p p a r- i t l y l i k e Pepys on c e r t a i n o c c a s io n s , e n jo y e d i t w h ile .u c k in g s a n c tim o n io u s ly , i s in d e e d a r a r e o n e . N e l l , on e a rn in g t h a t M oll was to be t h e bed m ate o f t h e K ing on a ï r t a i n e v e n in g , a s k e d h e r t o s u p p e r, and in th e "sw eetm eat" [ m in is te r e d a s i z e a b l e q u a n t i t y o f " J a la p " (a p o w e rfu l i r g a t i v e s e c u r e d from th e tu b e ro u s r o o t o f a p l a n t o r i g i n - .ly fo u n d n e a r th e c i t y o f J a l a p a , M e x ic o ). G ra n g er a t e s , " I t w ould b e to o i n d e l i c a t e t o m e n tio n th e p a r t i cu ir c o n s e q u e n c e s . . . . I t i s s u f f i c i e n t t o h i n t a t t h e .o le n c e o f i t s o p e r a t i o n and t h e d i s a s t r o u s e f f e c t s ; su c h ‘f e c t s a s th e a n c i e n t s w ould have a t t r i b u t e d t o A n te r o s , a L lig n an t d i e t y , t h e avowed enemy o f C u p id ." I t i s t o be lu b te d , o f c o u r s e , t h a t N e l l 's lo v e was u n r e q u i t e d , e x c e p t I so f a r a s C h a rle s w ould be in c a p a b le p h y s i c a l l y o f le tin g th e demands o f so many f e m a le s . 2 6 8 Downes, o p . c i t . , p . 29» t e l l s th e o r i g i n a l s t o r y ‘ Nokes i n h i s p e rfo rm a n c e o f S i r Solomon S in g le , i n May, ,70, a t th e tim e th e E n g lis h c o u r t met H e n r i e t t a , C h a r l e s ' s t e r , and h e r e n to u ra g e from F ran ce a t D over. In h i s r o l e ‘ S i r A rth u r A d d le , Nokes h a d , a t th e b e h e s t o f som ebody, i r i c a t u r e d th e F re n c h m ale d r e s s o f t h e p e r i o d o f "E x c e s- .ve s h o r t L a c 'd C o ats . . . w i t h B road s a s h B e l t s . . . " t h a re m a rk a b le s e n s e o f humor th e E n g lis h p a r t o f th e id ie n c e r o a r e d w i t h l a u g h t e r a t t h i s l i t t l e i n s u l t t o t h e i r t e s t s . Nokes w ore M onm outh's sw ord and k e p t i t t o th e end ' h i s l i f e . 253 c a r t w h e e l .269 N e ll was low i n s t a t u r e , an d th e c o m ic a l f e e t o f th e trem e n d o u s h a t a n d th e g r e a t b e l t m ust have en w o n d e rfu l to e x p e r i e n c e . The London E vening P o st t i d e December 27» 1791, s t a t e s : No s o o n e r d id sh e a p p e a r in t h i s s t r a n g e d r e s s , th a n th e house was i n c o n v u ls io n s . Among t h e r e s t , th e K ing g av e th e f u l l e s t p r o o f o f a p p r o b a tio n o f h e r , by g o in g b e h in d th e s c e n e s im m e d ia te ly a f t e r t h e P la y and t a k i n g h e r home in h i s own co a ch t o su p p e r w i t h h im .270 On May 7» 166 8 , P ep y s, h i s w i f e 's m a id , an d M rs. r n e r , a f r i e n d , saw D evenant ' s p l a y , The Man* a th e M a s te r , th e D u k e's House a f t e r w h ich th e y d ro v e t o t h e K in g 's i s e to p ic k up K nipp. Pepys w ent in f o r h e r , o f c o u r s e , i t h e r e he saw Beck M a rs h a ll come o f f t h e s ta g e 2 6 9 T his p r o d u c tio n was a t t h e T h e a tr e B oyal in oem ber, I 6 7 0 . Downes* s t o r y d o es n o t m e n tio n a b ro a d immed h a t f o r Nokes in h i s r o l e o f S i r A r th u r , b u t an ite m 3m t h e London E v en in g P o s t, December 27» 1791» in c lu d e d as p a r t o f th e a p p e n d ix , p p . 1 7 - 1 8 , i n F . G. W a ld ro n 's e d i - )n o f Downes' R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s , 1789» s t a t e s t h a t "Nokes i a p p e a re d in a h a t l a r g e r th a n P i s t o l ' s , w hich p l e a s e d 5 a u d ie n c e so much a s t o h e l p o f f a b a d p la y m e re ly by th e Tect o f i t . " T h ere i s no i n d i c a t i o n o f th e d a te o r th e ne o f th e p l a y . 2 7 0 Cunningham , in h i s The S to ry o f N e ll Gwyn. p . 74, sites t h a t A lm ahide in The C on q u est o f G ran ad a was N e l l 's 3t r o l e , and. s t a t e s i n a n o t e , p . 74 , M rs. Gwyn o r Quyn 3 a p p e a re d on th e s ta g e w h ile N e lly was s t i l l a l i v e was a f f e r e n t p e r s o n , b u t D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3» PP* 4 1 4 - 3 , w r i t e s t h a t " N e ll Gwin i n . . . S o u t h e r n 's The p s ia n P r in c e r e p r e s e n t e d a p r i n c i p a l c h a r a c t e r . " Of i r s e , N e l l 's f i r s t c h i l d , t h e l a t e r Duke o f S t . A lb a n s , i b e e n b o rn a t t h e v e ry tim e th e K in g 's p a r t y was on i t s Y t o Dover to m eet h i s s i s t e r . May 8 , 1 6 ? 0 . In f a c t , inine-ham s t a t e s t h a t th e p r o d u c tio n o f The C onquest o f 254 . . • and lo o k s m ig h ty f i n e an d p r e t t y , an d n o b le : a n d a l s o N e ll , in th e b o y 's c l o t h e s , m ig h ty p r e t t y . B u t, Lord! t h e i r c o n f id e n c e ! and how many men do h o v e r a b o u t them a s th e y come o f f th e s t a g e , and how c o n f id e n t t h e y a r e in t h e i r t a l k . k i s s e d th e p r e t t y newcomer t o th e K in g 's T h e a tre c a l l e d egg" who, he said, was Sir C h a rle s S e d l e y 's mistress.271 om t h e r e th e y w ent t o Knipp* s house w ith B a n n i s t e r , t h e a g in g m a s te r , an d J o e H a in e s , th e com edian, and o t h e r s , e re B a n n is te r ta u g h t Knipp t h e song i n S e d le y 's new p la y p h e r . The M u lb e rry G ard en , c a l l e d , "Ah, C l o r i s t h a t I now a id s i t ."272 Here can b e se e n a n o t h e r exam ple o f a u d ie n c e b e h a v - r , a f t e r a p e rfo rm a n c e , w h ic h c e r t a i n l y does n o t seem i s u a l o r r e m a r k a b le . S e v e r a l m id d le c l a s s members o f an l i e n e e banded t o g e t h e r w ith c e r t a i n members o f th e a c t i n g 3up f o r a few h o u rs a f t e r th e show an d e n t e r t a i n e d th em - Lves w i t h s i n g i n g , r e f r e s h m e n t s , an d no d o u b t d a n c i n g . 273 f o r th e men who "h o v e re d a b o u t" t h e s e " c o n f id e n t" s t a g e 2 7 1 W h e a tle y , in Pepys* D ia r y . V o l. 2 , p . 866, n o te , i b t s t h a t t h i s was M a rg a re t H ughes. I f Summers, R o s c iu s g l i c a n u s . p . 9 3 , i s c o r r e c t M rs. Hughes was p o s s i b l y th e r a t p r o f e s s i o n a l "woman" a c t r e s s . 272 M rs. P epys had b e e n a t h e r f a t h e r - i n - l a w 's a t ampton s in c e a b o u t A p r il 3 r d . See Pepys ' e n t r y f o r A p r i l i . V o l. 2, p . 842. 27 3 T h is i s no a tte m p t t o m in im ize t h e r e l a t i o n s a.t p r o b a b ly e x i s t e d betw een Pepys and K nipp. O nly th e ght b e f o r e a t th e P i e r c e 's he h ad "fo u n d h e r on a p a l l e t 255 l i e s , th e y w ere th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y c o u n t e r p a r t s o f B n tie th c e n tu r y " s ta g e d o o r J o h n n ie s " — a n d some w ere 5 c e a s f u l in t h e i r a d d r e s s e s , and some w ere n o t, even a s lay.274 N e l l 's b e a u ty an d charm n o t o n ly r a i s e d h e r t o a 3d-r o y a l" b u t a l s o b ro u g h t a b o u t a t l e a s t one f i g h t t h a t . D m t h e e v id e n c e , c a u se d th e d e a th o f h e r d e t r a c t o r . 275 bhough t h e r e i s no d i r e c t i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h i s d i s p u t e L g in a te d i n a t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e , i t was s a i d t o have i n - Lved s e v e r a l p l a y e r s . Lady Chaw orth i n a l e t t e r t o h e r D th er, Lord R oos, a t B e lv o ir C a s t l e , w r o te : o f th e K [ i n g '^ s e r v a n t s h a t h k i l l e d Mr. H ues, P eg H u e's b r o t h e r , s e r v a n t t o P /r in o e / R o b e rt /R upertJ upon a d i s p u t e w h e th e r M iss N e lly o r sh e was th e handsom er now a t Windsor.276 24 The r e l a t i v e s i z e o f th e a u d ie n c e s and th e ; g r e a t - numb e r o f g a l l a n t s known b y t h e a c t r e s s e s th e n to b e from a i l l e s o f w e a lth and p o s i t i o n p ro b a b ly gave a g r e a t e r ? c e n ta g e o f s u c c e s s t o th o s e o f th e s e v e n te e n th th a n to )se o f th e t w e n t i e t h c e n tu r y , 2 7 5 The e v id e n c e i s from th e R u tla n d MSS. I I , 17 , ) te d in Summers* e d i t i o n o f R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s . p . 87- 2 7 6 The l e t t e r was w r i t t e n Ju n e 2 0 , I 6 7 0 . A y e a r and l a l f e a r l i e r on J a n u a r y 7 , I 6 6 9 , N e ll h a d a t t r a c t e d th e M ention o f Pepys and many o t h e r s , no d o u b t, when sh e h e r - Lf was a member o f th e a u d ie n c e a t a p e rfo rm a n c e o f The Land P r in c e s s e b y Beaumont a n d F l e t c h e r . Pepys w ro te in 3 J o u r n a l : "We s a t in an u p p e r b o x , and t h e Jade N e ll ae and s a t in t h e n e x t box; a b o ld m e rry s l u t , who l a y ig h in g t h e r e upon p e o p le ; an d w ith a com rade o f h e r s of 3 D u k e 's House t h a t come t o s e e th e p l a y . " 2 5 6 n o e , a p p a r e n t l y t h e r e i s no f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s e a t r i c a l e p is o d e , how ever, t h e r e may b e some d o u b t a s t o 8 a u t h e n t i o i t y .2 7 7 But t h e r e can be no d o u b t t h a t N e l l 's l i e n e e w h e th e r b e f o r e o r b e h in d t h e c u r t a i n had h e r t e r e s t s a t h e a r t . Jo h n L ac y . H is M a je s ty , C h a rle s I I , was n o t alw ay s p l e a s e d a s a member o f th e a u d ie n c e in a p u b l i c t h e a t r e he was a t t h a t p e rfo rm a n c e b y N e lly i n w h ich sh e sp o k e 8 p r o lo g u e in a b i g h a t a n d b ro a d w a is t b e l t . In f a c t , on Q e o c c a s io n s he seems to have b een h a rd p u t t o i t n o t t o )p t h e p la y by s t a l k i n g o u t o f th e t h e a t r e i n a h u f f . One s ta n c e in p a r t i c u l a r was t h a t a t th e p la y by Ned Howard Lied The Change o f Crowns i n w h ich Jo h n L acy " d id a c t th e in tr y - g e n tle m a n come up to C o u rt, who do a b u se th e C o u rt kh a l l im a g in a b le w it an d p l a i n n e s s a b o u t s e l l i n g o f i c e s , and d o in g e v e r y th in g f o r m o n e y . 278 Pepys* own l o t i o n was t h a t th e p la y was " th e b e s t t h a t e v e r I saw a t It h o u s e , b e in g a g r e a t p l a y and s e r i o u s . . . . " Even 27 The g r e a t e r number o f s t o r i e s on th e s e t h e a t r i - L m a t t e r s have a way o f c r o p p in g up tim e a f t e r tim e i n 3 l i t e r a t u r e , b u t t h e r e seem s t o be no f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e t h i s f i g h t n o r to th e p l a y e r who was s a i d to have b een L ied. P ep y s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 489. T his was on ? i l 1 5 , 1667* The p la y was n o t p u b l i s h e d . See Summers, 257 r e im p o rta n t i s t h e s ta te m e n t "The p la y to o k v e r y oh. «279 Pepys h im s e lf l i k e d t h e p la y so much t h a t he u ld n o t r e f r a i n from w r i t i n g a s th e l a s t p h r a s e o f t h a t y 's e n t r y " m i g h tily p l e a s e d w ith t h e new p l a y ." B ut th e r o y a l r e a c t i o n d id n o t c o i n c i d e , a c c o r d in g to p y s, w ith t h a t o f th e g r e a t e r p o r t i o n o f th e a u d ie n c e in i t e o f th e f a c t t h a t i t m ust have b ee n com posed, on t h i s ca s io n a t l e a s t , m a in ly o f c o u r t i e r s . In f a c t , on t h e llo w in g d ay , when Pepys and h i s w ife h u r r i e d t o s e e th e w p l a y he h ad s e e n th e day b e f o r e , th e y fo u n d n o t t h e new ay b u t a p r o d u c tio n o f Ben J o n s o n 's o ld r e l i a b l e . The l e n t W o m a n . 2 80 Even th o u g h th e b i l l h a d b ee n changed pys and w ife e n t e r e d , n a t u r a l l y , w here th e y m et K nipp and r c e r ' s M rs. P e p y s * m aid f r i e n d , M rs. H o rs le y . K nipp Id them t h a t . . . th e K ing was so a n g ry a t t h e l i b e r t y ta k e n by L a c y 's p a r t t o a b u se him t o h i s f a c e , t h a t he commanded t h e y s h o u ld a c t no m ore, t i l l Moon [Mohui^ w ent a n d g o t l e a v e f o r them to a c t a g a i n , b u t n o t t h i s p la y . The K ing m ig h ty a n g r y ; and i t was b i t t e r in d e e d , b u t v e r y 279 P ep y s, 0 0 . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 4 8 9 . The t h e a t r e g so crow ded t h a t Pepys was " f o r c e d t o s t a n d a l l t h e l i e c l o s e to t h e v e r y d o o r t i l l I to o k c o l d , and many Dple went away f o r w ant o f ro o m ." The K ing and Q ueen, s Duke and D uchess o f Y ork, S i r W illiam C o v e n try "and a l l 3 C o u rt" w ere t h e r e . I b id ., p . 4 9 0 . This was A p ril I 6 , l667* 2 5 8 t r u e and witty.281 The e p is o d e does n o t en d h e r e , ho w ev er, and f o u r days t e r t h e r e s u l t s o f H is M a j e s t y 's d is a p p r o v a l o f b e in g is e d t o h i s f a c e became e v i d e n t . 282 on t h a t day Pepys 1 h i s w ife w ent t o th e K in g 's H ouse, w h ere no p la y was b e d ,283 «and so b e in g i n th e humour t o s e e o n e "284 th e y i t i n u e d to th e Duke * s House w here th e y saw The W itts g a i n , w h ich l i k e s me b e t t e r th a n i t d id th e o th e r d a y , rin g much w it in i t . " T here he met Mr. R o lt2 8 5 who t o l d a t h e re a s o n t h e r e was no p l a y a t th e K in g 's House. The ► ry b r i e f l y was t h a t Lacy h a d b een co m m itted t o th e ‘t e r ' s lo d g e f o r h i s c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n i n t h e l a t e p l a y , \ r e l e a s e d , and upon h i s r e t u r n to th e K in g 's House was i g r a t u l a t e d by Howard f o r h i s r e l e a s e . Whereupon L acy •sed him and t o l d him i t was th e f a u l t o f h is " n o n s e n s ic a l 281 The s p i r i t o f dem ocracy even t h e n was a p p a r e n t l y v e and w e ll ; t h e c o u r t i e r s , in s p i t e o f t h e i r own s h o r t - [in g s , r e c o g n iz e d th e f a u l t s o f t h e i r K ing and h i s adm ini- 'a t i o n and e n jo y e d s e e in g them th u s p u b l i c l y la m b a s te d . 282 I b i d . , p. 492. A p r i l 20, 1667- 283 B ecau se o f t h e r e c e n t 'd i s t u r b a n c e c r e a t e d b y r a r d 's p la y . 284 The humor o f t h i s p h r a s e s h o u ld be r a t h e r o b v i- I, P epys b e in g , u n d o u b te d ly , one o f t h e m ost a v id p l a y - srs o f any c e n tu r y . 285 L a te r "C o rn e t" u n d e r C o lo n el I n g o ls b y . See >va. on- c i t . . V o l. 2 . n . 587. J u l y 6 . 1 667. 259 ay t h a t was th e c a u se o f h i s i l l - u s a g e . " Howard r e p l i e d some u n s t a t e d m anner to t h i s , and Lacy th e n t o l d him "he 3 m ore a f o o l th a n a p o e t . " Howard s la p p e d Lacy w ith h i s Dve a c r o s s t h e f a c e , and L acy r e t u r n e d t h e blow w ith h i s ae to H ow ard's h e a d . 286 «Here H o lt an d o t h e r s t h a t d i s - a r s e d o f i t i n th e p i t t h i s a f te r n o o n d id wonder t h a t v a rd d id n o t ru n him th r o u g h , he b e in g to o mean a f e l l o w f i g h t w i t h ." I n s t e a d , Howard c o m p lain ed t o Charries who s a t i s f y h i s n o b le c o m p la in a n t b o th r e a r r e s t e d L a c y 2 8 ? 1 c l o s e d th e t h e a t r e , " th e g e n t r y seem t o r e j o i c e much a t , t h e house b e in g become to o i n s o l e n t ." 2 8 8 Today one m ig h t w onder why th e a c t o r , who a s f a r a s A lth o u g h t h e s p i r i t o f dem ocracy was a l i v e , th e i s t e " system was e x c e e d in g ly s t r o n g i n t h a t d ay , an d f o r f a c t o r , even a s fam ous a s L acy , to c u r s e an d s t r i k e a aber o f an im p o r ta n t n o b le f a m i l y , even th o u g h t h a t member ?e n o t h im s e lf t i t l e d , was an a lm o st u n th in k a b le p i e c e o f r r o n te r y t h a t c o u ld c o n c e iv a b ly l e a d t o d i r e r e s u l t s . 287 A lth o u g h th e p la y i s l i s t e d u n d e r Edward H ow ard's le , th e H o n o rab le Jam es Howard i s m e n tio n e d i n t h e u?ant f o r L a c y 's r e a r r e s t w h ich s t a t e s , " % e r e a s Jo h n )y h a t h b o th i n a b u s iv e w ords and a c t i o n s ab u sed t h e lo b le Jam es Howard Esq^ T hese a r e t o r e q u i r e you to ta k e ;o C u sto d y th e s a i d Jo h n L acy and s a f e l y /keepe d e l e te C / d e l i v e r i n t o t h e C ustody o f th e M a r s h a ll o f t h e M a rs h a l- r [ d e le te d ] K n ig h t M arsh al o f th e D eputy . . . Apr i l l 20^ >7*" See Hi c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, A ppendix A, p . 2 8 7 , :e 4 . - 288 ^ i i e t h i s l a s t s ta te m e n t c o n c e iv a b ly c o u ld r e f e r a u d ie n c e a s w e l l a s p l a y e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y in v iew o f ï i r e v id e n t en jo y m en t o f w hat so ir k e d C h a r le s , th e p r o b - lltv 1A "hhat it referred mainlv to the ola.va. See Lowe. 2 6 0 known spoke no m ore th a n was s e t down f o r him , s h o u ld r e b e e n a r r e s t e d i n t h e f i r s t p la c e i n s t e a d o f t h e a u t h o r . 3 a n s w e r, o f c o u r s e , l i e s i n th e r e l a t i v e s t a t u s o f th e D men. Lacy b e i n g , as Pepys p u t i t , “to o mean a f e l l o w Dr Howard to f i g h t w ith , " was a l s o , i n s p i t e o f h i s popu r i t y w ith t h e a u d ie n c e a s an a c t o r , to o mean a f e l l o w to r e h i s r i g h t s c o n s id e r e d when th e y op p o sed t h e p r i v i l e g e one o f th e n o b le H ow ards.289 N o n e th e le s s , C h a r le s , "an l e n i a b l e Jud g e i n B ram atick A rts " was so fo n d o f L acy and 3 a c t i n g g e n e r a l l y t h a t . . . he c a u s 'd h is P ic t u r e to be draw n, in th r e e s e v e r a l F ig u r e s . . . That o f Teague in th e C om m ittee, Mr. S c r u o le in The C h e a ts, and M. G a illa r d , in The V a r ie t y : w h ich p ie c e i s s t i l l in b e in g a t W indsor- C a s t l e .2 9 0 B ut th e K ing was n o t a lo n e among t h e a u d ie n c e i n h i s D re e la tio n o f L a c y 's a b i l i t y . A c c o rd in g t o a r e c o g n iz e d L tic o f th e a g e , he was . . . a com edian whose A b i l i t i e s i n A c tio n w ere s u f f i c i e n t l y known to a l l t h a t f r e q u e n te d t h e K in g 's T h e a tr e , w here he was f o r many y e a r s a n A c to r , and p e r f o r m 'd a l l P a r t s t h a t he u n d e rto o k t o a m i r a c l e : insom uch t h a t I am a p t t o b e l i e v e , t h a t a s t h i s Age n e v e r h ad , so th e n e x t n e v e r w i l l have h i s E q u a l, a t 2^9 Had Ned H ow ard's p e r s o n a l u n p o p u l a r i t y n o t b een g r e a t , se e a b o v e , p . 184, an d L a c y 's a c t i n g p o p u l a r i t y a i l a r l y g r e a t , he m ig h t w e ll have r e c e i v e d a term o f r e r e p u n is h m e n t. 290 L a n g b a in e , F i r s t e d i t i o n , I 6 9 I , P* 317* 261 l e a s t n o t h i s S u p e r io r . 291 'en th e s e d a te Mr. E velyn a t t e s t s th e a u d ie n c e a t t r a c t i o n Lacy as e a r l y a s November, 1662, when he w r i t e s " a t .g h t , saw a c t e d The C o m m ittee, a r i d i c u l o u s p la y o f S i r R. w a r d , w here th e m im ic L ac y , a c t e d th e I r i s h footm an t o m i r a t i o n . **292 V ery p ro b a b ly a good p o r t i o n o f th e g r e a t Lcoess o f The R e h e a rs a l was due t o th e a c t i n g o f Lacy who d th e s t a r r i n g r o l e o f B a y e s .293 E l i z a b e t h B a r r y . When E l i z a b e t h B a rry p e rfo rm e d f o r r a u d ie n c e s th e r e s u l t s m ust have b een i n s p i r i n g . B e t t e r - n i s supposed t o have s a i d o f h e r , and q u i t e p ro b a b ly d id , a t "sh e o f t e n e x e r t e d h e r s e l f so g r e a t l y i n a p i t i f u l a r a c t e r , t h a t her a c t i n g h as g iv e n s u c c e s s t o p la y s w h ich Loc* c i t . L an g b a in e a l s o la u d s Lacy f o r h i s i t i c a l and c r e a t i v e a b i l i t i e s , r a t h e r u n u s u a l f o r him , b u t , w i t h h i s d e t e c t i v e 's i n s t i n c t , ca n n o t r e s i s t th e tem p- t i o n t o w r i t e " i f h i s [ L s -c y '^ Comedies a r e somewhat l i e d t o F re n c h F a r c e , ' t i s o u t o f c h o ic e , r a t h e r th a n want A b i l i t y t o w r i t e t r u e Comedy." 2 9 2 The D ia ry o f Jo h n E v e ly n , o p . c i t . . V o l. 2 , p . 7* T his was on th e 2 7 th . He had s p e n t th e day v ie w in g e r e c e p t i o n o f t h e R u s sia n A m bassador a n d h i s c o t e r i e and onounced i t a l l "a v e r y m a g n if ic e n t s h o w ." 293 G e n e st, op . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 1 1 4 , s t a t e s t h a t ckingham " to o k i n c r e d i b l e p a i n s in t e a c h i n g Lacy t o sp e a k me p a s s a g e s in t h e p a r t o f B a y e s ," th e b u r le s q u e o f 262 l i d d i s g u s t th e m ost p a t i e n t r e a d e r * "294 M rs. B a rr y , a s a > teg ee o f Lady D avenant ,295 was f a m i l i a r w i t h th e t h e a t r e D m an e a r l y a g e , and a l th o u g h a t f i r s t sh e seem ed n o t to a d a p ta b l e to th e s t a g e , w ith s u f f i c i e n t t r a i n i n g b y : e r e s t e d p e rs o n s ^ ^ o gbe becam e th e g r e a t e s t o f a l l R e s to - ^ion a c t r e s s e s a n d , in d e e d , one o f th e fam ous s ta g e ly e r s o f a l l tim e . P e rh a p s sh e im b ib ed some o f h e r s a tn e s s from t h a t o f B e t t e r t o n , i f Tony A sto n i s c o r r e c t s t a t i n g t h a t "They w ere b o t h n e v e r b e t t e r p l e a s 'd th a n in lying* t o g e t h e r . "297 When s h e gave t h e s e l i n e s i n h e r r o l e ^ G ild o n , L i f e o f Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 16. T h is , c o u r s e , i s l i t t l e more th a n a p a r a p h r a s e o f R y m er's îomium on H a rt. See ab o v e , p . 234. 295 D a v ie s , p p . c i t . , V o l. 3 , p . 207 e t s e q . Lady r e n a n t, whom D av ie s c a l l s an " a c q u a in ta n c e " o f S i r W illiam r e n a n t , i s s a i d t o have g iv e n E l i z a b e t h a g e n t e e l e d u c a - >n an d th u s a t r a i n i n g in p o l i t e s o c i e t y t h a t gave h e r 5 " e a s e and g r a c e " o f p e rs o n and b e h a v io r f o r w h ich she Ï so n o te d . D oran, o p . p i t , . . V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 139» i t es t h a t S i r W illia m D avenant to o k th e g i r l i n t o h i s ise an d t r a i n e d h e r f o r th e s t a g e . 2 9 6 See Tony A s to n 's " B r ie f S upplem ent" in C i b b e r 's > logy, L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 2 , p . 313. I t was s a i d t h a t C h e ste r, whose m i s t r e s s sh e was f o r lo n g , tr a d n e d h e r in ?ly p a r t s — h a v in g h e r go o v e r l i n e s many, many tim e s in 1er to a c q u ir e t h e p r o p e r i n f l e c t i o n . A sto n * s s ta te m e n t it sh e c o u ld n e i t h e r s in g n o r dan ce seem s s l i g h t l y ?ange in view o f h e r g e n t e e l u p b r in g in g . B e llc h a m b e rs , . c i t . , p . 1 7 4 , d o u b ts t h a t R o c h e s te r made "su c h a d e e p e r - 5 e x e r t i o n , " a s th e above w o u ld i n d i c a t e . I b i d . , p . 3 0 2 . Beyond a d o u b t M rs. B a rry was ] a b e a u t i f u l woman, b u t , a s i s r e c o g n iz e d by c a p a b le 263 M ônim la, "To h e a r h e r . • « was a c h a rm ." I'm h e r e , who c a l l s me? M ethought I h e a rd a V o ice Sweet a s t h e S hepherd p ip e s upon t h e M ountain, When a l l h i s l i t t l e F l o c k 's a t f e e d b e f o r e him ?29o Her fame r e a l l y seems t o have begun w ith th e p ro d u o - on o f O tw ay's A lo ib ia d e s i n 1675*299 i n t h i s p la y " h e r r i t was su c h , a s n o t o n ly to e x c i t e t h e p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n , t command th e a u t h o r 's p r a i s e . . . ."300 A lth o u g h Otway s th e v ic tim o f " u n r e q u ite d lo v e " f o r M rs. B a rry , he ►ntinued to s u p p ly h e r w ith s t a r r i n g r o l e s f o r h e r a c t i n g ► i l i t i e s .301 Thomas S o u th e r n s ' s The F a t a l M a rria g e : o r >r s u c c e s s . A sto n d e s c r ib e s h e r as "n o t handsom e, h e r lu th o p 'n in g m ost on th e R ig h t S id e , w h ic h she s tr o v e t o aw t ' o t h e r Way, and a t T im es, com posing h e r F ace , a s i f t t i n g to have h e r P i c t u r e draw n. M rs. B a rry was m id d le - ■zed, and had d a r k i s h H a ir , l i g h t E y es, d a r k E yebrow s, and .a i n d i f f e r e n t l y p lu m p :— Her F ace somewhat p re c e d e d h e r t i o n , as th e l a t t e r d id h e r Words . . . M rs. B a rry h ad a n n e r o f d raw in g o u t h e r W ords, w hich becam e h e r . . . . " ^ Thomas Otway, C om plete Works > M ontague Summers, i t o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 1 9 2 6 ), V o l. 2 , p . 226. e O rp h a n , Act V. 299 P ro d u c ed a t D o rs e t G arden in S eptem ber o f t h a t a r . Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 94. 3GG B e llc h a m b e rs , o£. c i t , , p . 173* T his p r a i s e was sto w e d on h e r in th e p r e f a c e t o t h e p l a y . 301 U n q u e s tio n a b ly sh e i s b e s t rem em bered f o r h e r o r o l e s , M onimia a n d B e l v i d e r a , in O tw ay 's p l a y s . The p h a n , and V enice P r e s e r v 'd . Her e f f e c t on t h e a u d ie n c e en sh e spoke t h e l i n e , "Ah, P o o r G a s t a l i o , " in Act V of e O rphan i s m e n tio n e d b elo w . See p . 3 7 7 . 264 e In n o c e n t A d u lte r y a l s o was s a i d t o h av e " p ro c u re d h e r i v e r s a l d i s t i n c t i o n " th r o u g h h e r p o r t r a y a l o f t h e r o l e o f e h e r o i n e , I s a b e l l a . ^^2 Downes in fo rm s u s o f h e r a u d ie n c e pow er when he i t e s o f h e r p e rfo rm a n c e i n The O rphan: A ll th e P a r t s b e in g A d m irab le d o n e , e s p e c i a l l y t h e P a r t o f M onim ia: T h is and B e lv id e r a i n V enice P r e s e r 'd , o r A P lo t D i s c o v e r 'd : t o g e t h e r w ith I s a b e l l a , in th e F a t a l M a rria g e : These t h r e e P a r t s , g a i n 'd h e r th e Name o f Famous M rs. B a rry , b o t h a t C ourt a n d C ity ; f o r when e v e r She A cte d any o f t h o s e t h r e e P a r t s , sh e f o r c 'd T e a rs from t h e Eyes o f h e r A u d ito r y , e s p e c i a l l v th o s e who have any S en se o f P i t y f o r th e D i s t r e s s ' t .303 at t h i s was more th a n a "m ild com m endation," can b e shown Downes' n e x t s ta te m e n t: "T hese 3 P la y s , by t h e i r E x c e l- i t p e r fo rm a n c e s , to o k above a l l th e Modern P la y s t h a t D ceeded. " In b r i e f , w ith O tw a y 's and S o u th e r n e 's w r i t i n g i B e t t e r t o n 's a n d B a r r y 's a c t i n g , th e p r o d u c e r s h ad an s u r p a s s e d c o m b in a tio n to a t t r a c t an d h o ld a u d i e n c e s .3 0 4 M rs. B a rry h e ld h e r a u d ie n c e by e n t e r i n g " in to h e r 302 p ro d u c e d a t D rury Lane in F e b r u a r y , 1694. See am ers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 114. c i t . , p p . 3 7 -3 8 . Lowe, Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p 2, rem a rk s t h a t t h i s i s " a f t e r a l l , c o m p a r a tiv e ly m ild amenda t i o n . " 304 G ild o n , L if e o f Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 39» h a s t t e r t o n sa y o f M rs. B a rry t h a t " h e r A c tio n i s alw ay s 3 t, an d p r o d u c 'd n a t u r a l l y by th e S e n tim e n ts o f th e P a r t Lch sh e a c t s . . . . " 265 r t " an d by b e in g " th e p e r s o n she r e p r e s e n t s ."305 sh e came so much th e p e rs o n sh e p o r t r a y e d t h a t B e t t e r t o n , and c o u r s e th e a u d ie n c e , c o u ld d i s c e r n a change o f " c o u n te - nce" a s th e c o n v e r s a tio n and a c t i o n o f o t h e r s on t h e s ta g e f e c t e d h e r in t h e p a r t sh e was a c t i n g . H ere, th e n , was t u r a l n e s s an d r e a l is m in a c t i n g , q u a l i t i e s t h a t have n o t en p u b l i c i z e d a s i n t e g r a l e le m e n ts of R e s t o r a t i o n t i n g . 306 A cco rd in g t o Doran t h e r e was a n o t h e r l i n e t h a t corn- re d i n a u d ie n c e e f f e c t w ith th e "Ah! P o o r G a s ta lio " o f n im ia in The O r p h a n . 307 T h is l i n e o c c u r s i n The Unhappy y o r i t e , o r The E a r l o f E s s e x , in w h ich M rs. B a rry p la y e d e p a r t o f Queen E l i z a b e t h "and t h a t w ith su c h e f f e c t t h a t was c u r r e n t l y s a i d , th e p e o p le o f h e r d a y knew m ore o f sen E l i z a b e t h from h e r im p e rs o n a tio n o f t h e c h a r a c t e r th a n sy d i d from h i s t o r y . 308 The l i n e in i t s e l f i s o f l i t t l e 305 I b i d . , p . 40. 306 The S p e c t a t o r , number 40. Here Â ddlson L te s , " U n n a tu ra l e x c la m a tio n s , c u r s e s , v o w s, b la s p h e m ie s , i e f i a n c e o f m an k in d , and an o u tr a g in g o f th e g o d s, f r e - s n t l y p a s s upon t h e a u d ie n c e f o r to w e r in g th o u g h ts and re a c c o r d in g ly m et w ith i n f i n i t e a p p l a u s e . " S in c e th e g s io n a te p a r t s o f a tr a g e d y a r e "alw ays t h e m ost t a k i n g bh an a u d i e n c e ," t h e p l a y e r s o f t e n p ro n o u n c e " in A l l th e D lence o f A c tio n . . . ." P o w e ll, he s t a t e s , h as o f t e n Lsed " h im s e lf a lo u d c la p b y t h i s a r t i f i c e . " 3G7 D oran, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 144. QrtQ — _ n . . ^ _ _ j A. _______n a ______ 2 6 6 ►naequence, b u t th e u t t e r a n c e w h ich B a rry gave "What mean ^ g r i e v i n g s u b j e c t s ? " a p p a r e n t l y was so p ro fo u n d i n i t s ‘f e e t t h a t i t b ro u g h t f o r t h "murmurs o f a p p r o b a tio n w hich r e lie d i n t o th u n d e r s o f a p p l a u s e . "3^9 The p h r a s in g o f lis s ta te m e n t s t r o n g l y s u g g e s ts t h a t th e a u d ie n c e was so Lgrossed i n th e r e a l i s t i c p o r t r a y a l b e in g g iv e n by M rs. ir ry t h a t o n ly g r a d u a l l y d id i t become aw are t h a t i t was .t n e s s i n g a p e rfo rm a n c e on th e s t a g e . 310 T h e ir enjoym ent ’ t h i s su p e rb a r t i s t r y m ust have b een c o m p le te . The g r e a t Jo h n D ryden, to w ard s t h e end o f h i s l i f e , ve h e r a com plim ent w hich i n d i c a t e d t h a t sh e was d e s e r v - L g o f any h a l l o f fame f o r a c t r e s s e s o f a l l tim e . In h i s 'oved, o f c o u r s e , b u t i t i s w o rth n o tin g a s an id e a o f t h e g n i f i o a n c e o f th e s ta g e a t t h a t tim e th r o u g h i t s i n f l u e n c e I t h e a u d ie n c e . 3 0 9 Mary o f Modena showed h e r own a d m ira tio n f o r th e w ers o f M rs. B a r r y by " b e s to w in g on" h e r th e w edding e s s t h a t Mary h a d worn t o become th e b r i d e o f Ja m es, Duke Y o rk , and t h e m a n tle sh e h a d w orn a t h e r c o r o n a t io n , n o e , t h i s p a r t i c u l a r o c c a s io n was q u i t e e v i d e n t l y a v i v a l o f Jo h n Banks* p la y som etim e b e tw e e n 1685 and 1689 n ee t h e p la y was o r i g i n a l l y p ro d u c e d in t h e autumn o f I 6 8I D ru ry L ane. See N ic o l l . R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 3 5 2 . 3 1 0 L a n g f e ld , P u f f e r , a n d Dolman h av e p u b lis h e d t h e i r e a s o f " a e s t h e t i c d is t a n c e " and "em pathy" some c e n t u r i e s t e r M rs. B a r r y 's a c t i n g c a r e e r was f i n i s h e d , b u t i t i s u b t f u l t h a t D o lm an 's id e a o f th e d e s t r u c t i o n o f a e s t h e t i c s t a n c e by o v e r-e m p a th y w ould have b ee n o f th e s l i g h t e s t n c e rn t o t h i s R e s to ra .tio n a u d ie n c e , a s i t l o s t i t s own e n t i t y t o become a p a r t o f th e r e a l is m i t was w a tc h in g . 2 6 7 ?e fa ce t o C le o m e n e s ,3 H he w ro te : I can s c a r c e l y r e f r a i n from g iv in g e v e ry one o f th e A c to r s t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r com m endations; b u t none o f them w i l l be o f fe n d e d , i f I sa y what th e Town had g e n e r a l l y g r a n t e d . That M rs. B a rr y , alw ays E x c e l l e n t , h a s , in t h i s T ragedy, e x c e l l 'd H e r s e l f , and g a i n 'd a R e p u ta tio n beyond any Woman whom I h av e e v e r se e n on th e T h ea tr e.312 ib b e r ech o es and e x te n d s D ry d e n 's p r a i s e o f th e a c t r e s s by ly in g t h a t he rem em bers p e r f e c t l y h e r a c t i n g th e p a r t o f is s a n d r a and " w i l l v e n tu r e t o add t h a t (th o ' Dryden h a s îen d e a d th e s e T h i r t y - E i g h t Y ea rs) th e same Compliment to lis H our may b e due t o h e r E x c e lle n c e . "313 The a p p a re n t i n a b i l i t y o f M rs. B a rr y i n h e r e a r l y îa rs to i n f l e c t h e r v o ic e p r o p e r l y d i d n o t p r e v e n t h e r ►coming th e m ost e f f e c t i v e a c t r e s s i n t r a g i c r o l e s w ith th e 311 A tr a g e d y p ro d u c e d a t D rury L an e , A p r i l , l6 9 2 . le Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 6 0 . 312 John D ryden, The D ra m atic W orks, M ontague m m ers, e d i t o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 1 9 3 2 ), V o l. 6, 3 0 0 . A few l i n e s a f t e r , he w r i t e s , " to g r a t i f i e t h e urbarous P a r ty o f my A u d ie n c e , I gave them a s h o r t R a b b ie - ene . . . They may th a n k me, i f th e y p l e a s e , f o r t h i s id u lg e n ce ; f o r no F re n c h P o et w ould have a l l o w 'd them any r e th a n a b a r e R e la t io n o f t h a t S cene, w h ich d e b a s e s a ‘ a g e d y to show upon th e S ta g e ." The l a t t e r s e n te n c e makes r a t h e r c l e a r w hat th e f i r s t r a t h e r s t a r t l i n g one m eans, lat i s , t h a t some t a s t e s a r e more r o b u s t th a n o t h e r s and L U S a p p r e c i a t e th e more p h y s i c a l l y v ig o r o u s e le m e n ts o f ‘ ama. 3 1 3 G ib b e r, L ow e's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 158. He n o te s . r t h e r t h a t M rs. B a rry was th e n "n o t a l i t t l e p a s t h e r u t h " and o b s e rv e s t h a t " th e s h o r t L if e o f B eau ty i s n o t ng enough to form a co m p lete A c t r e s s ." G ib b er d i d n o t ;ree t h a t h e r r o l e o f C a ssa n d ra i n Cleom enes was h e r 2 6 8 ► atoratlon a u d i e n c e . 314 More th a n t h a t sh e w as, a c c o r d in g ► A s to n , a l e r t , e a s y , and g e n t e e l in comedy " p le a s a n t in ?r F ace and A c tio n , f i l l i n g th e S ta g e w i t h V a r ie ty o f >sture."^^3 Any d i s c u s s i o n o f E l i z a b e t h B a r r y 's a u d ie n c e e f f e c - .v en ess can n o t b e r e a l l y c o m p le te w ith o u t some c o n s id e r a - on o f h e r m o ra l r e p u t a t i o n . W hile H e ll Gwyn was in h e r r l y l i f e o p e n ly p r o f l i g a t e , in s p i t e o f h e r r e p o r t e d t o r t t o Becke M a r s h a l l , 316 ghe a c h ie v e d fam e m a in ly a s a m e d ia n . E l i z a b e t h B a rry , on th e o t h e r h a n d , had a l s o a r y u n sa v o ry r e p u t a t i o n , b u t s t a r r e d l a r g e l y in th e sym pa- e t i c r o l e s o f s e r i o u s drama.317 B e t t e r t o n , o r G ild o n , v e s i t a s a c o n s id e r e d o p in io n t h a t . . . to h e a r V i r t u e , R e lig i o n , H onour recommended by a P r o s t i t u t e , and A t h e i s t , o r a H ake, makes them a J e s t D oran, op. c i t . , V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 145* M rs. u n d e rs o n , who becam e M rs. B e t t e r t o n , was p e rh a p s p r e - r r e d o v e r a l l o t h e r s in th e r o l e o f Lady M acbeth. 315 «A B r i e f S upplem ent" to C o lle y C ib b e r ' s L i v e s , L ow e's e d i t i o n o f C i b b e r 's A pology, V o l. 2 , p . 303* 3 1 6 M ell was s a i d to h av e r e p l i e d t o Becke M a r s h a l l 's u n t t h a t sh e was a w hore, w i t h th e fam ous b i t o f v e r s e , am th e m i s t r e s s o f b u t one man, th o u g h I was b ro u g h t up a b r o t h e l to f i l l s tr o n g w a te r to th e g u e s t s , w h ile you e a w hore t o t h r e e o r f o u r , th o u g h a p r a y in g P r e s b y t e r 's u g h t e r . See D oran, op. c i t . , V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 74. 3 1 7 B e l v i d e r a , M onim ia, Queen E l i z a b e t h , C a s s a n d ra , c . 269 t o many p e o p le , who w ould h e a r th e same done w ith Awe by p e r s o n s o f known R e p u ta tio n in th o s e P a r t i c u l a r s .318 A p p a re n tly , t h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n d id n o t a f f e c t t h e •awing power o f M rs. B a rry in t h e l e a s t b e c a u s e in s p i t e o f im erous u n co m p lim e n tary a l l u s i o n s to h e r l a c k o f m o r a ls , le c o n tin u e d to h o ld b o th th e J u d ic io u s an d i n j u d i c i o u s • i t i o s i n h e r p o w e r . 320 T h ere i s e v id e n c e to show r a t h e r .e a r l y t h a t sh e was th e m i s t r e s s o f R o c h e s te r , and f o r a .me o f E th e re g e and t h a t sh e d is d a in e d h e r * * t r u e l o v e r , w a y , 3 2 1 t h a t sh e was “t h e co m p lete w h o re , “ th e m ercenary p r o s t i t u t i n g dame“ t h a t sh e i s c a l l e d in “A S a ty r I th e P l a y e r s , ” i s n o t e n t i r e l y shown i n th e m ost r e l i a b l e 318 The L if e o f Thomas B e t t e r t o n , p . 1 9 . He m t i n u e s , “th e S ta g e may p r o p e r l y be e ste e m e d th e Handmaid ' t h e P u l p i t . " 3 1 9 A C om parison B etw een t h e Two S t a g e s , W ells* e d i on, p . 13; se e a l s o "A S a ty r on t h e P l a y e r s , " i n Summers* L itio n o f R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s , p p . 5 5 - 5 9 j and R o b ert C ould*s ’he P la y h o u se — a S a t y r ," op . c i t . . V ol. 2 , p . 259. 3 2 0 gee D o ran , op . c i t . , V ol. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 1 4 2 . In >ite o f th e c o n c u rre n c e o f Summers, t h e r e i s some r e a s o n to lubt h e r u t t e r p r o g lig a c y . B r u t a l a t t a c k s su c h a s t h o s e in h e P la y -h o u s e — a S a ty r ;" Tom Brown * s Amusements S e r io u s A C o m ic a l, p . 33; A C om parison Betw een th e Two S t a g e s , p . , a r e f a c t i t i o u s ite m s w h ic h th e w r i t e r s w ish to p a s s as c t u a l and w h ich s u b se q u e n t w r i t e r s have q u o te d a s t r u e th o u t h a v in g any r e a l e v id e n c e o f t h e i r t r u t h o r f a l s i t y , r a n e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f t h i s , se e Lowe * s e d i t i o n o f b b e r * s A pology, V o l. 1 , p . 1 7 0 , n o te 1 , e t se q . See Otway, The C om plete Works , Summers* e d i t i o n , 1 . 1 , p . XIV. r i t l n g s . 3 2 2 W hatever a c t u a l l y may h av e been h e r p r i v a t e l i f e , and id .o u b tcd ly i t was none to o e irc u in s p e c t even f o r th e tim e s , l e g a in e d and h e l d th e a d m ir a tio n and a t t e n t i o n o f h e r id ie n c e a s none o t h e r th a n B e t t e r t o n h im s e lf o f th e ag e m id d o . 3 2 3 was " in C o n s id e r a tio n o f t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y > plause t h a t had f o llo w e d h e r P e rfo rm a n c e ," t h a t she 3c e iv e d i n th e tim e o f Jam es I I th e f i r s t " b e n e f i t " f o r a Layer, and n o t u n t i l a f t e r t h e d i v i s i o n in 1695 d id any »her a c t o r have o n e . 3^^ 3 2 2 L o c. c i t . M ontague Summers, who may have b e e n , 1 s p i t e o f h i s c h u r c h ly v e s tm e n ts , an a u t h o r i t y on su c h i t t e r s , s t a t e s t h a t "Mrs. B a rr y . . . I im a g in e . . . was le p e r f e c t W hore." O ldys ( o r C u r l l ) in The H is to r y o f th e i g l i s h S ta g e , 1 7 4 1 , p p . 1 3 -2 3 , s t a t e s h e r c o n n e c tio n w i t h > c h e s te r, b u t d w e lls m a in ly on h e r a b i l i t i e s a s an a c t r e s s . >ran, who g iv e s an e x tre m e ly e f f e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r o f h e r , L * P i t * » V ol. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 1 3 8 , e t s e q . , s t a t e s t h a t t h e r e îre "two c l a s s e s o f men who made e p ig ra m s , o r c a u se d o t h e r s ) make them a g a i n s t h e r , n am ely , th e a d o r e r s on whom sh e >ased to s m ile , an d th o s e on whom she r e f u s e d t o s m ile a t .1 ." T h is may v e r y w e ll e x p l a i n th e a t t i t u d e o f some • i t e r s to w a rd s h e r . I t m ust b e ack n o w led g ed , h ow ever, t h a t •dys, q u o te d by Summers i n h i s e d i t i o n o f Otway* s W orks, ► 1. 1 , p . LXIV, seems to be c o r r e c t in h i s s ta te m e n t îg a rd in g Otway * s l e t t e r s o f a n g u is h e d lo v e t o B a rr y . He •o te ," S h e c o u ld g e t b a s t a r d s w ith o th e r men, and *tw as a in d e r f u l c o n d e s c e n tio n in h e r to l e t Otway k i s s h e r l i p s , 10 he was a s a im a b le in p e r s o n an d a d d r e s s a s any o f th em ." 3 2 3 D oran, q p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . 1 4 5 , s t a t e s r ith th e a u d ie n c e sh e was n e v e r f o r a moment o u t o f Lvour, a f t e r sh e h ad made h e r m e r it a p p a r e n t ." 3^^ I b i d . , p . 148. In th e tim e o f C h a rle s I I , an ito r * s b e n e f i t p e rfo rm a n c e h a d n e v e r b e e n h e a rd o f . L a t e r 2 7 1 Anne B r a c e g i r d l e . Toward th e end o f th e s e v e n te e n th sn tu ry a new t h e a t r i c a l s t a r a p p e a re d i n th e firm am en t and lone b r i l l i a n t l y o v e r th e l a s t y e a rs o f t h a t a n d th e f i r s t îa rs o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y . Her name wa.s Anne B ra o e - . r d l e , an d i n s p i t e o f c e r t a i n s a t i r i c a l a l l u s i o n s t o h e r > retended" v i r t u e and " a c t u a l " w ic k e d n e ss she r e t a i n e d h e r d ie n c e o f a d m ire rs and w ould be l o v e r s a n d h e r m o r a lly m a c u la te r e p u t a t i o n to th e l a s t . 