THE REHEARSAL As it was Acted at the Theatre-Royal. Printed for Thomas Dring, at the White-Lyon, next Chancery-lane end in Fleet street. 1672. 1 Dryden, in his prefatory Essay Of Heroique Playes to The Conqueft of Granada, Ed. 1672, thus gives the origin of the new way of writing plays. "For Heroick Plays, (in which onely I have us'd it [i. e., Rhyme] without the mixture of Profe) the first light we had of them on the English Theatre was from the late Sir William D'Avenant: It being forbidden him in the Rebellious times to act Tragedies and Comedies, because they contain'd some matter of Scandal to thofe good people, who could more easily dispoffefs their lawful Sovereign then endure a wanton jeast; he was forc'd to turn his thoughts another way; and to introduce the examples of moral vertue, writ in verfe, and perform'd in Recitative Mufique. The Original of this mufick and of the Scenes which adorn'd his work, he had from the Italian Operas: but he heightn'd his Characters (as I may probably imagine) from the example of Corneille and fome French Poets. In this Condition did this part of Poetry remain at his Majesties return. When growing bolder, as being now own'd by a publick Authority, he review'd his Siege of Rhodes, and caus'd it to be acted as a juft Drama; but as few men have the happiness to begin and finish any new project, so neither did he live to make his design perfect." 2 (a) GERARD LANGBAINE gives this account of Lacy :A Comedian whofe Abilities in Action were fufficiently known to all that frequented the King's Theatre, where he was for many years an Actor, and perform'd all Parts that he undertook to a miracle; infomuch that I am apt to believe, that as this Age never had, fo the next never will have his Equal, at least not his Superiour. He was fo well approv'd of by King Charles the Second, an undeniable Judge in Dramatick Arts, that he caus'd his Picture to be drawn, in three feveral Figures in the fame Table, viz. That of Teague in the Committee, Mr. Scruple in The Cheats, and M. Galliard, in The Variety: which piece is ftill in being in Windfor Cafle. Nor did his Talent wholly lye in Acting, he knew both how to judge and write Plays: and if his Comedies are somewhat allied to French Farce, 'tis out of choice, rather than want of Ability to write true Comedy. Account of Eng. Dram. Poets, p. 317. Oxenford, 1691. Sawny the Scot, or The Taming of a Shrew, 1677, 4to. (6) Dean LOCKIER, in Spence's ANECDOTES, p. 63, Ed. 1820, fays: It is incredible what pains Buckingham took with one of the actors, to teach him to speak fome paffages in Bayes' part, in The Rehearsal right. This actor was Lacy, fee p. 16. 23 'PROLOGUE. E might well call this fhort Mock-play of ours A Pofie made of Weeds instead of Flowers; Yet fuch have been prefented to your noses, And there are such, I fear, who thought 'em Rofes. Would fome of 'em were here, to see, this night, What stuff it is in which they took delight. Here, brisk, infipid Blades, for wit, let fall Sometimes dull fence; but oft'ner, none at all: There, ftrutting Heroes, with a grim-fac'd train, Shall brave the Gods, in King Cambyfes vain. For (changing Rules, of late, as if men writ In spite of Reason, Nature, Art, and Wit) Our Poets make us laugh at Tragoedy, And with their Comedies they make us cry. Now, Critiques, do your worst, that here are met; For, like a Rook, I have hedg'd in my Bet. If you approve; I shall assume the state Of those high-flyers whom I imitate : And justly too; for I will fhew you more Than ever they vouchsaf'd to shew before: I will both represent the feats they do, And give you all their reasons for 'em toc. Some honour to me will from this arise. But if, by my endeavours, you grow wife, And what was once fo prais'd you now despise; Then I'l cry out, fwell'd with Poetique rage, 'Tis I, John Lacy, have reform'd your Stage. THE REHEARSAL. JOHNS. ACTUS I. SCÆNA I. JOHNSON and SMITH. Oneft Frank! I'm glad to see thee with all my heart: how long haft thou been in Town? SMI. Faith, not above an hour: and, if I had not met you here, I had gone to look you out; for I long to talk with you freely, of all the strange new things we have heard in the Country. JOHNS. And, by my troth, I have long'd as much to laugh with you, at all the impertinent, dull, fantastical things, we are tir'd out with here. SMI. Dull and fantastical! that's an excellent compofition. Pray, what are our men of business doing? JOHNS. I ne'er enquire after 'em. Thou know'ft my humour lyes another way. I love to please my felf as much, and to trouble others as little as I can : and therefore do naturally avoid the company of those folemn Fops; who, being incapable of Reason, and infenfible of Wit and Pleasure, are always looking grave, and troubling one another, in hopes to be thought men of Business. |