Event Comment: [
T+Theatrical Monitor, No VI appeared this day with a blast, in
the form of an occasional
Epilogue, at
the morals, language and plan of
the Oxonian in Town. This was
the first performance of
Macklin's afterpiece in
London. It had been played in
Dublin. "Its curious idiom, half-brogue, and half
Cockney, puzzled
the audience, as did its highly topical
Irish allusions. With his usual candor, Macklin observed: 'I believe
the audience are right. (
The play was withdrawn after this single performance.)
There's a geography in humor as well as in morals, which I had not previously considered--'"
Cooke,
Macklin, p. 270. According to
Kirkman, in his curtain speech Macklin "courageously admitted: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very sensible tha
there are several passages in this play which deserve to be probated and I assure you that
they shall never offend your ears again!' As soon as Mr Macklin had finished this address,
the audience testified
their approbation of his determination, by loud and reiterated plaudits" (Kirkman,
Memoirs of the Life of Macklin, II, 3). See Also
Charles Macklin: An Actor's Life by
William W. Appleton (
Cambridge, Mass., 1960), p. 141.