3^5 C ib b e r s t a t e s o f h e r ir ly m a t u r i t y on th e s ta g e : Her R e p u ta tio n a s an A c tr e s s g r a d u a l l y r i s i n g w i t h t h a t o f h e r P e rso n ; n e v e r an y Woman was in su ch g e n e r a l F a v o u r o f h e r S p e c t a t o r s , w hich to th e l a s t Scene of h e r D ram atick L i f e , sh e m a i n t a i n ’d by n o t b e in g u n g u a rd e d i n h e r p r i v a t e C h a r a c t e r .326 Her two c h i e f r o l e s seem t o have b e e n th o s e o f a t i r a i n L e e ’ s A le x a n d e r th e G r e a t, an d M illam an t i n in g a d m itte d to t h e chance o f h a v in g them made u p , by th e • o f i t s o f a b e n e f i t p la y . . . th e y became a t l a s t th e lie f a r t i c l e i n e v e ry a c t o r ’ s a g re e m e n t." C ib b e r, Lowe’ s i t l o n . V o l. 2 , p . 67 . 3 2 5 See Lowe’ s e d i t i o n o f C ib b e r ’ s A p o lo g y , V o l. 1 , 1 7 0 . In f a c t , i t was G ib b e r ’ s s t a t e d o p in io n t h a t h e r s c r e t i o n c o n t r i b u t e d " n o t a l i t t l e " to h e r becom ing th e ►arling o f th e T h e a tr e . " 3 2 6 B e llc h a m b e rs , qp . c i t . , p . 1 8 5 , n o te , s t a t e s t h a t r s . B r a c e g ir d le was d e c id e d ly n o t ’u n g u a rd e d ’ in h e r n d u c t , f o r th o u g h th e o b je c t o f g e n e r a l s u s p i c io n , no o o f o f p o s i t i v e u n c h a s t i t y was e v e r b ro u g h t a g a i n s t h e r . " w e ’ 8 r e f u t a t i o n o f t h i s rem a rk i s r e a s o n a b le an d e f f e c - v e . See n o te 1 , p . 170, o f h i s e d i t i o n o f C ib b e r ’ s c l q g y . 2 7 2 •n g re v e ’ s The Way o f th e W o rld , b u t sh e was c o n s id e r e d [ c e l l e n t in many o t h e r s . 327 one o f h e r m ost a r d e n t a d m lr- ?e, who even c la im e d h e r f o r a d i s t a n t r e l a t i v e , 328 w ro te la t sh e n e v e r made an " E x it b u t t h a t she l e f t th e A udience 1 an i m i t a t i o n o f h e r p l e a s a n t C o u n te n a n c e ."329 L ik e i r r y , i n some r e s p e c t s , she was so good an a c t r e s s a n d so î a u t i f u l a woman t h a t she i n s p i r e d p o e t s to w r i t e f o r ïr .3 3 0 D avies s a y s t h a t t h e s e d r a m a t i s t s w ere p r e s e n t i n g l e i r own lo v e s t o h e r i n t h e r o l e s o f t h e i r h e ro e s who p a id m age to h e r on t h e s t a g e .331 3 2 7 Among t h e s e w ere A ra m in ta in The Old B a c h e lo r , n t h i a i n The D ouble D e a le r , and A n g e lic a i n Love f o r L o v e, 1 b y C ongreve, B e lin d a i n The P ro v o k *d W ife , and F l i p p a n t a L The C o n fe d e ra c y , b o th by V anbrugh. I b i d . , V ol. 1 , p . '5. ~ 3 2 8 Tony A sto n , o p . c i t . , p . 304. He s t a t e s t h a t h i s rn o p in io n was t h a t o f h i s f a t h e r ’ s , t h a t i s , t h a t Anne • a c e g ir d le "Came o u t o f S t a f f o r d s h i r e " and t h a t "sh e was a .8 t a n t r e l a t i o n . " 3 2 9 I b i d . , p . 305* A sto n d e s c r i b e s h e r a s " o f a v e l y H e ig h t, w i t h d a rk -b ro w n H a ir an d E y e-b ro w s, b l a c k > a rk lin g E y es, an d a f r e s h b lu s h y co m p lex io n ♦ . . h a v in g n t i n u a l l y a c h e a r f u l A s p e c t, and a f i n e S e t o f even w h ite le th . . . . " 3 3 0 Of t h e s e Congreve was m ost fam o u s, b u t N ic h o la s we, a d r a m a tis t o f some n o t e , a l s o w ro te f o r h e r . 3 3 1 D a v ie s, op. c i t . , V o l. 3 , P* 3 6 0 . In p a r t i c u l a r w r i t e s t h a t Rowe c o u r te d h e r S elim a i n th e p e rs o n o f a l i a in T am erlane ; ajid to h e r Semant he he was Telem achus L U ly s s e s ! C ongreve was s a i d t o have made lo v e t o h e r L g elica in th e r o l e o f V a le n tin e in Love f o r L ove: an d was m in t o h e r A lm e ria in The M ourning B r i d e , an d , o f c o u r s e , 8 M ira b el t o h er M illam ant in The Way o f th e W orld. tr-l o a 4:H rm cr'h t: "hlnAt: M l n o t : fftT * n m m o v A d f n o m “ h V ie 273 Tony A ston s t a t e s t h a t "G e n te e l Comedy was h e r c h i e f is a y , and t h a t , t o o , when i n M en 's C lo a th s , i n w hich she ir su rm o u n ted A ll t h e A c tr e s s e s o f t h a t a n d t h i s A ge."3 3 2 sr s t y l e o f a c t i n g , a c c o r d in g to C u r l l , f o r su c h p a r t s a s la t o f M illam an t w here t h e r e m ust be a c e r t a i n amount o f * f e c t a t i o n , was " u n a f f e c t e d l y a f f e c t e d . "333 in s h o r t , h e r s tin g e v i d e n t l y a p p e a re d " p u r e l y n a t u r a l , a s th e g e n u in e ‘f s p r i n g o f th e t h i n g s you e x p r e s s , and th e P a s s io n w h ic h >ves you to sp eak in t h a t m a n n e r ."334 Such s ta te m e n ts a s t h e s e f o m f u r t h e r v a lu a b le >mmentary on th e a c t i n g and t h e a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r o f t h e î r i o d . M rs. B r a c e g i r d l e , M rs. B a rry , B e t t e r t o n , H a rt and >yond a l l q u e s tio n H e ll Gwyn g a in e d an d h e ld th e r a p t i t e n t i o n o f R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e s in l i t e r a l l y th o u s a n d s ' p e rfo rm a n c e s by t h e i r e x c e l l e n c e in a c t i n g . 335 332 Qp^ c i t . , p . 305* He c o n tin u e s by w r i t i n g "She .8 f i n e l y sh a p e d , and had v e r y handsome Legs and F e e t . " 333 H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e ( C u r l l o r O ldys ipposed a u t h o r ) , p . 75 » He s t a t e s " t h a t v e r y A f f e c t a t i o n Lst b e u n a f f e c t e d , a s th o s e two P a r t s , M e la n th a in i r r i a g e A la-M ode by Dryden an d M illam an t in The Way o f th e r i d b y Congreve w ere a d m ira b ly p e rfo rm e d by M rs. Mount f o r t id M rs. B r a c e g i r d l e ." 33^ Loo, c i t . 335 L oc. c i t . I t i s p e r h a p s n e c e s s a r y t o r e c o g n iz e 10 many o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r r a n t and bom bast i n a c t i n g th e ir o ic t r a g e d i e s . b u t a s C u r l l p o i n t s o u t . "even th e n t h a t 274 But w ith a l l h e r t a l e n t t h e r e came a tim e when, ïc o rd in g to a s t o r y q u o te d by Lowe, Anne B r a c e g ir d le c o u ld > lo n g e r h o ld h e r p re e m in e n t p o s i t i o n i n t h e r o l e s sh e made ünous.3 3 6 Anne O l d f i e l d was s a i d to have b ee n p r e f e r r e d to ïr in th e p a r t o f M rs. B r i t t l e in th e Amorous Widow. 337 le a p p e a re d f i n a l l y a t t h e b e n e f i t p e rfo rm a n c e f o r B e t t e r - in i n 1 7 0 9 .3 3 8 T here i s a b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e s t o r y t h a t in c lu d e s Anne • a c e g ir d le and t h e t h r e e o t h e r f a v o r i t e a c t r e s s e s o f t h e îr io d a s th e y t h r i l l e d an a u d ie n c e d u r in g th e l a t e r y e a r s ‘ t h e R e s t o r a t i o n . The p l a y was C o n g rev e’ s The Old c h e l o r , and th e t h r e e o t h e r a c t r e s s e s w ere M rs. B a r r y , ;ry A f f e c t a t i o n m ust be u n a f f e c t e d . . . . " That i s , th e id ie n c e m ust f e e l t h a t th e m anner i s g e n u in e and c o n g e n ia l > t h e c h a r a c t e r p o r t r a y e d . Lowe’ s e d i t i o n o f C ib b e r ’s A p o lo g y , V o l. 1 , p p . '4 -1 7 5 . 337 T h is p l a y was w r i t t e n by Thom8.8 B e t t e r t o n and was .r s t p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s c a . I 6 7 0 . I t was ib li s h e d by G ild o n i n th e volum e w ith h i s L if e o f Thomas î t t e r t o n , 1710. 338 on A p r il 7 t h i n C o n g re v e ’ s Love f o r v e , t h e p la y w i t h w h ich th e y had o pened t h e i r new t h e a t r e ime f o u r t e e n y e a r s e a r l i e r . See D a v ie s, qjq. c i t . , V o l. :I, p . 3 6 5 . W hile D oran, V o l. 1 , p a r t 1 , p . I 5Ô, and h e r s w r i t e o f h e r l i v i n g " to p a s s th e l i m i t o f f o u r s c o r e , " le was s a i d t o h av e b e e n l e s s th a n s i x y e a r s o ld when she L S a page t o M rs. B a rry in O tw ay’ s The O rp h a n , p ro d u c e d in 80. S in c e sh e d i e d in 1 7 4 8 , t h e e r r o r i n c a l c u l a t i o n i s iv io u s; a t m o st, w ith th o s e d a te l i m i t a t i o n s , she c o u ld 275 ?a» Mount f o r t ( l a t e r M rs. V erb ru g g en ) an d M rs. Bowman.339 16 w hole c a s t was In d eed a b r i l l i a n t o n e . When a t th e end * t h e p la y t h e f o u r women a p p e a re d t o g e t h e r , th e a u d ie n c e IS so s t r u c k by t h e i r b e a u ty and b r i l l i a n c e t h a t i t b ro k e ito sp o n ta n e o u s a p p l a u s e . 340 S n a il w o n d er, th e n , t h a t " I t IS ev en a F a s h io n among th e Gay, and Young, to have a T a ste ' T endre f o r M rs. B r a c e g i r d l e . "341 P erh ap s th e s t r o n g e s t s u p p o rt f o r t h e th e o ry t h a t th e id ie n c e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d was n o t th e c o l l e c t i o n See H i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 2 9 » C o n g re v e ’ s . r s t comedy. The O ld B a c h e lo r , was p ro d u c e d a t D rury Lane L J a n u a r y , 1693* I t , to o , h ad a phenom enal "ru n o f o v e r > urteen n i g h t s . " The m ale c h a r a c t e r s in c lu d e d B e t t e r t o n in le t i t l e r o l e , P o w e ll as B e lla m o u r, W illia m s a s V a in lo v e , id D o g g e tt a s F o n d le w ife . 340 Summers p r e s e n t s t h e p o i n t made by Gosse t h a t »s. B a rr y , who p la y e d L e t i t i a F o n d le w ife , d id n o t a p p e a r in le l a s t s c e n e , " b u t i f we r e p l a c e M rs. B a r r y by M rs. L e ig h , le q u a r t e t i s a g a in c o m p le te ." Summers, how ever, i n h i s î s t o r a t i o n T h e a t r e , p . 181, s t a t e s t h a t M rs. B a rry m e re ly a p p e a r e d t o sp e a k th e e p ilo g u e and th u s a p p e a re d in th e l a r t e t t e . See a l s o D a v ie s, op. c i t . . V o l. 3» P* 417. 3&1 C ib b e r, Lowe’ s e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 172. M rs. • a c e g ir d le i s s a i d t o have r e t i r e d in F e b r u a r y , 1707; M rs. ir r y , a t t h e end o f th e n e x t s e a s o n , t h a t i s , ab o u t J u n e , 08. M rs. B a rry seems n o t t o have b e e n en g ag ed in 1709- 1 0 . I b i d . , V o l. 2 , p . 70. C u r l l , H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h ;a g e , p . 127* s t a t e s t h a t she "was o b lig e d to q u i t t h e age above se v en y e a r s b e f o r e sh e d ie d . . . T his u ld have m eant t h a t she r e t i r e d in 1 7 0 6 , s in c e sh e d i e d L November 1713 * w h ich h as a l r e a d y b e e n shown to be in a c - i r a t e . 2 7 6 ' s a v a g e s and b a r b a r i a n s who h e l d a c o n t i n u a l w ar d an ce ir in g a l l th e p e rfo rm a n c e s i s G ib b e r’ s own s ta te m e n t co n - >rning th e number o f fam ous a c t o r s and a c t r e s s e s t h a t .o u r is h e d a t t h a t tim e . He w r i t e s : I f , i n my A ccount o f t h e s e m em orable A c to r s , I have n o t d e v i a te d from T ru th , w h ich , i n t h e l e a s t A r t i c l e , I am n o t c o n s c io u s o f , may we n o t v e n t u r e t o s a y . They had n o t t h e i r e q u a ls , a t any one Time, upon any T h e a tre In E urope . . . I c o n te n d . . . That no o t h e r S ta g e a t a n y .o n e P e r io d , c o u ld shew t h i r t e e n A c to r s , s ta n d in g a l l i n e q u a l L ig h ts o f E x c e lle n c e i n t h e i r P r o f e s s io n . . . b e c a u s e no o t h e r T h e a tre h a v in g so e x te n d e d a V a r i e t y o f n a t u r a l C h a r a c te r s a s th e E n g lis h , can have a Demand f o r A c to rs o f su c h v a r io u s C a p a c i t i e s . . . .342 b b e r ’ 8 p o i n t w ould b e w e l l me.de even i f he named fe w e r an h a l f th e t h i r t e e n he had in m ind, b u t when i t i s r e a l - ed t h a t t h a t t h i r t e e n does n o t in c lu d e t h e fam ous, a n d me th o u g h t th e g r e a t e s t a c t o r s o f th e p e r i o d . H a r t, Mohun, n r y H a r r i s , N e ll Qwyn, and o t h e r s , i t can b e se e n t h a t th e a i s r e a l l y a lm o s t u n iq u e i n t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y . C ib b e r ’s coup de g r a c e on t h i s s u b j e c t , how ever, i s ^ C ib b e r, Lowe’ s e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p p . 1 7 5 -1 7 6 . I t n o t e x a c t l y c l e a r t o w hat t h i r t e e n he i s r e f e r r i n g h e r e noe he h a s j u s t f i n i s h e d d i s c u s s i n g i n g r e a t e r o r l e s s t a i l some n i n e t e e n o r tw e n ty , i f M rs. L e ig h be i n c lu d e d , e su m ab ly , h o w ev er, th e t h i r t e e n w ould in c lu d e i n a d d i t i o n t h e i n e v i t a b l e B e t t e r t o n , B a r r y , and B r a c e g i r d l e , t h e t o r s S a n d fo rd , H okes, U n d e r h i l l , A nthony L e ig h , M o u n tf o r t, n a s to n , and a c t r e s s e s M rs. B e t t e r t o n , M rs. M o u n tfo rt a t e r V erbruggen) and p o s s i b l y M rs. L e ig h and M rs. B u t l e r , me o f th e s e w ere famous b o th b e f o r e and a f t e r th e u n io n th e s ta g e s in 1 6 8 2 , b u t t h e l i s t can b e p o in te d o u t a s n t a i n i n g th o s e s t a r s o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e p e r i o d . 277 a t in w hich he s t a t e s t h a t he hopes h i s co p io u s a c c o u n t o f e a c t o r s and a c t r e s s e s o f th e R e s to r a ti o n may t o some g re e show w hat t a l e n t s a r e n e c e s s a r y in ordei^ to make t o r s in g e n e r a l v a l u a b l e . And i f t h a t may anyways in fo rm o r a s s i s t th e judgm ent o f f u t u r e S p e c t a t o r s , i t may a s o f t e n be o f s e r v i c e to t h e i r p u b lic k E n te r ta in m e n ts ; f o r a s t h e i r H e a re rs a r e , so w i l l a c t o r s b e ; w o rs e , o r b e t t e r , a s t h e f a l s e o r o r t r u e T a s te A pplauds o r discommends th e m .3^3 Q T talics m inej] u s , im m e d ia te ly a f t e r h a v in g p o in te d w i t h p a n e g y r ic s to e a c t o r s and a c t r e s s e s o f t h a t p e r io d a s b e in g u n p a r a i l e d i n t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y , he s t a t e s t h a t th e a u d ie n c e te rm in e s th e q u a l i t y o f th e a c t i n g by i t s a p p la u s e o r n s u r e . The c o n c lu s io n i s f a i r l y o b v io u s; i n th e o p in io n one o f th e m ost a b le men344 o f th e t h e a t r e o f a l l tim e 343 C ib b e r, Lowe’s e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p . 176. 3 ^ C ib b e r ’ s c la im to t h e a t r i c a l fame can s c a r c e l y d i s p u t e d . He was th e a u t h o r o f tw e n ty -s e v e n p la y s s lu d in g co m ed ie s, t r a g e d i e s , m asques, com ic and b a l l a d e ra s and one p a s t o r a l . At l e a s t f o u r o f t h e s e w ere q u i t e s c e s s f u l . Love Makes a Man, She Wbu’d an d She Wou’ d N o t, Ë . C a r e le s s H usband, and w i t h , o r a f t e r , S i r John V anbrugh 1 Provoked H usband. As he h im s e lf p u t i t , A p o lo g y , v e ’ s e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 4 , he " p a s s ’d above F o rty Y ears b is L i f e upon a T h e a tr e ," e n d in g t h a t p h a se o f i t in 73» D uring t h a t tim e he was e v e r y th in g from th e l e a s t g n i f i c a n t boy a c t o r to th e m ost im p o rta n t p ro d u c e r and a r e r . In s p i t e o f Lowe’ s o p e n in g s ta te m e n t in h i s e d i t i o n C ib b e r ’ s A p o lo g y , P r e f a c e , p . 5* t o th e e f f e c t t h a t Dber was i n a c c u r a t e and v ag u e in h is tr e a tm e n t o f m a t t e r s f a c t , h i s a u t h o r i t y in th e t h e a t r i c a l h i s t o r y o f h i s e r a 3t t a k e p r e c e d e n c e , g e n e r a l l y o v e r t h a t o f many l a t e r l i d b e a u t h o r i t i e s who had n o t a c c e s s t o h i s w e a lth o f t e r i a l . 278 d an eye w itn e s s o f h u n d red s o f R e s t o r a t i o n p e rfo rm a n c e s , a c t o r h im s e lf i n many o f them , th e g r e a t e s t a c t o r s th e r i d h ad th e n known w ere d e v e lo p e d b e f o r e and w ith t h i s s t o r a t i o n a u d i e n c e . Thus, i t seems t h a t th e a u d ie n c e and s b e h a v io r c o u ld s c a r c e l y have been a s b a d as th e m a j o r i t y th e c r i t i c s have p a i n t e d i t . IV. SU M M A R Y AND CONCLUSIONS T hrough s t o r i e s o f f i g h t s , r i o t s , s t a b b i n g s , d u e l s , d m u rd e rs in th e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n T h e a tr e , a a d i t i o n o f “a h o u se o f h o r r o r " has grown up to r e p r e s e n t le b e h a v io r o f th e p la y g o e rs o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h e iv e n te e n th c e n t u r y . I f th e g a l l a n t s and p r o s t i t u t e s w ere Lly i n a p l a y f u l mood, r e a d e r s o f l a t e r c e n t u r i e s have come u n d e r s ta n d t h a t n o th in g m ore s e r i o u s th a n c h a s in g e a c h h e r o v e r th e b e n c h e s w ith y e l l i n g an d sc re a m in g m ig h t be p e c t e d . T here seem s t o be no d o u b t t h a t some o r a l l o f th e s e r y t h i n g s d id o c c u r in th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t tim e . i s n o t so c l e a r , how ever, t h a t t h i s was th e o n ly ty p e of h a v i o r e n c o u n te re d i n th e p la y h o u s e ev en i n th e b o i s t e r o u s ys o f C h a rle s I I . In f a c t , t h e r e seem s to be much r e a s o n d o u b t t h a t th e s o r t o f b e h a v io r m e n tio n e d above i s t y p i - 1 . T here i s ev en good r e a s o n to su p p o se t h a t , a lth o u g h 279 le b e h a v io r o f th e a u d ie n c e was g e n e r a l l y more e x p r e s s iv e lan to d a y , one c o u ld on a lm o s t any o c c a s io n e n t e r th e m a tr e w ith a good chance o f s e e in g and h e a r in g w ith o u t i r t i c u l a r d i s t u r b a n c e . CH APTER VI AUDIENCE TASTE I . THEORY AND CRITICISM OF RESTORATION TASTE A c t i v i t y w ith in th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s te r a - Ion p erio d , was u s u a l l y , i f n o t a lw a y s , b a se d on a u d ie n c e ISt e an d a r e a c t i o n to th e p a r t i c u l a r d ra m a tic f a r e . I t I known t h a t th e r e a c t i o n s o f some i n d i v i d u a l s w ere c o n s id - ~ed o f su c h im p o rta n c e t o some p la y w r ig h ts t h a t o n e, f o r cample, was c o n s tr a in e d to w r i t e i n th e p r e f a c e to one o f LS p l a y s , w h ich he th o u g h t sh o u ld h av e b een s u c c e s s f u l b u t 18 n o t: I I S in c e my com edies a r e a p p ro v ed an d commended by y o u , j men o f y o u r s o r t , , th e r e s t o f th e a u d ie n c e m ust f o r g iv e me, i f 1 am much more e x a l t e d by th e p r a i s e o f su c h a s you, th a n I can e v e r be hum bled by t h e i r c e n s u r e .^ lis was p o o r s o la c e and s c a n t reco m p en se , how ever, f o r my h o u rs o f l a b o r in th e b u i l d i n g o f a p la y , b u t S h a d w e ll, I t h i s c a s e , h ad r e c o u r s e to l i t t l e e l s e . I t i s t r u e , o f ‘ c o u r s e , t h a t l i t e r a r y p a tro n a g e by th e w e a lth y was th e ic e s s a ry a d j u n c t t h a t k e p t some w r i t e r s from s t a r v i n g b u t 3 - Thomas S h a d w e ll, The C om plete W orks> M ontague Sum- r s , e d i t o r , (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 ), V. 3 , p . 3* P r e f a c e to A T rue Widow. T h is was w r i t t e n to S i r la r le s S e d le y , h i s p a t r o n an d f r i e n d . 2 8 1 i t l e f t o t h e r s p r a c t i c a l l y to s t a r v e . ^ What was d r a m a t i c a l l y p a l a t a b l e to some R e s t o r a t i o n i t r o n s o f th e dram a h a s b een m a tte r o f a most c u r io u s s o r t > a lm o s t a l l E n g lis h a u d ie n c e s s in c e t h a t t i m e .3 One o f le s c e n e s o f a ty p e r a t h e r f a m i l i a r to R e s t o r a t i o n a u d i - ic e s was t h a t o f A n to n io an d h i s "N icky-N aoky" i n Otway’s m ic e P r e s e r v ’d . H ere w ere th e le c h e r o u s o l d s e n a t o r and L S young m i s t r e s s who e n a c te d an e p is o d e b e f o r e th e ey es r th e s p e c t a t o r s w h ich w ould have l e f t a V i c t o r i a n a u d i - ice g a s p in g i n in d ig n a n t a s to n is h m e n t and no d o u b t w ould luse even a p r e s e n t day s o p h i s t i c a t e d g ro u p some momentary in f u s io n . An e a r l y e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu ry c r i t i c c a l l e d th e s e lenes " th e M is e ra b le F a rc e u n d e r P l o t ’ * and s a i d th e y h ad leen l e f t o u t f o r many Y e a rs . A l a t e r c r i t i c i n th e me c e n tu ry s a i d t h a t i t was n e c e s s a r y to expunge ’ ’what L S w r i t t e n t o p l e a s e a c o u r t f a c t i o n , b u t h a s become i n ^ Among th e l a t t e r w ere Otway an d F a rq u h a r. See Lomas Otway, The O om plete W orks. M ontague Summers, e d i t o r , 1 , p . 221. Samuel Jo h n so n * s famous l e t t e r to L o rd O hes- r f i e l d i s a l s o an e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f t h i s ^ i n th e e i g h t - n t h c e n tu r y . ; ^ A lin e M ackenzie T a y lo r, N ext to S h a k e s p e a r e . ( D ur- m. N o rth C a r o l in a : Duke U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 5 0 ), p . 53. I 1895* when London m ost c e r t a i n l y w ould have b ee n shocked th e N icky-N acky s c e n e s i n V enice P re se rv * d . th e y w ere •e a tly e n jo y e d by P a r i s i a n a u d ie n c e s . 4 C h a r le s O ild o n , The C om plete A r t o f P o e t r y . (Lon- n : C h a rle s R lv in g to n , 1 7 1 8 ), V. 1 , p . 237. 282 •o cess o f tim e , o d io u s , an d d i s g u s t i n g . A g r e a t f o r e ig n • i t e r and c r i t i c o f th e same c e n tu r y w ro te t h a t th e s e ïenes "go n e a r to J u s t i f y th e c o n s p ira c y i n th e p l a y . ► e th e s a i d t h a t th e y showed how u n # i t f o r governm ent th e m a te r e a l l y was.7 B ut th e s e s c e n e s w ere n o t t y p i c a l o f le p la y . I f Jo h n D ennis i s to be b e l i e v e d , how ever, th e s e v u l - ir d e p i c t i o n s r e p r e s e n t e d th e q u a l i t y o f t a s t e i n th e a u d i - ice a f t e r th e R e s t o r a t i o n . He s t a t e s , "The P o e ts who w r i t im e d ia te ly a f t e r th e R e s t o r a t i o n w ere o b lig e d to humour th e ip ra v ’ d T a s te s o f t h e i r A u dience."® A v a ila b le f i g u r e s f o r m g th o f p la y r u n s , h o w ev er, seem n o t. to b e a r o u t t h i s co n - m ti o n .^ H arb ag e, one o f th e m ost th o ro u g h among m odern s c h o l- •8, i s n e a r e r th e mark when he s t a t e s t h a t i t i s common to ^ Thomas D a v ie s, D ram atic M i s c e l l a n i e s , (London; p u b - sh e d by th e A u th o r, 1 7 8 5 ), V. 3 , p . 223. ® T a y lo r , o p . c i t . > p . 53* T h is was Jo h an n W olfgang n G oethe. 7 T h u s, by a n a lo g y , th e u n f i t n e s s o f S h a f te s b u r y an d s g ro u p f o r governm ent was shown f o r E n g lan d . ® Jo h n D en n is, "The U s e f u ln e s s o f th e S t a g e ," in h i s • i t i c a l W orks. Edward N ile s H ooker, e d i t o r , ( B a ltim o r e ; L e John H opkins P r e s s , 1 9 4 3 ), V. 1 , p . 155# ^ Jo h n Downes, R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s . M ontague Summers, i t o r , (London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), pp . 2 1 -4 6 . 283 lin k o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama a s l i c e n t i o u s and to a t t r i b u t e l i s to w ar w e a rin e s s and r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t P u r i t a n b i g o t r y . I a m a tte r o f f a c t , th e dram a o f th e e a r l y p a r t , " l i t e r a l l y le y e a r s o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n , " was n o t re m a rk a b le f o r l i c e n - .Otis comedy but for "serious romantic plays, highly moral id e l e v a t e d , o f th e same g e n e r a l to n e a s th o s e w r i t t e n by le c o u r t i e r s in th e c i r c l e o f H e n r i e t t a M a r i a ."10 A p p ar- i t l y , th o u g h , t h i s p r e f e r e n c e among a u d ie n c e s f o r dram a h e r th a n th e l i c e n t i o u s was n o t r e s t r i c t e d to th e e a r l y la rs b u t e x te n d e d even to th e end o f th e c e n tu r y . H arbage n o t a s a c c u r a t e a s u s u a l when he w r i t e s , "Few o f th e a y s d is c u s s e d in th e p r e s e n t c h a p te r w ere w e ll r e c e iv e d . d ie n c e s w ere c r a v in g S p i c i e r f a r e . " H A n o th e r e a r ly e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y c r i t i c w r i t i n g o f e p la y o f th e S h a k e s p e a re a n e r a w h ich was p ro d u c e d s e v e r a l mes d u r in g th e R e s t o r a t i o n s t a t e d : An a u t h o r s h a l l w r i t e a s i f he th o u g h t t h a t t h e r e was n o t one man o f h o n o u r o r woman o f c h a s t i t y i n th e h o u se , and come o f f w ith a p p la u s e ; f o r an i n s u l t upon a l l th e ID A l f r e d H arbage, C a v a lie r Drama. (New Y ork: Modern nguage A s s o c i a t i o n o f A m eric a, 1 9 3 6 ) , p . 238. I t was o f t t l e c o n c e rn to th e m o ra ls o f th e dram a t h a t C h a rles* doc e n t s l i c e n s i n g th e p a t e n t e e s f o r th e new t h e a t r e s "were m ost p i e t i s t i c . " See The D ram atic R eco rd s o f S i r Henry r b e r t , M a ste r p f t h e R e v e ls , (1621-1671V .J o s e p h Quincy ams, e d i t o r , (New Haven : Y ale U n iv e r s it y P r e s s ) , p p . 8 7 - 11 Harbage, C avalier Drama. op. c i t *, p. 252. 284 te n commandment8 w ith th e l i t t l e c r i t i c , i s n o t so had a s th e b re a c h o f u n i t y o f tim e and place.12 Samuel Jo h n so n w ro te in 1747 : Ah I l e t no C ensure term our F ate our C h o ice, The S ta g e b u t ec h o es b ac k th e p u b l i c V oice; The D ram a's law es th e D ram a's P a tr o n s g iv e . F or we, t h a t l i v e to p l e a s e , m ust p le a s e to l i v e .13 L U S th e a t te m p t to p la c e th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r p o o r q u a l - :y, i n w h a te v e r d e p a rtm e n t o f dram a, upon th e h a p l e s s a u d i- T c o n tin u e d th ro u g h th e y e a r s . Only s l i g h t l y e a r l i e r C ib - :r, w r i t i n g b o th o f R e s t o r a t i o n and e a r l y e i g h t e e n t h c e n - try , h ad s t a t e d t h a t h e c o u ld n o t • . • s t i l l a llo w th e s e e n o r m itie s m aking v i r t u e r i d ic u lo u s o r v ic e a g r e e a b l e , e t c . to im peach th e p r o f e s s i o n , w h ile th e y a r e so p a lp a b ly ow ing to th e d e p r a v 'd t a s t e o f t h e m u l t i t u d e . W hile v i c e , and f a r c i c a l f o l l y , a r e th e m ost p r o f i t a b l e co m m o d ities, why s h o u ld we won d e r t h a t tim e o u t o f m ind, th e p o o r com edian, when r e a l w it w ould b e a r no p r i c e , sh o u ld d e a l in w hat w ould b r in g him m ost re a d y m o n e y ? 14 Lt such s ta te m e n ts a s th e above a r e l a r g e l y u n p r o f i t a b l e d can be shown to be in a d e q u a te . 12 J o s e p h Wood K ru tc h , Comedy an d C o n sc ie n c e a f t e r l 6 R e s t o r a t i o n , ( C olum bia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 4 9 ), p . 156, o t i n g S t e e l e in an a t t a c k on F l e t c h e r 's The S c o r n f u l l Lady. 13 Apology f o r th e L if e o f C o lle y C ib b e r . R o b e rt we, e d i t o r , (London: Jo h n C. Nimmo, 1889)1 v 7 1 , p . 113, t e lé 14 C ib b e r, L ow e's e d i t i o n , V. 1 , p . 81 . O b v io u sly ©median" h e r e w ould h a v e to be a p p l i e d so a s to in c lu d e la y w r ig h t" a l s o s in c e a com edian, e x c e p t in r a r e i n - a n c e s , r e f l e c t s m erely w hat i s s e t down f o r him . P ro b a b ly th e b e s t summary o f th e supposed a t t i t u d e o f • a m a tls ts o f th e tim e i s t h a t g iv e n by B eljam e when he ;a te s : They th e w r i t e r s saw an d c u r s e d th e c u r r e n t t h a t sw ept them o n , b u t n o t one o f them a tte m p te d to swim a g a i n s t I t . Many p o s s e s s e d th e n e c e s s a r y s t r e n g t h b u t to ru n th e r i s k o f su c h a v e n t u r e , to d efy f a s h io n be f o r e an a u d ie n c e ac cu sto m ed to la y down th e law and c l o s e l y u n i t e d a s a body, w ould h ave been to p la y f o r h ig h s t a k e s . P u t y o u r a u d ie n c e o u t o f hum our, a n d you had no a l t e r n a t i v e b u t to g iv e up w r i t i n g . l 5 it i f th e m a in ly v ery m o ra l and ro m a n tic t r a g e d i e s o f th e r i o d w ent th r o u g h more p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s an d w ere p e rfo rm e d r lo n g e r ru n s on th e s t a g e , w r i t e r s o f th e tim e q u i t e a p - r e n t l y w ere e i t h e r ig n o r a n t o f th e s e f a c t o r s o r e l s e chose l i b e r a t e l y to w r i t e f o r th e c o u r t c l i q u e whose m o ra ls n o - dy seems e v e r to have d e fe n d e d s u c c e s s f u l l y .! ® I n s h o r t , e d r a m a t i s t s may have b e e n swimming a g a i n s t i n s t e a d o f t h th e c u r r e n t o f d r a m a tic and t h e a t r i c a l p r e f e r e n c e . 15 A le x a n d re B e lja m e . Men o f L e t t e r s In E ig h te e n th n tu r y E n g la n d . Bonamy D obree, e d i t o r , t r a n s l a t e d i n t o g l i s h by E . A. L o rim e r, (London: K. P a u l, T re n ch , T ru b n e r, d C o ., 1 9 4 8 ), p . 1 3 3 * 1® Such f a c t o r s , o f c o u r s e , do n o t a rg u e a c u l t i v a t e d s t e . They d o , how ever, a rg u e a p u r e r , h ig h e r t a s t e th a n i t i c s have th u s f a r b een w i l l i n g to g r a n t . B e lja m e, l o c . t . , s t a t e s t h a t "In tw e n ty y e a r s , o n ly two w orks a r e n o t e - r th y a s h a v in g an i n t r i n s i c v a lu e : D ryden*s A l l f o r Love d O tw ay 's 0 rp h a n . And th e s e two p l a y s b e lo n g to th e c lo s e th e p e r i o d . . . . " T h is i s f a i l u r e on th e p a r t o f th e i t i c to d i s t i n g u i s h b etw een l i t e r a r y and t h e a t r i c a l e f - c t i v e n e s s , a t l e a s t , i n th e c a s e o f A l l f o r Love. 286 The t a s t e f o r h e r o i c t r a g e d i e s o f f e r s th e o p p o r tu n ity >r num erous c r i t i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n s , an o p p o r tu n ity w hich h as îen a c c e p te d by many p o e t s an d c r i t i c s o f y e s te r d a y a s w e ll Ï to d a y . P e rh a p s th e f i r s t gun was f i r e d i n a c o n tr o v e rs y la t u l t i m a t e l y p ro d u c e d one o f th e m ost famous c r i t i c a l e s - lys on dram a when D ryden, i n h i s d e d i c a t i o n to O rre ry o f L S own R iv a l L a d ie s in 1664, " a s s e r t e d th e p r o p r i e t y " o f ïin g th e rhym ing c o u p le t in th e w r i t i n g o f p l a y s . 17 T h is •ought a r e p ly from S i r R o b e rt Howard, h i s pompous b u t i n - . u e n t i a l b r o t h e r - i n - l a w , th e f o llo w in g y e a r i n h i s p r e f a c e > h i s c o l l e c t e d p la y s t a k i n g th e o p p o s ite p o s i t i o n . T h is L S th e p o i n t , th e n , a t w h ich Dryden w ro te h i s "E ssay o f •am atic P o e s y . "1® Howard w ro te a r e j o i n d e r to th e E ssay | I th e p r e f a c e to h i s Duke Lerma i n 1668, an d D ryden, i t I s a i d , r e p l i e d in h i s p r e f a c e to The I n d ia n E m peror to be ib lis h e d in th e 1668 e d i t i o n . ^9 B ut t h i s p r e f a c e was "c an - ill e d " a s a p e a c e o f f e r i n g , an d Malone s t a t e s t h a t th e y 7 The M is c e lla n e o u s C r i t i c a l and P ro se W r itin g s o f hn Dryden, ( London: 1 0 6 6 ) , V. 1 , p t . 1 , p . 9 1 , Edmund lo n e , e d it o r . 1® T h is E ssay was w r it t e n in 1665 but n o t p u b lis h e d t i l 1667. 19 The f i r s t e d i t i o n o f The I n d ia n Em peror was pu b - sh e d in 1667» b u t t h e r e was a se c o n d e d i t i o n i n 1668. e M ontague Summers, A B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama 56. 287 Ived am ica b ly t h e r e a f t e r . 2D I f Judgm ent may be b a s e d on e v id e n c e in c lu d e d in The A u th o r 's A pology f o r H e ro ic P o e try and P o e t i c L ic e n c e " ic lu d e d w i t h h i s o p e ra , The S t a t e o f In n o c e n c e , p u b lis h e d * 1 1677, i t m ust be c o n c lu d e d t h a t D ryden was s t i l l r e l a - Lvely o f th e same o p in io n c o n c e rn in g h e r o i c v e r s e a s he 3 L S when he w ro te th e E ssay i n 1665. I n r e p ly in g t o th o s e 10 condemn p l e a s u r e r e c e iv e d from h e r o i c w r i t i n g he b a te s : L e t ’everym an en jo y h i s t a s t e ; b u t i t i s u n j u s t , t h a t th e y , who have n o t th e l e a s t n o tio n o f h e r o i c w r i t in g , s h o u ld t h e r e f o r e condemn th e p l e a s u r e w hich o t h e r s r e c e iv e from i t b e c a u s e th e y c a n n o t com prehend i t . . . . They, who w ould com bat g e n e r a l a u t h o r i t y w ith p a r t i c u l a r o p in io n , m ust f i r s t e s t a b l i s h th e m se lv e s a reputa.# t i o n o f u n d e r s ta n d in g b e t t e r th a n o t h e r men*21 F iv e y e a r s a f t e r w r i t i n g i t b u t no more th a n two l a r s a f t e r p u b l i s h i n g h i s "Apology f o r H e ro ic P o e try and > e tic L i c e n c e , " Dryden se em in g ly h ad changed h i s p o i n t o f Lew somewhat r e g a r d in g h e r o i c p l a y s . In 1679, w h ich Lme he p ro d u c e d and h ad p u b lis h e d T r o i l u s and G r e s s id a , he ib l i s h e d "G rounds o f C r i t i c i s m i n T r a g e d y . "22 H ere h i s 20 M alone, p p . p i t . , V. 1, p t . 1 , p . 91. 21 The Works o f Jo h n D ryden. S i r W a lte r S c o t t , B a r t . , l i t e r . R e v is e d by G eorge S a in ts b u r y , (E d in b u rg h : W illia m | i t t e r s o n , 1 8 8 5 ), V. 5, p . 115. , 2 2 I b i d .. p. 188. 288 o f e a se d a t t i t u d e seem ed to be t h a t ( l ) th e p l o t s h o u ld be mple and n a t u r a l from b e g in n in g to end ( th u s e x c lu d in g th e owded i n c i d e n t s o f th e S p a n ish ty p e d ram a), (2 ) th e p e r - n a g e s s h o u ld be d i g n i f i e d and v i r t u o u s , t h a t t h e i r m is fo r n e s o u g h t a t once to e x c i t e p i t y an d t e r r o r , a n d (3 ) th e a r a c t e r an d m anner o f th e p e r s o n s s h o u ld be m arked, dram a- 0 , c o n s i s t e n t , and n a t u r a l , t h a t i s , he condemned b o th :tra v a g a n c e o f la n g u a g e , w h ich s u b s t i t u t e s n o is e f o r f e e l - .g, and th o s e p o i n t s o f w it w hich misbecome one a c t u a t e d by a l e m o tio n .23 H arbage may be c o r r e c t in h i s a s su m p tio n t h a t D ry- n ' s a s s o c i a t i o n w ith N e w c a stle , D av en an t, and even Howard ve h i s comedy i t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t make i t d i s t i n c t om t h a t o f W ycherley an d E t h e r e g e .24 H is a s s o c i a t i o n w ith v e n a n t i n p a r t i c u l a r may a l s o e x p l a in h i s p r e o c c u p a tio n r many y e a r s w ith h e r o i c t r a g e d y . 25 BelJam e a c c u s e s D ryden o f p a n d e rin g "to o s l a v i s h l y 23 L o c. c i t . 24 H arb ag e, C a v a l i e r Drama, p* 52. He s t a t e s t h a t lese l a s t w ere more i s o l a t e d from th e p a s t th a n was D ry- m . T h is i s s l i g h t l y p u z z lin g s in c e th e y w ere a l l b o rn .t h i n a d ec ad e o f e a c h o t h e r — Dryden i n I 6 3 1 , E th e r e g e , > 6 5 , W ycherley, 1640. 25 A lth o u g h Dryden a n d D avenant d id n o t c o l l a b o r a t e I a h e r o ic tr a g e d y , th e y d id on The T em p est, p ro d u c e d a t .n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s , November 7, lé 6 7 . The i n f l u e n c e o f 1® B icge o f Rhodes an d o t h e r s o f D avenant*s h e r o i c p la y s 289 id to o c o m p le te ly to th e t a s t e o f h i s ti m e ," m eaning, o f l u r s e , th e low t a s t e o f th e tim e , h u t he a d m its t h a t D ry- m "had th e red eem in g m e r it o f c a r r y i n g to p e r f e c t i o n ev ery L te ra ry s t y l e he a t t e m p t e d . 26 c a n n o t he d e n ie d t h a t ?yden d id make e x te n s iv e u se o f th e l i c e n t i o u s a n d th e im - > ral in c e r t a i n o f h i s co m ed ies, an d on o c c a s io n he was ren a c c u s e d o f u s in g th e s e e le m e n ts in h i s t r a g e d i e s . 27 ich e le m e n ts , how ever, w ere o f m inor im p o rta n c e i n th e co n - :r u c t i o n o f any o f th e t r a g e d i e s , a n d a s Dryden h im s e lf l i n t s o u t " p a i n t i n g th e h e r o 's mind" was more " th e p o e ts irk th a n show ing th e s t r e n g t h o f h i s b o d y ," a n d t h a t th e iro o f a tr a g e d y was one on whom th e p i t y an d t e r r o r w ere • i n c i p a l l y , i f n o t w h o lly f o u n d e d .2® T h is seem s i n d i c a t i v e , t h e r e f o r e , o f th e r e a l t a s t e * th e R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e f o r tr a g e d y . S c o tt e x p l a in s le a c c e p ta n c e o f w hat he te rm s th e " p r e p o s te r o u s m anners" id th e r a p i d a n d im p ro b a b le changes o f f o r tu n e in v o lv e d in iroiC tra g e d y by s t a t i n g t h a t th e m anners o f t e n a t t a i n e d a 26 B e lja m e , o p . c i t . . p . 169# 27 D a v ie s , p p . c i t . . V. 3 , P# 183. D av ies w r i t e s >ryden and Lee th rew much o b s c e n ity , a s w e ll a s p r o f a n e - 88, i n t o t h e i r m ost a d m ire d h e r o ic p l a y s . " L e e 's Soph- l i s b a . he s a y s , "abounds i n p a s s a g e s f i t o n ly f o r a house ' e n t e r t a i n m e n t . " But id e a s o f o b s c e n ity and p r o fa n e n e s s •e r e l a t i v e to th e age i n w h ich one l i v e s . 28Taylor, pp. pit., p. 65. 2 9 0 ib llrae I f f o r c e d e l e v a t i o n o f s e n tim e n t w h ile th e rapid, id im p ro b a b le changes o f f o r tu n e " s e rv e d in no s l i g h t d e - •ee to i n t e r e s t a s w e ll a s to s u r p r i s e th e a u d i e n c e , "29 Lthough A r i s t o t l e c a l l s an " e p is o d ic " th e "w o rst o f sim p le Lots and a c t i o n s , " t h a t i s , "when t h e r e i s n e i t h e r p r o b a - L lity n o r n e c e s s i t y i n th e se q u en ce o f i t s e p i s o d e s ," le re i s , n o n e t h e l e s s , an a p p r e c i a t i o n o f r a p i d ch a n g es o f irtu n e i n any a u d i e n c e . 30 The e x tre m e s o f t h e s e , to w hich le w r i t e r s o f h e r o i c dram a w en t, m u st, o f c o u r s e , have p u t s t r a i n on th e c r e d u l i t y o f th e a u d i t o r s . T h e s t r a i n L S p o s s i b l y n o t a s g r e a t , how ever, a s some w r i t e r s w ould k e i t a p p e a r . 3 2 29 D ryden, W orks. S c o t t 's e d i t i o n , p p . c i t . , V. 1 , 1 0 9 . 3 0 See A r i s t o t l e ' s " P o e t i c s , " in The B a sic Works o f i s t o t l e , R ic h a rd McKeown, e d i t o r , (New York: Random H ouse, 4 1 ) , p . 1464. A udience i n t e r e s t a n d th u s p la y w r i t i n g i n c i e n t tim e s , a s to a d e g re e in a l l o t h e r tim e s , was b a s e d h ig h m o ral them es in v o lv in g g r e a t p e rs o n a g e s an d u s in g l 6 d e v ic e s o f r e c o g n i t i o n and p e r i p e t y . 3 1 G e ra rd L a n g b a in e , L iv e s an d C h a r a c te r s o f th e Eng- s h D ram atic P o e t s . C h a r le s G ild o n , e d i t o r , (L ondon: I 699T , 4 3 . G ild o n s t a t e s t h a t "no Man o f good se n c e can th in k a t P l a y 's S u c c e s s , The C onquest o f G ranada ow ing to th e c e lle n c y o f th e P o e t 's P e rfo rm a n c e , b u t th e E x tra v a g a n c e ; r I have a lw a y s o b s e rv e d i t to have th e E f f e c t o f Comedy th e A u d ie n c e ; . . . " 3 2 M alone, p p . c i t . . V. 1, p t . 1 , p . 106. I n Ma n e 's o p in io n G ild o n * e s ta te m e n t i s n o t t r u s t w o r t h y . He y s t h a t G ild o n r e f e r s to a p e rfo rm a n c e o f The C on q u est o f ■anada i n I 6 9 8 when a c e r t a i n p l a y e r a s A lm anzor, to r e t a l - t e foï» fL nrrne of Dipvden's which had offended him. bur— 291 G ild o n a c t u a l l y d i s p l a y s a c o n s id e r a b le l a c k o f f a - L l i a r i t y w i t h th e a u d ie n c e o f h i s own tim e when he ex c e sse s s u r p r i s e t h a t The R e h e a rs a l s h o u ld be a c t e d to f u l l )u ses f o r t h r e e o r f o u r d ay s t o g e t h e r and im m e d ia te ly a f - upwards “th o s e very p l a y s , o r o t h e r s f u l l o f a l l th e a b - i r d i t i e s e x p lo d e d i n t h a t p l e a s a n t c r i t i c i s m , s h o u ld be >t l e s s t h r o n g e d . "33 Even th o u g h th e a u d ie n c e m ig h t have lughed a t some p a r t s o f some h e r o i c p l a y s , t h a t i n no lo g eai f a s h io n a r g u e s a g a i n s t t h e i r a t t e n d i n g and a p p r e c i a t i n g î r io u s ly th o s e same p la y s a f t e r s e e in g them b u r le s q u e d a t le p r e s e n t a t i o n o f The R e h e a r s a l. The t a s t e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e , th e n , i n a m se was p a r a d o x i c a l , a s th e t a s t e o f any o t h e r a u d ie n c e ly v ery w e ll b e . S c o tt o f t e n m e n tio n s th e e le g a n c e and i p h i s t i c a t i o n o f th e p e r i o d , and y e t on one o c c a s io n in • i t i n g o f th e p ro b lem s o f Dryden he s t a t e s : I t w ere w e ll to s tu d y h i s m e r i t s , w ith o u t v e n tu r in g to a d o p t th e n e g lig e n c e and h a r s h n e s s , w h ich th e h u rry o f h i s c o m p o s itio n , a n d th e c o m p a ra tiv e r u d e n e s s o f h i s age r e n d e r e d in him e x c u s a b l e .34 lyward t h e o r i z e s t h a t : ïsqued th e p a r t . 33 G ild o n , The O om plete A rt o f P o e t r y . V. 1, p . 203. 