Event Comment: Eleventh and Last time of performing Mainpiece
this season. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire.
Othello and
The Irish Widow, to have been
performed this evening for Mr Barry's Benefit, oblig'd to be deferr'd till fur
ther notice (playbill).
Mr Barry being Ill his Benefit which was to have been
this Night is oblig'd to be deferr'd (
Hopkins Diary). [So, according to Hopkins,
the profits went to
the house.] Receipts: #171 19s. 6d. To
the Public Advertiser: Sir, I spent an agreeable evening lately with a Country Friend at
the Primitive Puppet Show, and was not displeased at
the ridicule pointed at
the dull, spiritless stuff, which composes modern Sentimental Comedy. I was entertained too with
the manner in which some of
the Actors were taken off; But I cannot think mimicry worthy to furnish an Evening Entertainment for a Polite
British Audience, or suited to
the happy ridicule and pointed wit of
Aristophanes.
The old
Roman comedy, as it was called, was designed for nobler purposes: it was directed to improve
the head and mend
the heart.
The keen manly satire of that Comedy was pointed at Upstart, Braggart, Vice, and to expose
the dangerous unfeeling craft of innocent Villainy, or to use
the words of
Mr Pope--Brand
the bold front of shameless, guilty man. Such was, and such ought to be,
the salutary Direction of Wit, and Satire by exhibiting characters in
their genuine colours, when
the mask, which disguises and conceals
them from
the eyes of
the Weak
the Credulous, and
the Ignorant, is drawn off.
The words of
Horace are--Detrabere et pellam, mitidus qua quisque per ora Cederet, introrsum turpis. Yours,
Dramaticus. Poetry for
the Public Advertiser. Epigram on
the New Tragedy
Alonzo. @No wonder that each female voice@Resounds Alonzo's praise;@A sure foundation of Applause,@
The crafty Author lays.@ @Against
the Virtue of his Wife@A Husband, if he's wise@According to
the Gallant HOME,@Should not believe his eyes.