Event Comment: TThe London Chronicle 1758 (p. 461): Having already read
the play [
The London Cuckolds] it was no wonder if my inclinations to attend
the exhibition of it were very small; however, being in some measure oblig'd to perform that penance, I paid my money and sat down in
the pit, where I underwent three hours entertainment, if I may call it so, only to be rooted in a former opinion, that
the author of this comedy deserved to be hanged; and that
the only excuse which could be made for suffering it to be acted would be invincible stupidity. This monstruous production of nonsense and obscenity, is
the spawn of one
Ravenscroft, a writer whose wit was as contemptible as his morals were vitious. He does not seem to have had one sentiment ei
ther of a man of Genious of a gentleman, at least if we may judge by
the characters he has daubed, which are a pack of reprobates of
the lowest kind. Nor are
the things which look like incidents in this play
the produce of his own invention, but
the squeezings from an extravagant novel of
Scarron, and
two or three ill-chosen fables of
LaFontaine; of which ingredients he has contrived to mix up a sort of hog-wash, sweetened with a few luscious expressions and a large portion of
the grossest lewdness, to
the palates of swine, or what is
the same thing, men like
them; but which must be odious to, and nauseated by all people of delicate taste, or common modesty.
The three gallants in this comedy,
Townly,
Ramble and
Loveit, never make
their appearance upon
the stage but to talk bawdy, and that in terms very little different from
the most vagabond inhabitants of
Covent Garden, nor do
they make
their exit but with a professed intention to commit adultery with one woman or ano
ther, who walks off with him very contentedly for that purpose. I must here observe that adultery is committed no less than seven times during
the five acts. [
The play an insult to
the London aldermen and
their wives.]
There were several men of distinction in
the boxes at this play, and I think about eight ladies. What
their inward feelings might be I know not; but if one might judge of
their thoughts by
the gravity of
their looks,
they were ra
ther mortified than diverted. But of
the women of
the town, who as we suppose were unwilling to let slip so fair an opportunity of getting a supper and a bed-fellow,
there were crowds both in
the pit and green boxes...