34 D ryden, W orks. S c o t t 's e d i t i o n , V. 1 , p . The C o u rt o f C h a rle s I I i m i t a t e d t h a t o f h i s c o u s in , L o u is XIV, b u t t h e r e th e re se m b la n c e c e a s e d , an d in a l l o t h e r ways i n i t s m anners and c o n v e r s e , i t more c lo s e ly re se m b le d th e u n p o lis h e d s o c ie ty o f h i s m a te r n a l g ra n d f a t h e r , H e n ri IV*35 LCh i d e a s , how ever, a r e n o t c o m p le te ly a c c e p ta b le to a l l i t i o s , f o r exam ple, Bonamy D obree, i n e d i t i n g B e lja m e 's n o f L e t t e r s , w r i t e s t h a t th e a f f e c t a t i o n o f th e F ren ch n n e r in C h a rles* C o u rt was p ro b a b ly " c o n fin e d to a few, d Dryden was s u re o f s u p p o r t in m aking fu n o f i t " in Mar- ag e a 3 ^ M o d e . 3 6 A n o th e r w r i t e r i n d i s c u s s i n g t a s t e d u r - g th e r e i g n o f C h a rle s r e f e r s to D ryden*s S t a t e o f In n o n ce a s r e f l e c t i n g th e a t t i t u d e o f th e tim e s . He w r i t e s : The s t r u c t u r e an d d i c t i o n o f t h i s o p e ra , a s i t i s somewhat im p ro p e rly te rm e d , b e in g r a t h e r a d ra m a tic poem s t r o n g l y i n d i c a t e th e t a s t e o f C h a rle s th e S e c o n d 's r e i g n , f o r w hat was in g e n io u s , a c u t e , and p o l i s h e d , in p r e f e r e n c e to th e s i m p l i c i t y o f th e t r u e s u b lim e . The judgm ent o f t h a t a g e , a s h a s b een a l r e a d y n o t i c e d , i s alw ays to be r e f e r r e d r a t h e r to th e h e a d th a n to th e 35 Jo h n Hayward, C h a r le s I I . (New York: The M acm illan mpany, 1 9 3 3 ), P# 8 ? . 3® B e lja m e , p p . c i t . . p . 131, n o te . See A c t I I , ene 1 , and A ct I I I , sc e n e 2, o f M a rria g e a l a Mode. B e l- me h im s e lf rem a rk s i n h i s u s u a l r a t h e r e x tr a v a g a n t f a s h io n h a t th e y th e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n a s k e d o f th e e a t r e was lu x u r io u s s c e n e r y , b r i l l i a n t v e r s i f i c a t i o n and c e n tio u s c h a r a c t e r s . " Then he w r i t e s , "In a w ord th e y u ld c o n c e n tr a t e on o u tw a rd form . B ut th e s o u l and s p i r i t u ld be beyond t h e i r k e n , and th e y w ould c a r e f u l l y g u a rd em selv es a g a i n s t to o l i v e l y an em otion and s h r i n k from b e - g s t i r r e d to g en u in e a d m ir a tio n . They w ould b an every r i o u s i n s p i r a t i o n , e v e ry c a r e f u l d e l i n e a t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r p a s s io n , e v e r y th in g w h ich m ight to u c h th e h e a r t o r ic k e n th e m in d ." 293 h e a r t ; an d a poem, w r i t t e n to p l e a s e mere c r i t i o s r e q u i r e s an i n t r o d u c t i o n and d is p l a y o f a r t , to th e ex c l u s i o n o f n a t u r a l beauty*37 lese c o l l e c t i v e c r i t i c i s m s o f t a s t e in th e B e t t e r t o n e r a low t h a t i t , l i k e th e t a s t e o f o t h e r e r a s , was b o th e l e - int and r u d e , r e f i n e d an d u n c u l tu r e d . Thus, su c h an a u d ie n c e c o u ld th o ro u g h ly r e l i s h Buck- Lgham*s s a t i r e . The R e h e a r s a l , an d j u s t a s th o ro u g h ly en - y on th e f o llo w in g day a p r e s e n t a t i o n o f The C on q u est o f •anada. among th e m ost e x tr a v a g a n t o f Dryden* s h e r o i c ays.3® T h u s, a l s o , Dryden an d D avenant * s a d a p t a t i o n o f a Tem pest c o u ld and d id become one o f th e f a v o r i t e p la y s ' th e e n t i r e R e s t o r a t i o n period.39 A t i t s f i r s t p ro d u c - o n ^ i t was a trem en d o u s s u c c e s s , an d a id e d , no d o u b t, by s s c e n ic and t h e a t r i c a l e f f e c t s i t was p o p u la r u n t i l w e ll to th e n i n e t e e n t h century.41 The s p le n d o r o f th e d e c o r 37 D ryden, W orks. S c o tt * s e d i t i o n , p p . c i t . . V. 5 , 97. 3® See S h a d w e ll, W orks. Summers* e d i t i o n , V. 1, p . i x . I t m ust be c l e a r l y u n d e r s to o d , o f c o u r s e , t h a t t h e r e no m o ral r e a d ju s tm e n t n e c e s s a r y i n f o llo w in g enjoym ent The C on q u est o f G ranada w ith en jo y m en t o f The R e h e a rs a l c a u se t h e r e i s no c l e a n e r p la y th a n The R e h e a r s a l. 39 ito id . . V. 1, p . c i v . ^ L i n c o l n 's In n F i e l d s , November 7, 1667. Summers, b lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 56. Shadwell, Works, Summers* edition, op. cit., V. 1, c i v . s e a te d by D av en an t, an d th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f th e s p i r i t s Lth mops an d mows was s a i d to h ave c a u s e d **general a p - Lause. I t su c c e e d e d to th e "u tm o st w ish o f th e a u - l o r s , " and th e re b y becom es a n o th e r s ig n p o s t p o i n t i n g to le t a s t e o f R e s t o r a t i o n a u d i t o r s . I I . AUDIENCE TASTE IN EARLY RESTORATION PRODUCTIONS Harbage* s i n t e r e s t i n g exam ple o f a p la y t h a t p r o - Lded "sau ce e n o u g h " 'is K l l l i g r e w ’ s " r i b a l d Parson* a Wed- ing c a s t e n t i r e l y w om en."^3 K i lli g r e w was a l s o a c o u r t i e r r H e n r i e t t a M arla and C h a r le s I and w ro te th e p la y many ja r s b e f o r e th e R e s t o r a t i o n . ^ U n f o r tu n a te ly , t h e r e seems ► be no r e c o r d o f th e s u c c e s s o f th e Parson* s W edding. T here i s a r e c o r d , how ever, o f th e s u c c e s s o f a n - ;h e r p la y o f a v ery d i f f e r e n t s o r t p ro d u c e d i n t h a t same la r. R oger B o y le , th e E a r l o f O r r e r y , w ro te a p la y b a s e d D ryden. W orks, S c o tt * a e d i t i o n , V. 1 , p p . 9 0 -9 1 . ^3 H a rb a g e , C a v a l i e r Drama, p . 252. H arb ag e , Thomas K i l l i g r e w . C a v a li e r D r a m a t i s t . 6 1 2 -1 6 8 3 ), (P h i l a d e l p h i a : U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia e s s , 1 9 3 0 ) , p p . 177-179- T h is p l a y , a d m itte d ly one o f th e S t v u lg a r o f a l l R e s t o r a t i o n p r o d u c t i o n s , was w r i t t e n a l - s t tw en ty y e a r s b e f o r e t h a t p e r i o d a n d a lm o s t te n y e a rs f o r e th e d e a t h o f C h a rle s I . I t p o s s i b l y was th e c h i e f e v o c a tio n f o r a v i r u l e n t a t t a c k by Wen. H o lla r who c a r i - t u r e d K i l l i g r e w and acco m p an ied th e p i c t u r e w ith s a t i r i - 1 v e r s e s a c c u s in g th e c o u r t i e r o f r u i n i n g h i s own h e a l t h d f o r tu n e th r o u g h " l e t c h e r i e . " 295 1 th e H is to r y o f Henry th e F i f t h w hioh h ad a n e x c e p tio n a l xn o f te n d a y s s u c c e s s i v e l y .^ 3 A g ain i n th e same y e a r ^ l o t h e r p l a y , a r e v i v a l o f S h a k e s p e a re * s King Henry V I I I . D y o r d e r o f S i r W illia m D avenant, was a l l new C lo a th * d in ro p e r H a b its . . . i t c o n tin u e d A c tin g 15 days t o g e t h e r Lth g e n e r a l A p p la u s e . "^7 S t i l l f u r t h e r in th e same y e a r r e n W ebster* a o ld p l a y . The D uchess o f M a l f i . **was so e x - ceding E x c e l l e n t l y A c te d i n a l l P a r t s ; c h i e f l y , Duke F e r- Lnand and B o s o la ; H a r r i s a n d B e t t e r t o n I t f i l l * d th e m se 8 Days S u c c e s s iv e ly , i t p ro v in g one o f th e B e s t o f took T r a g e d ie s . **^ Nor w ere th e s e a l l f o r t h a t y e a r to show t h a t a u d i - ic es d id n o t p r e f e r th e " s p i c i e r f a r e . * * A bout J u ly Daven- it* s p l a y . The R iv a ls from F le tc h e r * s Two N oble K insm en. IS p r o d u c e d .^9 i t was p e rfo rm e d f o r n in e c o n s e c u tiv e S h a d w e ll, W orks, o p . c i t . . p . I x v i i . O rre ry * s jnry th e F i f t h , a tr a g i- c o m e d y , was p ro d u c e d a t th e Duke* s ►use b e g in n in g A ugust 1 1 , 1664, and was p u b lis h e d i n 1668. immers s a y s i t r a n f o r 12 d a y s , b u t Downes l i s t s i t a s be«* ig p e rfo rm e d f o r o n ly te n days t o g e t h e r . ^ Jo h n Downes, R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s . o p . c i t . . p . 24. ► hn O e n e st, Some A cco u n t o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e from th e R e s- ►ration i n 1 6 6 0 -1 0 3 0 » [B a th : H. E. C a r r in g to n , 1 8 3 2 ), V. 1, 51, s a y s i t seems to h av e been r e v iv e d in December, 1663- ^7 Downes, l o c . c i t . P epys saw i t J a n u a ry 1 , 1664. ^ I b i d . , p . 25. H a rb a g e , C a v a l i e r Drama, p . 252, sa y s i t was r e - tthniil: .Till v . 1 6AlL. mt: T.1 nrtnl n * « Tnn Pi AT Am . 296 Liaes. On J a n u a r y 8 , 1 6 6 3 ,3 1 one o f th e m ost p o p u la r o f a l l î s t o r a t i o n p la y s was p ro d u c e d a t th e D u k e's House In L in - ►ln*s In n F i e l d s . S i r Sam uel Tuke, "An E ssex G entlem an, Gollonel,"3^ a t th e s u g g e s tio n o f C h a rle s I I h im s e lf , »ote a tra g i-c o m e d y c a l l e d The A d v e n tu re s o f F iv e Hours.33 ; was a c t e d a t c o u r t , a n d Downes w r i t e s : T h is P la y b e in g c l o a th * d so E x c e l l e n t l y F in e in p r o p e r H a b it s , and a c t e d so j u s t l y w e l l . * . I t to o k s u c c e s s i v e l y 13 Days t o g e t h e r , no o t h e r P la y I n t e r v e n i n g . 34 30 Bownes, p £ . o i t . , p . 23. W. Garew H a z l i t t , A Man- i F o r th e C o l l e c t o r an d A m ateur o f O ld E n g lis h P l a y s , london: P i c k e r i n g and d h a t t o , Ï 8 9W , p . 241, s a y s t h a t " I t ls a c t e d n in e days s u c c e s s i v e l y to f u l l h o u s e s , a t th e Duke ' Y o rk 's T h e a tr e . M iss D avis a c t e d in i t a s h e p h e r d e s s , ling mad f o r lo v e , e s p e c i a l l y in s in g i n g s e v e r a l w ild mad n g s , *M y lo d g in g i t i s on th e c o ld g r o u n d ,* e t c . She p e r - rmed t h a t so c h a rm in g ly , t h a t , n o t lo n g a f t e r , i t r a i s e d r from h e r b e d on th e c o l d g ro u n d to a b ed r o y a l ." 31 M ontague Summers, A B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n 'ama. p . 121. 3 2 L a n g b a in e , R e v ise d e d i t i o n , op . p i t . , 1699, p . l 4 l . 33 H a z l i t t , op. p i t . , p . 3 . Not u n t i l th e I 6 7 I e d i - on d id Tuke m e n tio n t h a t th e p i e c e h ad b een recommended him by C h a r le s . 3 4 Bownes, p p . c i t . , p p . 2 2 -2 3 . He g iv e s c r e d i t a l s o th e E a r l o f B r i s t o l , b u t Summers, R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s . p . 0 , s a y s i t d o es n o t a p p e a r t h a t th e E a r l o f B r i s t o l h ad y hand i n h e l p in g S i r Sam uel. Summers g iv e s no a u t h o r i t y r t h i s s t a t e m e n t . I n t h e same n o te he sa y s even Tuke o u g h t th e p la y from w h ich th e s t o r y was ta k e n was one o f Ideron* s , b u t a g a in Summers s t a t e s t h a t " I t i s a lm o s t c e r - i n , ho w ev er, t h a t th e o r i g i n a l p la y i s th e work o f Don to n io C o e llo y O c h o a ." The o r i g i n a l was c a l l e d Los Em- 297 le p la y was d e d i c a t e d to th e R ig h t H o n o rab le H enry Howard, id E c h a rd , i n th e p r e f a c e to h i s t r a n s l a t i o n o f T e re n c e , * ite s : T h is i s one o f th e p l e a s a n t e s t s t o r i e s t h a t e v e r a p p e a re d upon o u r s t a g e , an d h a s a s much v a r i e t y o f p l o t s and i n t r i g u e s , w ith o u t a n y th in g b e in g p r e c i p i t a t e d , im p r o p e r , o r u n n a t u r a l , a s to th e m #in a c t i o n . 35 ipys saw th e p la y on th e f i r s t d ay , Ja n u a ry 8 , 1663, and te d t h a t th e t h e a t r e was jammed to s u f f o c a t i o n a n d t h a t le a u d ie n c e "by i t s f r e q u e n t p l a u d i t s , d id show t h e i r s u f - LCient a p p r o b a tio n ."36 He h im s e lf th o u g h t h ig h ly o f th e .ay an d t h a t i t was f a r s u p e r i o r to O t h e l l o . A s h o r t tim e b e f o r e th e p r o d u c tio n o f S i r Samuel ike *8 p l a y , 37 th e r e Was p r e s e n te d a t L i n c o l n 's In n F ie ld s new tr a g e d y t h a t was commended th r o u g h o u t th e w hole town s i f t h e r e n e v e r h ad b ee n any su c h p la y come upon th e a g e . "39 i t h a d a trem en d o u s ru n o f t e n days " w ith a f u l l )u se, to th e last. "39 m e p la y "by i t s b e in g w e ll p e r - ►rmed, h ad s u c c e s s e x tre m e ly beyond th e Com pany's E x p e c ta - 33 H a z l i t t , p p . p i t . , p 4 3 . 3^ Sam uel P ep y s, D ia r y , H. B. W h e atley , e d i t o r , (New •rk: Random H ouse, 1 9 4 6 ), V. 1, p . 546. 37 Downes, p p . c i t . . p . 181. O c to b e r 18, 1662. 39 P e p y s, p p . c i t . . V. 1, p . 496. 39 Downes, p p . p i t . , p . 23. B e t t e r t o n p la y e d M onsieur a u p r e , and S a n d fo rd , th e v i l l a i n . Downes' p u n c tu a tio n i s i c o r r e c t , m aking i t seem t h a t " M a lig n ii" p la y e d th e v i l l a i n I A M ^ A ^ *1 V» A 1 4 4 4 f l i Vs a w 4 1 H A 4 «% Ê «m a 2 9 8 I o n . I n th e t i t l e r o l e o f th e v i l l a i n , S a n d fo rd e s t a h - Lshed th e f o u n d a tio n o f h i s g r e a t r e p u t a t i o n f o r p la y in g L lla in o u s p a r t s . L a n g b a i n e w r i t e s : V i l l a i n , a T ra g ed y , w hich I h av e se e n a c t e d a t th e D u k e's T h e a tre w ith g r e a t a p p la u s e : th e p a r t o f Ma l i g n i i b e in g im com parably p l a y 'd by Mr. S a n d fo rd . le p la y was so w e ll l i k e d t h a t i t e n jo y e d a p la c e in th e s p e rto ry f o r many years.^3 Som etim es an i n d i v i d u a l 's r e a c t i o n to a t h i n g , a Lay in p a r t i c u l a r , i s r e n d e r e d l e s s l i v e l y an d a p p r e c i a t i v e >r h i s h a v in g h e a r d i t h ig h ly commended. T h is seem s to IVe b een t h e c a s e w ith " p la y g o e r" P epys who e x p r e s s e d some LSappointm ent when f i r s t he saw a p e rfo rm a n c e o f The V il- l i n . But by Ja n u a ry 1 , 1663, he h ad come a ro u n d to th e .ew point o f th e g r e a t m a jo r i ty o f th e a u d ie n c e when he 'o te : We saw ' The V illa in * a g a in ; a n d th e more I se e i t , th e more I am o ffe n d e d a t my f i r s t u n d e r v a lu in g th e p l a y , i t b e in g v ery good and p l e a s a n t , an d y e t a f u l l and a llo w a b le t r a g e d y . Loo, o i t . L a n g b a in e , R e v is e d E d i t i o n , 1699, p# 112. 62 Q-erard L a n g b a in e , ^ A cco u n t o f th e E n g lis h Drama- .ok P o e t s , F i r s t E d i t i o n , (O x fo rd : 1 6 9 Î T , p . 4 0 7 . ^ 3 L an g b a in e, R e v ise d E d i t i o n , p p . c i t . , 1699* I t was i l l b e in g a c t e d in 1699 - Q uarto e d i t i o n s w ere p u b lis h e d L 1 6 6 3 , 1664, 1670, 1 6 7 1 , 1694, and 1704. 6 4 Per*v a . or», o i t . . V. 1 . -n-n. <42— . A r e v i v a l o f an o l d p l a y . The Humorous L i e u t e n a n t . r Beaumont an d F l e t c h e r , i n May, 1663, was th e o c c a s io n )t o n ly f o r th e o p en in g o f th e new T h e a tre R oyal i n D rury m e b u t a l s o f o r a n o th e r g r e a t p la y ru n o f th e e a r l y R es- > r a t i o n period.^3 A lth o u g h Downes h a s s l i g h t l y c o n fu se d le o p e n in g d a t e , t h e r e i s no re a s o n to q u e s tio n h i s s t a t e - m t t h a t th e p la y was v e ry s u c c e s s f u l and t h a t i t "was •te d Twelve Days S u c c e s s iv e ly ." ^ ^ T h is te n d s to s u p p o r t L z l i t t 's e v a l u a t i o n t h a t "T his i s an e x c e e d in g ly good a y . "^7 p ep y s who saw i t on th e s e c o n d day o f i t s second ► storation r e v i v a l , F r id a y , May 8 , 1663, w ro te : Took up my w ife an d A sh w ell to th e T h e a tre R o y a ll, b e in g th e se c o n d day o f i t s b e in g o pen. . . . The p la y was * îh e num erous L i e u t e n a n t , ' a p la y t h a t h a t h l i t t l e good in i t , n o r much i n th e v e ry p a r t w h ich , by th e 65 T h a t p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s o ld p la y h as b een th e o c - s io n f o r one o f th e c e l e b r a t e d d i s p u t e s among s c h o l a r s r t h a t e r a . Summers' R o s c iu s A n g lic a n u s . p . 102-103 shows lat Downes' d a te T h u rsd ay , A p r i l 8 , 1663, i e n o t p o s s i b l e c a u se A p r i l 8 t h was n o t i n E a s t e r week t h a t y e a r an d was t T h u rsd ay ; h e g iv e s P ep y s a s an a c c e p ta b le a u t h o r i t y to L O W t h a t i t was on T h u rsd ay , May 7 th , t h a t th e p la y a o t u - l y b eg an . The o a s t g iv e n by Downes i s a l s o an e a r l i e r one ed, a c c o r d in g to Summers, when th e p la y was a c t e d March 1, 6 2 , a t Vere S t r e e t . Thus C lu n , who a c t e d th e p a r t o f th e e u te n a n t i n th e f i r s t r e v i v a l , was r e p la c e d by Lacy th e 11owing y e a r . F o r a f u l l d i s c u s s i o n o f a s p u r io u s p l a y - 11 o f t h i s p r o d u c tio n , s e e W. J . L aw rence, The E liz a b e th a n ay house and O th e r S t u d i e s . ( S tr a tf o r d - u p o n -A v o n : S h a k e s- a r e Head P r e s s , Second S e r i e s , 1 9 1 3 ), p p . 7 4 -7 7 . 66 Op. c i t . . p . 3 . ^7 Hazlitt, pp. cit., p. 110 300 K in g 's command, Lacy now a c t s i n s t e a d o f C lu n . I n th e d an c e , th e t a l l d e v i l ' s a c t i o n was v ery p r e t t y .® ^ gain h e , q u i t e a t c r o s s c u r r e n t s w ith th e m u l t i t u d e , e x - r e s s e d h i s d i s a p p r o v a l , b u t t h a t was h a r d ly enough to stem le t i d e o f p o p u la r it y # The p la y c o n tin u e d to be r e v iv e d , id Pepys saw i t a g a in on Ja n u a ry 23, 1667, w ith N e ll G-wyn 3 C e l i a . I t i s known, to o , t h a t The Humorous L ie u te n a n t IB p ro d u c e d a g a in on J a n u a r y 2, 1685 and i n 1697, a t w hich Lme a new e d i t i o n was p u b lis h e d # As l a t e a s F e b ru a ry 22, P'l^, i t was r e v iv e d a t D rury L a n e . 7® I t c a n n o t be d e n ie d , o f c o u r s e , t h a t p la y s c o n t a i n - ig v u l g a r i t y an d o b s c e n ity w ere p ro d u c e d th ro u g h o u t th e 3 rio d . R oger B o y le, th e E a r l o f O r r e r y , was known a s a ? i t e r o f t r a g e d i e s , b u t on o c c a s io n he d id w r i t e come- Les.7^ I f Henry S a v ile i s to be b e l i e v e d , one o f th o s e ; c a s io n s was t h a t w h ich p ro d u c e d The Widow. May 4 , 1665, ?esumably e i t h e r a t th e K in g 's o r th e D u k e's H o u s e . 72 P e p y s, p p . c l t ^ . V. 1, p . 6 1 9 . Ito id . . V. 2, p p . 4 0 2 -4 0 3 . H a z l i t t , og. P i t . . p . 110. I n a d d i t i o n to th e s e it e s i t was p ro d u c e d t h r e e tim e s a t W h ite h a ll from F e b ru - *y 10, 1686, t o F e b ru a ry 2 7 , I 6 8 8 . See N i c o l l , R e s to r a - Lon Drama, p p . 3 1 2 -3 1 3 . 71 Summers, A B ib lio g r a p h y o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n Drama. >. o i t . . p . 2 9 . 7 2 S a v i l e C o rre s p o n d e n c e . L e t t e r s to an d from Henry 301 .th o u g h th e p la y was n o t p r i n t e d an d th e m a n u s c rip t h a s îen l o s t , 73 S a v ile w ro te to h i s b r o t h e r , G eorge, l a t e r i r l o f H a li f a x : I am new ly come from my L ord o f O r r e r y 's new p la y c a l l e d The Widow, whose c h a r a c t e r you w i l l r e c e i v e from b e t t e r h a n d s . I w i l l o n ly say t h a t one p a r t o f i t i s th e humour o f a man t h a t h a s a g r e a t n eed to go to th e c lo s e s t o o l , w here t h e r e a r e su c h in d e c e n t p o s t u r e s a s would n e v e r be s u f f e r e d upon any s ta g e b u t o u r s , w hich h a s q u i t e tu r n e d th e stom ach o f so squ eam ish a man a s I am, t h a t am u se d to s e e n o th in g upon a t h e a t r e t h a t m ight n o t a p p e a r in th e r u e l l e o f a f i n e la d y . ►viously, t h i s was th e s o r t o f sc en e t h a t gave th e H e s to r- îio n comedy i t s r e p u t a t i o n f o r v u l g a r i t y and o b s c e n ity , m ry S a v ile c a l l e d h im s e lf a “sq u e am ish m a n ,“ b u t i t i s iown74 t h a t he was a c l o s e f r i e n d o f R o c h e s te r , an d a s one r th e a c t u a l “r a k e s " o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n t h e r e i s no v a l i d jason to assum e t h a t he was r e a l l y sq u e am ish i n m a tte r s o f ix an d c o r r u p t l i v i n g i n g e n e r a l . N o n e th e le s s , he f e l t em ir r a s s e d to s e e t h i s s o r t o f t h i n g p o r t r a y e d on th e s t a g e . S in c e so l i t t l e i s known o f t h i s p l a y , h ow ever, i t L vile, E s q ., W illia m D u ra n t C ooper, e d i t o r , (The Camden ►ciety, 1 8 5 6 ), p . 4 . L e t t e r from H enry to b r o t h e r George 73 sum m ers, A B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, o p , t . , p . 30 . See a l s o H arb ag e, A n n a ls o f E n g lis h Drama, Û 128-129. “ ■ 74 See The R o c h e s te r - S a v ile L e t t e r s 1 6 7 1 -1 6 8 0 . John r o l d W ilso n , e d i t o r , ( Columbus: The Ohio S t a t e ü n i v e r - ty P r e s s , 1941 ). ay be assum ed t h a t i t was h a r d ly s u c c e s s f u l , 75 s p i t e f h i s p o p u l a r i t y a s a w r i t e r o f t r a g e d y ,76 th e E a r l o f O r- 3ry may v e ry w e l l have m is se d h i s t h i r d - n i g h t r e c e i p t s f o r ÏS Widow. I I I . FLAYS OF DRYDEN In h i s e a r l y w o rk s, Dryden was e v i d e n tl y f e e l i n g h i s ly. H is f i r s t p la y was a c o a rs e a n d in d e c e n t comedy o f m n e rs o f a s o r t , w h ich f a i l e d ; h i s se c o n d was a q u i t e > ral tra g i-c o m e d y w hich was n o t e s p e c i a l l y s u c c e s s f u l . ; w ould be d i f f i c u l t to e s t a b l i s h in e i t h e r c a s e , no d o u b t, la t th e m o ral q u a l i t y o f th e p la y h ad a n y th in g to do w ith :s t h e a t r i c a l s u c c e s s . The W ild G a ll a n t was p r e s e n te d "w ith o u t s u c c e s s ," it Lady G a s tle m a in e , whose in f lu e n c e was th e n g r e a t e s t a t » u rt, an d whose p a l a t e , no d o u b t, r e l i s h e d th e c o a r s e n e s s id i n d e c e n c ie s , p o s s i b ly c a u se d th e p la y to be "more th a n ice p e rfo rm e d b e f o r e C h a rle s by h i s own command."77 B ak er 75 The p la y was n o t p r i n t e d an d was n o t in c lu d e d in t h e r o f L a n g b a in e * s e d i t i o n s o f th e D ram atic P o e t s . See immers, A B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama. o p . o i t . , 30 . 76 G e n e s t, p p . c i t . . V. 1, p . 53. 77 D ryden, W orks, S i r W a lte r S c o t t , e d i t o r , s a y s th e r s t p e rfo rm a n c e was a t th e T h e a tre R oyal in Vere S t r e e t , b ru a ry 5. 1663. 303 l i d o f Dryden* s f i r s t p la y t h a t : He began w i t h no happy a u g u r ie s ; f o r h i s p e rfo rm a n c e was so much d is a p p ro v e d , t h a t he was c o m p e lle d t o r e c a l l i t , an d change i t from i t s im p e rfe c t s t a t e t o th e form i n w hich i t now a p p e a r s , an d w h ich i s y e t s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f e c t i v e t o v i n d i c a t e th e c r i t i c s . 78 le W ild G a lla n t was r i d i c u l e d by V i l i e r s i n The R e h e a r s a l . i c a l l e d th o s e p a r t e w here t h e p l o t s to o d s t i l l w h ile two l a r a c t e r s w ere show ing t h e i r d e x t e r i t y o f r e p a r t e e " p r i z e - .g h ts o f w i t . "79 When Pepys saw The R i v a l L a d ie s on A ugust 4 , 1 6 6 4 , he t i l e d i t "a v e r y in n o c e n t and m ost p r e t t y w i t t y p l a y . "90 tin t s b u ry sa y s Pepys was c o r r e c t f o r w h ile The W ild G a lla n t .d, p a n d e r " to low t a s t e s by c o a rs e la n g u a g e and in d e c e n t Leas," The R iv a l L a d ie s h as v e r y l i t t l e t h a t can be c a l l e d a r s e and in d e c e n t.® ^ S c o tt c a l l s th e p l o t in v o lv e d an d p r o b a b le . 92 D ryden*8 e x p e d ie n t o f h a n d in g o u t p r i n t e d b i l l s D avid E rs k in e B a k e r, B io g ra p h ie D r ^ a t i c a . c o n t i n - d by I s a a c R eed and S tep h en Jo n e s t o 1811 (London: Longman d o t h e r s ) . V o l. 3 , p . 409. D ryden, W orks. S c o t t 's e d i t i o n , o p . o i t . , V o l. 1 , 66. P e p y s, 02# c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 948. D ryden, W orks. o p . o i t , . , V o l. 1 , p . 128. 9^ T his p l a y was p ro d u c e d f i r s t a t D rury Lane in May, 6 4 . See Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, 5 6 . 304 jf o r e th e b e g in n in g o f p e rfo rm a n c e s o f The I n d ia n Em peror l a tin g t h a t t h e p l a y was a s e q u e l t o The I n d ia n Queen was .d ic u le d in B u ck in g h am 's R e h e a r s a l . ®3 N o n e th e le s s , i t , a s ► 1 1 a s The I n d ia n Q ueen, was v e r y s u c c e s s fu l* ® ^ I t was so ic c e s s f u l t h a t from t h e tim e o f i t s p e rfo rm a n c e Dryden was ; th e to p o f t h e l i s t o f R e s t o r a t i o n p o e ts .® 5 The tre m e n u s p o p u l a r i t y o f The In d ia n Emperor w ith th e r e a d in g id ie n ce i s a t t e s t e d by t h e g r e a t number o f p u b lis h e d i t i o n s ru n n in g th ro u g h o u t t h e p e r i o d . W hile th e e x a c t m ber o f r e v i v a l s h as n o t b e e n d e f i n i t e l y e s t a b l i s h e d , :ta n t docum ents show p e rfo rm a n c e s when r o y a l t y was p r e s e n t L J a n u a r y 22, an d November 1 1 , 1667, J a n u a r y 20, 1 668, and ,y 1 2 , 1 6 7 4 , an d t h e r e can b e l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t t h e p l a y t o n ly c o n tin u e d t o be r e a d e x t e n s i v e l y b u t a l s o t o be o d u ced i n th e t h e a t r e d u r in g th e e n t i r e R e s t o r a t i o n ®3 Act I , sc e n e 2 , p* 4 6 , i n B r i t i s h D ra m a tis ts from yden t o S h e r id a n . George H. N e t t i e t o n a n d A rth u r E. C a se, I t o r s T N e w York: Houghton M i f f l i n Company, 1939) # Bayes ys t h a t he w i l l i n s i n u a t e t h e p l o t i n t o t h e b o x e s . ®^ D ryden, W orks, S c o t t 's e d i t i o n , o p * c i t . . Vol* 1, 7 0 . Howard, w i t h whom D ryden w ro te The I n d ia n Q ueen, p t t h e t i t l e p a g e f o r h im s e lf , b u t D ryden*s fame was r e a d y su ch t h a t i t s h o r t l y became known t h a t he was c o - t h o r . ®5 L oc* c i t . The I n d ia n E k p e ro r was s p o n s o re d by n e . D uchess o f Monmouth, who was D ryden*s " f i r s t a n d b e s t t r o n e s s •" 305 *a.®6 The bom bast and h e r o i c c o u p le ts e v i d e n t l y w ere n o t ► torrents b u t r a t h e r s e rv e d a s a t t r a c t i o n s to th e a u d i t o r s ‘ t h e l a t e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y . Dryden * s n e x t m ost p o p u la r tr a g e d y i n p o i n t o f number ‘ p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s was T v ra n n ic k L ove, o r . The R oyal i r t y r . ®7 may h ave b ee n a c t u a l l y even more p o p u la r in 8 f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i o n b e c a u s e , a lth o u g h t h e r e i s no d e f i n - e s ta te m e n t a s t o th e e x a c t l e n g t h o f r u n o f The I n d ia n ip e r o r . a s shown ab o v e , i t h a s b een d e te r m in e d th r o u g h la m in a tio n o f a C hancery s u i t t h a t T y ra n n ic k Love was a c te d b o u t 1 4 days t o g e t h e r " and " t h e i r s a i d House a l l th e s a i d ' d a y s was v e r y f u l l , th e P i t Boxes an d o t h e r P la c e s t h e r e - b e in g th ro n g e d w ith S p e c ta to rs." ® ® The r e c e i p t s w ere r e th a n d o u b le d , and th u s t h e p la y becam e one o f t h e m ost c c e s s f u l o f a l l D ryden*s w orks an d , in d e e d , o f t h e w h o le s t o r a t i o n p e rio d .® 9 86 Downes, o p . c i t . . p . 127* By 1709 t h i s p l a y had ne i n t o t e n e d i t i o n s "and was lo n g m ost p o p u la r in th e l e a t r e . " I t was r e v iv e d aga.in a t Goodman * s F i e l d s , J a n u a r y k , 1 734. See N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p p . 305» 3 0 6 , 307. ®7 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, o p . t.. , p . 57. T y ra n n ic k Love h a d sev en e d i t i o n s to 1702 lile The In d ia n Em peror had n in e to 1 7 0 3 . The fo im e r was o d u ce d f i r s t a t D rury Lane i n J u n e , 1669* ® ® L e s l i e Hot so n , Commonwealth a n d R e s to r a ti o n S ta g e am b rid g e : H a rv a rd U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 8 ), p p . 250-253* ®9 Downes, o p . cit.. p. 131. From Summers* e d i t i o n o f Downes, i t can be d e te rm in e d lat t h i s p la y was r e v iv e d a t l e a s t f i v e tim e s f o llo w in g i t s • i g l n a l p r e s e n t a t i o n in 1 6 6 9 .9 0 Thus, i t can be se e n t h a t lis h e r o i c t r a g e d y was p o p u la r w i t h a l l d e c a d e s o f R e st o r a - .on a u d ie n c e s — a s tr o n g i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e r e was a ► tention o f t h e t a s t e f o r s u c h p la y s from b e g in n in g t o en d , id t h a t i f th e a u d ie n c e h ad h ad a c h o ic e , i t w ould have k e n many more o f su c h p l a y s . On A ugust 1 5 , 1667 Pepys and h i s w if e a tte n d e d t h e ke * 8 T h e a tre w h ere th e y saw The F e ig n In n o c e n c e , o r S i r M a rtin M a r a ll, a p l a y made by my L o rd Duke o f N e w c a stle , b u t a s ev ery b o d y s a y s , c o r r e c t e d by D ryden. I t i s th e m ost e n t i r e p ie c e o f m i r t h , a c o m p le te f a r c e from one end t o t h e o t h e r , t h a t c e r t a i n l y was e v e r w r i t . I n e v e r la u g h e d so in a l l my l i f e , an d a t v e r y good w it' t h e r e i n , n o t f o o l i n g . The h o u se f u l l , a n d in a l l t h i n g s o f m ig h ty c o n te n t t o m e.91 u s , t h e t r a n s l a t i o n by t h e Duke o f N e w c a stle o f M o lie re *s E to u r d i p lu s D ryden*s a d a p t a t i o n , w ith t h e i n c l u s i o n o f n t s from P h i l i p p e Q u in a u lt * s L*Amant i n d i s c r e t . o u , l e i t r e é t o u r d i , becam e a f a v o r i t e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n I b i d . . p . 1 2 9 . T hese r e v i v a l s w ere 167 7 , I 6 8 6 , 9 4 , and 1 7 0 2 . I t was a l s o r e v iv e d on May 1 8 , 1676. c o l l . R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 3 0 8 . An i n t e r e s t i n g s u p p o s i- on may be made betw een The I n d ia n B a p e ro r and T y ra n n ic k y e . I f th e l a t t e r w ere r e v i v e d f i v e d i f f e r e n t tim e s r i n g t h e e r a w h ile h a v in g se v e n e d i t i o n s , i t seems reaso n - l e t o e x p e c t t h e fo rm e r t o h av e had s i x o r sev en s e p a r a t e e d u c tio n s f o r i t s n in e e d i t i o n s . 9 1 Pepys, op. c i t ., August 1 6 , 1667, V ol. 2 , p . 6 2 6 . 307 ; a g e . 92 Downes w r i t e s t h a t " T h is , and Love In a T ub, g o t le company more money th a n any p r e c e d in g comedy."93 Lthough th e r e i s no d e f i n i t e s ta te m e n t a s to th e l e n g t h o f in, t h e p la y was su c h a f a v o r i t e t h a t i t was u se d i n s t e a d " a new p la y to open th e f i n e new t h e a t r e i n D o rs e t G arden I November 9 , 1 6 7 1 -9 4 i t " c o n t i n u ’d A c tin g 3 Days ►gather, w ith a f u l l A udience ea ch Day; n o tw ith s ta n d i n g i t id b e e n A cted 30 Days b e f o r e in L i n c o l n * s - I n n - F i e l d s , and )ove 4 tim e s a t C o u r t . "^3 in c lu d in g th e p e rfo rm a n c e s a t u r t , th e s e f i g u r e s show t h a t t h e p la y m ust have a v e ra g e d ► proximately e i g h t p e rfo rm a n c e s each y e a r d u rin g i t s f i r s t u r y e a r s — a re m a rk a b le s u c c e s s in t h a t tim e . T here w ere f i v e e d i t i o n s o f th e p l a y betw een th e 92 Downes, o p . o i t . , p . 195* The p l a y was e n t e r e d in e S t a t i o n e r * 8 R e g i s t e r on Ju n e 2 4 , 1668, a s w r i t t e n by th e k e . S in c e Dryden had a c o n t r a c t to w r i t e f o r t h e T h e a tre y a l , and s in c e t h i s p la y was p ro d u ced a t th e Duke’ s House, p r o b a b ly was q u i t e w i l l i n g to l e t t h e Duke ta k e c r e d i t r t h e p la y a t th e moment. No d o u b t, to o , h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n r th e p a tro n a g e o f h i s n o b le f r i e n d had som ething t o do t h i t . 93 I b i d *, p . 28. D o u b tle ss th e p r e s e n c e o f t h e two mous co m ed ian s, Jam es Nokes a n d Cave U n d e r h ill had some- in g to do w ith t h e g r e a t s u c c e s s o f th e p l a y . T hese two r e t h e f a v o r i t e com edians o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n . 94 Ibia. . p. 3 1 . 9-5 L oc. P i t . I t l a assum ed, o f c o u r s e , t h a t th o s e i r t y p e rfo rm a n c e s w ere s p r e a d o v er th e s l i g h t l y m ore th a n u r - y e a r p e r io d b etw een i t s o r i g i n a l p e rfo rm a n c e and th e e n in g o f D o rset G arden in 1671- 3 0 8 Lme o f i t s f i r s t p u b l i c a t i o n , 1668, and 1 6 9 8 ,9 6 an d i t may 3 assum ed t h a t r e v i v a l s o f th e p la y c o n tin u e d th r o u g h o u t le c e n tu r y . Jam es I I commanded i t f o r a p e rfo rm a n c e a t l i t e h a l l on O c to b e r 2 0 , 1 6 8 6 .9 7 Nhen i t i s r e c a l l e d t h a t l i s a d a p t a t i o n from M o lie re was "v e ry good w it . . . , n o t ) o l i n g , " i t can b e se e n t h a t th e t a s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e may )t h av e been a s d e p ra v e d a s i t has b een s t a t e d . When The C onquest o f G ran ad a was p r e s e n t e d , a s i t was ? e q u e n tly a s a p a r t o f th e T h e a tre R oyal r e p e r t o r y , 98 th e ;own th ro n g e d t o s u f f o c a t i o n th e same h o u s e . "99 T h at th e .ay was m ounted w i t h "v e ry g l o r i o u s s c e n e s and p e r s p e c - v e s , " was no d o u b t an ad d ed a t t r a c t i o n t o t h e p o t e n t i a l id ie n c e o f th e t i m e . T h e b o rro w in g s from many o t h e r ►urces t o form t h i s ro m a n tic p la y a p p a r e n t l y d id n o t i n t h e ►ast a d v e r s e ly a f f e c t i t s a u d ie n c e a p p e a l .1 0 1 The " r u l i n g Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, op. j t . , p# 56 . These w ere I 6 ë 8 , iS ^B , I 6 9I , 1^97- 97 A lla r d y c e N i c o l l , A H is to r y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Dram a, lir d e d i t i o n , (C am bridge U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 ^ 0 ), p . 313* 9 8 DQvnes, O P . o i t . . p p . 14-15• 99 S h a d w e ll, W orks, Summers* e d i t i o n . V ol. 1 , p . i x . ^00 L oc. c i t . 191 L a n g b a in e , R e v is e d e d i t i o n , o p . c i t . , p p . 4 3 -4 4 . n g b a in e and G ild o n , in t h e i r v a lu a b le b u t i r r i t a t i n g w ork, ► em t o be m a in ly i n t e n t upon showing b o rro w in g s o r a s th e y 309 m tim e n ta o f lo v e and honour a r e c a r r i e d to th e m ost i s s i o n a t e e x tra v a g a n c e " i n b o th p a r t s o f t h i s p l a y , 1 9 2 ^nd 1 o r d e r t h a t th e y m ight be in tr o d u c e d to th e p u b lic w i t h a > lem nity c o rr e s p o n d in g in a l l r e s p e c t s t o m odels o f rhym ing 'a g e d y , th e y w ere d e d ic a te d t o t h e Duke o f York and p r e f - 5ed b y an "E ssay upon H e ro ic P la y s . "193 An id e a o f t h e e x a lte d form of th e p la y may be g a in e d 1 p a r t from a s p e e c h by A lm anzor made to L yndaraxa: F a i r th o u g h you a r e As summer m orn in g s an d y o u r e y e s more b r i g h t Than s t a r s t h a t tw in k le on a w i n t e r 's n ig h t; Though you have e lo q u e n c e to warm a n d move Cold age an d f a s t i n g h e r m its i n t o lo v e ; Though A lm ahide w ith s c o r n rew ard s my c a re Y et th a n t o change ' t i e n o b le r t o d e s p a i r . My l o v e 's my s o u l and t h a t from f a t e i s f r e e , ’ Tie t h a t unchanged an d d e a t h l e s s p a r t o f m e . 194 *ten p r e f e r to te rm them " t h e f t s ^ and " p la g ia r is m s " from ;h er w r i t e r s to th e n e g l e c t o f p e r t i n e n t comment on th e .ays th e m s e lv e s . As t h e i r w ork v e r y p l a i n l y shows, t h e r e ► re so many b o rro w in g s a m o i ^ a l l w r i t e r s o f th e tim e t h a t le a tte m p t to "ex p o se" a l l th e t h e f t s becom es f u t i l e and 'en r i d i c u l o u s ; j u s t how r i d i c u l o u s may b e se e n from an [a m in a tio n o f th e item on The C onquest o f G ranada w here no ÎSS th a n tw e n ty " s o u r c e s " a r e shown a s f u r n i s h i n g th e . f f e r e n t i n c i d e n t s o f th e p l o t . Such b o rro w in g s w ere j t a b l i s h e d p r a c t i c e . B a k e r, B io g ra p h ie D ra m a tic a , V o l. 2 , >. 1 2 0 -1 2 1 , s a y s Dryden s h o u ld be commended f o r h i s s u c - ►saful w eaving t o g e t h e r o f t h e s e e le m e n ts . 192 The C onquest o f G ranada was composed i n two p a r t s •e s e n te d on a l t e r n a t e days a s was a l s o The S ieg e o f R h o d es. 193 D ryden, W orks. V o l. 1 , p . 96. I b id ., Vol* 4, p . 1 7 4 . Act III, scene 3* 3 1 0 * t h i s s ta n z a S a in ts b u r y h a s w r i t t e n , "The a u d ie n c e t h a t le e re d t h i s was n o t wholly vile. 195 And y e t t h i s was i n a .me when men and women w ere su p p o se d t o h av e b o a s te d o f l e i r i n f i d e l i t i e s . The C onquest o f G ranada "met w i t h g r e a t Lccess" w henever p e r f o r m e d # 1 9 6 Summers w r i t e s o f t h i s p la y : T here can b e l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t t h i s i s th e g r e a t e s t a n d in many ways th e m ost t y p i c a l o f a l l rhymed h e r o ic t r a g e d ie s # The i n t e r e s t n e v e r f l a g s from t h e commence m ent t o th e f i n i s h ; t h e i n c i d e n t s a r e p o s s i b l e , and in d e e d p r o b a b le , a t so h e a te d a tim e o f s ie g e a n d w ar; t h e v e r s e i s e x q u i s i t e l y b e a u t i f u l , a n d even i f t h e r e be e x tra v a g a n c e s t h e s e a r e n o b le and f i n e l y c o n c e iv e d . Upon t h e s ta g e t h i s p ie c e m et w i t h triu m p h a n t s u c c e s s , 197 e ly n saw th e p l a y e a r l y in F e b r u a ry , 1 6 ? 1 , an d on th e .n th o f t h a t m onth he w ro te : I saw th e g r e a t b a l l d a n c e d by th e Queen and d i s t i n g u is h e d l a d i e s a t W h ite h a ll T h e a tre . Next day was a c te d t h e r e th e fam ous p l a y , c a l l e d The S ie g e o f G ra n a d a . two d a y s a c te d s u c c e s s i v e l y ; t h e r e w ere in d e e d v e r y g l o r i o u s s c e n e s and p e r s p e c t i v e s , t h e work o f M r. S t r e e t e r who w e l l u n d e r s ta n d s i t . 198 195 George S a in t s b u ry , Jo h n Dryden (London: M acm illan id Company, 1 8 8 1 ), p . 51. B a k e r, B io g ra n h ia D ra m a tic a . o p . c i t . , p p . 1 2 0 - ^97 Downes, op. c i t . . p p . 1 4 0 -1 4 1 . 108 Jo h n E v e ly n , D ia r y . A uston Dobson, e d i t o r jondon: M acm illan and Company, 1 9 0 6 ), V o l. 2 , p . 3 1 9 . The :wo d ay s a c te d s u c c e s s iv e l y " no d o u b t r e f e r s to th e p e r - ►rmance o f th e two p a r t s o f t h e p la y on s u c c e s s iv e d a y s . ; i s p o s s i b l e b u t im p ro b a b le t h a t b o th p a r t s w ould h ave sen p e rfo rm e d on b o th d a y s . T h is p l a y c o n tin u e d i n th e r e p e r t o r y o f th e t h e a t r e I t i l w e l l i n t o t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y , b u t by th e end o f le r e i g n o f Queen Anne i t seems to have d is a p p e a r e d . The ► St o f s ta g in g s u c h a p r o d u c tio n w as, o f c o u r s e , v e r y ' e a t , and a s one c r i t i c p u t s i t , " p u b lic t a s t e was b e g i n - .ng to ch an g e, n o t f o r th e b e t t e r . "^99 T hat th e p l a y was » s u c c e s s f u l i s a c r e d i t t o t h e t a s t e a s w e ll a s t o t h e > rals o f t h e a u d ie n c e o f th e tim e . The p o e t r y i s b e a u t i - lL, and th e p la y ends w ith a u n i v e r s a l m a s s a c re o f th e e v i l l a r a c t e r s an d th e s a v in g o f t h e t r u e l o v e r s . " A lto g e th e r : and th e c r i t i c a l m a tte r w h io h acco m p an ies i t , may b e k e n a s a g ra n d v i n d i c a t i o n o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s . " H 9 D avenant*s t h e o r y e x p r e s s e d i n h i s p r e f a c e to n d i b e r t . . . P r i n c e s and n o b le s , b e in g re fo rm e d and made a n g e l i c a l by t h e h e r o i c , w i l l b e p re d o m in a n t l i g h t s , w h ich th e p e o p le can n o t ch o o se b u t u s e f o r d i r e c t i o n , a s gloworms t a k e i n and k e e p th e s u n 's beams t i l l th e y s h in e and make day t o th e m s e lv e s , m es n o t f i t w e ll w ith a n o th e r o f h is s ta te m e n ts : "The ^99 Downes, o p . c i t . . p. 141. P e rh a p s one o f t h e s t g r e a t r e v i v a l s o f t h i s p la y was t h a t a t D rury Lane on r c h 5» 1 7 0 9 * At t h a t tim e P o w e ll a c te d A lm anzor; W ilk s, imyn; M il ls A bdelm eleoh; H usband, Mahomet B o a b d e lin ; M rs. l i g h t , L y n d araz a; and M rs. R o g e rs, A lm ahide. ^^9 H i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 1 0 4 . I l l W illia m D a v e n a n t, Go n d i b e r t ; An H e ro ic k ► A m (London: Thomas Newcomb. l é < l ) . The n r e f a o e . n . So - 3 1 2 >mmon crow d, o f whom we a r e h o p e l e s s , we d e s e r t . "^^2 jn > ite o f th e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e t h e a t r e w i t h t h e c o u r t , had ; n o t b een f o r some s u p p o rt from th e c i t y , i t i s h a r d ly .fcely t h a t two t h e a t r e s w ould have re m a in e d open and :t r a c t i v e a s lo n g a s th e y d i d . The a p p e a l i n th e h e r o i c .ays to v i r t u e an d j u s t i c e m ust have h a d , a s D avenant su g - ►sts i n h i s p r e f a c e , an i n f l u e n c e f o r g o o d , and th e ► ectacular a n d h e r o i c e le m e n ts w ere no d o u b t in s t r u m e n t a l I k e e p in g them c o n t i n u a l l y p o p u la r o v e r a p e r io d o f many ►ars • A ureng-Z ebe was a p l a y o f t h i s s o r t , a lth o u g h w i t h as bom bast th a n m ost and m ore freedom o f th e rhymed v e r s e I w h ic h many l i n e s c a r r y o v e r . ^ ^ 4 The p l o t i s c o m p lic a te d t h many lo v e s i n sc e n e s o f much f i g h t i n g and g r e a t e x c i t e n t an d a n x i e t y . ^^5 I t was s a i d to have " th e a p p e a ra n c e o f Bonamy D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n T ra g e d y , 1660-1720 x f o r d : The C la re n d o n P r e s s , 1 9 2 9 ), p - 1 8 . 