Event Comment: Benefit for
Wood, Sub-Treasurer. Tickets deliver'd out for
The Mistake will be taken (playbill). For ye
Morocco Embassador, who, tho' unlearn'd in out Language, behav'd as if he understood nature -
Mr Wood, the Subtreasurer had Tickets (
Cross). [
Mrs Frances Brooke, in
The Old Maid, for 8 May 1756, gives the fol
lowing eye-witness account of the evening: "I determined to watch the artless working of [the Ambassador's] surprise,
and to catch, as well as I could his sentiments of the theatre, the Audience, the Play,
and the performers.
And shall give them to my readers, just as they appeared to me. On his first coming to the front of the Box, he was complimented with the Applause of the whole House, which seemed to give him great pleasure,
and which he returned by two bows in the
English,
and afterwards by a reverence in the
Moorish manner, which last I thought very graceful...tho' he is rather
low of stature, yet his loose f
lowing robes,
and his manner altogether gave him such an air of superiority, that I thought the Audience looked only like his attendants. "The House
and Spectators attracted his notice so much for some time, that he seem'd very well entertained before the drawing up of the curtain. At the first scene between the Lords, I thought he looked disappointed,
and after a transient view of the stage, directed his eyes again to the company; at the entrance of
King Henry his attention was a little recover'd to the performance, but his majesty had not proceeded half way thru the scene, before he burst into a most immoderate fit, of apparently contemptuous laughter, which he repeated very often thro' the whole playing of the part. The manner in which this stranger was affected by it, amongst other considerations, fully convinces me that this character is most ridiculously burlesqued in the representation,
and that both
Shakespeare and the Monarch are very inhumanly sacrificed, to the polite taste,
and elegant distinction of the upper gallery....I could point out many abuses of the like nature, which have increased upon us so much of late, that 'tis almost impossible to attend the theatres, with the expectation of receiving pleasure from some parts of the perfbrmance, without the certainty of suffering equal disgust from others; it was the case of many besides myself, at this of Henry, upon the absurdity of
Winchester's br
andishing his cane at
Canterbury, upon the close of the Council Scene;
and yet to give opportunity for this notable stage foolery, the Archbishop
and Bishop are both made to walk out of their proper order, tho' in attendance upon the King....His character is drawn by Shakespeare very nearly as it st
ands in history,
and in colours far different from the farcical ones, in which it is the present fashion to represent it. He is described indeed as imperious, but at the same time a great Monarch,
and not withst
anding his short interjections of anger, he is in my judgment upon every occasion a King. I wish this consideration may prevail with
Mr Berry, when he plays this character for the future, to remember that tho'
Harry as well as
Jobson may be something rough
and boistrous, yet the turbulency of a haughty prince, is a very different quality,
and must therefore appear in avery different fashion, from the sawciness of an impudent cobbler. "Whatever neglect his Moorish Excellency might discover of this part, he paid great attention to that of
Queen Catherine; but nothing seem'd to affect him so stronglyas
Miss Young's singing, at which he appeared quite collected,
and listened to her with all marks of rapturous admiration; his whole soul appeared touched,
and at the end of the song, he joined the house in clapping, a mark of applause I did not observe him give at any other time. "I thought upon the King's kissing
Anna Bullen, that he appeared surprized
and offended,
and looked about, to observe whether others were not affected in the same manner. "The procession was less marked by him than I had expected, but upon the
Champion's entry on horseback, he burst into such an Immoderate fit of laughter, as to fall quite back in his seat. "At the end of the play he rose, as if to leave the House, but looked very well pleased upon being informed there was more entertainment to come; in the Pantomime he seem'd surprized
and disgusted at the appearance of
Harlequin, to whom he did not appear reconciled to the last; his wonder was still greater at the flying of the
Genii cross the stage,
and other parts of the machinery, which I thought he studied byt was puzzled to account for. He laughed heartily at the
Clown,
and admired
Colombine not a little.... "I am jealous of the honour of my country in all respects. I would have this stranger leave it with as
high opinion of our publick entertainments as possible,
and could wish that at the Old House, he might see
Mr Garrick in
Richard or some equally striking part,
and at the New, he may be present at plays, where rich dresses, magnificent show
and graceful action,
and uncommon personal perfections in the principal performers might contribute to give him a more elevated idea of our stage, than he can have receiv'd from
King Harry."] Receipts: #210 (
Cross)