REMARKS. THIS Comedy had a very favourable reception. It has plots, characters, and incidents, worthy of admiration, though far less prominent than those which are contained in some of the author's more fortunate works. The deserted daughter herself is not of so high importance in the drama as the author might have made her she is interesting, but not sufficiently, so. Perhaps her affected knowledge in the mysteries of Lavater, and the unfeeling and ill-bred manner with which she tells her friends, they bear signs of guilt in their features, may diminish that concern for her situation, which the proofs of a better understanding and more sensibility of heart might have excited. Lady Anne would be the heroine of the play, and a much more important character than Joanna, but that she too often calls to the recollection Cibber's Lady Easy. Still there is instruction to be gained from this patient wife, even by those females who are well acquainted with her in "The Careless Husband." Mordent is a character of general instruction. Such are the characters of Item, Grime, and Clement. The praise, indeed, so justly bestowed on all the works of Mr Holcroft is-that instruction and information ever accompany amusement. To many readers, the part of Donald will be wholly unintelligible. Dramatic authors, in search of variety of character, are too apt to disgrace their dialogue, and cloud their meaning, by the introduction of persons into their plays, whose only worth and distinction consist in their not being able to speak plain English. Munden's intelligent face is requisite to every line of this part, to make it generally understood. In referring to the original performers in this play, it is impossible to pass over the manner in which Mr Quick acted the part of Item. In that scene, where he first misses his book of accounts, his agitation was so highly interesting, that the audience, though they hated him for his villainy, still felt a degree of compassion for his sufferings. But, in the meeting with his nephew, which follows-where he inquires, then suspects, then accuses, then is convinced; now threatens, and now sues for pity-no tragedian could have better expressed the perturbed state of a murderer's mind, than this comic actor described the violent passions which shook his frightened soul! The author had great merit in conceiving this novel situation for a professed comedian, even what is termed a low comedian, and the effect repaid him for his judgment. There is a circumstance in this drama, respecting the fear lest Lady Anne should know that her hus band was ever married previous to his marriage with her, and some suspicions concerning his child, which seem to depend on certain points of extreme delicacy; such as are of the utmost importance to all authors of plays, as well as of novels. But when, by degrees, the fashionable world shall have become so philosophic in love, and concerning all the rights of wedlock, that scarce any event in gallantry shall create embarrassment on the score of refined sentiments, the resources of an author, in his profession, will be then nearly destroyed; for scrupulous purity of character, and refinement in sensations, are the delightful origin of all those passions, those powerful impulses of the mind, on which works of imagination are chiefly founded. As "The Deserted Daughter" has not been written many years, the reader of fashion, will possibly be surprised, that the wife of Mordent should feel the slightest concern on account of her husband's former or present excesses, in the character of a libertine lover. |