113 Downes, ojo. c i t . , p . 129- 114 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 1 0 5 . 115 I b i d . , p . 24. N i c o l l ’8 s u g g e s tio n o f i n c e s t i n i s p la y seems s c a r c e l y a c c e p t a b l e . The d e f i n i t i o n o f th e rm s t a t e s t h a t i t a p p l i e s t o s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e o f p e r s o n s o c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to p e r m it m a r r ia g e , f o r exam ple, b r o t h e r d s i s t e r , f a t h e r an d d a u g h te r , m o th e r an d so n . T h ere i s s u c h r e l a t i o n s h i p in t h i s p la y ; th e lo v e o f Nourm ahal f o r r s t e p - s o n , A u ren g -Z eb e, w h ile d e s p i c a b l e , p e r h a p s , i s n o t c e s tu o u s . The s i t u a t i o n i s a n a lo g o u s t o t h a t b etw e en a e d r a and H i p p o lit u s i n R a c in e ’ s P h a e d ra . 313 îln g th e m ost e l a b o r a t e o f a l l th e dram as o f D r y d e n , b u t : was s a i d a l s o t h a t i t w ould a lm o st a p p e a r t h a t " th e ith o r had b een t e n t a t i v e l y f e e l i n g h i s way to w a rd s t h e 'e a t e r l i b e r t y o f A ll f o r L o v e ."1 1 7 a l l e v e n ts t h i s is t g r e a t rhym ing tr a g e d y o f D ryden*s " k e p t th e s t a g e f o r ► out h a l f a c e n t u r y ," and d e m o n s tr a te d o n ce more th e p r e f - *enee o f th e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t p e r io d .H ® I f Dryden h a d w r i t t e n m ore th in g s " f o r h i m s e l f ," h i s 'e s e n t day fame p e rh a p s w o u ld be even g r e a t e r . H 9 Among .8 d ra m a tic w o rk s , th e p la y t h a t he " w r it" f o r h i m s e l f , tth o n y and C l e o p a t r a , o r A ll f o r L o v e, now I s c o n s id e r e d .s m a s t e r p i e c e . 129 S c o tt s t a t e s t h a t t h e p l a y was r e c e iv e d r t h e p u b lic " w ith u n i v e r s a l a p p la u s e ," a n d a c c o r d in g t o le P l a y e r s ' P e t i t i o n to th e L o rd C h a m b erlain B a k e r, B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic a , o p . c i t . . V o l. 11, 44. 117 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 1 0 5 ' 11® Downes, o p . c i t . , p p . 1 3 1 -1 3 2 . I t was f i r s t p r o - iced a t D rury Lane i n November, 1675 - One of th e l a s t ►rformances was a l s o a t D rury Lane in D ecem ber, 1721. 119 Bel.1ame, o p . c i t . , p . 101, q u o te s from D ryden' s *eface t o The A rt o f P a i n t i n g , "But i t ( The S p a n ish F r v a r ) L B g iv e n t o t h e p e o p le ; an d I n e v e r w r i t a n y th in g f o r s e l f b u t A nthony an d C l e o p a t r a . " 129 D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n T ra g ed y , p . 9 0 . I t c a n n o t Î c o n s id e r e d h i s t h e a t r i c a l m a s te r p ie c e a lth o u g h p e r h a p s i t i h i s h ig h p o i n t i n d r a m a tic l i t e r a t u r e . N i c o l l , îfito r a tlo n Drama. p . 1 1 0 . 314 . . • was o f s e r v i c e to th e a u t h o r 's f o r tu n e a s w e ll a s to h i s fa m e , a s he was p e r m it te d t h e b e n e f i t o f a t h i r d n i g h t , in a d d i t i o n t o h i s p r o f i t s a s a s h a r e r w ith t h e company.121 p u r p o r te d docum ent p u b lis h e d in a p e r i o d i c a l a lm o st one in d red f o r t y y e a r s l a t e r , how ev er, c a s t s some d o u b t on th e ‘e a t im m ediate s u c c e s s o f t h e t r a g e d y . 122 %t h a s b e e n isumed t h a t t h i s was th e f i r s t p e rfo rm a n c e a lth o u g h t h e r e ► em s t o be no d i r e c t e v id e n c e o f t h i s . In any c a s e , t h e ►asons f o r s m a ll a tte n d a n c e a t t h a t tim e have a l r e a d y b ee n ►vered in C h a p te r I I , p p . 6 2 e t se q .1 2 3 W hile B a k e r 's p u r i t a n i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n , t h a t D ryden L s made one f a u l t e q u a l to many by show ing th e *îromantic in ip o te n c e o f l o v e , " i s i n t e r e s t i n g , i t p r o b a b ly th ro w s no ip o r ta n t l i g h t on th e s u b j e c t o f th e o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e 's ► p re d a tio n o f t h e p l a y . 124 He c o n tin u e s h i s "serm on" by a t i n g t h a t in show ing t h i s "o m n ip o ten ce o f lo v e " D ryden i s lus p r e s e n t i n g t h a t a s l a u d a b l e an d w o rth y o f i m i t a t i o n 121 D ryden, W orks, S c o t t 's e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 184. c o l l . R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 294. 122 The T h e a t r i c a l I n q u i s i t o r a n d M onthly M ir r o r f o r l y , 181 6 , l i s t s th e r e c e i p t s f o r a p e rfo rm a n c e o f A ll f o r ve on W ednesday, December 1 2 , 1677. See N i c o l l , ► storation Drama, p . l 6 n . A lso se e a b o v e , p . 70. 123 The p e rfo rm a n c e m ig h t n o t h a v e eb e en th e f i r s t o f le o r i g i n a l s e r i e s , a lth o u g h N ic o ll shows i t to b e . ► storation Drama, p . 360. 124 B a k e r ,>B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic a , V o l. I I , p . 1 7 . 315 yhlGh, th ro u g h a l l a g e s , th e good have c e n s u r e d a s v i c i o u s , id t h e b ad d e s p is e d a s f o o l i s h . " Somewhat r e l a t e d to t h i s , p e r h a p s , i s th e r e f e r e n c e > c o n ju g a l f i d e l i t y d is c u s s e d by D avies an d by S c o t t . In s i t i n g o f th e p o i n t t h a t O c ta v ia i s a more im p o rta n t p e rs o n I D ryden' s p la y th a n i n S h a k e s p e a r e 's , S c o tt sa y s : She i s , h o w ev er, m ore c o l d and u n a m ia b le . . . But D ryden h im s e lf h a s in fo rm e d u s t h a t he was a p p re h e n s iv e th e j u s t i c e o f a w i f e 's c la im upon h e r h u sb an d w ould draw th e a u d ie n c e t o h e r s i d e , and l e s s e n t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e l o v e r a n d th e m i s t r e s s . He seem s a c c o r d in g ly to h av e s t u d i e d l y lo w e re d th e c h a r a c t e r o f th e i n j u r e d O c ta v ia , who, i n h e r c o n d u c t to w a rd s h e r h u sb a n d , shows much d u ty an d l i t t l e l o v e . . . .1 2 5 l i s i s a r a t h e r re m a rk a b le s ta te m e n t, to s a y th e l e a s t , ►ming from th e p r i n c i p a l p l a y w r ig h t, known f o r l i c e n t i o u s >medy a s w e ll a s f o r h e r o i c tr a g e d y , i n t h i s ag e so p u b l i - Lzed a s u t t e r l y p r o g l i g a t e . I f t h e a u d ie n c e c ra v e d i p i c i e r " and " s p i c i e r " f a r e , an d i f i t w ere so c o m p le te ly îp ra v e d i n t a s t e an d m o ra ls a s i t h as b e e n p a i n t e d , why lo u ld th e m ost fam ous o f a l l t h e i r a u t h o r s c o n c e rn h im s e lf I t h e l e a s t w i t h su c h t r i v i a a s th e r i g h t s o f a w ife w ith jr h u sb a n d . I f th e c r i t i c s have b een c o r r e c t who among th e ► ectators w ould h av e g iv e n a f i g f o r O c t a v i a 's r i g h t s a s ►posed to C l e o p a t r a 's ? A m ore l o g i c a l b e h a v io r t o c o in c id e ^^3 Dryden, Works. S c o t t 's e d itio n . V ol. 5, P. 311. 316 .t h t h e s t e r e o t y p e w ould h ave b e e n h o o ts . J e e r s , and c a t - L lls f o r O c ta v ia , and c h e e r s f o r C le o p a tr a . D avies c o n tin u e s th e p o i n t by w r i t i n g : S t i l l to a d d more w e ig h t to th e p e rfo rm a n c e , O c ta v ia was a s h o r t c h a r a c t e r o f a sc e n e o r tw o , i n w h ich sh e drew n o t o n ly r e s p e c t , b u t th e a f f e c t i n g a p p r o b a tio n o f t e a r s from t h e a u d ie n c e . 126 lu s, even th o u g h th e c h a r a c t e r o f th e w ronged w ife w ere ►ssened and h e r p a r t s h o r te n e d , she s t i l l drew b o th r e s p e c t id t e a r s from h e r a u d i t o r s . D ryden*s g r e a t e s t t r a g e d y k e p t t h e s ta g e f o r m ore lan a h u n d red y e a r s , and was r e v iv e d a g a in l e s s th a n t h i r t y ►are ago.127 «D ryden*s p l a y h a s a c o h e re n c e , a d i r e c t i o n ► one en d , i n a w o rd , a u n i t y , w hich we may w re s t from th e ih e rs , b u t w h ich th e y do n o t , l i k e h i s , com pel. «128 The id ie n ce o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n may have b ee n ev en more d i s c r i m - la tin g , to o , th a n th e y have b e e n s a i d to b e in th e p a s t . I n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w ith N a th a n a e l L e e , Dryden w ro te one ‘ h i s m ost s u c c e s s f u l p l a y s , th e tr a g e d y o f Oedipus.129 126 D a v ie s , op. c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 3 7 1 . 127 Downes, o p . c i t . , p p . 134-135* The p la y was ►vived i n London a t Covent G ard en , May, 179 0 . A B a th p la y - .11 f o r J a n u a ry 1 2 , 1818, an n o u n c es A ll f o r Love a s "n o t ïte d f o r t y y e a r s . " In M arch, 1922, Summers r e v iv e d th e .ay f o r "The P h o en ix " s o c i e t y . 128 D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n T ra g e d y . p . 90 . 1 2 9 Downes, o p . c i t . . t>. 3 7 . Downes s t a t e s t h a t 317 ;a o r i g i n a l te n - d a y ru n a t th e Duke*a T h e a tr e was among th e ►St l e n g th y o f a l l R e s t o r a t i o n p l a y s .130 Thomas B e t t e r t o n id h i s w ife to o k t h e r o l e s o f O edipus a n d J o c a s t a , an d ►wnes a f f ir m s t h a t i t "was A dm irably w e ll A cted; e s p e c i a l l y le p a r t s o f O edipus and J o c a s t a . " The p l a y "to o k p r o d ig - ►usly." I t h as b e e n c a l l e d "a v e ry e x c e l l e n t tr a g e d y , ►ing one o f th e b e s t e x e c u te d p ie c e s t h a t e i t h e r o f t h e two ► lebrated a u th o r s w ere c o n c e rn e d i n . . . .131 " Y e t," he ► ntinues, . . . th e c r i t i c s h av e J u s t l y fo u n d f a u l t w ith th e 'yden w ro te th e f i r s t two and Lee th e l a s t t h r e e a c t s , b u t immers, R o sc iu s A n g lic a n u s . p# 229, q u o te s Dryden h im s e lf ► show t h a t he " w r it th e F i r s t and T h ird A cta o f O e d ip u s . Id drew th e S c e n e ry o f t h e Whole P l a y . " T h u s, th e se c o n d , ►urth, and f i f t h w ere by L ee . Summers s t a t e s t h a t th e p la y 18 f i r s t p ro d u c e d a t D o rs e t G arden, p o s s i b l y i n J a n u a r y , >70. B a k e r, B io g r a p h ia D ra m a tic a , V o l. I I , p . 93» g iv e s ►cember, 1678, a s th e tim e o f f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i o n . The ‘o d u c tio n o f t h i s p la y i n D o rs e t G arden c a u s e d q u i t e a ir o r i n th e T h e a tre R oyal s i n c e Dryden a n d Lee w ere " th e ily p o e t s re m a in in g t o u s . " 1 3 0 Downes, o p . c i t . , p . 37* I f Downes* f i g u r e s a r e ► b e t r u s t e d , and t h e r e a r e none to s u p p la n t them , o n ly .ght p la y s h ad a lo n g e r ru n th a n Q edipus d u r in g th e e n t i r e ►riod. They w ere Tuke*s A d v e n tu re s o f F iv e H o u rs, 13 jrfo rm a n c e s s u c c e s s i v e l y ; K ing Henry th e V I I I , 1 5 , s u c c e a s - e l y ; The Dn p e r t i n e n t a , o r The S u lle n L o v e r s , 12 t o g e t h e r ; :T Solomon S i n g l e , 1 2 , t o g e t h e r ; The Woman Hade a J u s t i c e , k t o g e t h e r ; The S q u ire o f A l s a t i a , 1 3 t o g e t h e r ; Love f o r ► ve, 13 t o g e t h e r ; The M ourning B r i d e , 13 t o g e t h e r . The .g u re s f o r Dryden * s T y ra n n ic k L o v e, o r The R oyal M a r ty r , a s lown a b o v e , p . 305» w ere 14 d a y s . 1 3 1 B a k e r, B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic a , o p . c i t , . . V o l. 2 , 9 3 . 318 im p r o p r ie ty o f O edipus * a r e l i s h i n g an em brace from J o c a s t a , a f t e r he had q u i t t e d h i s crow n, and was gone t o s u c h e x tr e m ity o f d i s t r a c t i o n , a s t o have p u l l e d o u t h i s own e y e s . 1 3 2 iq u e s tio n a b ly t h e theme o f i n c e s t i s a p a r t o f any t r e a t - n t o f th e s t o r y o f Oedipus b e c a u s e , a f t e r a l l , t h a t i s th e lu n d a tio n o f th e o r i g i n a l a s S o p h o cles w ro te i t i n th e f t h c e n tu r y B. C. One c r i t i c , how ever, h a s t o go to su c h n g th s t o p ro v e h i s e a se o f im m o ra lity i n th e R e s t o r a t i o n le a tr e t h a t he w r i t e s , "In O edipus Dryden a g a in in tr o d u c e s le them e o f i h c e s t . . . " a s th o u g h th e s t o r y w ere o r i g i n a l t h Dryden and t h a t he was d ra g g in g i n t h e in c e s tu o u s r e l y a s a sop to th e tem p er o f th e tim e s . ^53 I t i s n o t t o be c o n te n d e d , o f c o u r s e , t h a t D ryden*s m e d ies w ere a l l f a i l u r e s . I t i s o f some p e r t i n e n c e to •eatm ent o f t h i s p ro b lem , h ow ever, t h a t h i s m ost s u c c e s s f u l Loc. o i t . I t w ould be j u s t a s r e a s o n a b le to gue h e r e t h a t O edipus was s e e k in g s o la c e i n th e arm s o f .3 m o th e r i n a tim e o f g r e a t s t r e s s a s t o make su c h a d i c u l o u s c r i t i c i s m t h a t he was e n jo y in g a f i n a l in c e s tu o u s ! b r a c e from h i s w i f e . 1 3 3 N i c o l l , R e a t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 4 . Such u n c r i t I ' Ll w r i t i n g as t h i s h a s b ee n one o f th e g r e a t e s t f a c t o r s in i t a b l i s h i n g th e t h e a t r e o f t h a t p e r io d i n a fram ew ork o f L C h s o r d i d p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t i t c o lo r e d t h e h i s t o r y o f th e L S titu tio n f o r many y e a r s . L ik e P u r ita n is m , i t h a s h e lp e d ► f i x th e s tig m a o f f r i v o l i t y and w o rse upon th e s t a g e so lat many r e s p e c t a b l e f a m i l i e s i n E ngland and A m erica "a v o id le p la y h o u s e a s th e y w ould a v o id a b r o t h e l . " See G eorge M. •ev e ly a n , E n g lan d Under th e S t u a r t s . V o l. 5» i n A H is to r y E n g la n d . S i r C h a rle s Oman, e d i t o r (London: M ethuen and T a / 1 4 f - 1 1 0 1 O ^ r-s H Q 319 .ays w ere t r a g e d i e s o r tr a g i- c o m e d ie s w h ile h i s m ost is u c c e a s f u l p la y s w ere com edies in w h ich t h e l i c e n t i o u s o r ilg a r and in d e c e n t e l® a e n ts w ere most out sta n d in g * 13^ An e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f one o f D ryden*s com edies Lioh was b o th s o p h i s t i c a t e d a n d m o ral an d a t th e same tim e ic c e s s f u l i s M a rria g e A 1^ Mode.^^^ A c c o rd in g to Summers lis p l a y a c h ie v e d a triumph** a t i t s f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i o n . * t h a t p r o d u c tio n , th e a c t i n g seems t o h av e b ee n t h e o u t- lan d in g f e a t u r e . ^ l a t e R e s t o r a t i o n a n d e a r l y ^ W hether o r n o t th e l e a s t s u c c e s s f u l com edies w ere L su c c e ssfu l b e c a u s e o f t h e i r g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e , o r b e c a u s e ' t h e i n d e c e n c ie s , o r b o th i s n a t u r a l l y a m a tte r o f c o n je o - ire among c r i t i c s . The f a c t re m a in s , how ever, t h a t th e la s t m o ral w ere g e n e r a l l y th e l e a s t s u c c e s s f u l . Among lese w ere The W ild G a l l a n t , The A s s ig n a tio n and Mr. m berham . 135 P ro d u ced a t L in c o ln * s Inn F i e l d s ab o u t E a s t e r , 7 2 , te m p o ra ry home o f K i l l i g r e w * s Company a f t e r t h e d e s - •u c tio n by f i r e o f th e T h e a tre R oyal in J a n u a r y o f t h a t la r. See Downes, p . 136. M ontague Summers, The P la y h o u se o f Pepys (New irk : The M acm illan Company, 1935)» p# 9 0 . He th o u g h t t h i s .ay was p ro b a b ly t h e f i r s t new one g iv e n a t L i n c o l n 's In n .e ld s by K illig re w * s Company. G entlem an*s M a g a z in e . F e b ru a ry , 1745, p . 99* In lis i s s u e an o ld man who w ro te t h a t he rem em bered t h e • i g i n a l p r o d u c tio n o f M a rria g e A l a Mode s e v e n t y - t h r e e la rs b e f o r e s t a t e d , **This comedy, a c t e d b y His M ajesty* s > rvants a t th e T h e a tre R oyal made i t s f i r s t a p p e a ra n c e w ith : t r a o r d i n a r y l u s t r e . . . I so le m n ly d e c l a r e t h a t you have sen no su c h a c t i n g , no n o t in any d e g re e , sin c e .* ' Among le c a s t , Downes, p . 13» w ere Mohun as R o d o p h il, an d B u rt a s Liam e de w ith M rs. M a rs h a ll a s D o ra lic e a n d M rs. Bout e l l a s .1 V » 4» IDT .r a T 'T *7 a a 320 g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y a c t o r o f t h e r o l e o f Palam ede In t h e p la y B “made a lm o st mad w ith Joy* a t t h e “e x t r a o r d i n a r y s u c - s s “ o f t h a t c o m e d y . ^38 I t i s t r u e t h a t by o u r p r e s e n t d ay s ta n d a r d s i n t h e e a t r e , much o f t h e d ia lo g u e o f t h i s comedy i s l i c e n t i o u s , n t a i n i n g a s c e n e i n Act IV t h a t " i s in d e c e n t even beyond y o f D ryden*s e a r l i e r o n e s . . . . “^39 ^he m ain them e o f e p l a y , a s w ith m ost R e s t o r a t i o n co m e d ie s, i s t h e " d u e l o f e s e x e s . “140 p e rh a p s a b r i e f c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f th e p l o t o f i s p l a y w i l l e s t a b l i s h i t s c h a r a c t e r b e t t e r . Palam ede h a s r e tu r n e d t o h i s own c o u n tr y , “S i c i l y , " t e r a g ra n d t o u r t h a t l a s t e d f i v e y e a r s an d im m e d ia te ly 1 1 s i n lo v e w i t h D o ra lic e — w if e o f h i s f r i e n d , R h o d o p h il. th e o t h e r h an d , R hodophil i s enam ored o f M e lan th a t o om P alam ede*s p a r e n t s a r e in th e p r o c e s s o f c o n t r a c t i n g p a i n m a r r ia g e . D o r a lic e , th e w if e , re s p o n d s f a v o r a b ly t o e a d v a n c e s o f Palam ede and w o u ld , w i t h th e p ro p e r o p p o r tu - t y , b e q u i t e happy t o c u c k o ld h e r h u sb a n d . M e la n th a , on lat Downes i s p r o b a b ly n o t c o r r e c t i n a s s i g n i n g Palam ede to i r t . He t h i n k s t h e F i r s t Q u a rto o f t h e p l a y i s more k e l y t o be r i g h t in l i s t i n g C h a rle s H art f o r th e p a r t . Loc. c i t . ^39 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p p . 2 1 8 -2 1 9 . 140 D obree, R e s to r a ti o n Comedy, p . 108. 321 le c o n t r a r y , i s i n d i f f e r e n t t o a n y th in g e x c e p t h e r d e s i r e become a member o f t h e m ost e l i t e g ro u p a t c o u r t . A f te r many a tte m p ts n e i t h e r Palam ede n o r R h o d o p h il i s l e to a c h ie v e h i s en d b e f o r e th e u l t i m a t e m a rria g e o f 1 a n t h a an d P alam ede. The f r i e n d s th e n a g r e e to l i v e g e t h e r i n a m ity in o r d e r t h a t l i f e may n o t be so t r o u b l e - me r a t h e r th a n , p e r h a p s , from any p a r t i c u l a r m o ra l o r h i c a l d e s i g n . I 4 l As Dobree p o i n t s o u t , many arg u m en ts in f a v o r o f : t r a - m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e propo u n d ed by Dryden w i t h :G o p tio n a l w i t , b u t he a l s o s t a t e s t h a t "Dryden d id n o t link i t p o s s i b l e t o r a t i o n a l i z e sex ; he knew t h a t lo v e v o lv e d je a l o u s y . "14^2 he c a u s e s Palam ede to s a y : Yet I m ust m a rry a n o t h e r , an d y e t I m ust lo v e t h i s : an d i f i t l e a d s me i n t o some l i t t l e in c o n v e n ie n c e s , as j e a l o u s i e s , a n d d u e l s , and d e a th , and so f o r t h ; y e t w h ile sw eet lo v e i s i n t h e c a s e . F o rtu n e do th y w o rs t !143 An e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f t h e s o r t o f sc en e t h a t c o u ld i t i l l a t e " an a u d ie n c e w ith s a t i r i c a l b a n t e r b etw een v a c i l - t i n g , i f m a r r ie d , l o v e r s an d y e t rem a in w i t h i n t h e bounds r e a s o n , i s t h a t i n w h ich R h o d o p h il and D o ra lic e coo t o ^41 A c o n d i t i o n w h ich , p e rh a p s u n f o r t u n a t e l y , e x i s t s t e n s i v e l y i n t h e co n te m p o ra ry s o c i a l l i f e o f t o d a y . 142 D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n Comedy. p p . 1 0 8 -1 0 9 . 143 M a rria g e A l a Mode, Act I , s c e n e 1 . 322 Lch o t h e r when th e y a r e b e in g o b s e rv e d an d s u lk and sn a p a t loh o t h e r when a l o n e . Rho. W hat, I s sh e gone? D or. Yes; and w ith o u t t a k i n g l e a v e . Rho. Then t h e r e 's enough f o r t h i s tim e . ( p a r t i n g from h e r ) Dor. Y es, s u r e , th e s c e n e 's d o n e, I ta k e i t . (T hey w alk c o n t r a r y ways on th e s ta g e ; h e , w i t h h i s hands i n h i s p o c k e ts , w h i s t l i n g ; sh e s in g in g a d u l l , m e la n c h o ly t u n e .) Rho. Pox o ' your d u l l tu n e , a man c a n 't t h i n k f o r you. Dor. Pox o ' yo u r damned w h i s t l i n g ; you can n e i t h e r be company t o me y o u r s e l f , n o r le a v e me to th e freedom o f my own f a n c y . Rho. W e ll, th o u a r t t h e most p ro v o k in g w if e i Dor. W e ll, th o u a r t t h e d u l l e s t h u sb a n d , th o u a r t n e v e r t o be p ro v o k e d . Rho. I was n e v e r th o u g h t d u l l , t i l l I m a r r ie d th e e ; and now th o u h a s w h e tte d me so lo n g , t i l l I have no edge l e f t . Dor. I s e e you in t h e h u s b a n d 's f a s h io n ; you r e s e r v e a l l your good humour f o r y o u r m i s t r e s s e s , and k e e p y o u r i l l f o r y o u r w iv e s . Rho. P r i t h e e le a v e me to my own c o g i t a t i o n s ; I am t h i n k i n g o v e r a l l my s i n s , t o f i n d f o r w h ich o f them i t was I m a r r ie d t h e e . D or. W hatever yo u r s i n w as, m in e 's th e p u n ish m e n t. Rho. My c o m fo rt i s , th o u a r t n o t im m o rta l; and when t h a t d iv in e d ay comes o f t h y d e p a r t u r e . I'm r e s o l v e d I ' l l make one H o ly -d ay more i n th e a lm a n a c , f o r th y sa k e . Dor. Ay, you had n eed make a H o ly -d a y f o r me, f o r I'm s u r e you have made me a m a r ty r . Rho. Then, s e t t i n g my v i c t o r i o u s f o o t upon t h y h e a d , i n th e f i r s t h o u r o f th y s i l e n c e , ( t h a t i s , th e f i r s t h o u r th o u a r t d e a d , f o r I d e s p a i r o f i t b e f o r e ) , I w i l l sw ear by th y g h o s t , an o a t h a s t e r r i b l e t o me a s s t y x i s t o t h e g o d s , n e v e r more to be i n d a n g e r o f th e b an e s o f m atrim ony. And I am r e s o lv e d t o m arry t h e v e ry same day th o u d i e s t , i f i t be b u t t o show how l i t t l e I'm c o n c e rn e d f o r th e e . 323 Rho. P r i t h e e , D o r a lic e , why do we q u a r r e l th u s a - d ay s? Ha? t h i s i s b u t a k in d o f h e a th e n i s h l i f e , and does n o t answ er t h e ends o f m a rr ia g e . . . Rho. I f o n ly th o u c o u l d 'a t make my e n jo y in g th e e b u t a l i t t l e l e s s e a s y ; o r a l i t t l e more unlaw f u l , th o u s h o u l d 's t se e w hat a te rm a g a n t l o v e r I w ould p ro v e . . . Dor. W e ll, s in c e th o u a r t a h u sb a n d , and w i l t be a h u sb a n d . I ' l l t r y i f I can f i n d o u t a n o t h e r I ' T is a p r e t t y tim e we women have o n ' t , to be made widow s, w h ile we a r e m a rr ie d . Our h u sb an d s t h i n k i t r e a s o n a b le to c o m p la in , t h a t we a r e t h e sam e, and t h e same t o them , when we have m ore r e a s o n t o co m p lain , t h a t th e y a r e n o t th e same to u s . 144 The c o n c lu s io n m ig h t, w i t h a s l i g h t m o d e rn iz a tio n of tra s e o lo g y , be t h a t o f many p la y s to d a y — c e r t a i n l y i t i s a s o r a l ." When R h o d o p h il and Palam ede m eet a f t e r l e a r n i n g lat e a c h has b e e n t r y i n g t o s e c u re th e o t h e r 's p r o p e r t y , ' ley a r e a b o u t t o draw i n d e f e n s e o f t h e i r honor when r a l i c e i n t e l l i g e n t l y s a y s : Dor. H o ld , h o ld ; a r e n o t you two a c o u p le o f mad f i g h t i n g f o o l s , t o c u t one a n o t h e r 's t h r o a t s f o r n o th in g ? P a l . How f o r n o th in g ? He c o u r ts t h e woman I m ust m a rry . Rho. And he c o u r ts you whom I have m a rr ie d . D or. But you can n e i t h e r o f you be J e a lo u s o f w hat you lo v e n o t. Rho. F a i t h I am J e a l o u s , and t h a t makes mf p a r t l y s u s p e c t t h a t I lo v e you b e t t e r th a n I t h o u g h t . Dor. P is h ! a m ere J e a lo u s y o f h o n o u r. Rho. Gad, I am a f r a i d t h e r e ’s so m e th in g e l s e i n ' t ; f o r Palam ede h a s w i t , and i f he lo v e s you, t h e r e 's so m e th in g more in ye th a n I have 144 Ma,T»r»1 a era A l a Mode. Act I I I . aoene 1. fo u n d ; some r i c h m in e, t h a t I have n o t y e t d is c o v e r e d . P a l. * S l i f e , w h a t 's t h i s ? H e r e 's an argum ent f o r me t o lo v e M e la n th a ; f o r he h a s lo v e d h e r , and he h a s w i t , t o o , and f o r a u g h t I know t h e r e may be a m ine; b u t i f t h e r e b e . I'm r e s o lv e d to d i g f o r * t- D or. (TO RHODOPHIL) Then I have fo u n d my a c c o u n t in r a i s i n g y o u r J e a lo u s y : 0! ' t i s th e m ost d e l i c a t e s h a rp sa u c e to a c lo y e d sto m ach , i t w i l l g iv e you a new e d g e , R h o d o p h il. Rho. And a new p o i n t , to o , D o r a lic e , i f I c o u ld be s u r e th o u a r t h o n e s t. Dor* I f you a r e w is e , b e l i e v e me f o r your own sa k e ; lo v e and r e l i g i o n have b u t one t h in g t o t r u s t t o ; t h a t ' s a good sound f a i t h . it s t i l l , t h e r e i s so m eth in g so a t t r a c t i v e in th e r a t i o n a l 'gum ent, t h a t P alem ede c a n n o t g iv e up w ith o u t a s t r u g g l e : P a l. What d o s t th in k o f a b l e s s e d community b e tw ix t u s f o u r , f o r th e s o la c e o f t h e women, and r e l i e f o f th e men? M eth in k s i t w ould b e a p l e a s a n t k in d o f l i f e : w if e and husband f o r th e s ta n d in g d i s h , and m i s t r e s s and g a l l a n t f o r th e d e s s e r t . Rho. But su p p o se t h e w if e and th e m i s t r e s s s h o u ld b o th lo n g f o r t h e s ta n d in g d i s h , how s h o u ld th e y be s a t i s f i e d to g e th e r ? P a l . I n s u c h a c a se th e y m ust draw l o t s : and y e t t h a t w ould n o t do n e i t h e r ; f o r th e y w ould b o th be w is h in g f o r th e l o n g e s t c u t . Rho. Then I t h i n k , P alam ede, we h ad a s good make a f ir m le a g u e , n o t to in v a d e e a c h o t h e r 's p r o p e r t y . P a l. C o n te n t, sa y I . From h e n c e f o r t h a l l a c t s o f h o s t i l i t y c e a s e b e tw ix t u s . 145 len i t i s rem em bered t h a t t h i s p la y w ith t h i s p e r f e c t l y ir a l en d in g was p ro d u c e d a s e a r l y a s E a s t e r , 16?2 , t h e L estio n s may w e l l be a sk e d , “J u s t how d ep raved was th e 145 A l a Moda. Ant V. an an a 1. 325 i s t e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e , and when d id t h i s d e p r a v - ;y b e g in and e n d . “146 The im p o rta n c e o f th e i n d i v i d u a l c h a r a c t e r s and o f le a c t r e s s e s and a c t o r s who p la y e d th e r o l e s m ust n e v e r be id e r e s tim a te d in e v a lu a t in g th e p o p u l a r i t y o f any p l a y . 14? I M a rria g e A Mode th e c h a r a c t e r o f M e la n th a , th e fe m i- n e f o p , th e c o u n t e r p a r t o f F o p lin g an d a l l h i s a n c e s t o r s id d e s c e n d a n ts , o f f e r s t h e o p p o r tu n ity f o r stardom f o r th e i t r e s s who d o es i t . 148 i*Her la n g u a g e , d r e s s , m o tio n , n n e r s , s o u l and body, a r e i n a c o n t in u a l h u r r y to be m e th in g more th a n i s n e c e s s a r y o r com m endable. “149 ghe 'St be se e n a t l e a s t “t h r e e o r f o u r tim e s a d a y , w ith th e •in c e ss A m a lth e a ,“ and sp en d s h e r m o r n in g 's s tu d y p o l i s h i n g r F re n c h i n o r d e r t h a t sh e may seem more “e le g a n t “ t o h e r I t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n shown t h a t th e e a r l y R e s to r a - on a u d ie n c e “p r e f e r r e d " h e r o i c tr a g e d y , h i s t o r i c a l p l a y s , d , o f c o u r s e , s u c h g e n e r a l l y c l e v e r com edies a s The m ic a l R evenge. 147 Downes, c i t . . p . 16 . Of t h e famous C h a rle s i r t , Downes w ro te t h a t he e x c e l l e d in t h e p e rfo rm a n c e of î r t a i n p a r t s , among them O t h e l l o , B r u tu s , and A le x a n d e r th e ? e & t , and i f "to w a rd th e l a t t e r End o f h i s A c tin g . . . he 3t e d in any one o f th e s e b u t once in a F o r t n i g h t , th e )use was f i l l ' d a s a t a Hew P la y . . . . " I b i d . , p . 1 3 . M rs. B o u te ll seem s t o have p la y e d le r o l e o r i g i n a l l y , b u t M rs. V erbruggen e a rn e d th e p a n e g y - Lc from C ib b e r w h ic h Dobree c a l l s " th e b e s t w r i t t e n o f a l l Ls p a r a g r a p h s ." 149 Cibber, Lowe's e d itio n . V ol. 1 , p . 168. 326 m r t f r i e n d s . The sc en e w ith h e r F re n c h m aid i s w o rth cam ining. M e la n th a . 0 , a r e you t h e r e , M inion? And, w e l l , a r e you n o t a m ost p r e c io u s d a m se l, to r e t a r d a l l my v i s i t s f o r w ant o f la n g u a g e , when you know you a r e p a i d so w e ll f o r f u r n i s h i n g me w i t h new w ords f o r my d a i l y c o n v e r s a tio n ? L e t me d i e , i f I have n o t r u n th e r i s k a l r e a d y , to s p e a k l i k e one o f th e v u l g a r ; an d i f I have one p h ra s e l e f t in a l l my s t o r e t h a t i s n o t th r e a d b a r e and u s é , and f i t f o r n o th in g b u t to b e th ro w n to p e a s a n t s . P h ilo t i s . In d e e d , Madam, I have b e e n v e ry d i l i g e n t i n my v o c a tio n ; b u t you h av e so d r a i n e d a l l t h e F re n c h p l a y s and ro m an c es, t h a t th e y a r e n o t a b le t o s u p p ly you w i t h w ords f o r y o u r d a i l y e x p e n s e . M e la n th a . D rain ed ? What a w o rd 's t h e r e ! E p u is é e , you s o t , you. Come p ro d u c e yo u r m o r n in g 's w ork. P h i l o t i s . 'T i s h e r e . Madam. (Shows th e p a p e r .) M e lan th a . 0 , my Venus! f o u r te e n o r f i f t e e n w ords to s e r v e me a w h o le d a y . L e t me d i e , a t t h i s r a t e I ca n n o t l a s t t i l l n i g h t . Come, r e a d y o u r w ords; tw e n ty to one h a l f o f 'em w i l l n o t p a s s m u s te r . P h i l o t i s . (H eads) S o t t i s e s M e la n th a . S o t t i s e s ; b o n , t h a t ' s an e x c e l l e n t w ord to b e g in w i t h a l ; a s f o r exam ple; h e , o r s h e , s a i d a th o u s a n d s o t t i s e s t o me. P ro c e e d . P h i l o t i s . F ig u re ; a s w hat a f i g u r e o f a man i s t h e r e ! N aive and N a iv e te . M e la n th a . N aive! a s how? P h i l o t i s . S p eak in g o f a t h i n g t h a t was n a t u r a l l y s a i d ; i t was so n a iv e : o r su c h an in n o c e n t . p i e c e o f s i m p l i c i t y ; ' tw as su c h a n a i v e t é . M e la n th a . T ru ce w ith y o u r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s ; make h a s t e . ■ P h ilo tis . F a i b l e , C h a g r in . G rim ace. E m b a rra s s e . D ouble E n te n d r e . E q u iv o q u e . E c le .ir c is s e m e n t. S u i t e B evue. F a ç o n , P e n c h a n t, Coup d ' é t o u r d i . and R i d i c u l e . M e la n th a . H old, h o ld , how d id th e y b e g in ? P h i l o t i s . They began a t S o t t i s e s , and ended en " R 1 1 r t n l A . M e la n th a . Now g iv e me y o u r p a p e r I n my han d , an d h o ld you my g l a s s , w h ile I p r a c t i s e my p o s t u r e s f o r th e d a y . (M e la n th a la u g h s i n th e g l a s s . ) How d o es t h a t la u g h become my fa c e ? P h i l o t i s . S o v e re ig n ly w e l l . Madam- M e la n th a . S o v e re ig n ly ? L et me d i e , t h a t ' s n o t a m is s . T hat w ord s h a l l n o t b e y o u rs : I ' l l in v e n t i t and b r i n g i t up m y s e lf . My new p o i n t g o r g e t s h a l l b e y o u rs u p o n ' t . Not a w ord o f th e w o rd , I c h a rg e you. P h i l o t i s . I am dumb. Madam. M e la n th a . T h at g la n c e , how s u i t s i t w ith my f a c e ? P h i l o t i s . ' T is so l a n g u i s s a n t . M e lan th a . L a n g u is s a n t 1 That w ord s h a l l be m in e , t o o , an d my l a s t I n d ia n gown t h i n e f o r i t .150 H ere, t h e n , i s a n o th e r fam ous R e s t o r a t i o n com ic r o l e 1 w h ic h a n y th in g in d e c e n t o r l i c e n t i o u s i s m e re ly a s u b o r- Lnate e le m e n t.131 I n t e r e s t i n g n e s s r a t h e r th a n im m o ra lity lus seem s t o b e th e p rim a ry a t t r a c t i o n f o r t h e R e s t o r a t i o n » w e l l a s f o r any o t h e r a u d ie n c e . The l e a s t p o p u la r o f a l l Dryden*a com edies " e x p ir e d I t h e t h i r d n i g h t " b e c a u s e , a s Dryden h im s e lf s t a t e d , i t e x p re sse d to o much o f th e v i c e s i t d e c r i e s ."152 .mberham, o r The K ind K e e n e r, "from th e b e g in n in g t o th e id i s one sc e n e o f lew d n e ss and d e b a u c h e ry , w ith o u t one ^30 M a rria g e A l a Mode. Act I I I , s c e n e 1 . 1 5 1 S i r F o p lin g F l u t t e r , S i r F r e d e r ic k F r o l l i o k , r d F o p p in g to n , e t . a l . ^32 Malone, op. c i t ... V ol. 1 , part 1 , p . 117. >ber d ia lo g u e o r one s u f f e r a b l e c h a r a c t e r . "153 B aker :* ltes, "T here a r e • • . p a r t s o f i t by much to o lo o s e f o r >deat e a r s , o r f o r a m o ral a n d w e ll r e g u l a t e d s t a g e . “154 As to w h e th e r o r n o t t h i s p la y w ere a c t u a l l y b a n n e d , le re i s some a m b ig u ity .^55 B anned by o r d e r o f t h e K ing o r r a v e r s i o n o f th e p e o p le , th e p la y , a c c o r d in g to D ry d en , lose word i n t h i s c a s e may l o g i c a l l y be a c c e p te d , showed )o much o f i t s own s u b je c t o f v i c e and th u s p a r t s o f i t >ffended on t h e s t a g e . "^56 h is d e d i c a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , i s t a t e s t h a t he h a s " ta k e n a becom ing c a r e , t h a t th o s e h i n g ^ w hich o f fe n d e d on t h e s t a g e , m ig h t be e i t h e r .t e r e d , o r o m itte d i n th e p r e s s . . . ."1 5 7 Even i n i t s e s e n t s t a t e i t h a s been c a l l e d ^53 D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3» p# 1 8 2 . T h is p l a y was ?oduced a t D o rse t G arden, M arch 1 1 , 1678. See Summers, L b lio g rap h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama. 1 5 4 B io g ra p h ie D ra m a tic a . V o l. I I , p* 355* 1 5 5 Dryden in h is D e d ic a tio n o f t h e p l a y to L ord lughan s t a t e s tim t " I t was in te n d e d f o r an h o n e s t s a t i r e g a in s t o u r c r y in g s i n o f k e e p in g ; how i t w ould have s u c - geded, I can b u t g u e s s , f o r i t was p e r m i t t e d t o be a c t e d ily t h r i c e . " He d o es com pare th e b a n n in g o f Lim ber ham to la t o f T a r t u f f e by M o lie r e , w h ich w as, o f c o u r s e , s to p p e d r o r d e r o f th e K in g . T here i s nowhere a v a i l a b l e a p u b - LShed o r d e r from C h a rle s b a n n in g th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f . imberham. 1 5 6 D ryden, W orks. D e d ic a tio n t o Lim berham , S c o t t 's L itio n , V ol. 6 , p . 9* j 1 5 7 I t i s t r u e t h a t when one r e a d s th e p la y a s i t now 329 . . . ©ne o f th e t r u l y im m oral w orks o f th e p e r i o d , an d i t s f a i l u r e may have b e e n p a r t l y due t o th e g r a d u a l r i s e o f s e n t i m e n t a l f e e l i n g w hich s u b c o n s c io u s ly was f i l l i n g th e h e a r t s o f some w ith h o r r o r a t th e l i c e n t i o u s n e s s o f th e t i m e s , w h ic h was d r i v i n g o t h e r s t o h y p o c r is y and th e c o n c e a lin g o f o u tw a rd im m o r a lity .158 it t h i s s ta te m e n t from H ic o l l c o n t r a s t s w i t h one he makes ily a few p ag e s e a r l i e r , on p r a c t i c a l l y t h e same s u b j e c t . i r e a d s , “Mr. Lim ber ham c o u ld c o n ta m in a te a w hole s h o a l of • i t e r s : and Dryden w ith h i s im m odesty was show ing t o t h e .a y w rig h ts o f h i s tim e e x a c t l y w hat th e a u d ie n c e s o f th e me d e s i r e d . “ The th e o r y t h a t t h e p l a y was b an n ed b ec au se . Dryden lo much exposed th e k e e p in g p a r t o f th e tow n" has b e e n L v a n c e d . ^ 5 9 Even i f t h i s w ere t r u e , i t w ould i n d i c a t e th e l i s t e n c e o f an a c t u a l s e n s e o f em barrassm ent a b o u t s u c h in " i n th e v e r y m id d le o f t h e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d w h ich n s e h a s so o f t e n b een s t a t e d n o t to e x i s t th e n , a t l e a s t I so f a r a s i n f i d e l i t y and t h e k e e p in g o f m i s t r e s s e s w ere m c e rn e d . The th e o r y h a s a l s o b e e n ad v an ced t h a t th e s a t i r e o f mberham was in te n d e d to be p e r s o n a l a g a i n s t th e Duke o f u d e r d a l e o r a g a i n s t th e E a r l o f S h a f te s b u r y b o th o f whom, t h t h e i r age and v e r y im p e r f e c t p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n , w ould, N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 1 8 . ^59 L a n g b a in e , R e v ise d e d i t i o n , 1699» p . 211; 1 s t 330 * c o u r s e , a p p e a r r i d i c u l o u s in su c h a l i g h t . 1^® Dryden în ie s t h a t i t h a s a n y th in g o f “p a r t i c u l a r s a t i r e in i t " and la t " I may s a f e l y and so le m n ly a f f i r m , t h a t no one c h a r a c - >r h a s been drawn from any s i n g l e man. . . ,1 ^1 Thus t h e b e s t e x p l a n a t io n o f th e r e a s o n f o r th e l i l u r e o f th e p l a y seems to b e J u s t w hat Dryden h im s e lf ;a te s in th e d e d i c a t i o n , t h a t i s , t h a t t h e p la y e x p r e s s e d > much v ic e t h a t i t o ffe n d e d th e a u d ie n c e . H is e l i m i n a t i o n ‘ th e m ost o f f e n s i v e s c e n e s b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i s s t r o n g 'id e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h i s c o n t e n t i o n . The p ro b a b le cp m p o si- on o f th e a u d ie n c e f u r t h e r s u p p o r ts t h i s argum ent b e c a u s e , .th o u g h th e " s ta g e f o r i n t r o d u c i n g Mr. Limberham was . . . L d ic io u sly c h o s e n ," i t was s t i l l n o t J u d ic io u s enough. le c i t i z e n s , a lth o u g h t h e o r e t i c a l l y a s e a g e r t o la u g h a t »urt v i c e s a s t h e c o u r t was t o r i d i c u l e t h e c i t i z e n s , i d e n t l y d id n o t c a re f o r th e g r o s s o b s c e n i t i e s o f th e D ryden, W orks, S c o t t 's e d i t i o n . V o l. 6 , p . 1 . 1^1 I b i d . , V o l. 6 , p . 1 0 . Even i f one o r o th e r o f le two p o w e rfu l f i g u r e s m e n tio n e d w ere i n te n d e d , D ryden ►uld s c a r c e l y do l e s s th a n d en y i t . As he h im s e lf s u g - s s ts , how ever, p e r h a p s t h e r e w ere so many who c o u ld be t t e d in to th e c h a r a c t e r s draw n t h a t th e y "may s e rv e to ir r a n t i t from a p a r t i c u l a r r e f l e c t i o n . " l 6 ? I b i d . , p . 3* The D u k e's t h e a t r e was th o u g h t to \ th e i d e a l s p o t b e c a u s e o f t h e " c o n c o u rse o f th e c i t i z e n s l i t h e r . " 331 a y .163 T here i s l i t t l e v a lu e f o r t h i s d i s c u s s i o n in a t t e m p t - g to s e p a r a t e t h e d ra m a tic q u a l i t y from th e m o ral a n d h i c a l . L a n g b a in e , u s u a l l y a s e v e re c r i t i c o f D ryden, 1 1 s t h i s p la y one o f th e b e s t o f h i s com edies from th e a m a tio p o i n t o f v i e w . 164 S a in ts b u r y a g r e e s w ith L an g b a in e d o f f e r s r e a s o n s f o r h i s c o n c l u s i o n .165 Dobree sa y s r e l y "how d u l l Limberham i s ! " But N i c o l l s t a t e s , "Even by e s ta n d a r d s o f i t s own tim e i t i s t e r r i b l e i n to n e . . * may be a s a t i r e . . • b u t t h e s a t i r e p a s s e s l i t t l e beyond e c r u d e s t r e a l i s m . "166 % % % s h o r t , th e p l a y was to o f o u l to e n d u re d . A gain th e l a c k o f p o p u l a r i t y o f a p la y w ith th e r e a d - g p u b l i c i s fo u n d to c o r r e l a t e w e ll w i t h i t s f a i l u r e o r p o p u l a r i t y w i t h t h e t h e a t r e audience.167 Thus i t seem s to 163 I t i s o f no co n seq u en ce to s p e c u l a t e a s to th e ason t h e a u d ie n c e d id n o t c a r e f o r th e o b s c e n i t i e s o f th e ay; t h e i r own m o ra l w o rth , p o s s i b l y above a v e ra g e , i s s i d e th e p o in t i n th e d i s c u s s i o n o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e . 164 L a n g b a in e , op. c i t . . , 1 s t e d i t i o n , p. 164. 165 D ryden, W orks, S c o t t 's e d i t i o n . V o l. 6 , p . 3 . 