Early American Drama by Various

Author:Various
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2010-03-01T04:30:00+00:00

CAST OF CHARACTERS.

EDWARD MIDDLETON

LAWYER CRIBBS

WILLIAM DOWTON

FARMER GATES

FARMER STEVENS

OLD JOHNSON

SAM

FIRST LOAFER

SECOND LOAFER

MR. RENCELAW

LANDLORD

BAR KEEPER

WATCHMAN

MARY WILSON

AGNES DOWTON, a Maniac

MRS. WILSON

PATIENCE

JULIA

MISS SPINDLE

VILLAGERS, LOAFERS, WATCHMEN, &C.

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

‘O, star of strength! I see thee stand

And smile upon my pain;

Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand,

And I am strong again.’

—LONGFELLOW1

‘There is a tide in the affairs of men,’ 2

Right! worthy Willie Shakspeare, perfectly right—there is a tide, not only in the affairs of men, but in the casualties of the Drama also, that bears the fortunate object to success, provided the opportunity is not neglected. There could not have been a better time chosen for the production of this most successful and Domestic Drama, than the season it was first performed at the Boston Museum. No unprejudiced person will attempt to deny that it was the cause of much good, and materially aided the Temperance movement it was meant to advocate. In the representation it was a powerful and living picture, and all that saw it, felt it, for IT WAS TRUE. No one who had not seen it would feel inclined, from the mere reading, to believe the very powerful effect produced.

The action of the play located in our own city and vicinity—the scenery mostly local views, excellent—the arrangements admirable, while the acting in some instances was not to be surpassed, and throughout each character above mediocrity, all served to aid in the triumphant success that was awarded it on its first representation. Mr. Smith’s personation of Edward, evidently the result of accurate and laborious study, and deep knowledge of human frailty, was at times terribly real, particularly the scene of delirium tremens, which though far short of the horrors of that dreadful malady, and appearing, to those unacquainted with the disease to be overstepping the bounds of nature, was true to the letter, and universally acknowledged to be the most natural, effective acting ever seen in this city. In this scene, and those depicting the distress of the family, it was no uncommon thing to see scores of men and women in the auditory weeping like children, while at the next moment their faces would radiate with smiles at the quaint humor of Bill Dowton, or the pompous peculiarities of Miss Spindle.

Many inquiries have been made as to the authorship of the Drunkard and as rumor has named a dozen or more persons, some of whom have never troubled themselves to deny their identity in regard to connexion with the subject, we give the following facts which, if of importance to any but those immediately concerned, are simply as follows. “The proprietor of the Museum, ever ready to take the tide on its flood in any matter of general interest, conceiving that a Drama might aid the cause of Temperance, and prove highly productive to his establishment, engaged a gentleman of known and appreciated literary acquirements to undertake the task. Unfortunately his production, though eminently worthy of the gentleman and scholar,3 was from want of theatrical experience, merely a story in dialogue, entirely deficient in stage tact and dramatic effect.

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