Event Comment: Benefit for
Wood, Sub-Treasurer. Tickets deliver'd out for
The Mistake will be taken (playbill). For ye
Morocco Embassador, who, tho' unlearn'd in out Language, behav'd as if he understood nature -
Mr Wood,
the Subtreasurer had Tickets (
Cross). [
Mrs Frances Brooke, in
The Old Maid, for 8 May 1756, gives
the following eye-witness account of
the evening: "I determined to watch
the artless working of [
the Ambassador's] surprise, and to catch, as well as I could his sentiments of
the theatre,
the Audience,
the Play, and
the performers. And shall give
them to my readers, just as
they appeared to me. On his first coming to
the front of
the Box, he was complimented with
the Applause of
the whole House, which seemed to give him great pleasure, and which he returned by two bows in
the English, and afterwards by a reverence in
the Moorish manner, which last I thought very graceful...tho' he is ra
ther low of stature, yet his loose flowing robes, and his manner altoge
ther gave him such an air of superiority, that I thought
the Audience looked only like his attendants. "
The House and Spectators attracted his notice so much for some time, that he seem'd very well entertained before
the drawing up of
the curtain. At
the first scene between
the Lords, I thought he looked disappointed, and after a transient view of
the stage, directed his eyes again to
the company; at
the entrance of
King Henry his attention was a little recover'd to
the performance, but his majesty had not proceeded half way thru
the scene, before he burst into a most immoderate fit, of apparently contemptuous laughter, which he repeated very often thro'
the whole playing of
the part.
The manner in which this stranger was affected by it, amongst o
ther considerations, fully convinces me that this character is most ridiculously burlesqued in
the representation, and that both
Shakespeare and
the Monarch are very inhumanly sacrificed, to
the polite taste, and elegant distinction of
the upper gallery....I could point out many abuses of
the like nature, which have increased upon us so much of late, that 'tis almost impossible to attend
the theatres, with
the expectation of receiving pleasure from some parts of
the perfbrmance, without
the certainty of suffering equal disgust from o
thers; it was
the case of many besides myself, at this of
Henry, upon
the absurdity of
Winchester's brandishing his cane at
Canterbury, upon
the close of
the Council Scene; and yet to give opportunity for this notable stage foolery,
the Archbishop and Bishop are both made to walk out of
their proper order, tho' in attendance upon
the King....His character is drawn by Shakespeare very nearly as it stands in history, and in colours far different from
the farcical ones, in which it is
the present fashion to represent it. He is described indeed as imperious, but at
the same time a great Monarch, and not withstanding his short interjections of anger, he is in my judgment upon every occasion a King. I wish this consideration may prevail with
Mr Berry, when he plays this character for
the future, to remember that tho'
Harry as well as
Jobson may be something rough and boistrous, yet
the turbulency of a haughty prince, is a very different quality, and must
therefore appear in avery different fashion, from
the sawciness of an impudent cobbler. "Whatever neglect his Moorish Excellency might discover of this part, he paid great attention to that of
Queen Catherine; but nothing seem'd to affect him so stronglyas
Miss Young's singing, at which he appeared quite collected, and listened to her with all marks of rapturous admiration; his whole soul appeared touched, and at
the end of
the song, he joined
the house in clapping, a mark of applause I did not observe him give at any o
ther time. "I thought upon
the King's kissing
Anna Bullen, that he appeared surprized and offended, and looked about, to observe whe
ther o
thers were not affected in
the same manner. "
The procession was less marked by him than I had expected, but upon
the Champion's entry on horseback, he burst into such an Immoderate fit of laughter, as to fall quite back in his seat. "At
the end of
the play he rose, as if to leave
the House, but looked very well pleased upon being informed
there was more entertainment to come; in
the Pantomime he seem'd surprized and disgusted at
the appearance of
Harlequin, to whom he did not appear reconciled to
the last; his wonder was still greater at
the flying of
the Genii cross
the stage, and o
ther parts of
the machinery, which I thought he studied byt was puzzled to account for. He laughed heartily at
the Clown, and admired
Colombine not a little.... "I am jealous of
the honour of my country in all respects. I would have this stranger leave it with as high opinion of our publick entertainments as possible, and could wish that at
the Old House, he might see
Mr Garrick in
Richard or some equally striking part, and at
the New, he may be present at plays, where rich dresses, magnificent show and graceful action, and uncommon personal perfections in
the principal performers might contribute to give him a more elevated idea of our stage, than he can have receiv'd from
King Harry."] Receipts: #210 (
Cross)