Event Comment: Masque: By Particular Desire.
The Gentlemen's Magazine for Jan. 1742 (p. 28) in an article
On Two Italian Dancers comments ra
ther fully on
the Fausans' performance in
Le Boufon; or the Idiot: My expectation was rais'd to
the height but at
their entrance on
the stage,
they alarm'd me by
the inexpressive Agility and descriptive Action, Look and Motion, which were all performed With such mimic Variety, that I defy
the most severe Cynic to say that
they wou'd not at least raise in him an agreeable surprise, to see all
the attitudes, Oddities and mock Gesticulations of
the two Idiots, who may be suppos'd to be in Love with one ano
ther. It is not any distortion of Body or unnatural transposition of
the limbs which
they exhibit to
the view, but
the extravagant Idiotry which
the passions of Love, Disdain, Joy, Resentment, would on a real occasion actuate on
the personages
they represent: Nor do
they so manage
their Dance that it is ungraceful:
they take opportunities to show by actions and movements, that in
their comic Humour
they have an elegancy. This performance
therefore, on Reflection, appear'd to me, instead of an unnatural extravaganza to be founded on
the nicest Observations of Human Nature, and prove Signor and Signora to be persons of good judgment, as well as agility. Receipts: #80