166 R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 218. I t i s w o rth n o tin g a t M ontague Summers, who o r d i n a r i l y t a k e s s p e c i a l c a r e o f y d e n 's i n t e r e s t s i s n o n -c o m m itta l on th e s u b j e c t o f mberham. Even C h a rle s saw t h e p la y b u t tw ic e . ^^7 W hile D ry d e n 's s u c c e s s f u l p la y s w ent th r o u g h s i x n in e e d i t i o n s , t h i s p la y h a d o n ly t h r e e . See Summers, b lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 58* 332 ) f o llo w t h a t when a p la y was m nsuccessfm l on th e s t a g e . I t IS a l s o u n s u c c e s s f u l w ith i t s r e a d in g a u d ie n c e . IV. PLAYS O F E T H ER SG E The p la y s o f D ryden, a lth o u g h hy f a r th e m ost im p o r- in t s i n g l e g ro u p o f th e p e r i o d , w ere by no means th e o n ly •ama p ro d u c e d d u r in g th e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h e s e v e n te e n th m tu r y . In f a c t , th e man whose name i s m ost s i g n i f i c a n t l y .nked w ith th e s o - c a l l e d comedy o f m a n n e rs. S i r G eorge ih e re g e , even th o u g h h i s t o t a l o u tp u t was o n ly t h r e e p l a y s , I l i s t e d among th e v e ry em in en t p la y w r ig h ts b o th b e c a u s e o f le r e l a t i v e p e r f e c t i o n o f h i s d r a m a tic form and o f t h e ►ntemporary a s w e l l a s s u b s e q u e n t p o p u l a r i t y o f h i s .ays. 168 h i s f i r s t p la y was p ro d u c e d a t L i n c o l n 's Inn e l d s i n M arch, 166 4 , he was w e ll on h i s way to fame a s th e p o n e n t o f so m e th in g new in d r a m a tic fare.169 More im p b r- n t t o him a t t h e moment, h o w ev er, was t h e f a c t t h a t he had v en th e a u d ie n c e so m eth in g i t r e a l l y e n jo y e d and t h a t i t u l d c o n tin u e to v i s i t . ^70 pownes ^ r o t e , "The c le a n an d Summers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s . p . 307. 1 6 9 The C om ical Revenge i s by no m eans a t y p i c a l medy o f m a n n ers, b u t t h e w it o f S i r F r e d e r i c k i s v e r y l i k e lat h e l d so d e a r in th e l a t e r p la y s o f t h a t form . Downes, b p . c i t . , p . 2 5 . T h is was l i t t l e s h o r t phenom enal in v ie w o f t h e r e c o r d s q u o te d by N i c o l l , 333 3 ll p e rfo rm a n c e o f t h i s comedy, g o t th e Company more Repu- i t i o n and p r o f i t th a n any p r e c e d in g comedy; th e Company ik in g i n a M o n th 's tim e a t i t 1000 A lth o u g h h i s l a s t two p la y s a r e ju d g e d by th e c r i t i c s ) be f a r s u p e r i o r to h i s f i r s t ,171 Love i n a Tub com bined > many d i f f e r e n t e le m e n ts i n t o one p la y t h a t i t p le a s e d th e i l t i t u d e . Summers s t a t e s t h a t t h i s c o m b in a tio n , "w h ich may ;r i k e us a s so m e th in g in c o n g ru o u s , " was th e v e r y t h i n g t h a t ^commended i t m ost h ig h ly t o th e R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e . 172 } had rhymed v e r s e a l t e r n a t i n g w ith b la n k v e r s e ; i t h ad th e Lt o f S i r F r e d e r ic k F r o l l i o k com bined w ith h i s more b o i s - jro u s " f r o l i c s ; " I t had " a F l e t c h e r i a n s e n t i m e n t a l i t y " . t e r n a t i n g w ith "M iddleton* s r e a l i s t i c p i c t u r e s o f ta v e r n s id t i p p l e r s , n i n n i e s and ro o k s and c o u r t e z a n s . "173 i In t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p l a y , in f a c t , t h e o p en in g gun ‘ R e s t o r a t i o n w it i s s a i d to have b een f i r e d when S i r ^ e d e ric k F r o l l i o k sa y s “Men a r e now an d th e n s u b je c t to î c e i p t s o f ^.75 a day a s a v e ra g e f o r a p e rfo rm a n c e o f The m i c a l R ev en g e, th e p la y w ould have had to be p r e s e n t e d a .nimum o f 13 tim e s d u rin g i t s f i r s t m onth in o r d e r to make ) much money. W ith w hat M alone c o n s id e r e d “an i n c r e d i b l y icky ta k e " o f ^ 7 0 a p e rfo rm a n c e , no fe w e r th a n f i f t e e n îrfo rm a n c e s w ould have b een r e q u i r e d d u r in g th e f i r s t >nth. See B e lja m e , o p . c i t . , p . 1 7 1 N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 224. 1 7 2 The P la y h o u se o f P e p y s , p . 3 0 ? . 1 7 3 I b i d . . p . 308. lose i n f i r m i t i e s i n d r in k w h ic h women h av e when t h e y 'r e h e r . “174 t h i s p h r a s in g S i r George was m e re ly c r e a t i n g s i m i l i t u d e , " t h e d e v ic e upon w h ich p la y w r ig h ts h ad lo n g :e r c i s e d t h e i r i n g e n u i t y , and i t s s a t i r i c t h r u s t o f se x itagonism r e p r e s e n t s im p u lse s t h a t had lo n g b ee n g a t h e r i n g roe."175 But th e r e a l r e a s o n f o r th e s u c c e s s o f t h e m i l i t u d e i s , a s a lw a y s , " th e i n d i v i d u a l s k i l l o f th e • i t e r . " I 7 6 s i r F r e d e r ic k i s th e f i r s t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f s t o r a t i o n dram a c h a r a c t e r s o f w i t . A p e r e n n i a l , i f n o n - p r o f e s s i o n a l , c r i t i c o f p l a y s — d many o t h e r t h i n g s — f o r t h a t p e r io d , Sam uel P ep y s, p r e s s e s in t h i s c a se a s u r p r i s i n g l y p r o f e s s i o n a l c r i t i - sm. He saw th e p la y on J a n u a r y 4, 1665, and w ro te t h a t i t 8 v e r y m e rry , b u t o n ly so b y g e s t u r e , n o t w it a t a l l , lich m e th in k s i s b e n e a th t h e H o u s e . H i s f e llo w d i a r i s t , >hn E v e ly n , saw th e p la y on A p r i l 2 ? , 1 6 6 4 , and n o te d . 1 7 4 The D ram atic Works o f S i r G eorge E th e r e g e , H. F. B r e t t - S s i t h , e d i t o r (O x fo rd : B a s i l B la c k w e ll, 1 9 2 7 ), i l . 1 , p a r t 4, A ct I , sc en e 1 . ^75 H arbage, C a v a lie r Drama, op. c it,., p. 87* h o c , c i t . H arbage d e n ie s t h a t t h i s ty p e o f w it id t h e i d e a l o f S i r F r e d e r ic k was b o rro w ed from M o lie r e . 1 7 7 P ep y s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 1 0 2 7 . T here i s no id i c a t i o n t h a t he had se e n t h e p la y e a r l i e r a lth o u g h s i n v e t e r a c y o f a tte n d a n c e a t th e t h e a t r e a rg u e s t o th e m t r a r y . 335 3aw a f a c e t i o u s comedy, c a l l e d Love in a Tub . • • l i c h , coming from Mr* E v e ly n , m ust be c o n s id e r e d a s n e a r - i p r o b a t i o n . ^ 7 8 one o f t h e m ost r e p u t a b l e m odern c r i t i c s of le dram a o f t h a t p e r io d w r i t e s t h a t "most o f t h i s comedy i s le p u r e s t t o m f o o l e r y ."179 As f o r th e p a r t s in h e r o ic ) u p l e t , th e s e w ere "by no m eans e q u a l t o th e comic p a r t o f :," a n d y e t th e p l a y " s u c c e e d e d v e ry w e ll upon t h e s ta g e id met w ith universeJL a p p r o b a tio n . . . . "180 A udience r e a c t i o n , a u d ie n c e t a s t e I n t h e R e s t o r a t i o n , len, p e r h a p s , d i d n o t d epend so much on t h e o p in io n o f th e • o f e s s io n a l c r itic .^^1 But w ith o u t d o u b t, th e p la y g o e r was 178 E v e ly n , o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 2 0 9 . A m ore u s u a l imment from t h i s s o b e r g e n tle m a n i s t h a t f o r Ben J o n s o n , e t c h e r , and M id d le to n 's o ld p l a y . The Widow, w h ich he saw I J a n u a r y 1 6 , 1 6 6 2 . Of i t he w ro te ] ^ T h is n ig h t was a c te d ifo re h i s M a je s ty The Widow, a lew d p l a y . " I b i d . . p . 183* 179 Bonamy D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n Comedy. (1 6 6 0 -1 7 2 0 ), ix fo rd : The C la re n d o n P r e s s , 1 9 2 4 ) , p. 6 2 . In c r i t i c i z i n g le s c e n e w here D ufoy, th e h i g h l y s a t i r i c a l F re n c h s e r v a n t * S i r F r e d e r ic k , e n t e r s b r a n d is h i n g h i s g r e a t sw ord i n th e ifen se o f h i s m a s t e r , Dobree s a y s , " t h i s i s n o t comedy, b u t •a rin g , r o l l i c k i n g f a r c e — t h a t i s th e fu n depends upon th e ic id e n t. " T h is i s q u i t e sim ileu? t o t h e c r i t i c i s m o f P epys. 180 B a k e r, B io g ra p h la D ra m a tic a . o p . c i t ♦, V o l. 2 , 1 1 4 . B a k e r, e x p r e s s in g t h e d is a p p r o v a l o f h i s own c e n - iry a t any d i s p l a y o f v u l g a r i t y on th e s t a g e — o r e ls e w h e re c o n t in u e s , "Yet t o th e h o n o u r o f th e p r e s e n t t a s t e , t h i s id s e v e r a l o th e r a d m ira b ly w r i t t e n p i e c e s , have b e e n f o r me tim e p a s t l a i d a s id e on a c c o u n t o f t h e lo o s e n e s s o f 18i r c h a r a c t e r s a n d e x p r e s s i o n s . . . ." 181 See Edward R a v e n c ro ft ' s P ro lo g u e t o The C i t i z e n r n 'd G entlem an (London; Thomas D rin g , 1 6 7 2 ). I t i s t r u e , 336 "ten I n f lu e n c e d by th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f one o r more o u t s t a n d - ig a c t o r s o r a c t r e s s e s . In t h e c a s e o f Love In a Tub. Mr. id M rs. Thomas B e t t e r t o n , o u t s t a n d in g i n t r a g i c r o l e s , .ayed th e s e r i o u s c h a r a c t e r s . L ord B e a u f o rt and h i s s w e e t- j a r t , G ra c ia n a ; H enry H a r r i s , f r i e n d o f P e p y s, was in th e ip o r ta n t r o l e o f S i r F r e d e r ic k ; th e fam ous Mokes p la y e d th e ir t o f a k n ig h t c r e a t e d by “O l i v e r ," S i r N ic h o la s C u lly ; •ice was th e r i d i c u l o u s Dufoy; Cave U n d e r h ill and S a n d fo rd ay e d th e two r o g u e s . P alm er and W heedle; and M rs. Long was le Widow R ic h .l® ^ Of t h i s g ro u p th e som etim es rhym ing book ild e r o f th e D u k e 's T h e a tre w ro te . S i r N i c h 'l a s , S i r F r e d 'r i c k ; Widow an d Dufoy, Were n o t by any so w e l l done, Mafoy : 183 t h su c h a c o l l e c t i o n o f o u ts t a n d in g t a l e n t , i t can b e la d ily u n d e rs to o d t h a t t h e p la y had an e x c e l l e n t ch a n ce o f c o e e d ln g a lm o st i n s p i t e o f th e q u a l i t y o f i t s p l o t and i t i n g . The p o in t may be w e ll s t r e s s e d t h a t th e a u d ie n c e was t c r i t i c a l i n a c u l t u r e d f a s h i o n a c c o r d in g t o th e s t a n - r d s o f o u r own tim e . N ic o l l s t a t e s i t t h i s way: m e n tio n e d e a r l i e r , t h a t In some c a s e s t h e b r o a d c a s t o p in - n o f some v e r y im p o rta n t man c o u ld t u r n th e t i d e o f f a v o r r o r a g a i n s t a c e r t a i n p la y . 182 pow nes, qjq. c i t . , p p . 24-25* 1®^ L o c . c i t . 337 I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e , in r e g a r d in g th e w ork o f E th e re g e and l a t e r o f C ongreve, t h a t t h e a u d ie n c e s o f t h e tim e d id n o t a p p e a r c a p a b le o f s e p a r a t i n g th e g o ld from th e dross .1 8 4 ich a s ta te m e n t i s s c a r c e l y q u e s tio n a b l e from m odern l i t e r - •y p o i n t s o f v ie w , b u t from th e s ta n d p o in t o f t h e a t r i c a l 'f e e t i v e n e s s in a R e s t o r a t i o n p la y h o u s e , th e a u d ie n c e knew la t i t w an te d , an d i t s t a s t e was n o t m a in ly d e p ra v e d n o r .c e n t i o u s . "G en tle G eorge" E th e r e g e , a s s o c i a t e o f S e d le y , Buck- i r s t , D o r s e t, B uckingham , S a v i l e , R o c h e s te r , and Dryden; j s t o r a t i o n ra k e an d p o e t , h a s b ee n s a id t o be th e o n ly •am atic w r i t e r i n a l l C h arles* r e i g n "who w ro te w ith some c e n c y o f m anners an d m odesty o f la n g u a g e ."1 8 5 Thus, h i s a y s , w h ile s e t t i n g th e s t y l e f o r th e fam ous comedy o f n n e r s , have a l s o b een commended f o r t h e i r good t a s t e . 186 R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 224. D a v ie s, o p . c i t . . V o l. 3 , p- 1 7 8 . The w ords .ecency o f m anners" and * * m odest y o f la n g u a g e " a r e r a t h e r b ig u o u s h e re i n s p i t e o f t h e i r a p p a re n t c l a r i t y . B a k e r, c i t e d a b o v e , v e r y l i k e l y w ould not a g r e e w ith w hat D avies ems to be s a y in g . 186 w ould be f o o l i s h t o c o n te n d t h a t E th e re g e * s ay s a r e f r e e o f i n d e l i c a t e r e f e r e n c e o r s ta te m e n t. A ct , s c e n e 3 , o f The C om ical Revenge c o n t a in s t h e s e l i n e s : S i r N ic h o la s ( t o P a lm e r) My l o r d , w hat sa y you? Do you t h i n k y o u r s i s t e r and I s h o u ld n o t f u r n i s h a b ed -ch a m b er a s w e l l a s two s o b e r e r p e o p le ? What t h i n k y o u , my lo r d ? G race. A ye, and a n u r s e r y , t o o , I h o p e , s i r . 338 .th ou gh t h e i r m od esty and d ecen cy may n ot b elo n g to th e Junday School" v a r i e t y th e y can n ev er be p ut In to th e c l a s s t h th e m orals o f D ryden' s Limberham * The p ro m ise o f Love i n a Tub i s b r o u g h t n e a r e r to • u i t i o n in She W ou'd i f She C o u l d . ^87 The p la y was s a i d by ► wnes t o have ta k e n " w e ll, b u t I n f e r i o r t o Love in a Lb. "188 A nother p o e t c a l l e d i t " th e b e s t d ra m a tic p ie c e •oduced from t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f th e s t a g e to t h a t tim e .*8-89 I c o n tin u e s : And even t h a t , f o r th e im p e rfe c t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f i t a t f i r s t , r e c e i v e d su c h p r e j u d i c e , t h a t , had i t n o t b een f o r th e f a v o u r o f th e C o u r t. i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y i t had n e v e r g o t up a g a in , and i t s u f f e r s f o r i t ; in a g r e a t m e asu re t o t h i s v e ry d a y .l9 C ice a g a in , i f c r i t i c a l o b s e r v e r s a r e t o b e b e l i e v e d , th e ip o rta n c e o f th e a c t o r t o th e p e rfo rm a n c e i s s t r e s s e d . S ir N ic h o la s . W ell s a i d , widow, i * f a i t h ; I w i l l g e t upon th y body a g e n e r a tio n o f w ild c a t s , c h ild r e n th a t w i l l waw, waw, s c r a tc h t h e i r n u r s e s , and be drunk w it h t h e i r su c k in g b o t t l e s . •om su ch t a lk one m ight su p p ose th a t th e a u th o rs o f some •esen t day w e ste r n drama had ta k e n a c o u r se in E th e re g e* s medy o f m ann ers. 187 Summers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s. p . 3 0 9 » ^88 ojq. c i t . . p . 29. ^89 P r e f a c e to The H u m o u rists by S h a d w e ll, W orks, immers* e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 1 8 3 » 3.90 H ere i s e v id e n c e o f th e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e c o u r t in LCh m a t t e r s , b u t even more e v id e n c e o f t h e im p o rta n c e o f le f i r s t p e rfo rm a n c e and o f th e a u d ie n c e * s d e te r m in a tio n t o 339 P ep y s, in h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e b r i l l i a n t o c c a s io n , ? i t e s t h a t a th o u s a n d p e o p le w ere tu r n e d away b e f o r e two ' c l o c k , he h im s e lf was a b l e t o sq u eeze i n t o th e 18d g a l l e r y b t h e b a c k , w here he c o u ld s c a r c e l y e i t h e r se e o r h e a r .19% ickingham , B u c k h u rs t, S e d le y , an d E th e re g e h im s e lf s a t i n le p i t ; th e K ing was t h e r e , a n d th e w hole a u d ie n c e ?em endously e x c i t e d . B ut when i t o p en e d , "how s i l l y th e Lay, t h e r e b e in g n o th in g i n t h e w o rld good i n i t , and few 5ople p le a s e d i n i t . " When i t was f i n i s h e d , E th e re g e , > p a re n tly no l o n g e r th e " G e n tle George" o r "Easy E th e r e g e ," j known to h i s f r i e n d s , l o i t e r e d in th e t h e a t r e — i t was lin i n g o u t s i d e — an d c u r s e d t h e a c t o r s ( t o h i s f r i e n d s ) :h a t th e y w ere o u t o f hum our, and had n o t t h e i r p a r t s i r f e c t . " But th e a u d ie n c e i t s e l f , a c c o r d in g to an a s t u t e ) s e r v e r , blam ed " th e p la y a s a s i l l y d u l l t h i n g . "192 > ite o f Dennis* comment i n h i s " E p i s t l e D e d ic a to ry " t o The >mical G a l l a n t . th e p l a i n f a c t o f th e m a t t e r i s t h a t th e .ay , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e m e r i t s a s c r ib e d t o i t by contem po- iry a n d modern c r i t i c s , was a f a i l u r e . ^93 i t was r e v iv e d ^91 F e b ru a ry 6, 1668, V o l. 2 , p . 1 9 2 L oc. c i t . ^93 Jo h n D e n n is , The C om ical G a lla n t (London: A, ild w in , 1 7 0 2 ). A lso i n Jo h n D e n n is, C r i t i c a l W orks, Lward N ile s H ooker, e d i t o r ( B a ltim o re : The Jo h n s H opkins •e s s , 1 9 4 3 ) , a s "A L arge A ccount o f th e T a s te i n P o e tr y , 1 s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s d u rin g th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e e i g h t e e n t h m t u r y , b u t i t s h i s t o r y d u r in g i t s own tim e i s r a t h e r ir e . ^9 4 One m odern c r i t i c i n d i c a t e s t h a t P epys and th e o r i g - la l a u d ie n c e w ere c o r r e c t i n condem ning t h e play.195 in • i t i n g o f E t h e r e g e 's comment t h a t th e a c t o r s "were o u t o f im our," he a v e rs t h a t i t w ould in d e e d h av e b een " d i f f i c u l t >r t h e a c t o r s t o be i n hum our, f o r E th e re g e had f a l l e n >tween two s t o o l s . " A cc o rd in g t o him E th e re g e had s t i l l lot q u i t e f u s e d t h e e le m e n ts o f a r t and l i f e , . . . " The li s t e r o u s n e s s o f S i r J o s l i n J o l l y and S i r O liv e r Gockwood les n o t sm o o th ly com bine w i t h " A r ia n a 's f r a g i l e w o r ld ." lus, i n D o b re e '8 o p in io n "The two a tm o sp h e re s a r e m u tu a lly s t r u c t i v e , " and E th e re g e * s d r a m a tic g e n iu s s t i l l h ad some id th e Cause o f t h e D egeneracy o f i t , " V o l. 1 , p . n n i s i n 1702 m e n tio n e d in t h i s d e d i c a t i o n th e d i s f a v o r lic h C o w ley 's C u t t e r o f Coleman S t r e e t m et w ith a t i t s ,r s t p e rfo rm a n c e and th e n s t a t e d t h a t She Wou'd i f She u 'd "met w ith no b e t t e r u s a g e from th e P e o p le a t f i r s t , 1 0 a t th e same tim e i t was e s te e m 'd by th e Men o f S e n se , •r t h e tr u e n e s s o f some o f i t s c h a r a c t e r s , and th e p u r i t y id f r e e n e s s and e a s i e g r a c e o f i t s D ia lo g u e . I n e e d n o t .y, t h a t b o th t h o s e P la y s have b ee n s in c e a c te d w ith n e r a l a p p la u s e ." ^9 4 Summers, P la y h o u se o f P ep y s, o p . c i t *, p p . 310 .1. He l i s t s r e v i v a l s r a n g in g from 1 ? 0 ~ t o 1750 and Lggests a n o th e r a b o u t 1740. 195 Dobree, R estoration Comedy, op . c i t .. p. 65* 341 s t a n c e to go b e f o r e a c h ie v in g th e u ltim ate .196 N ic o ll d o es n o t c o n c u r i n th e o p in io n e x p re s s e d by >bree, r a t h e r he th i n k s t h a t She Wou'd i f She C ou'd . . . c a p tu r e d c o m p le te ly t h a t s p i r i t o f th e f i n e w o rld t h a t h ad b een m e re ly h in te d a t i n t h e fo im e r comedy . . . i t p a s s e d b ey o n d mere humours and ty p e s t o a re a lm o f l i v i n g human b e i n g s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e p r o b a b ly o f a c l a s s b u t n o t c a r i c a t u r e d out o f a l l re se m b la n c e t o t h e i r p r o t o t y p e s . 197 immers a g re e s i n p a r t , a t l e a s t , when he sa y s t h a t th e .o tu r e s o f th e M u lb e rry G arden, th e New E xchange, and New >ring G arden a r e " a d m ira b ly d o n e."198 N ic o ll a l s o shows a n o t h e r i n s t a n c e o f th e c o r r e l a t i o n itw een th e p o p u l a r i t y o f a p l a y a t th e t h e a t r e and th e imber o f i t s p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s . 199 Here he s t a t e s t h a t She u 'd i f She G ou'd i n p r i n t " a c h ie v e d o n ly t h r e e e d i t i o n s by le end o f th e c e n tu r y to s e t a g a i n s t th e se v en o r e i g h t o f le fo rm e r p l a y , " The C om ical R evenge. ^08 Thus, i n t h e . r s t two o f E th e re g e * s p l a y s , i t can be s e e n t h a t The LqQ* P i t . A s i m i l a r c r i t i c i s m can be made o f ve i n a Tub, b u t i t has so many o th e r e le m e n ts t h a t i t can I more n e a r l y com pared w ith a c i r c u s and i t s sid e s h o w s . 197 R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, op. c i t . , p . 224. 198 P la y h o u se o f P e p y s . op. c i t . , p . 309* 199 R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, op. c i t . , p . 224. 200 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, o p . jfc. , p . 68. 342 m l o a l Revenge was s e n s a t i o n a l l y s u c c è s s fm l a t th e "hex r f i c e , " a lth o u g h n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y f a v o r e d by t h e c r i t i c s , id a l s o ra n t o "se v e n o r e i g h t " p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s f o r th e L easure o f th e r e a d i n g p u b l i c a s i t was b e in g r e v iv e d i r i n g th e re m a in d e r o f th e c e n t u r y . 201 th e o t h e r h an d , le W ou'd i f She G o u 'd was a c o m p a ra tiv e f a i l u r e a t th e l e a t r e , i n s p i t e o f f a v o r a b le c r i t i c i s m b y "men o f s e n s e ," Id was p r i n t e d o n ly t h r e e tim e s d u rin g th e re m a in d e r o f th e m tu r y . Hence, i t seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e number o f p r i n t e d Lit io n s o f a p l a y i s somewhat i n d i c a t i v e o f i t s p o p u l a r i t y ith t h e t h e a t r e a s w e ll a s w ith th e r e a d i n g a u d ie n c e . E therege* s t h i r d and l a s t p la y , t h e one t h a t m a in ly IS k e p t h i s name a l i v e th r o u g h th e c e n t u r i e s , i s The Man o f id e , o r S i r F o o lin g F l u t t e r .^0 2 A lth o u g h known a s "one o f le v e r y sym bols o f th e comedy o f m a n n e rs, "203 th e p la y > n tain s e le m e n ts o f "v e ry b i t t e r t r a g e d y , n o n e t h e l e s s ," len, f o r exam ple, M rs. Love i t a p p e a rs t o D orim ant " r e s t - 188, s i c k w ith y e llo w j e a l o u s y and wan h o p e , c r y in g o u t 201 I t , t o o , c o n tin u e d t o be r e v iv e d on i n t o th e .g h te e n th c e n tu r y , i f , p e r h a p s , not q u i t e a s much a s She u*d i f She Cou*d . See Summers, P la y h o u se o f P e p y s, p p . 18- 3 0 9 . 202 I b i d . , p . 311* P ro d u ced a t D o rs e t G arden, M arch ., 167 6. 203 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 224. 343 la t sh e m ust lo v e D orim ant b e he e v e r so w ick e d . . . . "204 Ls tr e a tm e n t o f B e l l i n d a , " h i s J u l i e t o f a n i g h t , whom he jes w i t h th e u tm o st b r u t a l i t y , . . . i s a l i t t l e to o c r u e l >r c o m e d y . "205 D orim ant ' s tr e a tm e n t o f M rs. Love i t b r in g s p r o t e s t even from h e r r i v a l , B e l l i n d a , who s e e s , no d o u b t, i r own f u t u r e s i t u a t i o n . H e a r t l e s s D orim ant m e re ly j p l i e s : You women make 'em , (lo v e a f f l i c t i o n ^ who a r e com m only a s u n re a s o n a b le i n t h a t a s you a r e a t p la y ; w ith o u t th e a d v a n ta g e b e on y o u r s i d e , a man can n e v e r q u i t e g iv e o v e r when he i s weary.206 >bree s a y s : "T his i s se x a n ta g o n ism w i t h a v en g e an c e; we •e down t o b ed r o c k h e r e , an d th u s e x p r e s s e d i t i s n o t very! I Lughable. T here i s to o much s p i t e i n i t . "207 j Of S i r F o p lin g , h im s e lf , o f c o u r s e , t h e r e i s a | l i g h t f u l p i c t u r e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n "beau" o f th e F r e n c h i- ed s o r t . 204 Q x m m e r e , P lay h o u se o f P e p y s, p p . 311— 312. 205 L oc. c i t . 206 Act I I I , scen e 2 , i n The Works o f S i r George h e r e g e , A. W ilson V e r ity , e d i t o r (London: John 0 . Nimmo, 8 8 ) , p . 293» D a v ie s, D ra m atic M i s c e l l a n i e s . V o l. 3 , P* 8 , s a y s t h a t th e Second Duke o f D o rset t o l d Thomas le r id a n , f a t h e r o f R ic h a rd B r i n s l e y , t h a t "D orim ant was rmed from two o r i g i n a l s ; h i s f a t h e r , th e w i t t y E a r l o f r s e t f o rm e rly L ord B u c k h u rs t, and W ilm ot, Eer*l o f C h e s te r . T his c h a r a c t e r i s p r o p e r ly th e f i r s t f i n e n tle m a n o f th e E n g lis h s t a g e . " 207 R e s t o r a t i o n Comedy, p . 70. 344 He i s th e m o st d e l i c a t e l y and s y m p a th e t ic a lly draw n o f a l l th e fo p s in th e g r e a t s e r i e s o f coxcombs. He i s i n h im s e lf a d e l i g h t , p r e s e n t e d from p u re jo y o f him , and i s n o t s e t up m e re ly a s a t a r g e t f o r th e r a i l l e r y o f w is e r fools.208 le b e s t p i c t u r e o f him , p e r h a p s , i s t h a t i n Act I I I , sc e n e Lady Town. H is g lo v e s a r e w e ll f r i n g e d , l a r g e and g r a c e f u l . S i r Fop. I was alw ay s em inent f o r b e in g * b ie n g a n t e . " E m ilia . He w ears n o th in g b u t w hat a r e o r i g i n a l s o f th e m ost famous h an d s in P a r i s . . . Lady Town. The s u i t ? S i r Fop. "B arroy" E m ilia . The g a r n i t u r e ? S i r Fop. "Le G ras" M edley. The sh o e s? S i r Fop. " P i c c a t ." Dor i m a n t . The p e riw ig ? S i r Fop. "C h ed reu x ." Lady Town. Em. The g lo v e s ? S i r Fop. " O r a n g e r ie ." You know th e s m e ll, l a d i e s . The q u e s t i o n o f th e play * s m o ral q u a l i t y makes a n t e r e s t i n g s tu d y in i t s e l f o f t h e t a s t e a n d c r i t i c a l ju d g - n t o f c o n tem p o rary and l a t e r c r i t i c s . B aker and h i s l a t e r i t o r s , w r i t i n g i n th e l a t e e i g h t e e n t h an d e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h n t u r i e s , c a l l e d i t an a d m ira b le p la y w i t h s tr o n g c h a r a c - r s , an a g r e e a b le p l o t an d w i t h p o l i t e a n d e le g a n t a lo g u e .^ ^ 9 A lth o u g h th e s e men a r e v e r y s u s c e p t i b l e t o I b i d . , p . 73- In t h e common p a r l a n c e o f th e f e n t i e t h c e n tu r y . S i r F o p lin g was a " g r e a t s i s s y . " 209 Baker, B iograoh ia Dram atica, op. c i t . . V ol. 3, ► 14. 345 rid e n c e e o f im m o ra lity , th e y g iv e no i n d i c a t i o n o f r e c o g - Lzing any in t h i s p la y , b u t S t e e l e , so e a r l y i n th e L g h teen th c e n tu r y t h a t he i s a lm o st co n tem p o rary w ith îh e re g e , w r i t e s o f t h i s p l a y , " I a llo w i t t o be n a t u r e , b u t : i s n a t u r e in i t s u tm o st d e g e n e ra c y . "210 Xiord O rfo rd i s >t e n t i r e l y i n ag reem en t w ith S te e le when he w r i t e s : The Man o f Mode s h in e s a s o u r f i r s t g e n t e e l comedy . . . G n f o r tu n a te ly , th e to n e o f th e m ost f a s h io n a b le p e o p le was e x tre m e ly i n d e l i c a t e . . . The S p e c t a t o r f o r g o t t h a t i t was r a t h e r a s a t i r e on th e m anners o f th e C o u r t, th a n an ap o lo g y f o r them . L ess l i c e n t i o u s con v e r s a t i o n w ould n o t have p a i n t e d th e a g e . 211 Lngbaine thought the play "as well drawn to the L i f e as any .ay t h a t has b ee n A cted s i n c e th e R e s ta u r a tio n o f th e i g l i s h S ta g e . "212 th e o p in io n o f M ontague Summers, th e ist h a rd e n e d o f a l l a p o l o g i s t s f o r R e s t o r a t i o n dram a, " I f le exam ines th e m a t t e r q u i t e s i n c e r e l y I t h i n k The Man o f de t h e m ost im m oral comedy I k n o w . "213 Thus, im m o ra lity ems t o v a ry w ith th e i n d i v i d u a l who v ie w s i t , b u t in t h i s .86 i t seems t h a t t h e r e i s much r e a s o n t o co n cu r i n th e St of the above expressed views. C o n cern in g t h e s u c c e s s o f th e p l a y , Downes w r i t e s 210 The S p e c t a t o r , No. 65• B a k e r, B io g ra p h ie D ra m a tic a , V o l. 3» P* 14. L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , p . 187* Playhouse o f P epys. p. 312. 346 Lth a c e r t a i n r e s e r v e , "T h is Comedy b e in g w e ll C lo a th e d and î l l A c te d , g o t a g r e a t d e a l o f M o n ey ."2 l4 King C h a rle s saw le p l a y on M arch 1 1 , 1676, p re su m a b ly a t i t s p r e m ie re and gain on A p r i l 1 8 th o f th e same y e a r, b u t a c c o r d in g to th e î s t a v a i l a b l e r e c o r d s , i t was p r e s e n te d b e f o r e r o y a l t y o n ly ice more d u r in g t h e c e n t u r y . G i l d o n * s s ta te m e n t t h a t le p l a y "met w i t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y s u c c e s s ; " may o r may n o t be la t o f a man i n p o s s e s s io n o f th e t r u e f a c t s . The b e s t e v id e n c e , th e n , i n d i c a t e s t h a t th e p l a y in »int o f c o n te m p o ra ry t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e p o p u l a r i t y was some- le re betw een t h a t o f The C om ical Revenge an d She Wou*d i f I® . C o u 'd .^^7 T h is i s e x a c t l y w here t h e number o f p r i n t e d l i t i o n s i n d i c a t e th e p la y s h o u ld s ta n d . Qp* c i t . . p . 36 . P la y s t h a t w ere o u t s t a n d i n g l y i c c e s s f u l , su c h a s S i r M a rtin M ar-A ll an d Love in a T ub, îc e iv e s p e c i a l n o t i c e from Downes; th e o t h e r s a r e men- .oned b u t b r i e f l y . The Man o f Mode i s among t h e l a t t e r . W a rra n ts is s u e d by th e Lord C ham berlain* s d é p a r t ant i n paym ent f o r p la y s p e rfo rm e d b e f o r e th e K ing a n d h i s i r t y a t th e p u b l i c t h e a t r e s o r a t W h ite h a ll, one i s s u e d me 29» 1677, f o r p la y s from May 28, 1 6 7 5 , to May 1 2 , 1677 > *rom H is R oyal H ig h n esse T h e a t r e ." (L. C. 5 /1 4 2 , p . 8 1 ) , le o t h e r is s u e d J a n u a r y 1 0 , 1685, f o r p l a y s a c te d from )vember 5 , 1677, t o J a n u a ry 2 , 1685, "F o r A c tin g a t W h ite- i l l ," (L. C. 5/ 1 4 5 , p . 1 2 0 ). See N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n *ama, pp. 310, 3 1 2 . 21 6 That G ild o n was p r e s e n t a t th e e a r l y perfoim ian- ;s o f th e p la y , a s was Downes, i s a m a t t e r o f q u e s t i o n . 2 1 7 The C om ical Revenge was tre m e n d o u s ly s u c c e s s f u l ; I® . Wou*d i f She Con*d was a c o m p a ra tiv e f a i l u r e . 347 V. THE REHEARSAL I t i s u n f o r tu n a te f o r s t u d e n t s t h a t some h i s t o r i a n s 0 n o t a s c a r e f u l in t h e i r r e s e a r c h and in t h e i r s t a t e - n t s a s th e y m ight h e ; f o r t h i s r e a s o n , a s s t a t e d e a r l i e r . I f - t r u t h s an d u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d s t o r i e s o f te n c o n tin u e f o r ny y e a r s , even c e n t u r i e s , a s h i s t o r i c a l f a c t . An example t h i s i s th e f o llo w in g : As V a le r i a /j.n Dryden* s T y ra n n io k L o v é ] sh e [ N e ll Gwyig was r e q u i r e d to s t a b h e r s e l f , come to l i f e a s she was b e in g c a r r i e d o f f th e s ta g e an d sp eak an ex ceed in g ly funny e p ilo g u e . T h is p ie c e c o u p le d w ith A lm anzor and A lm a h id e ; o r . The C onquest o f G ranada (I67O) and th e r i d i c u l e o f th e Duke o f Buckingham^ s The R e h e a rs a l (1671) managed in a l a r g e d e g re e to g iv e th e q u i e t u s to t h i s form o f b o m b a stic t r a g e d y . 215 B t o r i c a l s ta te m e n ts l i k e t h i s a r e n e a r ly r e l a t e d in q u a l - y to s ta te m e n ts su ch a s t h a t on th e p h ilo s o p h y o f t a s t e in b by G ild o n m en tio n ed above i n w h ich he w r i t e s t h a t " th o s e ry p la y s , o r o th e r s f u l l o f a l l th e a b s u r d i t i e s e x p lo d ed t h a t p l e a s a n t c r i t i c i s m . The R e h e a r s a l, w ere n o t l e s s ro n g e d ,"219 a f t e r th e a u d ie n c e s h ad se e n a p e rfo rm a n c e o f 1 R e h e a r s a l. As h as a l r e a d y been shown. The C onquest o f stnada was one o f th e m ost p o p u la r an d s u c c e s s f u l p la y s o f 218 o-eorge F re e d le y , and John A. R eeves, A H is to ry th e T h e a tre (New York: Crown P u b l i s h e r s , 1944T, p . Î5 5 . 219 C h a rle s G ild o n , The Com plete A rt o f P o e t r y . (Lon- 1: C h a rle s R iv in g to n , 171S), V ol. 1 , p . 203. le w hole p e r io d and c o n tin u e d i t s p o p u l a r i t y i n t o th e L g h te e n th c e n t u r y . 220 s p i t e o f . a s m a ll army o f a n t i — h e r o ic u t t e r a n c e s from . d i v e r s e q u a r t e r s , . . . none o f them , not a l l o f them ta k e n t o g e t h e r , càn d i s p u t e t h e f a c t t h a t th e h e r o i c tr a g e d y was p o p u la r a n d t h a t i t s c h a r a c t e r s , s c e n e s , and em o tio n s w ere c o n tin u e d lo n g a f t e r th e y e a r 1 6 7 7 ra n g th e d e a th k n e l l o f r i m e . 2 2 1 lu s , a lth o u g h th e a u d ie n c e s may have la u g h e d ab o u t an d even m e tim e s a t them , th e y w ent r i g h t on lo v in g them and s e e in g lem. T h is by no means im p lie s t h a t The R e h e a r s a l, t h e m ost a p o rta n t s a t i r e on th e R e s t o r a t i o n t h e a t r e , was n o t c tre m e ly s u c c e s s f u l . I t was and c o n tin u e d to be v e r y > p u lar u n t i l to w a rd th e end o f th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y . 2 2 2 Che p la y was a c t e d w ith u n i v e r s a l a p p la u s e , and i s in d e e d le p u r e s t and m ost J u d ic io u s p ie c e o f s a t i r e t h a t e v e r > p e a r e d . " 2 2 3 xn s p i t e o f o p p o s it io n on i t s f i r s t n i g h t , 220 x t was f r e q u e n t l y a c t e d in th e r e i g n o f Queen m e. The p la y was w r i t t e n in two p a r t s , how ever, l i k e The Lege o f R h o d es. an d r e q u i r e d a v e r y e x p e n siv e and e l a b o r a t e *0 d u c t io n , th u s m aking i t more d i f f i c u l t t o r e v iv e , iramers. P lay h o u se o f P e p y s. p . 2 8 7 - 2 2 1 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 7 7 - 222 The p la y became s h o r te n e d and rew o rk ed a s i t grew .d e r . At Covent Garden on Ju n e 2 2 , 1 8 1 9 , i t was c u t t o one St. See Summers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s , p . 2 8 6 . G a r r ic k .ayed Bayes in a r e v i v a l on May 2 oT 1 7 4 2 . Downes, o p . c i t . , , 2 7 4 . 2 2 3 B a k e r, o p . c i t . . V o l. 3 , P* 1 9 9 * T h is o p in io n kcbci n m t: t : h t i l A t R . G T * n m n tm n R h c d m a . 349 • . . th e p a r t y who la u g h e d , g o t t h e a d v a n ta g e o v e r t h a t w h ich was a n g ry , and f i n a l l y drew th e a u d ie n c e t o t h e i r s i d e . When once r e c e i v e d , th e s u c c e s s o f th e • R e h e a rs a l" was unbounded. The v e r y p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p la y s r i d i c u l e d a id e d th e e f f e c t o f th e s a t i r e , s in c e ev ery b o d y had i n t h e i r r e c o l l e c t i o n t h e o r i g i n a l s o f th e p a s s a g e s p a r o d ie d . cie fame o f t h e p l a y s p re a d to F ran ce and " th e R oyal Mae- s n a s ." L o u is XIV, who had l e d th e a p p la u s e a t T a r t u f f e Did C o l b e r t , h i s Prim e M i n i s t e r , "he w o u ld be out o f is h io n " i f he d id n o t g iv e a s u c c e s s f u l comedy t o th e w o rld 3 E n g la n d 's P rim e M i n i s t e r d i d . 224 a s i m i l a r o p in io n to à k e r 's h as b een h e l d by o t h e r s , in c lu d in g Lady B u r g h c le r e , l e b io g r a p h e r o f Buckingham , who c o n t r a s t s D ryden• s dram as Lth The R e h e a rs a l and s t a t e s t h a t " h o n e s t" John Dryden . . . i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r some o f th e c o a r s e s t l i t e r a t u r e o f t h a t l i c e n t i o u s a g e , w h ile t h e deb au ch ed and p r o f l i g a t e Duke h a s l e f t a comedy s p a r k l i n g w ith n a t u r a l fu n and m e rrim e n t, b u t in n o c e n t o f a s i n g l e g r o s s o r s u g g e s tiv e w o rd .225 lays and Poems o f S h e rid a n (O x fo rd : B. B la c k w e ll, 1 9 2 8 ), )1. I I , p . 179» who w r i t e s , " The C r i t i c i s f o r a l l tim e . ?. B ayes p e r is h e d w i t h th e p la y s o f h is e r a . " T h ere i s Iso th e s t o r y i n S c o t t 's D ry d en , V ol. 1 , p p . 1 1 6 -1 1 7 , t h a t It w ould a p p e a r" t h e p la y g o t a sto rm y r e c e p t i o n on i t s L rst n i g h t . "The f r i e n d s o f t h e E a r l o f O rr e r y , o f S i r ) b e r t Howard and h i s b r o t h e r s , and o th e r men o f r a n k , who id p ro d u c e d h e r o ic p l a y s , w ere lo u d and f u r i o u s i n t h e i r ^ p o s i t i o n . " 224 H i s t o r i c a l M a n u s c r ip ts , R ep o rt V I, p . 3 6 8 , a s lo te d in Lady W in ifr e d B u r g h c l e r e 's G eorge V i l l i e r s , Second ike o f Buckingham, 1628-1687 (New York: E. P. D utton and >mpany, 1 9 0 3 ), P* 259• 2 2 5 B urgh clere, op. c i t . , p. 258. Scholars are gen- 350 The p la y c o v e rs a trem en d o u s amount o f d ra m a tic i t e r i a l i n i t s s a t i r e on p la y s and a u t h o r s . 2 2 6 x t h ad i t s i c e p t i o n , a p p a r e n t l y , v e r y e a r l y in th e R e s t o r a t i o n p e r i o d , t w h ic h tim e H enry Howard, R o b e rt S ta p y lt o n , and W illia m L llig re w w ere r i d i c u l e d . 227 The p la y was p ro b a b ly f i n i s h e d )out 1 6 6 5 , b u t th e g r e a t p la g u e b ro u g h t a b o u t th e c l o s i n g r th e t h e a t r e s , a n d th e g r e a t f i r e h e lp e d to keep them .o sed u n t i l November, 1 6 6 6 .2 2 8 tim e p a s s e d and th e p la y ; i l l had n o t b e e n p r e s e n te d , th e p e o p le r i d i c u l e d w ere i a n g e d . 2 2 9 The f i n a l f i g u r e o f B ay es, w h ile p r i m a r i l y ► rk o f V i l l i e r s a l o n e . Among th o s e s u g g e s te d a s c o l l a b o r a - >rs a r e Buckingham * s c h a p la i n . Dr. S p r a t, l a t e r B ish o p o f ►Chester, Samuel B u t l e r , fam ed a u th o r o f " H u d ib ra s , M a rtin . i f f o r d , l a t e r M a ste r o f th e C h a rte rh o u s e and even W a lle r id Cowley. The Cam bridge H is to r y o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e , W . Ward and A. R. W a lle r, e d i t o r s ( Cam bridge D n iv e r s it y *es8 , 1 9 2 0 ) , V o l. V I I I , p . 2 6 , s t a t e s t h a t t h e r e i s no »oof o f B u t l e r 's c o l l a b o r a t i o n . 2 2 6 Stanuaers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s, p . 282, s t a t e s t h a t h e re i s c lo s e v e r b a l p aro d y " o f " a t l e a s t s e v e n ty p l a y s , " id t h a t o t h e r p l a y s w ere s a t i r i z e d w h ich a r e no lo n g e r :ta n t and ca n n o t be t r a c e d . B u r g h c le r e , 0 0 . c i t . , p . 258, Lggests t h a t o n ly s e v e n te e n w ere p a r o d ie d in c lu d in g s i x o f y d e n 's whose d r a m a tic w o rk s, sh e s t a t e s , " c o n ta in ev en ► re n o n se n se th a n in d e c e n c y ." 2 2 7 H arb ag e, C a v a lie r Drama, p . 4 8 . P ro b a b ly i t was ‘i t t e n f i r s t a b o u t 1 6 6 3 • 228 N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p# 236. 2 2 9 W hile H arbage, C a v a l i e r Drama, p . 48, s t a t e s t h a t n ry Howard, S ta p y lt o n , and W illia m K i l l i g r e w w ere o r i g i n - l y s a t i r i z e d , N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p$ 236, c a l l s S i r ►bert Howard th e o r i g i n a l '*h e ro " who was f i r s t c a l l e d i i l b o a ." D a v ie s' s ta te m e n t, op. c i t . , V o l. 3 , p . 3 0 4 , 351 s p r e s e n tin g Dry d e n , I s a d m itte d ly a c o m p o site p i c t u r e lo lu d in g c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e t r i u m v i r a t e , )w ard, D ryden, and D e v e n a n t . 230 No doubt Dryden r e s e n t e d th e r i d i c u l e t h a t was h eaped i him in t h i s p l a y f o r h is m annerism s and e x tr a v a g a n c e s , it i t h a s been s a i d t h a t Buckingham th e n was su c h a g r e a t I v o r i t e o f th e K in g 's t h a t Dryden had to w a it te n y e a rs It i l th e Duke h ad f a l l e n from power b e f o r e he c o u ld r e t u r n le tr e a tm e n t w ith Buckingham a s Z im ri i n Absalom and > h ito n h e l.231 N o n e th e le s s , B eljsm e s t a t e s t h a t g r e a t 'e d i t i s due V i l l i e r s f o r h i s co u rag e i n a t t a c k i n g t h e jr o ic tr a g e d y s in c e he knew t h i s ty p e o f p la y was so g e n e r- .ly f a v o r e d by t h e a r i s t o c r a c y . 232 The trem en d o u s i n t e r e s t * t h e Duke in t h i s p la y i s e v id e n c e d by h i s p e r s o n a l L p e rv isio n o f e v e ry d e t a i l o f th e p r o d u c t i o n . 233 W hile th e a b s u r d f o r m le s s n e s s o f The R e h e a rs a l i s ► S t am using, i t d o es n o t , o f c o u r s e , r e a l l y p aro d y th e 230 T here a r e , p e r h a p s , even t r a c e s o f Edward Howard 1 B ayes "whose p h ra s e o lo g y i s e v e r in h i s m outh. " At th e Id o f Act I I , B ayes i n j u r e s h i s n o se and h as to a p p e a r r i t h a P apyr on" i t , th u s , i m i t a t i n g D e v e n a n t's u n f o r t u n a t e ► ndition. See Summers, P la y h o u se o f P e p y s , p . 3 2 ? , N o te s . 2 3 1 B e lja m e , o p . c i t *. p . 88. 2 3 2 I b i d . ■ p . 87. 2 3 3 B u rg h c le re I o p . c i t . . p . 258. 352 r o l e tr a g e d y , and p a r t ic u la r l y th a t o f D r y d e n . 2 3 4 The c t rem a in s, h ow ever, th a t Buckingham saw th a t th e p u rp ose th e h e r o ic p la y was to " e le v a te and " su rp rise" n o t to i t a t e , and in show ing th e u n r e a lit y o f t h i s he a ls o demon- r a te d th e r id ic u lo u s n e s s o f p a r ts o f t h a t fo rm .235 D avies q u it e c o r r e c t , how ever, when he w r it e s "Such i s th e power r i d i c u l e , i t can make th a t appear a s u b je c t f o r la u g h te r ic h i s r e a l l y in i t s e l f not s o . 236 i t c o u ld n ot be s a id a t n o th in g in h e r o ic tr a g e d y d e se rv ed r i d i c u l e , n e it h e r u ld i t be s a id th a t e v e r y th in g nor even a lm ost e v e r y th in g d . L angbaine237 and G ild on 238 were n o t su re o f th e th o r s h ip o f The R e h e a r s a l. b u t th e y w ere aware o f i t s 2 3 4 u ry c te n 's h e r o ic t r a g e d i e s a lth o u g h c o m p lic a te d e in no se n se f o rm le s s e x c e p t p e rh a p s i n su c h an imp r e s - on t h a t m ig h t b e c r e a t e d th r o u g h some o f th e r a n t i n g e e c h e s . I b i d . , p . 