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Article PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. ← Page 2 of 2
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Public Amusements.
Such is the outline of the play—in the different scenes of wlncn , the base crime of female seduction , so destructive to the Tiappmsss of society , and so boundless in its fatal consequences , is held up in the most terrific colours to public horror and execration . If the Author ' s objeft has been ' To discip line the fancy—to command « The heart , and by familiar accents move ' The soul , "
Jie has fully succeeded to the utmost extent of his wishes . The sentiments are pure and edifying , and the moral instruction which they convey is of toe most important kind . The affections are uniformly kept alive , and the passions moulded to the very bent of the orig inal design . The mind is roused from the most torpid state of indifference , and compelled to sympathise in the melting effusions of sorrow , or to exult with fervent joy m the vindication ot distressed innocence . We are absolutely forced to take parMn the respective ' with which
interests , and enter into the motives and the ' cue for passion , the charafters are supposed to be animated . .,,.,,. o Our objections to it are but trifling ; there is , particularly in tne nrst act , too ureal a luxuriance of woe , and the attentive observer is sometimes inclined to recoil with horror at scenes of misery , which , if a full indulgence be given to gloomy contemplation , may prove insupportable to many . With respect to the comic humour of the piece , we must in candour observe , that it sometimes , particularly in the case of the poetic Butler , descends to ribaldry
and buffoonery . The grand principle ot the play , exemplineu on vauous occasions , is founded upon the successful opposition of the moral faculties to Interested views and selfish desires . Mrs . Inchbald has been eminently successful in the labours she has bestowed upon the play . The incidents are happily suited to the subject , and the dialogue is in general simple and unaffected . There are but very few attempts at figurative and elaborate diction , and above all , there is none of sentimental
that Hitter and false brilliancy which has of late years in comedy been " only calculated to dazzle thc fancy , or catch the ear with empty sound . In truth , without considering or caring whether this play be strictly within the dramatic rules , and whether a tragi-comedy be allowable , we _ have no hesitation in saying , that both in the writing and in the representation , it is a most captivating performance . There are touches of tenderness in it which it is impossible for the bosom to resist , and the emotion is produced le effects of nature
by the most ingenuous means . It is the pure and simp on the heart . The stage has not to boast of many scenes superior to that in which Frederic harrows up the soul of the Baron , by disclosing to him that lie is his son . Mr . Pope was most nervous and pathetic ; and Mr . Mun ay , in a burst of mingled contrition and rapture , electrified the bouse . His expression , < I ' ve not expressed him , ' was equal in its energy to any thing we ever heard ; the " Was he alive ? " of Mrs . Crawford did not exceed it m influence upon the heart . The audience repaid the exquisite talent of th «
aclor with shouts of approbation . Upon the whole of this performance , we congratulate the charming Authoress on her success . She bad added a lasting wreath to her former laurels , and she wears them with so much unassuming modesty , that every friend to merit must wish that they may long bloom on her brow . . " The prologue was well delivered by Mr . Murray . And Miimleii ,. m the character of die old Butler , who is a votary ofthe Muses , spoke an epilogue , which contained , several neat points . It was written by Mr . . Palmer ot the Temple , the eldest son of the late Comptroller of the Post Cfh . ce .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Public Amusements.
Such is the outline of the play—in the different scenes of wlncn , the base crime of female seduction , so destructive to the Tiappmsss of society , and so boundless in its fatal consequences , is held up in the most terrific colours to public horror and execration . If the Author ' s objeft has been ' To discip line the fancy—to command « The heart , and by familiar accents move ' The soul , "
Jie has fully succeeded to the utmost extent of his wishes . The sentiments are pure and edifying , and the moral instruction which they convey is of toe most important kind . The affections are uniformly kept alive , and the passions moulded to the very bent of the orig inal design . The mind is roused from the most torpid state of indifference , and compelled to sympathise in the melting effusions of sorrow , or to exult with fervent joy m the vindication ot distressed innocence . We are absolutely forced to take parMn the respective ' with which
interests , and enter into the motives and the ' cue for passion , the charafters are supposed to be animated . .,,.,,. o Our objections to it are but trifling ; there is , particularly in tne nrst act , too ureal a luxuriance of woe , and the attentive observer is sometimes inclined to recoil with horror at scenes of misery , which , if a full indulgence be given to gloomy contemplation , may prove insupportable to many . With respect to the comic humour of the piece , we must in candour observe , that it sometimes , particularly in the case of the poetic Butler , descends to ribaldry
and buffoonery . The grand principle ot the play , exemplineu on vauous occasions , is founded upon the successful opposition of the moral faculties to Interested views and selfish desires . Mrs . Inchbald has been eminently successful in the labours she has bestowed upon the play . The incidents are happily suited to the subject , and the dialogue is in general simple and unaffected . There are but very few attempts at figurative and elaborate diction , and above all , there is none of sentimental
that Hitter and false brilliancy which has of late years in comedy been " only calculated to dazzle thc fancy , or catch the ear with empty sound . In truth , without considering or caring whether this play be strictly within the dramatic rules , and whether a tragi-comedy be allowable , we _ have no hesitation in saying , that both in the writing and in the representation , it is a most captivating performance . There are touches of tenderness in it which it is impossible for the bosom to resist , and the emotion is produced le effects of nature
by the most ingenuous means . It is the pure and simp on the heart . The stage has not to boast of many scenes superior to that in which Frederic harrows up the soul of the Baron , by disclosing to him that lie is his son . Mr . Pope was most nervous and pathetic ; and Mr . Mun ay , in a burst of mingled contrition and rapture , electrified the bouse . His expression , < I ' ve not expressed him , ' was equal in its energy to any thing we ever heard ; the " Was he alive ? " of Mrs . Crawford did not exceed it m influence upon the heart . The audience repaid the exquisite talent of th «
aclor with shouts of approbation . Upon the whole of this performance , we congratulate the charming Authoress on her success . She bad added a lasting wreath to her former laurels , and she wears them with so much unassuming modesty , that every friend to merit must wish that they may long bloom on her brow . . " The prologue was well delivered by Mr . Murray . And Miimleii ,. m the character of die old Butler , who is a votary ofthe Muses , spoke an epilogue , which contained , several neat points . It was written by Mr . . Palmer ot the Temple , the eldest son of the late Comptroller of the Post Cfh . ce .