18 . As h a s been shown, how ever, t h i s m o n s tr a tio n i n no w ise s to p p e d th e p r o d u c tio n o f t h e s e a y s . The ch a n ce s a r e good t h a t i t even s e rv e d to a d v e r se an d th u s pro m o te th e h e r o i c p l a y s . 2 3 6 D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3 , p . 305- 2 3 7 L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , 1691, p . 546, w r i t e s t h a t e p la y was " a s c r i b e d to th e L a te Duke o f Buckingham , and 11 e v e r be v a lu e d by In g e n io u s Men." He has th e p l a y s t e d u n d e r "Unknown A u th o rs ." 2 3 8 L a n g b a in e , R e v ise d e d i t i o n , 1699» p . 167. Here i s s t i l l l i s t e d u n d e r "Unknown A u th o rs ," a lth o u g h he 353 g e n io u s n e s s an d i t s s u c c e s s . In 1699 G ild o n n o te d t h a t e p l a y "has b o re s e v e r a l Im p re s s io n s a n d i s f r e q u e n t l y t e d o f l a t e d a y s ." On i n t o th e e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y " The h e a r s a l was s e e n n e a r l y e v e ry se a so n . . *"239 As i s o f t e n th e c a s e , th e p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p la y was h a n c e d by th e q u a l i t y o f th e a c t i n g . In t h i s p la y Jo h n cy was s a id to have p o r tr a y e d one o f h i s g r e a t e s t r o l e s in e p a r t o f B a y e s . 240 B e l l s t a t e s t h a t Buckingham co ach ed cy m e tic u lo u s ly to d e l i v e r t h e sp e e c h e s o f Bayes w i t h y d e n ' s h e s i t a n t , te d io u s s t y l e w hich "m ust have p ro d u c e d i r r e s i s t i b l e e f f e c t upon t h e a u d i e n c e . "241 The e f f e c t o f The R e h e a r s a l was n o t t o change t h e s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e by c a u s in g them t o f o r s a k e t h e i r g r e a t v e , h e r o ic tr a g e d y , b u t i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t th e s a t i r e d c a u se a t l e a s t one w r i t e r t o " r e c a s t " one o f h i s p la y s i c h m ig h t have b e e n f i r s t a h e r o ic p l a y . 242 -^^rd a l s o a t e s t h a t th e s e c o n d b r e a k i n D ry d e n 's p r o d u c tio n o f 2^^ Summers, The P la y h o u s e o f P e p y s . p . 126. 240 L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , I 6 9I» P» 317. 241 P o e t i c a l Works o f Jo h n D rvden. R o b e rt B e l l , e d i - r (London: Jo h n W. P a rk e r a n d Son, 1 8 5 4 ), V ol. 1 , p . 41. 2^2 ^ a r d , " D ry d e n ," i n Cambridge H is to r y o f E n g lis h t e r a t u r e , V o l. V I I I , p . 2 0 , s t a t e s t h a t S c o tt s u g g e s ts a t D ryden may h av e changed M a rria g e A l a Mode from a r o i c p la y to a comedy b e c a u s e o f th e s a t i r e o f The 354 r o le p la y s (1 6 7 0 -1 6 7 6 ) was no doubt ca u se d in p a r t by th e •pearance o f The R e h e a r sa l.2 4 3 There was c e r t a in ly no rm anent le a v in g o f f o f h e r o ic p la y s , h ow ever, a s i s dem- s t r a t e d by th e l i s t o f Dryden*s a lo n e a p p ea rin g a f t e r 7 0 .2 ^ 4 T h is p l a y f i t s t h e r e v i s e d fo rm u la f o r a u d ie n c e t a s t e . th e R e s t o r a t i o n e x tre m e ly w e l l . I t was v e r y p o p u la r w ith le p e o p le b o th i n th e t h e a t r e and i n p r i n t e d form . From 72 t o th e end o f th e p e r i o d , in c lu d in g one i n C o lle c te d r k s , no fe w e r t h a n e i g h t e d i t i o n s o f The R e h e a rs a l w ere in te d .2 4 5 The p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p l a y on th e s ta g e was a l l y q u i t e phenom enal by co m p ariso n w i t h t h a t o f th e g r e a t j o r i t y o f R e s t o r a t i o n p l a y s . A cc o rd in g to a f a i r l y r e c e n t ady. The R e h e a rs a l was p r e s e n t e d no fe w e r th a n 291 tim e s tw een th e d a t e o f i t s f i r s t p r o d u c tio n a n d 1777.246 243 I b i d . , V o l. V I I I , p . 21. Ward i s m is ta k e n i n th e t e o f th e a p p e a ra n c e o f th e p l a y . He l i s t s i t a s 1670, t i t was n o t p r e s e n t e d u n t i l December 7» 1671» and was s t e d w ith th e S t a t i o n e r 's R e g i s t e r Ju n e 19* 1672, i n i c h y e a r th e f i r s t p r i n t e d e d i t i o n a p p e a re d . See A l f r e d r b a g e . A nnals o f E n g lis h Drama. 975-1700 ( P h i l a d e l p h i a : i v e r s i t y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia P r e s s , 1 9 4 0 ), p . 134. 244 Qeg Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, . 57*^60. 245 I b i d . , p . 124. I t i s a l s o o f i n t e r e s t to n o te a t n o t l e s s th a n s i x t e e n m ore e d i t i o n s w ere p r i n t e d t o 87. 246 Etemett L. A very, "The S tag e P o p u l a r i t y o f The 355 8 a lr e a d y b een shown, th e m o ra ls r e p r e s e n te d in th e p la y .n s c a r c e ly he c h a lle n g e d even by th e m ost f a s t i d i o u s , r e , th e n , i s a n o th e r exam ple o f a most p o p u la r but p e r - c t l y m oral p la y in th e h e a r t o f th e R e s to r a tio n p e r io d , d ie n c e t a s t e m ust n ot have b een as low a s i t was s a id to V I. THE PLAIN DEALER One o f th e m ost fam ous o f a l l R e s to r a tio n p la y s b o th i t s own tim e and f o r many y e a r s a f t e r was W illiam c h e r l e y ' s The P la in D e a le r . I t was " c o n tin u a lly s e e n upon e s t a g e , and by th e end o f th e ce n tu ry i t had p a sse d rou gh a t l e a s t n in e e d i t i o n s ." 247 i t h as been s a id th a t e p la y d id n o t m eet w ith g e n e r a l a p p la u se a t i t s o r i g in a l e d u c t io n , but on t h i s o c c a s io n i t seem s th a t th e h ig h ly V o ra b le com m endations o f su ch c r i t i c s a s Dryden and th e r l o f D orset b rou gh t i t th e a p p ro b a tio n i t d e s e r v e d . 248 W ashin gton, V II (1939) pp. 2 0 1 -2 0 4 , c i t e d in A L ite r a r y s t o r y o f E n g la n d . A. C. Baugh, e d it o r (New York: A p p le to n - n tu r y -C r o fts , I n c . , 1 9 4 8 ), p . 755* n o te . 247 W illiam W ycherley, The Com plété W orks, M ontague aimers, e d it o r (London: The N onesuch P r e s s , 1 9 4 2 ), V o l. 1 , t r o d u c tio n , p . 5 2 . 248 Summers, P la y h o u se o f P ep y s, p . 3 2 3 . See yden * s Works, op . c i t . , V o l. 5* p . 115* P r e fa c e to The a t e o f In n o c e n c e . Dryden th e r e c a l l s th e p la y "the b o ld - t . m a at cA narA l. and most u s e f u l s a t i r e , th a t was e v e r 356 3 g a rd les8 o f what cau sed th e p u b lic t o b e g in a tte n d in g th e Lay a t f i r s t , on ce s t a r t e d i t c o n tin u e d f o r a v e r y lo n g Lme.249 Baker s t a t e s th a t "The p la y i s lo o k e d upon a s th e Dst c a p i t a l o f our a u th o r 's p i e c e s . . . .«*250 The P la in g a le r was p la y ed se a so n a f t e r se a so n t o a p p r e c ia tiv e rowds, who th u s d em o n stra ted t h e i r p r e fe r e n c e f o r a p la y la t shows good triu m p h in g o v e r e v i l — m o r a lity g a in in g 3cendance o v er im m o r a lity .251 C onnely a v e r s t h a t "no o t h e r a u t h o r p o s s e s s e d su c h id u r in g s ta g e p o p u l a r i t y " a s W y c h e r l e y . 252 H is p la y s k e p t le s ta g e "and drew g r e a t a u d ie n c e s w h ich tr o u b le d them - îlv e s l i t t l e a b o u t th e s i t u a t i o n o f th e a u t h o r . "253 As was Summers, The P la y h o u se o f P e p y s , p . 324. An . t e r e d v e r s i o n o f th e p la y was g iv e n a t D rury Lane on jb ru a r y 27* 1 796. I t was ev en r e v iv e d f o r one p e rfo rm a n c e : th e S c a la T h e a tre on November 15* 1925. 2 ^ ^ B a k e r, B io g ra p h ie D ra m a tic a . o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , , 1 5 9 . 2 5 1 Downes, op . c i t . , p . 128. S p e c i f i c r e v i v a l s may i fo u n d by r e f e r r i n g to a w a r r a n t d a te d December 2 8 , 1685* lic h shows t h a t " The P la y ne D e a le r" was p r e s e n te d a t W h ite- i l l on December 1 4 th o f t h a t y e a r . N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n ?ama. p . 312. W illa r d O onnely, Brawny W ycherley ( New York: l a r l e s S c r i b n e r 's Sons, 1930)* p p . 210, 2 3 4 -2 3 5 , shows t h a t le p l a y was p r e s e n t e d i n 1688 and a g a in i n 1693 a t D ru ry me "a n d th ro n g s o f p e o p le a t te n d e d " ; p p . 245-246 show t h a t : was r e v iv e d a t th e K in g 's T h e a tre in th e s p r in g o f 1695; , 2 9 1 shows t h a t i t was r e v iv e d a g a in in th e s p r in g o f 1 7 0 9 2 5 2 C on n ely , op . c i t . , p p . 23 4 -2 3 5 . 25 3 W. C. Ward, W illiam W y ch erley , New York: C h a rle s j r i b n e r 's S ons, 1909)* I n t r o d u c t i o n , p . xxxv. 357 ) o f t e n th e c a s e w i t h d r a m a tis ts * a l l W y c h e rle y 's fam e d id >t b r i n g him a l i v i n g w age, an d a s h i s d a y s became b u rd e n e d Lth f i n a n c i a l an d o th e r t r o u b l e s , he was f i n a l l y p u t i n t o a î b t o r 's p r i s o n .2 5 4 I t was w h ile he was i n th e " F le e t" t h a t imes I I on s e e in g a p e rfo rm a n c e o f The P l a i n D e a le r , p e r - ips th e one a t W h ite h a ll on December 1 4 , 1685* rem em bered ► a s k o f th e a u t h o r . On l e a r n i n g o f h i s c o n d i tio n , Jam es 'f e r e d to pay h i s d e b ts an d to s e t t l e on him a p e n s io n o f '00 a y e a r . 2 5 5 The p l a y was e x c e e d in g ly populair and s u c c e s s f u l , b u t ► w m o ra l was i t ? The an sw er t o t h i s l i e s i n an e x a m in a tio n ‘ th e p la y i t s e l f . B r i e f l y , t h e p l o t i s t h a t C a p t. M anly, üe " P l a i n D e a le r ," h as r e t u r n e d from h is d e f e a t a t s e a a t hB h an d s o f th e D utch to f i n d t h a t h i s m i s t r e s s , O l i v i a , Lth whom he h as l e f t a l l h i s c o n s id e r a b le money and J e w e ls , IS s e c r e t l y m a r r ie d . She d o es n o t t e l l M anly t h a t h e r isb an d was h i s b e s t " f r i e n d , " V e rn is h . F i d e l i a , M anly»s l i l e n t lo v e ," h as v e ry s e n t i m e n t a l l y b u t u n r e a l i s t i c a l l y >1 low ed him t o s e a — i n a s a i l o r ' s u n ifo rm , o f c o u rs e — and > w i s fo llo w in g him on l a n d to do h i s b id d in g , h o p in g 2 5 4 W illiam W y ch erley . W illia m O o n g rev e, S i r Jo h n in b ru g h , a.nd G eorge F a r q u h a r . The D ram atic W orks, L e ig h i n t , e d i t o r (London: Edward Moxon, 1840,) p . x iv . 2 5 5 ^ a r d , W illiam W y c h erley , o p . c i t *. p . xxxv. 358 L tiia a te ly to d is c o v e r h e r s e l f to him a t t h e r i g h t moment i n r d e r t o w in h i s lo v e h o n o ra b ly . E v e n tu a lly , th ro u g h h e r 3su m p tio n o f th e r o l e o f P a n d a ru s , she i s a b le to expose tie co m p lete p e r f i d i o u s n e s s o f O l i v i a 's c h a r a c t e r — a s w e ll 3 th e d i s l o y a l t y o f V e rn ish — an d i s a b le t o w in th e t h i n g tie d e s i r e s above a l l e l s e , th e lo v e o f M anly. c The s u b - p lo t m a in ly c o n c e rn s th e a c t i v i t i e s of th e Ldow B la c k a c re and h e r "m other-com plex" s o n , J e r r y , a s th e y re hounded by th e o ld M ajor O ldfox and th e c o z e n e r, reem an. E x ce p t f o r th e o 3 m ra c te r o f th e Widow, t h i s su b - Lot i s o f l i t t l e co n seq u en ce an d te n d s r a t h e r t o d e t r a c t rom th a n add to t h e i n t e r e s t i n g n e s s o f t h e p la y . The Duzzing" c h a r a c t e r s o f t h e tim e . Novel a n d L ord P l a u s i b l e , Duld be s u f f i c i e n t l y d e l i n e a t e d i n th e p r i n c i p a l p l o t . C r i t i c s se e m in g ly e n jo y m aking b i z a r r e p h ra s e s a b o u t ae p l a y , su ch a s i t " i s a s t r a n g e th o r n y m o n s te r, t e a r i n g ae f l e s h o f l i f e w h e re v e r i t to u c h e s i t , a s i t w ere d e l i b - r a t e l y , to r e v e a l vthe s k e le to n ; an u n g a in ly m o n ste r. D raw ling a l l o v e r s o c i e t y . "^56 A n o th er c r i t i c w r i t e s , " th e 2 5 6 D obree, R e s t o r a t i o n Comedy, p . 88. In th e same a.ragraph, Dobree w r i t e s o f t h e grim s c e n e s o f O l i v i a 's ipe . . . " T h ere i s no su c h t h i n g in th e p la y . In th e L rst p l a c e , O l i v i a i s n o t t h e k in d t h a t w u l d have t o be a.ped--by anybody, r a t h e r she w ould h e r s e l f do th e r a p i n g r sh e c o u ld a s i s s u g g e s te d q u i t e c l e a r l y i n h e r two s c e n e s Lth F i d e l i a . In th e second p l a c e , F i d e l i a i s th e one who 9 o l rrirt r»rk+: m i 1 t:A — . 359 3 m o rse le ss s c a l p e l o f The P l a i n D e a le r c u t s d e e p e r s t i l l i t o t h e v e ry agony o f th e human h e a r t . . . The g i a n t S re n g th o f th e c o n c e p tio n an d th e h o ld s t r o k e s o f th e m in tin g can n o t he denied. "257 a more r a t i o n a l and t h u s Lkely a somewhat a c c u r a te s ta te m e n t i s " I t s a t i r i s e s p e r - 3 c tly th e i n f i d e l i t y and f o p p is h n e s s o f th e tim e , a t th e 5ry moments t h a t i t s in k s t o th e d e p th s o f c a r n a l v i c i o u s - )88." 2 5 8 T here a r e e le m e n ts o f t r u t h i n a l l th e s e :a te m e n ts , b u t th e y te n d t o p a i n t th e p i c t u r e more s t a r t ing t h a n i t r e a l l y i s . I f t r u t h be t o l d , t h e r e a l l y ;a r t l i n g t h i n g a b o u t i t i s t h a t i t i s , w i t h a l l i t s id e lio a c y o f r e f e r e n c e and s t i n g i n g s a t i r e , a d e f i n i t e > re ru n n e r o f t h e s e n tim e n ta l comedy; i t h a s a p e r f e c t l y >ral c o n c lu s io n , w ith a " l i v e d h a p p ily e v e r a f t e r " .avor.259 it i s h a r d ly t r u e , a s Dobree s t a t e s , t h a t th e lodicum o f a b s o l u t e good i s overw helm ed by th e f lo o d o f > so lu te e v i l t h a t d o m in a te s e v e ry a c t . " 2 6 o T here can b e no d o u b t t h a t i n t h i s p l a y W ycherly i s Summers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s, p . 3 2 0 . 258 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 2 2 ? . 2^^ L o c. c i t . N ic o ll w r i te s ," B y 16?6 th e age was ►ving s t e a d i l y in th e d i r e c t i o n o f s e n tim e n ta lis m ; p u re i t e l l e c t was b e in g b a n is h e d by f e e l i n g ; em o tio n was t a k i n g le p la c e o f w i t . " 2 6 0 , p . 9 3 . 3 6 0 it h e a r t a m o r a l i s t , i n d i g n a n t l y f l a g e l l a t i n g v ic e a s w e ll Ï la u g h in g c y n i c a l l y a t i t s e x c e s s e s . 261 M acaulay c a l l s i® . Fle^ln D e a le r " e q u a lly im m oral w ith The C ountry W ife id e q u a l l y w e ll w r i t t e n . . . . "262 Such s ta te m e n ts seem ^ ir d ly to come from any c a r e f u l p e r u s a l o f th e p l a y . C e r- l in l y t h e r e a r e im m oral c h a r a c t e r s in t h e p la y , b u t a s a lo le i t cannot r e a s o n a b ly b e c a l l e d im m o ral, m ost p a r t i c u - t r l y n o t on th e b a s i s o f M a c a u la y 's own d e f i n i t i o n . 263 The m o r a l sc e n e s an d c h a r a c t e r s o f The P l a i n D e a le r a r e n o t t r a c t i v e n o r a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e a t t r a c t i v e b u t a r e ► nerally re p u g n a n t o r even d i s g u s t i n g . Of th e c h a r a c t e r s , i t h a s b een s a i d t h a t Manly it r i v e s t o s ta n d a p a r t from man . . . b u t . . . w ith an .1 -g ra c e and s t r u g g l i n g h a r d he i s drawn i n t o th e gam e, and L h i s f a i l u r e to k ee p a l o o f l i e s h i s t r a g e d y . "264 T here , o f c o u r s e , no tr a g e d y i n M anly e x c e p t a s t h e r e i s i n any 261 (S-eorge Sampson, The C o n cise Cambridge H is to r y o f I g lis h L ite r a tu r e (New York: The M acm illan Company, 19427T 4 2 1 . 262 Ward, W illiam W y ch erley , p . x x x i i i . 26 3 Thomas B a b b in g to n M acaulay, Comic D ra m a tis ts o f L ® . R e s t o r a t i o n (London: Longman, Brown, G reen, and Long- Lns, 1853) * pT 8 . He w r i t e s " m o r a lity i s d e e p ly i n t e r e s t e d I t h i s , t h a t w hat i s im m oral s h a l l n o t b e p r e s e n te d t o th e p a g in a tio n o f th e young an d s u s c e p t i b l e i n c o n n e c tio n w ith le a t t r a c t i v e . " 2^4 Summers, Playhouse o f Pepys. p . 320. 3 6 1 a d lv ld u a l who a tte m p ts h o n e s ty and m eets numerous f r u s t r â lo n s a lo n g th e way; w h a te v e r tr a g e d y o r d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t E ld d is a p p o in tm e n t m ight have o c c u r r e d i s more th a n o f f s e t f t h e c o n c lu s io n i n w hich he r e a l i z e s t h a t he has th e r e a l Dve o f an h o n e s t g i r l . Manly ( to F i d e l i a ) Now, Madam, I b e g y o u r p a rd o n , f o r l e s s e n i n g th e P re s e n t I made you; b u t my h e a r t can n e v e r be l e s s e n 'd ; t h i s I c o n f e s s , was to o sm a ll f o r you b e f o r e ; f o r you d e s e rv e th e I n d ia n W orld; and I w o u 'd now go t h i t h e r , o u t o f c o v e to u s n e s s f o r y o u r sak e o n ly . F i d e l i a . Your h e a r t , s i r , i s a P r e s e n t o f t h a t v a l u e , I can n e v e r make any r e t u r n t o ' t ( P u llin g M anly from th e Company] b u t I can g iv e you b ac k su c h a P r e s e n t a s t h i s , w h ich I g o t by th e l o s s o f my F a t h e r , . . . th e p r e s e n t p o s s e s s io n o f Two th o u s a n d Pounds a Y ear; w h ich I l e f t , . . . t o f o llo w you. S i r ; h a v in g in s e v e r a l p u b lic k p la c e s seen you, and o b s e rv e d y o u r a c t i o n s th o r o u g h ly , w i t h a d m ir a tio n , when you w ere to o much i n lo v e to ta k e n o tic e o f m ine. . . .265 The most f l a g r a n t l y im m oral c h a r a c t e r o f th e p la y i s , c o u r s e , O l i v i a , a lth o u g h i t m ust be s a i d i n f a i r n e s s to r t h a t she a t l e a s t no lo n g e r p r e te n d s lo v e t o M anly a f t e r 8 r e t u r n from s e a . 266 She i s p r e s e n te d i n a most u n f a v o r - l e l i g h t th r o u g h o u t, how ever, and no c r i t i c co u ld sa y lat sh e makes im m o ra lity a p p e a r a t t r a c t i v e . Her o b s e rv a - ons on th e t h e a t r e in g e n e r a l and on W y c h e rle y 's e a r l i e r 2^-5 Ward, W illiam W y c h e rle y . Act V, scen e 4 , p . 506. 2^^ I b i d . , pp . 4 l4 , 4 1 5 , Act I I , sc e n e 1. 3 6 2 Lay, The C ountry W ife , a r e f o r h e r th e s h e e r e s t p r e - s n s e , 2 6 7 b u t t h e r e may be some t r u t h in S m ith 's comment on jrc h e rle y t h a t th e l a d i e s h ad become an im p o r ta n t f a c t o r to 3 re c k o n e d w ith i n O l i v i a 's e x p r e s s io n o f shock a t th e 3 h in a s c e n e . “268 th e o t h e r hand, W y c h e rle y 's t r u e p u r - Dse i n t h i s sc e n e seems t o be t o show th r o u g h h i s “woman of 3 n se , “ E l i z a , t h a t s h a llo w p r e te n d e r s t o v i r t u e and 3cency, su c h a s O l i v i a , a r e lo o k in g f o r e v e r y th in g p o s s i b l e t w h ich to ta k e e x c e p tio n i n any p la y , a s f o r exam ple when 3 h a s E l i z a sa y : T ru ly I t h i n k a woman b e t r a y s h e r w ant o f m o d e sty , b y shew ing i t p u b l i c k l y i n a P la y - h o u s e , a s much a s Man d o e s h i s want o f co u rag e by a q u a r r e l t h e r e ; f o r th e t r u l l y m odest and s t o u t s a y l e a s t , an d a r e l e a s t e x c e p t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y i n p u b l i c . 269 F i d e l i a i s more n e a r l y th e “one p u re c h a r a c t e r i n th e lo le o f i t s f i v e acts, "270 th a n she i s " a p a n d a r o f th e i s e s t s o r t . "271 i n f a c t , h e r a rra n g e m e n ts o f a s s i g n a t i o n s ?e made f o r h e r p u re lo v e o f M anly, and h i s i n s i s t e n c e on )r m aking t h e a rra n g e m e n ts comes from h i s b ro k en hopes and I b i d . , p p . 407— 408, Act I I , sc e n e 1. 2^8 S m ith, The Gay C ouple in R e s t o r a t i o n Comedy /am b rid g e: H a rv a rd U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1948) , p . 108. 2^9 Ward, W illiam W y c h e rle y , op. c i t . , p . 408, Act [, s c e n e 1 . 270 N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 227- 2 7 1 M A ftaiiT fi v . . T)_ 4 n . 363 n o t C h r i s t i a n , p e r h a p s , b u t a l s o n o t b a s e n o r u n n a t u r a l 3 8 i r e f o r re v e n g e on h is fo rm e r m i s t r e s s . 2?2 Manly was not a . f e r o c i o u s s e n s u a l i s t who b e l i e v e d h im s e lf a s g r e a t a a s c a l a s he th o u g h t everybody e l s e . . . ,273 W ith th e e x c e p tio n o f t h e Widow B la c k a c r e , th e o th e r l a r a c t e r s a r e more n e a r ly "shadows o f p e r s o n i f i e d q u a l i t é s , "274 th a n th e y a r e "so s e v e r a l l y and e n t i r e l y d i f f e r en t â t e d . . . ."275 L ord P l a u s i b l e and N ovel m e re ly conform D t h e i r ty p e . The Widow i s a s t r i k i n g i f nauseous i d i v i d u a l " a k in d o f b o rn fe m a le b a r r i s t e r , an o r i g i n a l l i c h W ycherley h ad d o u b tle s s met w ith i n th e c o u r ts o f aw. . . ."276 "The P l a i n D e a le r was f i r s t a c te d w i t h a c c la m a tio n Id s u c c e s s , i n 167 4 , and p r i n t e d t h r e e y e a r s l a t e r . "277 2 7 2 M anly*s o f f e r i n g O l i v i a je w e ls w ith th e w o rd s, l e r e , Madam, I n e v e r y e t l e f t my Wench u n p a id ," i s e v id e n c e I h i s b u rn in g r a g e and h is d e s i r e t o ex p o se h e r m o ra ls i b l i c l y . Act V, sc e n e 4, p . 505• 273 H unt, o p . c i t . , p . x v l i i . 2 7 4 N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 227. 2 7 5 Summers, P lay h o u se o f P e p y s, p. 3 2 2 . I t i s t r u e la t th e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s can f o r th e m ost p a r t be s a t i s f a c - > r ily v i s u a l i z e d , b u t by co m p ariso n w ith M anly th e y do îcome r a t h e r s te r e o ty p e d . 2 7 6 H unt, O P . c i t . , p. x v i i . 2 7 7 F e l i x E. S c h e l lin g , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, P a r t I , in am bridge H is to r y o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e , o p . c i t . , V o l. [ I I , p . 1 4 5 . T h is does n o t a g r e e w ith t h e d a te g iv e n in j tie s t o r y p e r s i s t s t h a t when t h e p la y was f i r s t p r e s e n t e d , The Town, a s The A u th o r has o f te n t o l d me, a p p e a rd D o u b tfu ll w hat Juferaent to Form o f i t ; th e fo rem en tio n * d g e n tle m e n [Buckingham , R o c h e s te r, D o rs e t, M u lg rav e , S a v i l e , e t alTf by t h e i r lo u d a p p r o b a tio n o f i t , gave i t b o th a sudden and a l a s t i n g r e p u t a t i o n * 278 ae f a c t re m a in s , how ever, t h a t th e town d id ap p ro v e i t b o th len an d f o r many y e a r s a f t e r , when th e y m ust have r e c o g - Lzed alw ays t h a t The P l a i n D e a le r was " in i t s h o n e s t ir p o s e to c a s t i g a t e v i c e , n o t unw orthy o f t h e i d e a l s o f Ben >nson himself. "279 When i t i s r e a l i z e d t h a t th e p rim Jo h n re ly n s a n c tio n e d th e s a t i r e o f W ycherley, i t can s c a r c e l y Ï d e n ie d t h a t i t was th o u g h t to be on th e a id e o f i r t u e .280 V II. PLAYS OF LEE A lth o u g h Ham w ould s n e e r a t th e e x p r e s s io n o f immers. B ib lio g ra p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 130, o f ►cember 7 , l6 ? o . It d o es c o in c id e w i t h t h a t g iv e n i n ►nest. V ol. 1 , p . I 6 l , who s t a t e s t h a t t h e p la y "m ust have ► en a c t e d in 167 4 , a s i t i s m e n tio n e d by Dryden i n th e e f a c e t o h i s 'S t a t e o f Innocence* w h ich was r e g i s t e r e d a t a t io n e r s * H a ll , A p r il 17* 1694. . . . " D en n is, The C r i t i c a l W orks, V o l. I I , p . 277- 279 S c h e l lin g , op. c i t . . p . 145. 280 L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , 1691* p . 515- He q u o te s e l y n 's rhyme: As lo n g a s Men a r e f a l s e , and Women V a in ^ , W hile G old c o n tin u e s to be V i r t u e 's b a n e . In p o in te d S a ty r W ycherley s h a l l R eig n . 365 in tim e n t by th e C ourt o f C h a rle s I I when I t a tte n d e d L e e 's D phonlsba. he c a n n o t deny th e t h e a t r i c a l s u c c e s s o f th e Lay n o r i t s p o p u l a r i t y w ith th e p u b l i c i n t h a t p e r i o d . 281 > re o v er, th e c o u r t t h a t was so "accustom ed . . . to s u r r e n - 3r" (p re su m ab ly he r e f e r s t o th e fem ale p a r t o f i t ) i n : s e l f w ould n o t h av e been a b l e t o p ro v id e th e p o p u l a r i t y le p la y a c h ie v e d , f o r th e y w ere i n s u f f i c i e n t in n u m b e r . 282 m a d m its as much when he w r i t e s , "The P l a i n t o f King I S s i n i s s a so r a v is h e d th e h e a r t o f h is own g e n e r a tio n t h a t 56 was c a p t i v a t e d to r e p e a t h im s e lf in l a t e r p la y s . . . . " 1 s h o r t , th e p la y was p o p u la r w ith th e p e o p le , even th o u g h : w as, p e rh a p s , th e most p o p u la r w ith th e women.283 The to n e o f th e p la y i s , o f c o u r s e , h e r o ic ; i t has le u s u a l bom bast and r a n t o f L ee, b u t n o t i n such e x t r a v a - tnt q u a n t i t i e s . G enest seems t o be c o r r e c t when he c a l l s 281 R osw ell Gray Ham, Otway and L e e , B io g rap h y from a iro q u e Age (Hew Haven: Y ale U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1931)1 p T % 6 . 5 w r i t e s , "Accustom ed a s was th e c o u rt o f C h a rle s to i r r e n d e r , i t i s no m a rv e l t h a t i t l o s t i t s h e a r t c o m p le te ly ) th e p e rso n a g e s o f L e e 's t r a g e d y ." 282 I b i d . . p . 67. 283 L a n g b a in e , o p . o l t . . 1 s t e d i t i o n , I 6 9 1 , p . 325. 5 s t a t e s , "T h is p l a y i s w r i t i n H ero ick V e rs e , and h a th Lways a p p e a r 'd on t h e S tag e w ith a p p la u s e ; e s p e c i a l l y from le Fem ale Sex: and envy i t s e l f m ust A cknow ledge, T hat th e is s io n betw een M a s s a n is s a , an d S op h o n isb a i s w e ll [ p r e s s ' t . . . . " f c "on th e w hole a m o d erate p l a y . "284 One can im agine t h a t s r t a i n s c e n e s , d e p e n d in g on t h e n a t u r a l n e s s of d e l i v e r y , an rg u a h le p o in t i n R e s to r a ti o n a c t i n g , w ere in d e e d to u c h in g 1 the presentation.285 At Rosalinda's death the great Einnibal says: F o re v e r gone ! A ll h e r sw eet s to c k o f B re a th Spent in one s ig h ; th e R io t o f r i c h D eath, Now by my Arms th e Gods to o p a r t i a l a r e . Or e l s e th e y e n v y 'd my f u l l Trade o f War; Which c o u 'd so v a s t a s t a t e o f B e a u ty b u y . As f a r s u r p a s s 'd th e M anors of th e Sky. Dead R o s a l i n d a - The p la y was v e r y p o p u la r w ith th e K ing and Queen. 1 l e s s th a n one y e a r C h a rle s saw i t f i v e and th e Queen a t 3 ast t h r e e t i m e s . 286 E v id en ce o f i t s c o n tin u e d p o p u l a r i t y 3 t h a t i t was " f r e q u e n t l y revived. "287 In th e c o u rs e of le R e s to r a ti o n p e r io d i t w ent th ro u g h se v e n p r i n t e d l i t i o n s and th u s p ro v ed i t s e l f p o p u la r w ith th e g e n e r a l 5 a d e r.288 L ess th a n two y e a rs a f t e r th e f i r s t p r o d u c tio n o f 284 Grenest, op. c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 1 8 4 . 285 N a th a n a e l L ee, P la y s (London: A. B e tte s w o rth , *22), V ol. 3 , p . 6 4 , Act V. 286 W a rran ts from th e L o rd C h a m b e rla in 's O ff ic e d a te d me 1 4 , 1 6 7 5 an d J a n u a ry 29 , I 6 7 6 . See N i c o l l , R e s t o r a t i o n ?ama, p p . 307- 3 0 8 - A4 G e n e s t, V ol. 1 , p . 184. 288 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama. 367 3 p h o n lsb a .289 came th e p la y t h a t has b een a c c la im e d a s th e r e a t e s t o f L e e 's t r a g e d i e s , The R iv a l Q ueens. o r A le x a n d e r le G r e a t .290 %t was "A cknow ledg'd a m a s te r - p ie c e by Mr. c*yden h im s e lf , in t h a t Copy o f V e rse s p r e f i x e d t o i t , which; ?e a s u f f i c i e n t T estim ony o f i t s w o r t h "291 i t was a l s o l i d t o have "a lw ay s been a p p la u d e d by th e S p e c t a t o r s . "292 The s o u rc e o f th e p la y was La C a lp r e n e d e 's C a ssa n - 1^^293 Through t h e a i d o f h i s f a t h e r 's l i b r a r y he was Die t o "to n e up th e f l a c c i d s o u rc e m a t e r i a l by l i b e r a l :*afts from h i s t o r y . . . an d th e e f f e c t was a l t o g e t h e r r a c i n g . "294 The sp e e c h o f C ly tu s to A le x a n d e r in Act IV )rms a c o n t r a s t i n s t y l e w i t h p re c e d in g s c e n e s b etw een rsim achus and A le x a n d e r: C l y tu s . Your f a t h e r P h i l i p — I have se e n him m arch. 289 L oc. c i t . , A p r il 3 0 , 1675. 290 Poim es, O P » o l t . . p . 132. Susunero has e r r e d gain h e r e o r i n h i s B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama. ;re he g iv e s M arch, 1677 a s t h e p r o d u c tio n d a t e , b u t in le B ib lio g r a p h y he g iv e s J a n u a r y , 1 6 7 7 • 2 9 1 L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , I 6 9I , p# 325* 292 L oc. c i t . 2 93 L an g b ain e seems to have been unaw are o f L e e 's ►rrowing from La C a lp re n e d e , o th e rw is e he c e r t a i n l y w ould IVe m e n tio n e d i t s in c e t h a t s o r t o f s c h o l a r s h i p seems to Lve b ee n h i s f o r t e . H is r e f e r e n c e s a r e t o th e h i s t o r i c a l > urces. See L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , o p . c i t . , p . 325» Ham, op. c i t . . p . 72. 3 6 8 And fo u g h t b e n e a th h is d r e a d f u l B an n er, w here The s t o u t e s t a t th e T able w o u 'd ha* tre m b le d : Nay, frow n n o t. S i r ; you c a n n o t lo o k me d ea d . When G reeks J o i n 'd G re ek s, th e n was th e Tug o f War, The l a b o u r 'd B a t t e l sw e a t, an d C onquest b l e d . Why sh o u ld I f e a r to sp eak a T ru th more n o b le Than e ' e r yo u r F a th e r J u p i t e r Anmon t o l d you? P h i l i p fo u g h t Men, b u t A le x a n d e r Women.295 By c o n t r a s t w ith t h i s i s C l y t u s ' s p e e c h in r e c o u n tin g tie v i c t o r y o f L ysim achus o v e r th e l i o n : Then w a lk in g fo rw a rd , th e l a r g e B e a s t d e sc ry * d H is P re y , and w ith a R oar t h a t made u s p a l e . Flew f i e r c e l y on him; b u t t h e a c t i v e P r in c e , S t a r t i n g a s i d e , a v o id e d h i s f i r s t Shock W ith a s l i g h t H u rt, an d a s th e L ion t u r n 'd T h ru s t G a u n tl e t, Arm a n d a l l , i n t o h i s T h ro a t, And w ith H e rc u le a n F o rc e t o r e f o r t h by th e R oots The foam ing b lo o d y Tongue; and w h ile t h e Savage F a i n t w ith t h e L o ss, sunk t o th e b lu s h i n g E a rth To p lo u g h i t w ith h is T e e th , y o u r c o n q u 'r in g S o l d i e r , L e a p 'd on h i s B ack, and d a s h 'd h i s S k u ll t o pieces.296 I t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o d is c o v e r t h e r a n t and bom bast r t h i s , b u t th e a u d ie n c e lo v e d i t so much t h a t th e p l a y srved a s a b r i l l i a n t o p p o r tu n ity f o r no l e s s th a n f i v e ?eat R e s to r a ti o n a c t o r s in t h e r o l e o f A l e x a n d e r .297 L b b er's c o n te n tio n t h a t o n ly th e a c t i n g c a u se d t h i s p la y ► charm th e a u d ie n c e i s p r o b a b ly an o v e r s ta te m e n t, t o sa y N a th a n a e l L e e , The D ram atick Works (London: W. a l e s , 1 7 3 4 ), V o l. 3 , P* 233". 296 I b i d . , p . 263 297 Downes, o p . c i t . , p . 133* T hese w ere H a r t, )odman. M o u n tf o rt, P o w e ll, an d B e t t e r t o n . 369 he l e a s t , a lth o u g h t h e r e can be l i t t l e q u e s tio n t h a t th e c t i n g had much t o do w ith it.^ ^ ® The s ta te m e n t t h a t th e l a y , a f t e r B e t t e r t o n r e s ig n e d th e p a r t of A le x a n d e r, * * n e v e r a s a b l e to im pose upon th e Publick,** i s a p p a r e n tly somewhat n a c e u r a te .^ ^ ^ A c tin g e v i d e n t l y p la y e d a g r e a t p a r t i n i t s a c c e s s , how ever, a s i s shown in B e tte r t o n * s r e c o l l e c t i o n o f a r t ’ s p o r t r a y a l o f A lex a n d er and h i s d e s i r e to r e c r e a t e a t e a s t c e r t a i n p a r t s o f I t . 300 Nor was th e r o l e o f A le x a n d e r be o n ly one t h a t gave charm t o th e p la y ; th o s e o f St a t i r a a d Roxana gave g r e a t o p p o r tu n ity f o r g l o r y in fem a le l i e s .301 D avies w r i t e s : The o r i g i n a l R iv a l Q ueens, M rs. M a rs h a ll and M rs. 2Q8 ^ C ib b e r, Lowe’ s e d i t i o n , 1889, V o l. 1 , p . 1 0 8 . He r o te , ’ ’th a t when, from a to o advanced Age, [ B e t t e r t o n ] g s ig n e d t h a t to ils o m e p a r t o f A le x a n d e r, th e F la y f o r many gars a f t e r n e v e r was a b le t o impose upon t h e P u b lic k ; and I 3ok upon h i s so p a r t i c u l a r l y s u p p o r tin g t h e f a l s e F i r e and fctrav a g an cies o f t h a t C h a r a c te r to be a more s u r p r i s i n g ro o f o f h i s S k i l l t h r u h is b e in g em inent i n th o s e o f a a k e sp e a r; b e c a u se t h e r e T ru th and N a tu re coming t o h i s a s i s t a n c e , he had n o t th e same D i f f i c u l t i e s to com bat, and jn s e q u e n tly we m ust be l e s s Amaz’d a t h i s S u ccess w here we re more a b le to a c c o u n t f o r i t . ” The R iv a l Queens was r e v iv e d a g a in a t D rury Lane 1 1 7 0 4 , w ith W ilks in th e c h i e f r o l e , and a g a in in 1706 in g t t e r t o n ’s own company a t th e H aym arket. V erbruggen was Lexander i n t h a t p r o d u c tio n . G ib b e r, Lowe’ s e d i t i o n . V ol. , p p . 108-109, n o t e . 300 p a v ie s , op . c i t . . V o l. 3 , p p . 2 8 8 -2 8 9 . 301 B o u t e l l as St a t i r a and M rs. M a rs h a ll a s >xana a c h ie v e d fame in t h e e a r l y p r o d u c tio n s . See Downes, T i * 1 1 . 370 B o u t e l l , w ere much c e l e b r a t e d , e s p e c i a l l y th e f i r s t , who a c t e d Roxana. She e x c e ll e d in c h a r a c t e r s o f d i g n i t y , an d in e x p r e s s in g th e s t r o n g em otions o f th e h e a r t . . . M rs. B o u t e l l , th e o r i g i n a l S t a t i r a , was low in s t a t u r e , had v e r y a g r e e a b le f e a t u r e s , a good co m plexion, w i t h a c h i l d i s h lo o k . . . she g e n e r a l l y a c te d te n d e r and in n o c e n t young l a d i e s . 3 0 2 The p o p u l a r i t y o f th e p la y — as op p o sed to th e popu- a r i t y o f any a c t o r o r group o f a c t o r s — was so g r e a t t h a t i t g n tin u e d to be a c t e d f o r more th a n a c e n tu r y and a h a l f , one o f th e l a t e s t p e rfo rm a n c e s b e in g g iv e n in 1830.*303 fcs p o p u l a r i t y w ith i t s co n tem p o rary r e a d in g p u b lic a g a in i s t t e s t e d by t h e num erous p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s , th u s show ing a r t h e r th e h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n betw een t h e a t r i c a l and r e a d in g opularity.304 V I I I . PLAYS OF OTW AY When Don C a rlo s was p r e s e n te d a t D o rset C arden a t i s t e r tim e i n 1 676,305 i t was im m e d ia te ly s u c c e s s f u l w ith 302 p a v ie s , op . c i t . . V o l. 3 , p p . 295*-298. In l a t e r g a rs, M rs. B r a c e g ir d le p la y e d St a t i r a and M rs. B a rry , )xana. 303 Downes, op. c i t . , p . 132. T here w ere many a l t e r nions and even b u r le s q u e s . T here w ere seven e d i t i o n s o r i s s u e s to 170 4 . immers. B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 84. 305 Ib id . , p . 94. 371 he a u d ie n c e o f t h a t d a y . 3 0 6 Downes w ro te , "A ll th e p a r t s e in g a d m ira b ly A c te d , i t l a s t e d s u c c e s s i v e l y 10 Days; i t o t m ore money th a n any p r e c e d in g modern T ra g e d y . " 3 0 7 e n e s t c a l l s i t "an i n d i f f e r e n t T ragedy i n rhyme— lo v e i s e a r l y t h e w hole b u s in e s s o f i t •"308 The p la y c a l l e d by Otway a h e r o ic tr a g e d y a c t u a l l y i s ot one ex c ep t in th e tra d e m a rk o f th e ty p e , rhyme.309 ndeed, i t i s s a i d t h a t "To Thomas Otway was r e s e r v e d th e onour o f g iv in g tr a g e d y i t s t r u e and g en u in e to n e o f angu ag e, d iv e s te d o f u n n a t u r a l f l i g h t an d u n n e c e s s a ry om p.*310 Hence, even in p o i n t o f l i t e r a r y t a s t e i t a p p e a rs bat t h e a u d ie n c e was more d i s c r i m i n a t i n g th a n i t h a s b ee n a i l e d s in c e th e p l a y h as r e p u t a t i o n w ith su ch an o u ts t a n d - ag m odern c r i t i c a s S i r Edmund Gosse who c a l l s i t " o u r b e s t 3 0 6 Downes, op. c i t . , p . 3 6 . B e t t e r t o n was th e K ing, a i t h was th e P r i n c e , H a r r is was Don John o f A u s t r i a , 3dburn was Gomez, and Lady S lin g s b y was th e Queen. IfO o . c i t . , OP. c i t . » V o l. 1, p . 1 9 1 . T his s ta te m e n t a.y have come i n p a r t a s a r e s u l t o f th e fam ous comment made f Drydeh w hich i s q u o te d by Otway i n h i s p r e f a c e t o t h e Lay, "I* g a d , he knew not a l i n e i n ■ Don C a rlo s he w ould be be a u t h o r o f . " D ryden’ s fame b o th a s a u th o r and c r i t i c h as sen so g r e a t t h a t o th e r h i s t o r i a n s and c r i t i c s seem i c l i n e d to f o llo w him— som etim es u n e q u iv o c a lly . 3 0 9 Ham, o p . P it. , p . 7 6 . 3 1 0 D av ie s, op. c i t . , V o l. 2 , p . 189. 372 hym ing t r a g e d y . "311 He c o n tin u e s by s t a t i n g t h a t "by one eap th e young O xonian sp ra n g ah e ad o f th e v e t e r a n D ryden, ho th e re u p o n b eg an to w eary o f h is lo n g - lo v e d m i s t r e s s , hyme. " In f a c t , t h i s p l a y was so l a c k i n g i n bom bast and e r o i c deeds by superm en t h a t one c r i t i c h a s s a i d o f i t , R om antic s e n tim e n ta lis m had come in ; and th e a u d ie n c e was o be c a r r i e d away upon f lo o d s o f damp e m o tio n ."312 The p l o t , b r i e f l y , i s one in w hich a King ta k e s f o r i s own w ife th e b e t r o t h e d b r i d e o f h i s s o n . The r e s u l t i n g e a r s , lo v e s , and J e a l o u s i e s f u r n i s h h a l f th e s t o r y , w h ile he t o r n lo v e and l o y a l t y o f th e Queen f u r n i s h e d th e o t h e r , n th e n o v el enough tim e e l a p s e s t h a t th e Queen has t h r e e h i l d r e n , and th e a c t i o n moves o v e r h a l f th e kingdom s o f u ro p e , b u t i n Otway’ s p l a y t h e tim e i s c u t to t h i r t y - s i x o u rs and th e sp a c e t o th e p a l a c e and i t s g a rd e n s . The G tio n i s re d u c e d m e re ly to t h e p rim a ry t r i a n g l e . A m ost n t e r e s t i n g o b s e r v a tio n c o n c e rn in g th e a u d ie n c e t a s t e o f th e e r i o d i s t h a t th e s h o r te n in g o f th e tim e to t h i r t y - s i x o u rs e lim in a te d " th o s e c h i l d r e n so a b h o r r e n t to a squeam ish 311 Edmund G osse, S e v e n te e n th C e n tu ry S tu d ie s London: W illiam Heineman, 1 9 1 4 ), 311. The p l o t o f t h i s Lay was ta k e n from a F re n c h n o v e l, Don C a r l o s , w r i t t e n by B sar V ic h a rd , t h e Abbe de S a in t R e a l. 312 Ham, op. c i t . . p . 78. 373 udlenoe."313 i t i s d o u b tf u l t h a t some o f th e a u d ie n c e o u ld have b een to o squeam ish in su ch m a t t e r s , n o n e th e le s s he s ta te m e n t i s i n d i c a t i v e o f more p u re s e n tim e n t in th e ro u p th a n has th u s f a r b een a llo w e d them . As shown ab o v e , th e p la y had th e e x c e p tio n a l ru n o f en d a y s a t i t s o r i g i n a l p r o d u c tio n , b u t s t o r i e s have b een o ld o f a phenom enal s u c c e s s e x te n d in g o v e r t h r e e tim e s h a t p e r i o d . 314 w h ile t h i s m akes e x c i t i n g s p e c u l a t i o n . Dr. ohnson p o i n t s o u t t h a t su c h p ro b a b ly was n o t th e c a se in lew o f th e g e n e r a l l e n g t h o f p la y ru n s o f t h a t era.315 n q u e s tio n a b ly th e p la y was v e r y p o p u la r b e c a u se a l e t t e r rom th e famous B a rto n B ooth to a Mr. A aron H i l l s t a t e s : Mr. B e t t e r t o n o b se rv e d to me many y e a rs ag o , t h a t Don C a rlo s su c c e e d e d much b e t t e r th a n e i t h e r V enice P re s e r v e d o r The O rphan, an d was i n f i n i t e l y more a p p la u d e d and fo llo w e d f o r many years.316 313 I b id . . p . 77. 31^ Samuel Jo h n so n , The Works o f t h e E n g lis h P o e ts London: John N ic h o ls , 1 7 9 0 j . V o l. 1 , "O tw ay," p . 314% ^ t p p e a rs , by th e Lampoon, to h av e had g r e a t s u c c e s s , an d i s a id t o have b e e n p la y e d t h i r t y n ig h ts t o g e t h e r . " 3 1 5 Loo. P i t . The magnanimous Summers, w ith h i s 3ual f i n e s s e , b ra n d s th e a u t h o r , whom he does not name, o f Handbook to R e s to r a ti o n Drama who d a re d e x p re s s a b e l i e f 1 th e t h i r t y n ig h ts * t r a d i t i o n a s " ig n o r a n t" and sa y s " h is ages a r e in d e e d s u p e r f i c i a l , ig n o r a n t and s i l l y . " See 3wnes, o p . c i t . , p . 2 2 4 . Downes* s ta te m e n t o f a te n day in i s p ro b a b ly th e m ost r e l i a b l e . 3 1 6 Quoted in B aker, B io g r a p h ie D ram atica, o p . c i t . , 3 l. 1 , p . 1 6 9 . Baker s t a t e s th a t th e p la y "met w ith v e r y reat a p p la u se ." B e tte r to n was th e k in g . 374 I t i s s c a r c e l y to be w ondered a t t h a t Otway was j u b i - nnt o v e r th e g r e a t s u c c e s s o f h i s seco n d p la y , and h i s o d e s t b o a s t may be e a s i l y excused.317 I t was not ex c u sed y some o f h i s c o n te m p o r a rie s , how ever, one o f whom w ro te : Tom Otway came n e x t, Tom S h a d w e ll’ s d e a r Zany And sw ears f o r H e ro ic k s , he w r i t e s b e s t o f an y : Don C a rlo s h i s P o c k e ts so amply had f i l l ’d . That h i s mange was q u i t e c u r 'd , and h i s L ic e w ere a l l k i l l e d . 318 t t h i s p o in t th e a u t h o r 's J u b i l a t i o n seems to have come to n a b r u p t h a l t w ith a r a t h e r ru d e shook. B eljam e s t a t e s h a t E lk an a h S e t t l e was so i n f u r i a t e d a t h a v in g b een u p p la n te d in R o c h e s t e r 's f a v o r by Crowne t h a t th e s u c c e s s f Don C a rlo s c a u s e d him t o c h a lle n g e Otway t o a d u e l . 319 c t u a l l y th e c h a lle n g e seems t o have come from Otway, and i f ae w r i t e r i s t o b e b e l ie v e d , t h e c h a lle n g e r seems to have ad co m p lete s a t i s f a c t i o n . 320 317 See P r e f a c e to Don C a rlo s in O tway’ s W orks, uramers e d i t i o n . V o l. 1 , p . 7 6 . Otway w ro te , " I d a re n o t resum e to ta k e t o m y se lf w hat a g r e a t many and t h o s e . I am u re o f good Judgem ent to o , h ave been so k in d t o a f f o r d me, y i z . ) That i t i s th e b e s t H ero io k P la y t h a t h as b een r i t t e n o f l a t e ; f o r I th a n k Heaven I am n o t y e t so v a i n . " 318 The C o l le c te d Works o f John W ilm ot, E a r l o f o c h e s t e r , Jo h n Hayward, ed ito r~ T L o n d o n : The N onesuch P r e s s , 926) 7 p7 132. 3 1 9 B e lja m e, o p . c i t . . p . 1 0 0 . He w r i t e s , "Thanks to o c h e s t e r ’ 8 p a tr o n a g e , h i s /Qtwa.v’ ^ Don C a r l o s . an in co m p ar- 01y b e t t e r p la y th a n A l c i b i a d e s , was a g r e a t s u c c e s s ." 320 c h a r a c t e r o f th e True B lue P r o t e s t a n t P o e t," , q u o te d i n Ham, o p . c i t . , p . 1 10. 375 Otway r e c o g n iz e d t h a t he had ca u g h t th e t a s t e o f th e id ie n o e , n o t o n ly by t h e i r a tte n d a n c e b u t a l s o by th e f a c t l a t Don C a rlo s . . . n e v e r f a i l ’d to draw T ea rs from th e Eyes o f th e . A u d i t i r s ; I mean th o s e w hose S o u ls w ere c a p a b le o f so | n o b le a p l e a s u r e : f o r *twas n o t my b u s in e s s to ta k e such| a s o n ly come t o a P la y -h o u s e to s e e F a rc e f o o l s , a n d la u g h a t t h e i r own deform ed P i c t u r e s . . . . 3 2 1 b i s th e u n f o r tu n a te f a c t o f th e p e r io d t h a t p o p u l a r i t y o f I t e r a r y o r d ra m a tic p r o d u c tio n s i n no w is e a s s u re d th e i t h o r a d e c e n t l i v i n g . T hus, in s p i t e o f s u c c e s s and many r i n t e d e d i t i o n s 3 2 2 h i s p la y s Otway was s a id l i t e r a l l y to S L ve s t a r v e d t o d e a t h . 323 O tw ay's s t y l e "w ith o u t d e g e n e r a tin g in to v u lg a ris m . . i s e a sy , flo w in g and f a m i l i a r ; and y e t s u f f i c i e n t l y ) r c i b l e : i t i s o c c a s i o n a l l y s tr e n g th e n e d by p le a s i n g 321 Otway, o p . p i t . , P re fa c e t o Don C a r l o s . V o l. 1 , ► 7 6 . 322 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f Res t o r a t io n Drama, p . Of t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p la y t h e r e w ere f i v e e d i t i o n s i r i n g th e p e r i o d , enough to show once more th e r e l a t i o n s h i p îtw een g r e a t t h e a t r i c a l p o p u l a r i t y o f a p la y and th e number E * p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s . 3 2 3 T h e o p h ilu s C ib b e r, L iv e s o f th e P o e ts o f G re a t r i t a i n and I r e l a n d (London: R. G r i f f i t h s , 1753)> V o l. I I , , 3 3 3 , e t s e q . T here a r e se v e re il s t o r i e s o f O tw ay's g a th , b u t th e y a l l p o in t more o r l e s s t o s t a r v a t i o n . I t i s > s s ib le , to o , t h a t a lc o h o lis m may have c o n t r i b u t e d t o h i s m i s e . See Summers’ e d i t i o n o f O tw ay's Works « V ol. 1 , p p . 3IX an d C. 376 î s c r i p t i o n and warm i m a g e r y . "324 T his i s m eant e s p e c i a l l y >r The Orphan and i s q u i t e a p p l i c a b l e . 3^5 A lth o u g h h i s m iu s in comedy " l a y a l i t t l e to o much t o L i b e r t i n i s m ," .8 t r a g i c s t y l e was a llo w e d , f o r th e m ost p a r t " to o b se rv e le Decorum o f t h e S t a g e . "326 The p l o t o f The O rphan, b r i e f l y , i s b a s e d on th e lo v e * t h e two s o n s , G a s ta lio and P o ly d o re , o f a noblem an f o r le young g i r l , M onim ia, who h as been l e f t t o h is c a r e . L s ta lio d e c la r e s to h i s b r o t h e r t h a t he w i l l n e v e r m a rry >nimia b u t w i l l t r y to s e c u r e h e r f o r h i s m i s t r e s s . Thus ten G a s ta lio and Monimia a c t u a l l y a r e m a r r ie d s e c r e t l y and ly d o r e o v e rh e a rs t h e i r p la n n e d lo v e t r y s t , he p l o t s to e t Monimia i n t h e d a rk n e s s b e f o r e G a s t a lio does and to i b s t i t u t e h im s e lf f o r h i s b r o t h e r . He d o e s t h i s , and t h e 324 D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3# P* 195- 3^3 N o n e th e le s s o n ly one page e a r l i e r D avies h a s m arked in w r i t i n g o f P o ly d o re * s a d d re s s t o Monimia t h a t i s " im p e lle d t o a f f r o n t h e r w ith h i s b r u t a l p a s s io n . . . r h i s a d d r e s s , how ever j u s t i f i e d i n t h e ra n k days o f a r l e s I I w ould s c a r c e l y now [1785/ be t o l e r a t e d i n a o t h e l . " 326 L a n g b a in e , 1 s t e d i t i o n , 1691, p p . 395-*396. n g b a in e , who m ig h t be te rm e d th e " S h e rlo c k Holmes o f a m a tic c r i t i c i s m , i n s i s t s t h a t Otway "som etim es f e l l i n to a g i a r y as w e ll a s h i s C o n te m p o ra rie s , an d made u s e o f a k e s p e a r , to t h e a d v a n ta g e o f h i s P u rs e , a t l e a s t , i f n o t 8 R e p u ta tio n ." As i n d i c a t e d above, th e a d v a n ta g e t o h i s r s e m ust have b e e n s l i g h t . 377 ^ s u i t i n g d i s t r e s s ends in d e a th f o r a l l three.327 E liz a b e t h B a rry a c h ie v e d one o f h e r f i n e s t triu m p h s 3 Monimia i n t h i s p l a y *328 i n t h e l a s t a c t when on le a v in g i s t a l i o sh e came to th e t r a g i c l i n e "Ah, p o o r G a s t a l i o , " le alw ay s sh ed t e a r s h e r s e l f " n o r was i t p o s s i b le f o r th e id ie n c e to r e s t r a i n from c o rre s p o n d e n t lamentation."329 I t i s d o u b tf u l t h a t she was m a in ly r e s p o n s i b le f o r le s u c c e s s o f V en ice P re s e r v e d o f o f The O rphan, n o n e th e - 38s , th e s e two p la y s and t h a t o f The F a t a l M a rr ia g e , o r le In n o c e n t A d u lte ry by S o u th e rn s , "by t h e i r e x c e l l e n t 3 rfo rm a n c e s, to o k above a l l t h e Modern P la y s t h a t s u c c e e d - "330 I t i s a l s o o f some s i g n i f i c a n c e t h a t e d l t h r e e o f lese w ere t r a g e d i e s t h a t s t r e s s e d them es o f h o n o ra b le l o v e , i s t i c e , and l o y a l t y — su p p o s e d ly s tr a n g e t o p i c s to th e ; t e n t i o n o f R e s t o r a t i o n a u d ie n c e s . The Orphan was f i r s t p ro d u ced a t D o rse t G arden in 3 ^ 7 L a n g b a in e , R e v ised e d i t i o n , 1 6 9 9 , p# 1 0 8 , p o i n t s L t t h a t th e p l o t was ta k e n from The H is to r y o f B randon and •om a n o v e l. The E n g lis h A d v e n tu re s . 3 2 8 Downes, o p . c i t . , p . 3 8 . Her two o th e r c h i e f •agio r o l e s w ere B e lv id e r a in V enice P r e s e r v 'd and I s a b e l l a t S o u th e rn s* s The F a t a l M a r r ia g e . 3 2 9 D a v ie s, o p . c i t . , V o l. 3 , P« 2 1 5 - B e t t e r t o n him - I f s a i d o f B a rry t h a t she was so e x c e l l e n t in h e r a r t lat h e r a c t i n g w ould cau se a p la y to s u c c e e d " t h a t w ould .sg u st th e m ost p a t i e n t r e a d e r . " ^ ^ .M. .a»------------------- ---- .M. ^ ----- 378 b r u a r y , 1680,331 d u rin g t h e Tory r e j o i c i n g s o v e r t h e t u r n to London from S c o tla n d o f th e Duke and Duchess of r k , Jam es and M a r y *332 The p la y "from i t s f r e q u e n t r é p é t i o n s on th e t h e a t r e " h as b e e n s a id to b e to o w e ll known n e e d any comment r e g a r d in g i t s m e r i t . 333 "The la n g u a g e t r u l y p r a c t i c a l , t e n d e r , and s e n tim e n ta l; th e c ir c u m s ta n - s a r e a f f e c t i n g , and th e c a ta s tr o p h e i s d i s t r e s s f u l . "334 J u s t how many r e v i v a l s o c c u rr e d a f t e r i t s f i r s t o d u c tio n ca n n o t be d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e d , b u t i t was p r e s e n te d W h ite h a ll J a n u a ry 10, 1 6 6 7 ,^ ^ 3 and was g iv e n a g a in on b r u a r y 9 , 1692, b e f o r e Queen Mary and h e r m aids o f n o r . 3 3 6 B y th e end o f th e p e r i o d , t h e p la y had gone ro u g h s i x e d i t i o n s , and t o p ro v e i t s c o n tin u in g p o p u la r - y , h ad e le v e n more by 1785*337 3 3 1 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p . 94. 3 3 2 T a y lo r, o p . c i t . , p . 74. They had been s e n t out E ngland in to S c o tla n d d u rin g th e g r e a t d istu r b a n c e oueed by th e P o p is h P l o t . 333 B a k er, B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic s , o p . c i t . , V o l. 2 , 1 0 5 . 3 3 4 Lo_c. c i t . 335 T a y lo r, op . c i t . , p . 74. 3 3 6 H i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, ite m 16 . The L ord a m b e r la in is s u e d ‘ an o r d e r t o p ay M rs. B a rr y 25 f o r "ye phan o r ye Unhappy M a rria g e . " T h is was d a te d M arch 3 , 9 2 — paym ent f o r t h e F e b ru a ry 9 th p e rfo rm a n c e no d o u b t. 337 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 379 The t a s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t tim e i s f u r t h e r :t e s t e d by Ham when he c a l l s The Orphan a "d o m estic ' a g e d y . "338 i s t r u e t h a t th e p la y i s o f th e d o m e stic rpe, t r e a t i n g a s i t does " th e jo y s and so rro w s o f o r d in a r y iman l i f e . "339 M oreover, Otway was f o llo w in g h i s own Lvice, spoken by Lady Squeam ish t o h e r c o u s in . S i r Noble .umsey in h i s e a r l i e r comedy F r ie n d s h ip i n F a s h i o n , 340 when le s a y s : Oh, C o u sin , i f you u n d e rta k e to w r i t e a T ragedy, ta k e my C ounsel: Be s u r e to s a y s o f t m e ltin g t e n d e r th i n g s i n i t , t h a t may be m oving, and make y o u r L a d ie s C h arac t e r s v e r tu o u s , w h a te re you d o . 341 le h e r o in e i s , a s G a s ta lio s a y s , a l l s o f t and te n d e r ; 0 th o u a r t te n d e r all*. G e n tle and k in d , a s s y m p a th iz in g N a tu re l When a s a d s t o r y has b e e n t o l d . I ’v e seen l i t t l e b r e a s t s w ith s o f t Com passion s w e l l ' d id f i f t y y e a rs a n d o f f e r e d s t a r r i n g r o l e s f o r many famous ito rs an d a c t r e s s e s in c lu d in g W ilk s, B o o th , C o lle y G ib b e r, ' S . T h e o p h ilu s G ib b e r, S p ra n g e r B a rry , D avid G a r ric k , and •s. S id d o n s. See Otway, W orks, Summers* e d i t i o n . V ol. 2, 159. 33^ Op. c i t . , p . 339 A. T. B artholom ew , "The R e s t o r a t i o n Drama," o p . b . , C h a p te r V II, p a r t I I I , i n The Cam bridge H is to r y o f i g l i s h L i t e r a t u r e . V ol. V I I I , p . 182. He w r i t e s "The ‘ phan i s , f o r th e p e r io d , a s i n g u l a r l y d o m e stic p l a y . " 340 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . P roduced a t D o rs e t G arden i n A p r i l , 1 6 7 8 . 341 Act I I I , sc en e 1 , n o t A ct I , sc e n e 1 a s Ham s a y s , way and L e e , n o te s to C h a p te r X I, p . 234. See Otway, 380 Shove up an d down, and heave l i k e d y in g birds.342 h i s was a d o m e stic tr a g e d y , a n d , a lth o u g h th e s t r i c t l y b o u rg e o is " ty p e d id n o t a r r i v e u n t i l G eorge L i l l o f a London e r c h a n t i n th e n e x t c e n tu r y , i t was e x tre m e ly s u c c e s s f u l i t h th e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s t o r a t i o n . 343 H ic o ll g iv e s e rh a p s th e most s i g n i f i c a n t summary o f t h e p l a y 's p o p u la r - ty when he w r i t e s , “I t w ould have b een a m a s te r p ie c e i n any ge: i t was a triu m p h in i t s ow n "344 IX. PLAYS OF RAVENSCHOFT Ten y e a rs b e f o r e The London C uckolds and e le v e n y e a rs e f o r e Dame Dobson was p ro d u c e d . Ravens c r o f t had w r i t t e n h i s i r s t p la y The C i t i z e n t u r n ' d G entlem an, o r The Mamam- i c h i . 3 4 5 As was th e custom w ith a l l R e s to r a ti o n d r am a - I s t s , n o t to m e n tio n th e d r a m a t i s t s o f o th e r p e r i o d s , t h e 3 4 2 Act I I I , scen e 1 , n o t Act I I , sc e n e 1 , a s Ham, 2* c i t , . , p . 2 3 4 , s a y s . See Otway, W orks, o p . c i t . , V o l. 2, . 181. 343 P re e d le y and R eev es, o p . c i t . . p . 244. 3 4 4 N i c o l l , R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 153. 3 4 5 Downes, o p . c i t . , p . 32 . The c a s t in c lu d e d Henry a r r i s a s T rickm ore and F en cin g M a ste r; Jo e H aines a s F re n ch i t o r and S in g in g M a ste r; Jam es Nokes a s Old J o rd e n ; in d f o rd a s Dr. C u ra l; U n d e r h ill a s S ir Symon S o fth e a d ; M rs. 3 t t e r t o n a s L u c ia ; M rs. L e ig h a s B e tty T rick m o re. P rod u ced b D o rs e t Garden e a r l y in J u l y , 16?2. In t h e 1672 e d i t i o n , ig e l i s l i s t e d a s J a q u e s , t h e F re n c h t u t o r . 381 l a y was made by a b le n d in g o f sc e n e s from w orks o f o t h e r r l t e r s , in t h i s c a s e , from M o lie r e ’ s M o n sieu r de P o u rc e - ugnac and h is Le B o u rg eo is g en tilh o m m e.346 Donnes w r i t e s : T h is comedy was lo o k & iq l upon by t h e O r i t i c k s f o r a F o o lis h P la y ; y e t i t c o n t i n u 'd A c tin g 9 Days w ith a f u l l House; upon th e s i x t h t h e House b e in g v e ry f u l l ; th e P o e t added 2 more L in es t o h is E p ilo g u e , v i z . The O r i t i c k s come t o H is s , and Dam t h i s p la y . Yet s p i t e o f th e m s e lv e s th e y c a n 't k eep away.34? I t i s p e rh a p s o f some s i g n i f i c a n c e to n o te t h a t th e erfo rm a n ce o f Nokes as th e Mamamouchi " p le a s e d th e King and o u r t , n e x t S i r M a r tin , above a l l P l a y s . "348 T here i s a l s o tr o n g e v id e n c e t h a t th e p l a y p le a s e d " th e c i t y , " to o , ec au se in th e D e d ic a tio n o f th e p la y to P r in c e R u p e r t, in be 1672 e d i t i o n , w hich a t m ost co u ld have b een o n ly a few Dnths a f t e r th e o r i g i n a l p r o d u c tio n , R a v e n s c ro ft s t a t e s b at t h e p la y had a l r e a d y b een p r e s e n te d t h i r t y t i m e s . 349 b i l l more e v id e n c e o f th e g r e a t s u c c e s s o f t h i s p la y i s o n ta in e d i n D ry d e n 's p ro lo g u e to h i s p la y The A s s i g n a t i o n , [*oduced a t L i n c o l n 's Inn F i e l d s o n ly a few m onths a f t e r th e re m ie re o f R a v e n s c ro ft * s p l a y . 350 jji t h i s p ro lo g u e Dryden 3 ^ I b i d . , p . 206. 3^7 I b i d . . p . 3 2 . I 3 ^ Loo, c i t . 3 4 9 Edward R a v e n s c ro f t, P re fa c e to The C i t i z e n t u r n 'd ! e n tle m a n , o r Mamamouchi (London: Thomas D rin g , 1 6 7 2 ). I 3 5 0 The A s s ig n a tio n was p ro d u ced in th e w in te r o f | •Ote: You m ust have Mamamouchi, su ch a Fop As w ould a p p e a r a M o n ster In a Shop; H e 'l l f i l l y o u r P i t an d Boxes to th e b rim . Where, Bam 'd in Crowds, you se e y o u r s e lv e s i n him . Sure t h e r e 's some s p e l l o u r P o et n e v e r knew In h u l l i b a b i l a h d e , a n d Chu, chu, chu; But M arah arah sahem m ost d id to u c h you; That i s . Oh how we lo v e th e Mamamouchi I Grimace a n d h a b i t s e n t you p l e a s 'd away; You dam n'd th e p o e t , a n d c r i e d up t h e P l a y .351 R a v e n s c ro ft h as b een c a l l e d a “d e x te r o u s p l a g i a r y , " t i t may be t r u e t h a t he m ig h t have b e e n more d e x tro u s in laving t h e two p l o t s o f M o n sieu r de P ourceau g n ac and Le u r g e o is g en tilh o m m e .3 5 2 i s t r u e , how ever, t h a t th e ay a s i t was p ro d u c e d was s u f f i c i e n t l y humorous and had lOugh o f th e te c h n iq u e o f M o lie r e 's o r i g in a l s in b o th scen e id c h a r a c t e r , e v i d e n t l y , to make i t a v e r y e n t e r t a i n i n g rfo rm a n o e . S c h e l lin g s t a t e s t h a t R a v e n s c r o f t' s one con- d c u o u s q u a l i t y was h i s s u c c e s s in b o i s t e r o u s fare.353 i l e The C i tiz e n t u r n 'd G entlem an i s h a r d l y o f th e b o i s - ro u s ty p e , i t i s i n th e n a t u r e o f a f a r c e s t r e s s i n g i n 351 D ryden, W orks. S c o t t 's e d i t i o n , V ol. 2, p p . 378- 9. These l a s t l i n e s do n o t seem to c o in c id e w ith Downes' atem e n t o f th e o p in io n o f th e c r i t i c s a t th e p la y . 352 G e n e st, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 126. 353 S c h e l lin g , “The R e s to r a ti o n D ram a,“ P a rt I , i n a b r id g e H is to r y o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e . o p . c i t . . V o l. V II, 1 4 0 . 383 e n e r a l th e comedy o f th e sc en e o v e r t h a t o f c h a r a c t e r .3 5 4 n s p i t e o f t h i s , th e c h a r a c t e r o f Old H orden c r e a t e d by okes was second o n ly to t h a t o f S ir M a rtin in th e p r e f e r - nce o f C h a rle s a n d th e C o u r t.355 Once a g a in can be se e n th e h ig h c o r r e l a t i o n betw een r e a t p o p u l a r i t y an d a p e r f e c t l y m oral p l a y . 3 5 6 % % ig o r th y o f n o te t h a t two o f th e l e a s t o f f e n s i v e p la y s o f th e e r i o d w ere s tr o n g f a v o r i t e s o f th e King a n d C o u rt. T h is a t h e r s tr o n g ly s u g g e s ts t h a t t a s t e was n o t th e u t t e r l y e p l o r a b le t h i n g i t h as been s a i d to be d u r in g t h i s e r a . I t i s in d e e d a s t r i c t r u l e t h a t h a s no e x c e p tio n s , nd t h e r e a r e , o f c o u r s e , e x c e p tio n s to th e r u l e t h a t seems 334 ( 3 .0 0pge S h e rb u rn , "The R e s t o r a t i o n and E ig h te e n th e n t u r y ," 1660— 1789, in A L i t e r a r y H is to r y o f E n g la n d , I b e r t C. Baugh, e d i t o r {New York: A p p le to n -C e n tu r y - ô r o f t s , n c . , 1 9 4 8 ), p . 770. 355 The p la y was a t te n d e d by t h e K ing f o u r tim e s i t h i n th r e e m onths d u rin g th e f i r s t y e a r o f p r e s e n t a t i o n , nd was g iv e n a t C o u rt, a p p a r e n tly , on November 3 , l6 ? 4 . t p e rfo rm a n c e s o f S i r M a rtin M a r- a ll C h a rle s was p r e s e n t i t h e r a t th e p u b l i c t h e a t r e s o r a t C ourt e le v e n tim e s tirin g a p e r io d o f a b o u t s i x and a h a l f y e a r s . See N i c o l l , e s t o r a t i o n Drama, p p . 308, 3 0 9 , 310. 356 The l a r g e number o f i n t r i g u e s in The C i t i z e n i r n 'd G entlem an a r e a l l on t h e s id e o f j u s t i c e and r e a s o n , nd when th e o ld man s e e s h i s com plete d e f e a t in h i s r i d i c - Lous p l a n s , he ta k e s i t in p e r f e c t l y good mood. I t c a n n o t B shown, how ever, t h a t in t h i s c a se m o r a l i t y c o r r e l a t e s B ll W ith a h ig h number o f p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s . The p la y h as n ly two e d i t i o n s d u rin g th e e n t i r e p e r i o d . 384 0 o b t a i n h e r e , t h a t i s , i f th e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s to r a ti o n ad h a d i t s c h o ic e , i t would have ta k e n p la y s o f a h ig h e r o r a l and d ra m a tic q u a l i t y th a n a v e ry g r e a t many t h a t w ere ro d u o ed d u rin g th e e r a . As h a s a l r e a d y b e e n shown, p la y s f a h ig h m o ral v a lu e w ere a tte n d e d an d a p p r e c ia t e d by n e a t e r numbers th a n seem to have a tte n d e d p la y s o f low o r a l v a lu e — g e n e r a l l y — b u t t h e r e w ere e x c e p tio n s . P e rh a p s he m ost n o ta b le e x c e p tio n o f th e w hole f o r t y t o f o r t y - f i v e e a r p e r i o d was Edward R a v e n s c r o f t*s The London C u c k o l d s . 3 5 7 The comments o f c r i t i c s c o n c e rn in g t h i s p la y seem to ave b e e n p re c e d e d alm o st i n v a r i a b l y by fro w n s, head s h a k - ag s, and d u c k i n g s o f d is a p p r o v a l. One o f th e e a r l i e s t o f hese co m m en tato rs, C o lle y C ib b e r, c a l l e d i t “th e m ost ra n k Lay t h a t e v e r s u c c e e d e d . “358 Downes h im s e lf , who m ust have a e ld th e .b o o k " f o r th e p e rfo rm a n c e s a t D o rs e t Garden g n o res th e p la y c o m p le te ly .359 a c r i t i c o f t h e l a t t e r p a r t 337 B a k er, B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic a , o p . c i t . , V o l. 2, p 73" The p la y ws.s f i r s t p ro d u c e d a t D o rse t Garden in Dvember, 1681. 358 C ib b e r, Low e's e d i t i o n , V ol. 1 , p . 267. I 359 W hether o r n o t Downes h im s e lf was s l i g h t l y | qu eam ish about th e immoral p la y s t h a t w ere p r e s e n te d , o r h e t h e r he r e f l e c t e d th e a t t i t u d e o f th e s u p e r io r p a r t s o f j he a u d ie n c e , i s a m a tte r o f q u e s tio n . On s e v e r a l o ccasions! e re m a rk s, r a t h e r m a t t e r - o f - f a c t l y , on t h e m oral q u a l i t y o r ack o f i t in some p la y s . F o r exam ple, o p . c i t . , p . 3 3 , he r i t e s , "A Comedy c a l l ' d The R e fo rm a tio n , w r i t t e n by a «fii+;c»Y* nf A-rf: a In CATnbnl î Thft Ref ornnn'h 1 nn In fhe R1 Alv . 385 t th e e ig h te e n th ce n tu ry s c o r e s i t s e v e r e ly but ad m its th a t . . . t h i s p la y met w ith v er y g r e a t s u c c e s s , and w as, t i l l th e y ea r 1 7 5 2 , f r e q u e n tly p r e s e n te d on our s t a g e s ; p a r t ic u la r ly on Lord M ayor's day, in contem pt and t o th e d is g r a c e o f th e c i t y . . . i t b e in g n o t o n ly a v e r y im m oral, but a v er y i l l - w r i t t e n p ie c e . . . i t seem s c a lc u la t e d o n ly to p le a s e th e upper g a l l e r i e s , b e in g o f a k in d o f humour to o low f o r any th in g above th e rank o f a chamber m aid or fo o tb o y to la u g h a t , and in te r m in g le d w ith a s e r i e s o f in t r ig u e , lib e r t i n i s m , and l a s c i v i o u s n e s s , th a t n o th in g more v ir tu o u s than a common p r o s t i t u t e co u ld s i t t o s e e w ith o u t a b l u s h . 3 60 th e r comments l a r g e l y echo t h e s e . 361 I t i s w ith c o n s id e r a b le i n t e r e s t , how ever, th a t one o t e s a s in g le str o n g d is s e n t in g v o ic e among th e s e c r i t i c - i s t o r i a n s . The R everend John G enest w r it e s : I f i t be th e p ro v in ce o f comedy not to r e t a i l m oral i t y to a yaw ning p i t , but make th e a u d ie n c e la u g h , and to k eep them in good humour, t h i s p la y must be a llo w e d to be one o f th e b e s t com ed ies in th e E n g lish la n guage . 362 f anyone to d a y i s a b le to rea d t h i s p la y w ith an u n b ia se d in d , he w i l l q u it e p o s s ib ly f in d i t d i f f i c u l t n ot to a g ree e in g th e r e v e r s e to th e Laws o f M o r a lity and V ir tu e ; i t u ic k ly made i t s E x it , to make way f o r a Moral on e." B a k er, B io g ra p h ia D ra m a tic a , o p . c i t . , V o l. 2, . 3 9 3 . 3 6 1 For exam p le, H a z l i t t , op . c i t . , p . 5 8 . 3 6 2 G e n e st, o p . c i t . . V o l. 1 , p . 365* I t i s o f s i n - u la r in t e r e s t th a t th e two p erhaps m ost le n ie n t c r i t i c s o f he m o ra ls o f R e s to r a tio n p la y s were clerg y m en . G enest was o r many y ea rs c u r a te o f a L in c o ln s h ir e v i l l a g e ch u rch . o t e s and Q u e r ie s , Second S e r i e s , IX, 1 0 9 , 231* M ontague ummers was f o r a number o f y e a r s a p r i e s t o f th e C a th o lic 3 8 6 i t h G enest in th e m a tte r . C ontrary to th e sta tem en t quoted rom Baker ab ove, The London C uckolds i s n o t an " i l l - w r i t t e n ie c e ." I t i s a v e r y in g e n io u s ly w r it t e n p la y c o n ta in in g e v e r a l b o rro w in g s, as L angbaine so i n s i s t e n t l y p o in t s out bout th e v a s t m a jo r ity o f R e s to r a tio n p la y s , but a l l so k i l f u l l y in terw o v en th a t th e end r e s u lt i s ex trem ely amus- ng.363 As fo r th e im m orality o f th e p la y th e r e can be no en y in g i t , and "w ith a p e r f e c t l y immoral p lo t . . . b ec a u se f i t s w orkm anship, [the p la y d esc en d s] to u t t e r v u lg a r - t y . "364 v ie w o f th e r e c k le s s l i v e s o f th e p e o p le o f th e o u rt from th e K ing to th e lo w e s t member, how ever. B a k e r 's n id e remark q u oted ab ove, co n ce rn in g th e q u a lit y o f p erso n s ho c o u ld a p p r e c ia te th e humor o f t h i s p la y i s p a r t ic u la r l y 1 1 -c h o se n . N o n e th e le s s , i t m ust be a d m itted th a t th e humor 8 "of th e e a r th , e a r th y ." Perhaps an exam ple o f i t s m a lity w i l l a id in th e u n d ersta n d in g and a p p r e c ia tio n o f t s ty p e . Ramble, in t r y in g to craw l th rou gh a c e l l a r window in| rder t o rea ch h is a s s ig n a t io n , becom es cau gh t and u n a b le toi 3 63 The p r in c ip a l p a r t o f th e p lo t i s q u ite c o i n c i - en t w ith th a t o f M o lie r e 's L 'e c o le s d es fem m es, w h ich , o f o u r s e , had been u sed b e fo r e The London C uckolds was w r it t e n 8 th e c e n tr a l theme o f W y ch erley 's The C ountry W ife. 364 N i c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 2 4 3 » 387 lOve e it h e r in o r o u t. At t h i s p o in t a l i n k boy e n te r s iin g in g and knocks h is l i n k s c c i d e n t a l l y , he would have th e ic tim th in k , on R am ble's head and c a l l s . Have a l i g h t , w i l l you h ave a lig h t ? * — Ramble. A Son o f a whore knocked h i s Link J u st in my f a c e . E n gin e. [H is m is t r e s s ' s maid w a tc h in g from an upper w indo'^ Ha ha ha— S ir , I c a n 't fo r b e a r — ha ha Ram. S 'd e a th , how i t s c a l d s Î Eng. H i s t , S ir , H is t . Ram. Hauî I h ear a Casement open ab ove— I f e a r your la u g h in g has w aken'd some o f A window opens th e n e ig h b o r s— I t i s so dark ab ove, and one I c a n 't s e e — Oh confound you— throw s a Chamber p ot o f w a ter up on h is head ju s t a s he lo o k s up. Eng. W hat's th e m a tte r . S ir? Ram. One Rogue s e t me on f i r e w ith a L ink , and a n o th e r has q u en ch 'd me w ith a s t a l e Chamber p o t: fau gh how i t s t in k s . Eng. That r o g u ish P r e n tic e a t th e n ex t house d oes so alm ost ev ery n i g h t . Ram. N ever was lo v e r in such a p ic k le . . . Eng. Be S i l e n t , yonder comes some b ody, I h ear 'em t r e a d . (E n ter two Chimney Sw eepers) 1 s t Chimney Sw eeper. H old , Tom, s t a y , I am damnably g r ip 'd in my G u ts, I must s l i p a p o in t . 2nd Ch. S. Make h a s te th e n . (S ta n d s w ith h is back j u s t a g a in s t R am ble's fa c e g o in g to u n t r u s s .) 1 s t Ch. S. — Oh I am damnably f u l l o f w ind. Ram. FaughI out you s t in k in g cu r. 2nd Ch! s ! ) ^ t h e r e , w ho's th e r e ? Ram. A F r ie n d . . . Pray h elp me h e r e , and le n d me your hands . . . 1 s t . Come, Tom, h e lp th e G entlem an, ta k e you h o ld o f him by th a t arm— h o ld . S ir , we s h a l l s p o i l your! Hat and P e r iw ig — | 2nd. G ive me your sw ord. S ir , out o f your hand— now. 1 s t . Scoure and away. 3 8 8 Ram. T h ie v e s , T h ie v e s, Thieves*. (They ta k e h is Hat and P eriw ig o f f , c la p on one o f t h e i r o ld s o o ty h a ts on h is head and run away— h i s fa c e i s a l l b la c k 'd w ith them— )365 T his a c t c o n ta in s a c o n c e n tr a t io n o f f a r c i a l s c e n e s uch a s th o s e a b o v e, p a r t ic u la r l y th e o b scen e ty p e . O bscene an gu age, how ever, and im m o ra lity can be fou n d in e v e r y a c t . n in s t a n c e i s th a t in w hich an i n v i t a t io n in te n d ed f o r a m b le 's f r ie n d , Tow nley, to spend th e n ig h t w ith A r a b e lla , he w if e o f Alderman D oodle who i s to be o u t o f tow n, i s is t a k e n ly r e c e iv e d by Ramble, who i s o n ly r e lu c t a n t ly d m itte d to her h o u se , and th e fo llo w in g d ia lo g u e o c c u r s : A ra. W ell, S ir , I f in d you in te n d to be tro u b le so m e, I ' l l le a v e you. Ram. But I sh a n 't le a v e y o u . Ara. Why, what do you in te n d to do? Ram. To f o llo w you. Ara. W hither? Ram. To your Chamber. Ara. For what? Ram. To hugg, k i s s , and come to bed w ith you. A ra. You w o n 't o f f e r i t — Ram. I w i l l . A ra. G ive me your c a n d le : s in c e you are so r e s o lu t e , I ' l l t r y . Ram. Perhaps y o u ' l l sh u t th e d o o r. A ra. I ' l l s c o r n 't : I ' l l s e e what you dare do. Ram. I ' l l dare i f I d i e f o r ' t . A ra. Take n o t ic e th e n , thou d e s p e r a te r e s o lu t e man, th a t I now go to my chamber, where I ' l l u n d ress me, go in t o my b ed , and i f you dare to f o llo w me, k i s s or come to bed t o me; i f a l l th e s tr e n g th and p a s s io n a p rovok ed woman h a s , can d o ' t . I ' l l la y th e e b r e a t h le s s and p a n tin g , and 3^5 Edward R a v e n sc r o ft, The London C uckolds (London: «V» t J 4 , 9 m o Y » o I n 1 A O ^ A m +■ T T T o f . a n o 1 389 so maul t h e e , th ou a h a lt ev er a f t e r be a f f r a id to lo o k a woman in th e f a c e . Ram. S tay and h ear me now; Thou s h a lt no so o n er be th e r e but 1*11 be th e r e , k i s s you, hugg, you, tum ble you, tum ble your b ed , tum ble in to your b ed , down w ith y ou , and as o f t e n as 1 down w ith you be su re t o g iv e you th e r i s i n g b low , th a t i f a t l a s t you do chance to maul me, 'Gad you sh a n ’ t have much rea so n t o b ra g in th e m orning, and so an gry, th r e a tn in g woman g e t th e e gone and do th y w o r s t. ^ Ara. And, S ir , do you your b e s t . A dieu— [ ^ a . e x i t s 7] Eng. I ' l l go in and h e lp h er to b e d , sh e has n o th in g but a nightgow n to s l i p o f f . Ram. B e st o f a l l ; I 'd f a in have h er a t my m ercy. Eng. Oh, S i r , have no m ercy on h e r , s h e ' l l n o t com p la in o f hard u s a g e , I w arrant you.366 These s c e n e s a re perhaps th e m ost o u tsta n d in g o f l e i r ty p e in th e e n t ir e p la y , b u t th e y c a r r y th e to n e o f le p ie c e v er y w e l l . F it z g e r a ld c a lle d th e p la y . . . a sc a n d a lo u s c o a r se p ie c e , . . . th a t was p la y e d a t th e D uke's T h eatre w ith g r e a t su c c e s s in th e y ea r 1682. I t was w elcom e, no d ou b t, to th e K ing, and . . . i t seem s to have grown in to a custom th a t i t sh o u ld be perform ed ev e ry Lord M ayor's Day, much a s George B a rn w ell was s e le c t e d fo r B o x in g -n ig h t.36? : e e le p r o te s te d a g a in s t t h i s custom in th e T a t le r , and :a te d th a t he p i t i e d n o th in g so much as s e e in g r e s p e c ta b le Layers com p elled to u t t e r and i l l u s t r a t e f i t l y such th in g s 3 a re co n ta in e d in t h i s p l a y . 368 The custom c o n tin u e d . 366 Act I I I , scen e 1 . 367 P ercy F it z g e r a ld , A New H is to r y o f th e E n g lis h :a g e « From th e R e s to r a tio n to th e L ib e r ty o f th e T h ea tres jondon: T in s le y B r o th e r s , 1882)7 V o l. 1 , p . 1 6 3 • 36 8 T ^ ^ 3 9 0 o n e t h e le s s , in to th e t h e o r e t i c a l l y much more c h a ste e i g h t - en th ce n tu r y a l l th e way to 1 7 5 2 .3 6 9 A lthough in t h i s ca se th e r e i s no c o r r e la t io n betw een o r a l i t y and t h e a t r i c a l s u c c e s s , th e r e i s s t i l l a c o r r e la - io n b etw een m o r a lity and th e number o f p r in te d e d i t io n s . Btween th e tim e o f th e f i r s t p ro d u c tio n o f th e p la y in )vem ber, 1 681, and th e end o f th e p e r io d th e r e were p r in te d i l y th r e e e d i t i o n s .370 There i s a ls o an in t e r e s t i n g r e la t io n s h ip b etw een l i s e x c e p tio n to th e r u le and a n o th er th a t seems t o be an c c e p tio n . Only a year and a h a lf a f t e r th e f i r s t p roduc - Lon o f The London C u ck old s, th e same a u th o r 's Dame Dobson IS p r o d u c e d . 371 T his p la y was tak en from Thomas C o r n e ille i d Donneau de V i s e ' s La D e v in e r e s s e , a p ro d u c tio n th a t met 3 6 9 N i c o l l , R e s to r a tio n Drama, p . 2 4 4 . G arrick :opped i t a t h is t h e a tr e , b u t i t c o n tin u e d to 1752 a t >vent Garden. 3 7 0 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a tio n Drama. p . )1. The p e o p le en jo y ed s e e in g th e p la.y, b u t perhaps th e y Ld n ot want a copy o f i t on th e s h e lv e s a t home f o r th e lild r e n to r e a d . 3 7 1 H arbage, Annals o f E n g lis h Drama, p . 144. The ite o f p ro d u c tio n i s l i s t e d a s June l 7 1683, by th e U n ited >mpanies. G e n est, a lth o u g h l i s t i n g i t a s produced a t th e le a tr e R oyal in 1684, ad m its th a t th e l a s t l i n e o f th e )ilo g u e "makes i t p ro b a b le , th a t t h i s p la y , th o ' not "inted t i l l 1684, came out in 1683 *" Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y 1 R e s to r a tio n Drama. l i s t s i t as produced a t D orset trden, June 1 , 1 6 8 3 • I t was produced by th e U n ited Com- tn ie s but v e r y l i k e l y a t D o rset Garden, th e o ld D uke's ill a A . 391 i t h " th e most e rx th m sia stio r e c e p t i o n , b e in g p la y e d to h ro n g in g a u d ie n c e s f o r no l e s s th a n f i v e m onths in a r i a . "372 London, how ever. Dame Dobson had no su c h e c e p tio n . N o tw ith s ta n d in g t h i s P la y was so fo llo w e d and a p p la u d e d in F ra n c e • . . y e t i t was damned in i t s A c tio n a t th e T h e a tre a t London. I p r e te n d n o t to g iv e th e , r e a s o n o f i t . . . .373 •ummers e x p re s s e s s u r p r i s e th a,t "so e x c e l l e n t and am using a ie c e sh o u ld n o t have been f a v o r a b ly r e c e i v e d . "374 D eterm ined c r i t i c s o f R e s to r a ti o n a u d ie n c e m o ra ls o u ld sa y t h a t th e p ro lo g u e to th e p la y spoken by M rs. u r r e r , who p la y e d M rs. F e a t l e y , e x p la in s i t s la c k o f s u c - e s s . In t h a t p ro lo g u e th e s e l i n e s o c c u r: No Line in t h i s w i l l tem p t yo u r M inds to E v il, I t ' s t r u e , ' t i s d u l l , b u t th e n ' t i s v e ry C i v i l . 375 r s . C u r r e r a l s o s t a t e s t h a t The London C uckolds " p le a s e d he town and d i v e r t e d th e C o u r t, b u t b e c a u se some squeam ish em ales had ta k e n o ffe n c e a t i t , " R a v e n s c ro ft h ad w r i t t e n 372 Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , p . 331, n o te . 373 L an g b a in e, 1 s t e d i t i o n , I 6 9I , p . 419* 3 7 4 Summers, R e s to r a ti o n T h e a tr e , p . 331» n o te s . He x p l a i n s , how ever, t h a t p a r t of th e m o tiv a tio n f o r th e g r e a t a c c e s s o f La D e v in e re s s e in P a r i s was t h a t Madame J o b in Dame DobsonJ was a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f th e n o to r io u s bawd and o r c e r e s s . La V o is in . 373 N ic o ll, R estoration Drama, p. 224. 392 h is comedy " d u ll and c i v i l . "37^ Whereas i n P a r i s th e p la y lad e x c e l l e n t m o tiv a tio n from th e n o t o r i e t y o f La V o is in ; in london no such m o tiv a tio n e x i s t e d . E v id e n tly th e p l o t and T i t i n g in th e m s e lv e s w ere n o t s tr o n g enough to h o ld th e n t e r e s t o f th e a u d ie n c e . H ence, th e p la y was a f a i l u r e in h e t h e a t r e . Once a g a in , how ever, i t i s a p p a re n t t h a t f a i l u r e in he t h e a t r e c o r r e l a t e s w e ll w ith f a i l u r e w ith th e r e a d in g u d ie n c e . Dame Dobson h ad a t o t a l o f one e d i t i o n d u r in g th e n t i r e period. 377 The most o b v io u s , and p ro b a b ly th e m ost G cu rate c o n c lu s io n th u s to be drawn h e r e , i s t h a t th e p la y a i l e d n o t b e c a u se i t was m o ral b u t b e c a u se i t la c k e d s u f f i l e n t f a c t o r s o f i n t e r e s t i n g n e s s . X. SUM M ARY AND CONCLUSIONS W ith t a s t e a s w ith b e h a v io r , w r i t e r s o f th e R e s to r a - ;ion a u d ie n c e have t r i e d t o p i c t u r e th e a u d i t o r as a p p re c ia tiv e o f n o th in g e x c e p t th e d e p ra v e d , th e l i c e n t i o u s , he b r u t a l , th e v u l g a r , th e o b sc e n e . That some o f th e u d ie n c e in t h a t d a y , as w e ll a s t h i s , u s u a l l y a p p r e c ia t e d uch d ra m a tic f a r e i s h a r d ly d e n ia b le ; t h a t th e g r e a t e r AT 37^ G e n e st, o p . c i t . , V o l. 1 , p . 4o8. 377 Summers, B ib lio g r a p h y o f R e s to r a ti o n Drama, p . 393 •o rtlo n o f th a t group p r e fe r r e d th a t s o r t o f p la y s a s ste a d y h e a tr e fa r e has n ev er been a d e q u a te ly shown. The e v id e n c e ab ove, on th e c o n tr a r y , g iv e s a t l e a s t ome in d ic a t io n th a t th e la r g e a u d ien ce o f th e R e s to r a tio n u p p o rted th o se t r a g e d ie s and tr a g i-c o m e d ie s th a t p o r tr a y e d ig h m oral p r in c ip le s o f h on or, j u s t i c e , lo v e , and l o y a l t y , nd th o s e com edies th a t o f f e r e d g e n e r a lly th e c le a n e r fun nd m oral e n d in g s. There w ere, o f c o u r s e , some n o ta b le x c e p t io n s , but t h e s e do n ot o b scu re th e p r e fe r e n c e f o r th e o re m oral p la y s . The t a s t e o f th e s e p la y g o e r s was b o th n a iv e and o p h is t ic a t e d a s d is p la y e d in t h e ir lo v e o f th e h e r o ic born a s t o f The Conquest o f Granada sim u lta n e o u s ly w ith t h e i r een a p p r e c ia tio n o f The R e h e a r s a l. The s o p h i s t i c a t io n was ot g r e a t enough, how ever, to make th e m ost “urbane" om edies o f th e p e r io d s u c c e s s f u l. Thus, The Mourning B rid e a s g r e a t l y adm ired and a tte n d e d w h ile The Way o f th e World a s a com p arative f a i l u r e . CHAPTER VII SU M M A R Y AND CONCLUSIONS The R e s to r a tio n p e r io d In London was rem arkable In part f o r th e e s ta b lish m e n t by King C h a rles I I o f a th e a tr e nonopoly in fa v o r o f S ir W illiam D evenant and Thomas K l l l l ^ grew* b o th o f whom were p la y w r ig h ts and c o u r t ie r s In th e reig n o f C h a rles I# T h is monopoly lim it e d a l l t h e a t r ic a l l o t l v l t y to th e two h o u ses o p era ted by th e s e tw o, t h e ir l e l r s , or t h e i r a s s ig n e e s ex cep t a t th e N ursery In B arb ican , rhere young a c t o r s and a c t r e s s e s w ere tr a in e d f o r th e p r o - r e s s io n a l s t a g e , and a t th e K in g 's p r iv a t e t h e a tr e , th e Jock p lt In th e P a la c e , W h ite h a ll, w here th e K ing commanded perform ances from th e p la y e r s a t th e two p u b lic th e a tr e s ind in v it e d f o r e ig n tro u p e s to p la y . U eorge J o lly was perhaps th e m ost o u tsta n d in g exam ple o f th e d is p la c e d p ro d u cer who was fo r c e d to t r a v e l w ith l i s company In s te a d o f b e in g a llo w e d to p la y In London a s le w ished# B e fo r e th e R e s to r a tio n J o l l y had ta k en h is iroupe o v er s e v e r a l o f th e c o u n tr ie s o f Europe, had In a l l p r o b a b ility p la y e d fo r C h a rles I I w h ile he was In e x ile * Lnd no doubt had hopes th a t h is c o n ta c t w ith th e b a n ish ed :lng w ould p erm it him to s e t h im s e lf up in str o n g o o m p etl- ;lon w ith any who m ight be p rod u cin g p la y s In th e E n g lis h I 395 c a p ita l* U n fo r tu n a tely f o r him , and d o u b tle s s a ls o f o r th e f e l l- b e in g o f th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e , h i s hopes w ere n ev er r e a liz e d b eca u se o f th e ch ica n ery and o u tr ig h t d is h o n e s ty >f Devenant and E illig r e w . The two p u b lic t h e a tr e s o f th e R e s to r a tio n p e r io d ire s a id to have been p r a c t i c a l l y empty s in c e a lm o st nobody itte n d e d e x c e p t th e co u r t c liq u e * A lth ou gh th e a u d ie n c e s rere not a s sm a ll a s th ey have been d e p ic te d , th e monopoly > o sslb ly b rou ght about a d im in u tio n o f in t e r e s t In t h e a t r i cal p r o d u c tio n s d uring th e e r a . F ree th e a tr e e n t e r p r is e rhlch w ould have a llo w e d su ch t h e a t r i c a l f ig u r e s a s George T o lly , W illia m B e esto n , and M ichael Mohun to c o n tin u e p r o - Luclng p la y s w ould have more n e a r ly approached th e s tlm u la - îln g era o f S h a k esp ea re. The p o p u la tio n o f London d u rin g ;he l a t t e r p a r t o f th e s e v e n te e n th cen tu ry was c e r t a in ly l u f f l c l e n t to su pp ort more than two t h e a tr e s had f r e e e n t e r - c r is e and r e a l c o m p e titio n e x is t e d . The two com panies— th e T h eatre R oyal and th e Duke o f :ork*s— o cc u p ie d r e l a t i v e l y sm a ll t h e a t r e s even in t h e ir .a r g e s t b u ild in g s In Drury Lane and D o rset Garden. The lo u se s , b o th p o s s ib ly d e sig n e d by S ir C h risto p h er Wren, le a te d o n ly a p p ro x im a tely 1200 ea c h . By com parison w ith D evenant*s c a r e fu l and e f f e c t i v e lanagement o f th e D uke's Company, K llllg r e w * s haphazard e f - 396 ’o r t s to c o n tr o l th e K in g 's Company w ere r a th e r f u t i l e . H is Lttempts to a p p r o p r ia te to h im s e lf th e sh are in th e p r o f i t s % »f one o f th e a c t o r s who d ie d was th e b e g in n in g o f a d isp u te rhlch c r e a te d much I l l - f e e l i n g among th e p la y e r s tow ards lim. A lthou gh u n q u e stio n a b ly th e K in g 's Company p ro sp ered Luring th e e a r ly y e a r s o f th e R e s to r a tio n , th e r e can be no Loubt th a t th e many and o f t e n s e r io u s q u a r r e ls and co u rt r i a l s w ith in th e group brought about d is r u p tio n s in p rod uc- lo n w hich g r a d u a lly ca u sed th e a u d ie n c e to be drawn away nd th e company to f a l l . On s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s th e p la y e r s topped a c t in g b ecau se o f p r iv a te d if f e r e n c e s and d ls a g r e e - len ts among th e m se lv e s a t w hich th e K ing showed much d i s - le a s u r e . When th e g r e a t s t a r s o f th e K in g 's grou p , fo r e x - m ple, C h arles Hart and M ichael Mohun, reach ed a s t a t e o f 11 h e a lth and o ld a g e , th e r e were no a c to r s o f t h e ir s t a t - re to r e p la c e them . The sm a lln e ss o f th e a u d ie n c e , th e r e - o r e , a p p a r en tly was th e r e s u lt r a th e r than th e ca u se o f th e a llu r e o f th e company and th e su b seq u en t u nion o f th e group 1 th th e Duke' s Company. A tten d an ce a t th e D uke's T heatre a s s u f f i c i e n t to m a in ta in I t In a v ery h e a lth y f in a n c i a l o n d ltlo n th rou gh ou t i t s p e r io d o f l i f e to 1 6 8 2 . The re tu rn n th e In v estm en t to th e b u ild in g sh a r e r s amounted to 1 5 % » 3% » o r 11^-^ a cc o rd in g to th e o r i g in a l p r ic e o f 6 0 0 , 700, r 800 p a id f o r a sh a r e . 397 :o a tte n d In r e l a t i v e l y la r g e numbers a t l e a s t fo r th e n ex t ;en y e a r s . The s l i g h t l y more than & 5 ^ average d a l l y , r e c e ip ts d u rin g th e ten y e a r s from 1682 to 1692, r e p r e s e n tin g 'oughly th e e q u iv a le n t o f $1500. to $1600. to d a y , shows ^ *ather h e a lth y f in a n c ia l c o n d itio n f o r th e U n ited Com panies. Thlle th e r e I s no breakdown o f th e d is t r ib u t io n o f p a tro n s .n th e t h e a t r e , r e fe r e n c e s to th e co m p o sitio n o f th e a u d l- snce show th a t a l l s e c t io n s o f th e t h e a tr e were fr e q u e n tly , f n ot d a lly , o c c u p ie d . T h e a tr ic a l fa r e d u rin g th e p e r io d o f th e u n ion was o f luoh poor q u a lit y th a t I t w ould have j u s t i f i e d , e x c e p t fo r •e v iv a ls and two o r th r e e new p la y s , c lo s in g th e th e a tr e a l - o g e th e r . In s p i t e o f t h i s , how ever, th e p la y h o u se c o n tln - ed to be p a tr o n iz e d , and Indeed I t was d u rin g t h i s tim e h a t two o f th e g r e a t h i t s o f th e p e r io d were produced— homas S h a d w e ll's The S q u ire o f A ls a t la In 1688 and John row ne*s S ir C ou rtly N ice in 1685. By 1692 a tten d a n ce seemed to h ave d ecr ea sed somewhat n p a r t, a p p a r e n tly , b eca u se o f th e d ea th o r r e tir e m e n t o f h ree famous and f a v o r it e a c t o r s , W illia m M ou n tfort, Anthony| e lg h , and James N okes. | When C h r is to p h e r R ic h , a la w y e r, became m anager In j 693> th e r e s u l t i n g q u a r r e l s and u l t i m a t e s p l i t i n t o two | ew com panies a g a in b ro u g h t d i s r u p t i o n w hich seems to have I 398 ïaused r e l a t i v e l y poor a tte n d a n c e e t b o th h ou ses to th e end > f th e c e n tu r y . Thomas B e tte r to n In 1695 took th e g r e a te r lumber o f th e b e s t p la y e r s from R ich and formed a new com- >any a s a r i v a l o f th e la w y e r 's group. N e ith er m anager, low ever, was a b le to c o n t r o l h i s company very w e l l . B e tt e r - ;on b ecau se o f ad van cin g age and R ich b ecau se o f a contem pt- b le c h a r a c te r , so th a t n e it h e r company was r e a l l y s u c c e s s - h i d uring th e rem ainin g y e a r s o f th e c e n tu r y . B e t t e r t o n 's company opened In 1695 w ith one o f th e g r e a t e s t s u c c e s s e s f th e w hole p e r io d , C o n g rev e's Love f o r L ove, w hich ran fo r h lr t e e n d a y s. A lth ou gh a l l o f C o n g rev e's p la y s w ere p fo - Luced d uring t h i s f iv e - y e a r p e r io d a t th e c lo s e o f th e oen - ;ury, th e g e n e r a l t h e a t r ic a l f a r e , e x c e p t fo r r e v i v a l s , was >oor. T his co u p led w ith bad management In b oth h o u ses made ‘or th e p o o r e s t a tte n d a n c e d u rin g th e w hole p e r io d . i n s p i t e o f d i f f i c u l t i e s , r e c o r d s show t h a t th e f u l l too a c t i n g days a y e a r w ere u se d by R ich from 1695 to 1700. oward th e end o f th e c e n tu ry b o th m anagers w ere u s in g every lo s s lb le a t t r a c t i o n from f o r e ig n o p e ra and b a l l e t to d an cin g e a r s In o r d e r to l u r e p a t r o n s to th e t h e a t r e . A lto g e th e r , LOwever, th e r e was g r e a t e r a tte n d a n c e th ro u g h o u t th e whole »erlod, e x c é p t th e l a s t few y e a r s , th a n c r i t i c s and h l s t o r - a n s g e n e r a lly have s t a t e d . Those who made up the audience o f the two R estoration 399 ind h is c o u r t ie r s . Harbage shows th a t p la y s had been c o u r t ly to y s In th e r e ig n o f C h a rles I . Samuel Pepys was one o f ihe most fr e q u e n t v i s i t o r s to th e t h e a tr e and u n q u estio n a b ly ;he m ost p r o fu s e com m entator on t h e a t r i c a l a f f a i r s d uring ;he y ea rs o f h i s d ia r y . H is jo u r n a l e n t r ie s show th a t p eo - >le o f every c l a s s a tte n d e d th e p la y h o u s e s . The King and Lis m is t r e s s e s w ere fr e q u e n t v i s i t o r s th e r e ; f o r exam ple, [is M ajesty was p r e s e n t te n tim es a t th e p u b lic t h e a tr e s Luring th e month o f November, 1 6 ?4. Dr. John Doran was o f ;he o p in io n t h a t th e co u rt p atron age In cr ea se d th e p o p u la r- ty o f th e drama a s th e K in g 's v ic e s In c r e a se d th e fa s h io n f b e in g d i s s o l u t e . John E v ely n , th e d i a r i s t , was a r a th e r fr e q u e n t s p e c - a t o r a t p la y s a lth o u g h n o t n e a r ly a s freq u en t a s P ep ys. Ivelyn w rote a g a in s t p la y s but c o n tin u e d to a tte n d them d u r- ng a lm o st th e w hole p e r io d . Beyond a doubt th e p r o s t it u t e s o f th e tow n, who came o be known a s "Vizard Masks" b eca u se o f th a t f a m ilia r sym- o l , o f te n w ere In a tte n d a n c e a t p la y s s in c e su ch a ren d ez - ous would o f f e r th e b e s t p o s s ib le o p p o r tu n ity f o r b u s in e s s , t I s by no means c o n c lu s iv e , how ever, th a t th ey a l l but overran c e r t a in s e c t io n s o f th e p la y h o u se s by rea so n o f the g rea tn ess o f t h e ir num bers. In s p i t e o f h is l o f t y r e fe r e n c e s to " c itiz e n s " In 400 r e o is " c i t i z e n and r e p r e s e n te d a c l a s s o f th e newly p r o s p e r ous t h a t r e c e iv e d much s t i m u l a t i o n from a tte n d a n c e a t th e th e a tr e s and th e r e s u l t i n g a s s o c i a t i o n w ith r o y a l t y and n o - ) l l l t y . He, c o n tra r y to th e s ta te m e n ts o f N lc o ll and o th e rs , a l s o n o te s th e I n c r e a s in g a tte n d a n c e o f c i t i z e n s ind r e f e r s to t h e i r e x tra v a g a n c e In s i t t i n g In th e p i t I n ste ad o f th e l e s s e x p e n siv e s e c t i o n s . The p la g u e o f 1665 ind th e f i r e o f 1 6 6 6 b ro u g h t d e c re a s e d a u d ie n c e s f o r s e v e r a l lo n th s a f t e r th e t h e a t r e s reo p en ed In l a t e November; t h i s re p re s e n te d p ro b a b ly a g r e a t e r d e c re a s e In th e number o f o ltlz e n s th a n In th e number o f n o b i l i t y and r o y a lty s in c e , IS a lm o st alw ay s In su c h c a l a m i t i e s , th e lo w er c l a s s e s a r e olaced In g r e a t e r d i f f i c u l t i e s . Pepys was n o t th e o n ly w itn e s s who r e f e r r e d to c l t l - ;ens In th e t h e a t r e . P la y w r ig h ts In p ro lo g u e s , e p ilo g u e s , nd p la y s m en tio n ed them . When th e com panies w ere u n ite d n d p e rfo rm a n c e s were m ain ly in D rury Lane, th e c i t i z e n s continued to v i s i t p l a y s . D o rse t G arden, o r th e D uke's The a tre , p a r t i c u l a r l y b e c a u se o f I t s l o c a t i o n was e v id e n tly lore f r e q u e n te d by th e c i t i z e n s a lth o u g h th e r e I s some In d ic a tio n o f t h e i r p re s e n c e a t th e T h e a tre Royal In Drury .ane even b e f o r e th e u n io n . The K in g 's p r i v a t e t h e a t r e in W hitehall when opened to th e p u b lic o c c a s io n a lly drew many c i tiz e n s who p a id r e g u l a r a d m issio n f e e s . Both th e l o c a - 401 /e re a t t r a c t i v e to th e m iddle c l a s s e s . On th e w hole, th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e o f th e R e s to r a tio n seems to have drawn every c l a s s from th e King to th e Lowest a p p r e n t ic e o r footm an. C i t i z e n s a tte n d e d r e g u la r ly md a t tim es in g r e a t num bers. The c r i t i c s have a lm o s t alw ays d e a l t w ith th e behav io r o f R e s to r a ti o n p la y g o e r s In most d e ro g a to ry te rm s . Un- lu e s tlo n a b ly some o f th e a c t i v i t i e s w ith in th e t h e a t r e d u r ing th e p e rfo rm a n c e o f p la y s was a n y th in g b u t ex em p lary , h e g r e a t e s t and m ost c o n t in u a l e x p r e s s io n s o f d is r e g a r d h r th e b e h a v io r o f t h i s g ro u p , how ever, came from dram a- ; l s t s who k e p t up a t i r a d e In p ro lo g u e and e p ilo g u e , a s h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r s and s u c c e s s o r s a l s o d id , a g a i n s t th o se r lth whom t h e i r o f te n m ed io cre p la y s d id n o t su c c e e d . No d o u b t th e r e was much d i s r e g a r d o f w hat i s common convention to d a y In m a tte r s o f p o l i t e n e s s In th e t h e a t r e ; n q u e s t l o n a b l y , to o , s e r i o u s d is tu r b a n c e s and a t tim e s k i l l ings o c c u rre d a t p e rfo rm a n c e s o f p l a y s . A gain, how ever, ïa r e f u l e x a m in a tio n o f r e p o r t s Chows t h a t s e r i o u s d l s t u r b - n c e s w ere I n f r e q u e n t and t h a t by and l a r g e , w ith th e ex - le lle n c e o f th e a c t i n g o f t h a t tim e , t h e r e I s g r e a t re a s o n 0 th in k t h a t one c o u ld s e e and h e a r a p la y In th e p u b lic h e a tr e w ith o u t s e r i o u s d is t u r b a n c e . N lc o ll an d Summers In c o m p ilin g s t a t i s t i c s o f s e r l - 402 to show on ly an a v e ra g e o f one s e r i o u s d is tu r b a n c e in every fo u r to f i v e y e a r s and a k i l l i n g once in every te n to tw elv e I T e a r s — a r e l a t i v e l y m ild r e c o r d in su c h tu r b u le n t tim e s . There w ere s e r i o u s d is tu r b a n c e s on o c c a s io n In th e t h e a t r e caused by fe u d s betw een c l i q u e s o r f a m i l i e s , a s f o r exam ple, /hen th e Duke o f Buckingham b a r e ly e sc a p e d an a s s a u l t from bhe f u r io u s Howard b r o t h e r s a f t e r he had c r e a te d a f u r o r e i t th e p r o d u c tio n o f C o lo n e l Henry H ow ard's The U n ite d K ing- ioma a t th e C o c k p it In D rury Lane, O c to b e r, I 6 6 O. The " ra k e s " o f th e tim e . S i r C h a rle s S e d le y , B ucklng- lam. Lord B u c k h u rs t, R o c h e s te r, and o t h e r s were f r e q u e n tly Ln some e sc a p a d e to th e d is g r a c e o f th e m selv es an d th e g r e a t m noyanoe o f o t h e r s . I t I s n o t c o n c lu s iv e , how ever, t h a t m ch p ro c e e d in g s were "norm al" f o r th e p la y h o u se . D is tu rb a n c e s o f th e m ild e r s o r t w ere more f re q u e n t ind som etim es h ig h ly am using. A c to rs who were " o u t" In ; h e l r l i n e s w ere n o t I n f r e q u e n tly h i s s e d from th e s ta g e ; )ownes, th e p ro m p te r a t th e D u k e's H ouse, was th u s d is m is s e d >n th e f i r s t day he p la y e d Haly In Dav e n a n t 's The S ie g e o f Ihodes p r e s e n te d a t th e new D uke's House In L i n c o l n 's In n '’l e l d s b e g in n in g June 28 o r 29, I 6 6 I . D is tu rb a n c e s o c c u r r e d In th e e a r l y y e a rs o f th e p e r iod when r a i n o r h a i ls to r m s p o u red w a te r o r h a i l s t o n e s ihrough th e g la z e d c u p o la a t th e to p w hich was s t i l l so .m p e rfe c tly c o n s tr u c te d t h a t th e p e o p le In th e p i t w ere 403 exposed to th e e le m e n ts. R e fe re n c e s to su ch d is t u r b a n c e s , low ever, a r e I n f r e q u e n t. Footmen w ere a llo w e d in th e u p p e r g a l l e r y o f th e The- 3itre Royal g r a t i s d u rin g th e l a s t y e a r s o f th e c e n tu ry when ■îlch and B e t t e r t o n w ere c o n t e s ti n g so s tr o n g ly f o r p a t r o n s . 31bber th o u g h t t h i s c o u r tin g o f th e r i c h and I t s r e s u l t a n t lo ls y n u is a n c e one o f th e most d i s g r a c e f u l a s p e c t s o f th e th e a tr e o f t h a t tim e . The footm en seemed n o t to know when to a p p la u d o r e l s e c h e e re d from ex u b eran ce o f s p i r i t . The m ost p e r s i s t e n t and v i t u p e r a t i v e a t t a c k s on th e m d le n c e d u rin g th e R e s to r a ti o n p e r io d came from th e p ro lo g u e s, e p ilo g u e s , e p i s t l e s and d e d i c a t io n s to p l a y s . I t Is n o t to t h e s e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t one can tu r n f o r r e l i a b l e In fo rm a tio n on a u d ie n c e t a s t e and b e h a v io r . The com plAln- ihg a u th o r s , a s In th e age o f E liz a b e t h , a i r e d to o many g riev a n ces and I n d ic te d a l l elem e n ts o f th e a u d ie n c e when lome p la y had m issed th e unanim ous a c c la m a tio n I t s c r e a t o r îhomght I t d e s e rv e d . D is g r u n tle d d r a m a tis t s w ro te a s I f :he only p e r s o n s c a p a b le o f a p p r e c i a t i n g t h e i r su p e rb p la y s rere th e d e d i c a t e e s . B ro a d s id e s a g a i n s t th e p l a y e r s and ;he a u d ie n c e su ch a s "The P la y -h o u s e , a S a t y r ," by R obert rould, a n o th e r w ould-be p la y w r ig h t, f a l l I n to th e same c a t - igory a s th e above; th e y c a n n o t be r e l i e d on f o r a c c u ra c y , h e u n r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h i s medium I s shown f u r t h e r by Sam 404 V in c e n t* a The Young G a l l a n t s ' Academy. w hich i s l i t t l e more th a n The G u ll* s Hornbook by Thomas D ecker o f th e S h ak esp ear ean e r a b ro u g h t up to R e s to r a ti o n d a t e . C o l l i e r 's famous a t t a c k on th e s ta g e in 1698 c a s t i g a te d th e l i c e n t i o u s n e s s o f th e drama b u t has s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r t h i s stu d y In naming p r a c t i c a l l y no v ic e o f th e a u d ie n c e sav e t h a t o f sw earin g In th e p re s e n c e o f l a d l e s . Only In h is r e b u t t a l , A D efence o f th e S h o rt View, p u b lis h e d 1699, lo e s he make any r e a l c r i t i c i s m o f th e a u d ie n c e ; even th en he rem arks o n ly th a t debauched " q u a lity " on th e s ta g e p ro b - stbly I n d i c a t e s th e same In th e b o x es. These f a c t o r s seem s i g n i f i c a n t In e v a lu a tin g th e p e o p le and b e h a v io r o f th e a u - î l e n c e . John D ennis, one o f th e fo re m o st o f a l l R e s to r a tio n c r i t i c s . In "The U s e fu ln e s s o f th e S ta g e ," h i s r e f u t a tio n to C o l l i e r 's A S h o rt View o f th e Im m o rality and P ro - fa n e n e ss o f th e E n g lis h S t a g e , a rg u e d t h a t I f p e o p le d id lo t go to th e t h e a t r e to m eet m i s t r e s s e s , th ey w ould go elsew here w ith w orse I n t e n t i o n s . He a d m itte d t h a t a lth o u g h some p e o p le w ent f o r t h a t p u rp o s e . I t was e v id e n t t h a t a l - lîost everybody went to se e th e p la y . The r e p o r t c o n ta in e d In The C ountry G e n tle m a n 's Vade ^ecum. 1699, p o s s ib ly o f f e r s some o f th e most r e l i a b l e t e s timony c o n c e rn in g a u d ie n c e b e h a v io r . I t g iv e s an example )f a q u a r r e l w ith w hores, s q u i r e s , and beaus tu m b lin g o v e r th e s e a t s and w ith th e w hole p i t In arm s In a m in u te . But I t ends by s t a t i n g t h a t su c h " I n s u r r e c tio n s " o c c u r only oc c a s io n a lly o th e rw is e th e r e w ould be no a u d ie n c e and no p la y " f o r who b u t a madman would run th e r is q u e o f b e in g s t a b 'd o r tr o d e to D eath , to g r a t i f y h im s e lf w ith an em pty. I n s ig n i f i c a n t c u r i o s i t y . " O olley G ib b er d e c l a r e s t h a t In th e R e s to r a tio n p e r io d a v i l l a i n o u s c h a r a c t e r a c t o r c o u ld n o t r e c e iv e th e com m endation he d e s e rv e d b e c a u se th e a u d i t o r s f e a r e d t h a t i f th ey a p p la u d e d him g e n e ro u s ly , th ey w ould be l e t t i n g t h e i r fe llo w s see t h a t th ey a p p ro v ed th e e v i l c h a r a c t e r 's a c t i o n s . Thus th e y chose to ro b th e a c t o r o f h i s due p r a i s e In o rd e r to show t h e i r own p r e f e r e n c e f o r v i r t u e . Such s ta te m e n ts c l e a r l y s u g g e s t a more c o n v e n tio n a l an d v ir tu o u s a u d ie n c e th a n h e r e t o f o r e has been g r a n te d th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e . Some o f th e g r e a t e s t a c t o r s o f a l l tim e w ere d e v e l oped and r a i s e d to th e p in n a c le o f sta rd o m d u rin g t h i s tim e . En th e h i s t o r y o f a c t i n g few names e q u a l t h a t o f Thomas B e t te r t o n who p e rfo rm e d th o u sa n d s o f tim e s betw een 1660 and L?10. Dozens o f o th e r e x c e l l e n t p e r f o r m e r a made t h e a t r e i i s t o r y d u rin g th e s e y e a r s . Among th e s e w ere M ichael Mohun, C h arles H a rt, E liz a b e th B a rry , Anne B r a c e g ir d le , N e ll Gwyn, Tames Nokes, Gave U n d e r h ill, Anthony L eig h , W illia m Mount- f o r t , Henry H a r r i s , and many o t h e r s . Of B e t t e r t o n 's a c t i n g 406 lib b e r w ro te t h a t f o r anyone to have ta lk e d o r lo o k e d a n o th er way when he p erfo rm ed w ould have been i n s e n s i b l e o r I g - lo r a n t. Tony A ston s a i d o f him t h a t h i s v o ic e th o u g h low md grum bling e n fo rc e d u n i v e r s a l a t t e n t i o n . T here were lim es, how ever, when, a c c o rd in g to P ep y s, even th e g r e a t l e t t e r t o n was "o u t" in h i s l i n e s and r e c e iv e d th e d i s p l e a s - ire o f h i s a u d ie n c e . T h is co u ld s c a r c e l y be c a l l e d more ihan norm al r e a c t i o n f o r any a u d ie n c e . The e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f H a rt and Mohun i s a t t e s t e d by ► ir R ic h a rd S t e e l e , a good many y e a rs a f t e r t h e i r d e a th , m one I s s u e o f "The T a t l e r . " Im p u lse s from p la y s he had se n form ed some o f th e s tr o n g e s t im p re s sio n s o f h i s l i f e , nd H art and Mohun, he s a i d , alw ays s e n t him home f u l l o f d ea s w hich a f f e c t e d h i s b e h a v io r f o r good. The gay s p i r i t o f N e ll Gwyn, th e g r e e t a b i l i t y o f lllz a b e th B arry In t r a g i c r o l e s , th e charm o f Anne B ra c e - i r d l e and h e r n o ta b le c h a s t i t y In p r i v a t e l i f e , a l l add o a s i n g u l a r l y b r i g h t e r p i c t u r e o f th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e han h a s p r e v io u s ly been I n d ic a te d . Even John L acy, among he most u n i n h i b i t e d a c t o r s o f th e d ay , re a c h e d im m o rta lity n h i s g r e a t p o r t r a y a l o f B ayes, a r o l e f o r w hich he was oached by th e p r i n c i p a l a u th o r o f The R e h e a rs a l, B ucking- am. The a c t i n g o f th e tim e , In s p i t e o f a p o p u la r concep-* 407 t i o n , seems to have been more r e a l i s t i c th a n i t h as been th o u g h t. The p la y in g o f B e tte r t o n and B arry p ro b a b ly had more o f n a t u r a l n e s s and l e s s o f o r a to r y th an i s g e n e r a lly c o n c e iv e d to have been In t h e i r s t y l e . G ib b er n e a tly sums up th e c a se o f a c t o r s and au d ien ce In h i s rem ark t h a t no o t h e r s ta g e a t any one p e r io d c o u ld show a s many f i n e a c t o r s s ta n d in g In e q u a l q u a l i t y o f e x c e l le n c e a s th e R e s to r a ti o n e r a . He th e n co n c lu d e s m ost e f f e c t i v e l y by w r i t i n g t h a t "as t h e i r H e a re rs a r e , so w i l l A c to rs b e; w o rse, o r b e t t e r , a s th e f a l s e o r t r u e T a ste A pplauds or discommends th e m ." To p ro v e t h e i r c o n te n tio n t h a t th e a u d ie n c e was no t h in g b u t th e d e p rav e d C o u rt o f C h a rle s I I , c r i t i c s have been r a t h e r c o n s i s t e n t i n d e s c r ib in g I t a s " d e p ra v e d ," " b r u t a l , " " v u lg a r ," and " l i c e n t i o u s " In t a s t e . I t I s tr u e t h a t th e r e w ere many p la y s d u rin g th e p e r io d w r i t t e n to p le a s e such a t a s t e . I t h a s n o t been shown by th e c r i t i c s , how ever, t h a t th e s e m ost v u lg a r and obscene p la y s w ere su c c e s s f u l e x c e p t In c e r t a i n c a s e s . On th e c o n tr a r y , th e f a c t s s tr o n g ly s u g g e st t h a t th e t a s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e o f t h a t tim e, a lth o u g h n o t " c u ltu r e d " in t o d a y 's s e n s e o f th e te rm , was m o ra lly h ig h s in c e th o s e t r a g e d i e s and tra g i-c o m e d ie s s u p p o r tin g h ig h m o ral them es w ere by f a r th e most s u c c e s s f u l . 408 P erh ap s A lex an d re B e lja m e 's summary o f th e a t t i t u d e o f some R e s to r a ti o n d r a m a tis t s shows b e s t th e th e o ry t h a t b ro u g h t o u t many o f th e p la y s o f t h a t tim e . He co n ten d ed t h a t th e w r i t e r s saw and c u rs e d th e c u r r e n t t h a t sw ept them on, b u t th e y would n o t swim a g a in s t i t . P ut y o u r a u d ie n c e out o f humor, and you had no a l t e r n a t i v e b u t to g iv e up w ritin g , B eljam e co n c lu d ed . A v a ila b le m a t e r i a l , how ever, s tr o n g ly s u g g e s ts t h a t d r a m a tis t s who w ro te p r im a r il y l i c e n t i o u s p la y s w ere swimming n o t w ith b u t a g a in s t th e c u r r e n t . B eljam e m ight have been more n e a r ly c o r r e c t when he Etccused Dry den o f p a n d e rin g to o s l a v i s h l y to w hat he c a l l e d th e t a s t e o f th e tim e , t h a t I s , th e l i c e n t i o u s t a s t e o f th e blme. T h is may a c c o u n t f o r D ry d en 's f a i l u r e in s e v e r a l o f i l s more o b sc en e p la y s and a l s o f o r h i s c h o le r tow ards th e audience In many o f h i s p ro lo g u e s and e p ilo g u e s . H is h e r o ic b ra g e d le s , how ever, d e a lin g w ith them es o f lo v e , h o n o r, and J u s t ic e w ere g e n e r a lly v ery s u c c e s s f u l . H arbage s t a t e s t h a t th e e a r ly y e a r s o f th e R e s to ra tio n p ro d u ced p la y s o f th e same h ig h m oral q u a l i t y a s th o se )f th e days o f C h a rle s I and H e n r ie t ta M arla, b u t t h a t soon the a u d ie n c e began to c ra v e " s p i c i e r f a r e . " H is example o f ^ p la y w hich p ro v id e d sa u ce enough, how ever, i s Thomas K l l l - Lgrew 's The Parson* s W edding, one o f th e most r i b a l d and m l g a r o f a l l th e p la y s p ro d u ced In t h a t e r a b u t w r i t t e n a l - 409 m ost tw enty y e a r s b e fo re in th e r e ig n o f C h a rle s I and Hen r i e t t a M aria. The m ost r e l i a b l e re c o rd s show t h a t th e m a jo rity o f th e p la y s w hich h ad th e lo n g e s t ru n s in th e t h e a t r e s o f t h a t tim e w ere th o s e o f p o p u la r h i s t o r i c a l f i g u r e s a s Or r e r y 's Henry th e F i f t h . S h a k e s p e a re 's Henry V I I I . t r a g i com edies su ch a s S i r Samuel T u k e's The A d v en tu res o f Five H o u rs, t r a g e d i e s such a s The V i l l a i n by Thomas P o r t e r . The re c o rd s do n o t show t h a t any p r im a r il y l i c e n t i o u s p la y e q u a lle d th e ru n s o f th o s e l i s t e d above d u rin g th e whole p e r io d . The m ost s t r i k i n g exam ples o f D ry d e n 's f a i l u r e s were h i s most v u lg a r and In d e c e n t com edies such a s The W ild G al- l a n t , and Mr. Limberham. w h ile th e m ost s t r i k i n g exam ples o f h i s s u c c e s s e s were h i s t r a g e d ie s su ch a s T y ra n n lck Love. Or The Royal M a rty r and com edies such a s S i r M a rtin M a r - a ll. The number o f p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s o f p la y s c o r r e l a t e s w e ll g e n e r a lly w ith t h e i r m oral q u a l i t y and t h e i r p o p u la r i t y w ith R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e s . The most m oral p la y s usu a l l y had lo n g e r ru n s and p r i n t e d more e d i t i o n s th a n d id th e im m oral. E x c e p tio n s o c c u rr e d when m oral p la y s w ere a ls o d u l l , and Immoral p la y s w ere very w i t t y and I n t e r e s t i n g o th e rw is e . T yran n io k Love ra n "about 14 days to g e th e r " w ith a f u l l t h e a t r e f o r every p erfo rm a n ce ; i t had sev en p r i n t e d 410 e d i t i o n s d u rin g th e p e r io d and was r e v iv e d a t l e a s t f iv e d i f f e r e n t tim e s l a t e r i n th e c e n tu r y . Mr. Limberham r e t i r e d from th e s ta g e on th e t h i r d n ig h t b e c a u s e , a s Dryden s t a t e d , i t "e x p re sse d to o much o f th e v ic e s i t d e c r i e s . " D uring th e re m a in d e r o f th e p e r io d I t had on ly th r e e p r i n t e d e d i t i o n s . F u r th e r ev id en ce o f th e t a s t e o f th e a u d ie n c e la dem o n s t r a t e d by D ry d e n 's e x p la n a tio n t h a t he had made th e c h a r a c t e r o f O c ta v ia In A ll f o r Love a c o ld and u n sy m p a th e tic c h a r a c t e r f o r f e a r " th e j u s t i c e o f a w i f e 's c la im upon h e r husband w ould draw th e a u d ie n c e to h e r s i d e . " In s p i t e o f t h i s , O c ta v ia , a c c o rd in g to D avies, drew n o t on ly r e s p e c t "b u t th e a f f e c t i n g a p p ro b a tio n o f t e a r s from th e a u d ie n c e ." The p la y s o f E th e re g e , th e trem endously p o p u la r s a t i r e The R e h e a r s a l. th e p la y s o f W ycherley, e s p e c i a l l y The P la in D e a le r , th o s e o f L ee, and th o se o f Otway d e f i n i t e l y te n d to s u p p o rt th e b e l i e f t h a t th e more m oral p la y s w hich i t é r é a l s o t h e a t r i c a l l y e f f e c t i v e f a r s u rp a s s e d b o th i n th e a t r e and r e a d in g a u d ie n c e p o p u la r it y th o s e t h a t w ere prim a r i l y v u lg a r and o b scen e. T here a r e some n o tew o rth y e x c e p tio n s , how ever, a s s x e m p llfle d by some o f th e p la y s o f R a v e n s c ro ft. One o f the most p o p u la r p la y s o f th e whole p e r io d was th e ex trem ely 7 u lg a r, o b sc e n e , and l i c e n t i o u s farce-com edy The London 411 C uckolds. I t was s u c c e s s f u l when f i r s t produced in 1682 and c o n tin u e d to be r e v iv e d a n n u a lly on Lord M ay o r's Day u n t i l 1 7 5 2 . The p la y was n o t s u c c e s s f u l w ith th e re a d in g a u d ie n c e , how ever, a s i s shown by th e s c a n t th r e e e d i tio n s to th e end o f th e c e n tu r y . C o n v e rse ly , Dame Dobson, a very m oral p la y b u t w ith no e s p e c i a l f a c t o r s o f i n t e r e s t i n g n e s s , f a i l e d b o th w ith th e t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e an d th e re a d in g pub l i c . N o n e th e le s s , R a v e n s c ro ft w ro te one p la y t h a t was b o th m oral and e x tre m e ly s u c c e s s f u l , The C i t i z e n t u r n ' d G e n tle man, o r Mamamouchi. f i r s t produced in 1672. I t i s known t h a t th e p la y had an o r i g i n a l run o f n in e days and had been produced no l e s s th a n t h i r t y tim es In l e s s th a n s i x m onths. The R e s to r a tio n a u d ie n c e , l i k e any o t h e r , c o u ld and d id sen se q u a l i t y I n p la y s . I n s o f a r a s I t had an o p p o r tu n ity to io so among th e many r e l a t i v e l y m ediocre dram as o f t h a t day, and e x p re s se d In I t s own way t h a t a p p r e c ia t io n f o r such q u a l i t y . I t l i k e d v a r i e t y a s I n d ic a te d by I t s p r a c t i c a l l y s i m ultaneous lo v e o f th e h e r lo c tr a g e d y . The C onquest o f Gra n a d a . and th e s a t i r e . The R e h e a rs a l, w hich r i d i c u l e d th e t a s t e f o r h e r o ic tra g e d y . When r e a l I n t e r e s t i n g n e s s was combined w ith v u l g a r i t y , o b s c e n ity , and l i c e n t i o u s n e s s , as In th e c a se o f The London C u ck o ld s, th e y r e l i s h e d t h a t , to o . T h e ir t a s t e f o r drama was s p i r i t u a l , e s t h e t i c , s e r i o u s . 412 soniio, and on o c c a s io n e x tre m e ly ru d e . In s h o r t t h e i r ap p r e c i a tio n f o r drama was human— even a s o u rs . I t i s b e lie v e d t h a t th e e v id e n c e , when c a r e f u l l y ex amined, te n d s to show: 1 . t h a t th e R e s to r a tio n t h e a t r e a u d ie n c e was somewhat l a r g e r th a n I t h a s h e r e t o f o r e been conceded; 2. t h a t th e a u d ie n c e was more co sm o p o litan In I t s s t r u c tu r e th a n h as been g e n e r a lly s t a t e d ; • 3 . t h a t th e b e h a v io r o f th e g ro u p , a lth o u g h n o t d o o lie , was much b e t t e r th a n has been I n d ic a te d ; 4. t h a t th e t a s t e o f th e p la y g o e rs was n o t, a s shown by t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e in p la y s , p r im a r ily ru d e , ob sc e n e , and l i c e n t i o u s b u t v a r ie d — a s l a th e t a s t e o f man In g e n e r a l. BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY A. BOOKB A nthony, S l a t e r Rose, 3 . 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T h a le r, A lw in, From S h ak esp eare to S h e r id a n ; A Book about th e T h e a tre o f Y e sterd ay and To-Day, Cam bridge, Massa c h u s e t t s : 1 9 2 2 . 3 9 9 pp. T heatrum I l l u s t r a t a , London: R obert W ilk in so n , 1825. 217 pp. T re v e ly a n , George M ., E ngland u n d er th e S t u a r t s , Vol. 5 in A H is to ry o f E n g lan d . S i r C h a rle s Oman, e d i t o r , London : Methuen and Company, L t d . , E ig h th E d itio n , 1919* 566 Pp' ________ , E n g lis h S o c ia l H is to r y , London: Longmans, Green and C o ., Second E d iti o n , 1946. 628 pp. W ilmot, Jo h n , The E a r l o f R o c h e ste r, C o lle c te d W orks, John Hayward, e d i t o r , London: The Nonesuch P r e s s , 1926. 408 pp. W right, Jam es, H i s t o r i a H i s t r i o n i c a , An H i s t o r i c a l A ccount o f th e E n g lis h S ta g e , London: G. Groom and W illiam Haws, 1 6 9 9 . 52 pp. W right, L ouis B ., M iddle C la ss C u ltu re in E liz a b e th a n Eng l a n d , C hapel H i l l : The U n iv e r s ity o f N orth C a ro lin a P r e s s , 1 9 3 5 * 733 pp. W ycherley, W illia m , The Com plete W orks, Montague Summers, e d i t o r , 4 v o l s . , London: The Nonesuch P re s s , 1924. W ycherley, W illia m , W illiam C ongreve, S i r John Vanbrugh, and George F a rq u h a r, The D ram atic W orks, L eig h Hunt, e d i t o r , London; Edward Moxon, l84oT 658 pp. 422 B. PLAYS B o y le, R oger, The H is to ry o f Henry th e F i f t h , in The Dram a t i c Works o f Roger B o y le . E a rl o f O r r e r y , 2 v o l s . , WiïTiam sm ith C la rk , e d i t o r , Cambridge : H arvard U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1937* C ongreve, W illiam , The M ourning B r id e , i n The Mourning B r id e , Poems and M i s c e l l a n i e s . Bonamy Dobree, e d i t o r , 2 v o l s . , O xford U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1928. , The Old B a tc h e lo r , Love f o r L ove, in The Comedies of W illiam C ongreve. Jo se p h Wood K ru tc h , e d i t o r . New York: The M acm illan Company, 1927. The Way o f th e W orld, i n P la y s o f th e R e s to r a tio n and E ig h te e n th C e n tu ry . Dougald M acM illan and Howard Mumford J o n e s , e d i t o r s . New York: H enry H olt and Company, 1931* 896 p p . Crowne, John, S ir C o u rtly N ic e , o r ^ Cannot B e, London: R. B e n tly and Jo se p h H lndm arsh, 1685. 59 pp. D avenant, S i r W illia m , The S ieg e o f R hodes, F i r s t and Sec ond P a r t , London: Henry H erringsaan, 1663. 46 pp. Dryden, John, The W ild G a lla n t (1669) * The R iv a l L a d ie s (1 6 6 4 ), The I n d ia n Emperor ( l6 6 7 ) > The In d ia n Queen ( 1 6 6 5 ) » T y ra n n ick L ove, o r The Royal M a rty r (l6 7 0 ) , The F eig n ed In n o c e n c e , o r S i r M a rtin M a r- a ll ( I 6 6 8 ) , The C onquest o f G ranada, ( i n two p a r t s ) (1672, 1673)» A ureng-Zebe ( T576) . A ll f o r Love, o r The World W ell L o st (1 6 7 8 ) , Oedipus ( l 6 7 9 ) , M arriag e a l a Model (T673)» Mr. Llmberhara. o r The K ind Keeper (iSSO ). The W orks, S i r W alter S c o tt, B a r t . , e d i t o r ; R e v ise d E d itio n by George S a in ts b u ry , 1 0 . v o l s . , E dinburgh: W illiam P a t t e r so n , 1885. E th e re g e , S ir G eorge, The Com ical R evenge, o r Love in a Tub (1 6 6 4 ), She Wou* d I f She C ou'd (1 6 6 8 ) , The Man o f Mode, o r S ir F o p lin g F lu tte r ~ T l6 7 6 ) , in The D ram atic W orks, H. F. B. B r e tt- S b iith , e d i t o r , London: B a s il B la c k w e ll, 1 9 2 7 . H igden, Henry, The Wary Widdow, o r S i r N oisy P a r r a t . London: A bel Roner and Thomas R a in v . I 6 QB. 42 no. 423 Howard, Edward, The Six Paya * A d v e n tu re , o r The New U to p ia . Thomas D rin g , 1671. 84 p p . K illig r e w , Thomas, The P arso n * s Wedding, in A S e le c t C o lle c t i o n o f Old E n g lis h P la y s . 15 v o l s . , W. Garew H a z l i t t , e d i t o r , London: Reeves and T u rn er, 1876. Lee, N a th a n a e l, Sophonisha (1 6 7 6 ), The R iv a l Q ueens. o r The D eath o f A lex a n d er th e G re a t i l Z f S ) , M i t h r i d a t e s . King o f P ontus ( 1 6 7 8 ) . in The D ram atic W orks. 3 v o l s . , London: W . F e a l e s , 1734. Orway, Thomas, Don C a rlo s ( l 6 7 6 ) , The Orphan (1680), V enice P re s e rv e d (Ï 6 8 2 ) . izT The Complete W orks. Montague Summers, e d i t o r , 3 v o l s . , London: The Nonesuch P r e s s , P o r t e r , Thomas, The V i l l a i n . A T ragedy, F i r s t E d itio n , London: Henry Herringm an an d Samuel Speed, 1663- Elevens c r o f t , Edward, The C i tiz e n t u r n 'd G entlem an, o r Mama- m ouohi. London: Thomas D rin g , l6 7 2 . 108 pp . , The London C uckolds. London: Jo se p h Hlndm arsh, 1 6 8 2 . 61 p p . R e s to r a tio n C om edies. Montague Summers, e d i t o r , London: Jo n a th o n Cape, 1921. 400 p p . S hadw ell, Thomas, The S q u ire o f A l s a t i a . A Comedy, London: Jam es K napton, 1 6 8 8 . 64 p p . S h ak e sp e a re , W illia m , Henry V I I I , in The Works of Shakes p e a r e , 7 v o l s . , Mr. T heobold, e d i t o r . London: B e tte s w o rth and H itc h , Tonson, C lay, F e a le s and W e llin g to n , 1733* S h e rid a n , R ich ard B r in s le y , The P lay s and Poems o f . R. Crompton R hodes, e d i t o r , 3 v o l e . , O xford: 1928. Tuke, S i r Samuel, The A dventures o f F iv e H o u rs. in A S e le c t C o lle c tio n o f Old E n g lis h P la y s . 15 v o l s . , W . Carew H a z l i t t , e d i t o r , London: Reeves and T u rn e r, 1876* V anbrugh, S i r Jo h n , The R elap se « in P lay s o f th e R e s to r a tio n and E ig h te e n th C e n tu ry , Dougald M acM illan and Howard Mumford J o n e s , e d i t o r s . New York: Henry H olt and 424 V i l l i e r s , George (Duke o f B uckingham ), The R e h e a r s a l. London: Thomas D ring, 1672. 54 p p . W ycherley, W illiam , The C ountry Wife (1 6 7 5 )» The P la in D e a le r ( l 6 7 7 ) » in W illiam W ycherley. W . C. Ward, e d i t o r , London: The Mermaid S e r i e s , T. F is h e r Unwin, L td . 508 pp. C. PROLOGUES, EPILOGUES, EPISTLES, AND SATIRES Behn, A phra, E p ilo g u e to The F a ls e Count (1 6 7 2 ), i n P l a y s . H i s t o r i e s , and N o v els. w ith L ife and M em oirs. 6 v o l s . , London: John P e a rso n , 1871. ________ , E p i s t l e to th e R eader in The D utch Lover (1673)> E p ilo g u e to The Younger B ro th e r ( l6 9 6 ) . in The W orks. M ontague Summers, e d i t o r ! 6 v o l s . , London: W illiam Heinemann, 1951* Crowne, John, P ro lo g u e to C a l i g u l a . A T ragedy, London: J . Orme, 1698. 52 pp. D avenant, S ir W illiam , E p ilo g u e to The M an's th e M a ste r in The D rem atic W orks. James Maidment and W . H. Logan, e d i t o r s , 5 v o l s . , E dinburgh: W illiam P a tte r s o n , 1873* P re fa c e t o G o n d ib e rt: An H eroiok Poem. London: Thomas Newcomb, 1651* 344 pp. D ecker, Thomas, P ro lo g u e to The R oaring G i r l , in The Dram a t i c Works o f Thomas D ekker. 4 v o l s . , R ic h a rd H. S hepherd, e d i t o r , London, 1873 * D en n is, Jo h n , E p i s t l e D e d ic a to ry to The Comical G a l l a n t . London: A. B aldw in, 1702. 49 pp. , L e t t e r To th e H onourable M ajor P ack. C o n ta in in g some rem a rk a b le P assag es o f Mr. W y c h erley 's L if e ; P re fa c e to l o h i g e n i a . in The C r i t i c a l Works o f Jo h n D ennis, Edward N ile s H ooker, e d i t o r , 2 v o l e . , B a ltim o re : John Hopkins P r e s s , 1943* D ryden, John, P ro lo g u e to The Conquest o f Granada (1 6 7 2 ), P ro lo g u e f o r th e Women, when th e y A cted a t th e Old T h e a tre , L in d o ln 's Inn F i e l d s (1 6 7 2 ), P rologue to The 425 P re fa c e t o The S ta te o f Innocence (1 6 7 7 ), in The W orks. S i r W alter S c o tt, B a r t . , e d i t o r ; R e v ise d e d i t i o n by George S a in ts b u r y , 10 v o ls * , E dinburgh; W illiam P a t t e r so n , 1885. Gould, R o b e rt, “The P lay h o u se— a S a t y r , ” In The Works. 2 v o l s . , London: W . Lew is, 1709* M a rv e ll, Andrew, "L ast I n s t r u c t i o n s o f a P a i n t e r about th e D utch War, 1667,** in Poems and S a t i r e s o f Andrew M a r v e ll. G. A. A itk e n , e d i t o r , 2 v o l s . , London: Lawrence and S u lle n , 1892. S h ad w ell, Thomas, P re fa c e to The H um ourists (1 6 7 1 ), P ro lo g u e t o Epsom W ells (1 6 7 3 ), P re fa c e t o A T rue Widow (1 6 7 9 ), P ro lo g u e to The Woman C a p ta in (1 6 8 0 ), E pilogue to The L a n c a s h ire W itches (1682) in "The Com plete Works, Montague Summers, e d i t o r , 5 v o l s . , London: The F o rtu n e P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 . W ycherley, W illia m , "P rologue to th e C ity " f o r The Gentlem an D ancing M a ste r (1673) in W illiam W ycherley, W . 0. Ward, e d i t o r , London: The Mermaid S e r ie s , T. F is h e r Unwin, L td . 508 p p . D. PARTS OF SERIES B ry a n t, A rth u r, The Man in The M aking, V o l. I , Samuel P e p y s. 3 v o l s . , Cam bridge: The U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1934. C h a n c e le r, E. B e re s f o r d , The Res t o r a t io n R a k e s. V ol. I I , in The L iv es o f th e R akes. 6 v o l s . , New York: B re n ta n o s , 1 9 2 6 . E. ESSAYS A rb e r, Edward, B ib lio g ra p h y , "Keys to th e R e h e a rs a l," in E n g lis h R e p r i n t s . 30 v o l s . , Alex M urray < S s Son, 1868. A sto n , Tony, "A B r i e f Supplem ent" to C o lle y C ib b er, E s q ., H is L ives o f th e L ate Famous A cto rs and A c tr e s s e s , in R o b ert W . Low e's e d i tio n o f ^ Apology f o r th e L if e o f Mr. C o lle y C ib b e r , London: John C. Nimmo, 2 v o l s . . 426 Bartholom ew, A* T ., "The R e s to r a tio n D ram a," V ol. V I I I , in The Cambridge H is to ry o f E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e , A. W. Ward and A. R. W a lle r, e d i t o r s , 14 v o l s , , Cambridge U n iv er s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 2 0 , D ennis, Jo h n , "The U se fu ln e ss o f th e S ta g e ," in The C r iti o a ] Works o f John D en n is. Edward N ile s H ooker, e d i t o r , 2 v o l s . , B a ltim o re : John Hopkins P re s s , 1943. Jo h n so n , Samuel, "Otway," V ol. I , In The Works o f The E n g lis h P o e t s . 75 v o l s . , London: John N ic o ls , 1790. S o h e llin g , F e lix E . , " R e s to r a tio n Drama," V ol. V II I , in The Cambridge H is to r y of E n g lis h L i t e r a t u r e . S h erb u rn , G eorgè, "The R e s to r a tio n and E ig h te e n th C e n tu ry , 1 6 6 0 - 1 7 8 9 ," in A L i t e r a r y H is to ry o f E n g lan d . A lb e r t C. Baugh, e d i t o r . New York: A p p le to n -C e n tu ry -C ro fts , I n c . , F. PERIODICALS G ., W ., in th e G en tlem an 's M agazine. F e b ru a ry , 1745* Law rence, W . J . , E n g lia c h e S tu d ie n . XXXV, W heatley, H. B . , "London P a s t and P r e s e n t," Notes and Q u e r ie s . E ig h th S e r ie s , X, 7* G. PUBLICATION OF LEARNED ORGANIZATION A very, Emmett L . , "The S tage P o p u la r ity o f The R e h e a r s a l." R e se a rc h S tu d ie s o f th e S ta te C o lleg e o f W ashington. V II, 1 9 3 9 . H. NEWSPAPERS The G u a rd ia n , j^ o n d o i^ Number 82, June 15» 1713* The London Evening P o s t . December 27, 1791* 427 P r o t e s t a n t M ercury, (London] Septem ber 10, 1696. The S p e c ta to r , [ h o n d o n j Numbers 40 and 65* The T at 1 e r , jTLondo^ Number 99* U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a i î f o r n l a U b r a f V

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Creator Thomas, Carl A. (author)

Core Title The Restoration theatre audience: A critical and historical evaluation of the London playgoers of the latter part of the seventeenth century 1660-1700

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Speech

Degree Conferral Date 1952-06

Publication Date 05/12/1952

Defense Date 05/12/1952

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag arts,communication,OAI-PMH Harvest

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC11255648

Unique identifier UC11255648

Identifier DP31994.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier DP31994

Dmrecord 829453

Document Type Dissertation

Format theses (aat)

Rights Thomas, Carl A.

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

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