Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-04
Early Dramatic DimeuIties

ANAAAh AL Aut EEAE ANAAN4
Charles the First, sympathizIDg with the |
more light-hesrted of his subjects, contin- |
ued to encourage the drama. and, In 1885, |
witnessed, in company with the queen, the |
6rst performances by the students Of Christ
church, Oxford, of a ''trsgi comedy"
called "The Royal Slave" of which The
scene was laid at Sardis The play was
written by William Cartwright, one of the
students, and the music composed by
Henry Lswes. The famous Dr. Bushby,
then at Christ church, won great spplsute
for his performance of the principal part
Not long afterwards, however, another
check was received by the players. In
1912, because of the distressed state of
Ireland, general fasting and prayer Were
enjoiued upon the people of England, ard
all plays were prohibited. Nevertheless,
private performances went on, and q news
paper of the year 1643 contains the follow
ing remonstrancs: "I am persuaded in
time they-the Royalists-will 60 near 10
put down all preaching and praying and
have some religious mssque or play in
stead of morning and evening prayers; IL
has been an old fashion at court, among
the Protestants there, to shut up the Sab
bath with some wholesome piece of Ben
Jonson or Dsvensnt, kind Of comicsl di-
| vinity." Such private do!ngs were scaIcs-
ly amenable to public jurisdiction; but
very soon the final blow fell upon public
performances.
In 1647, the House of Lords ordsinsd-
/ with the consent of the Comuons-that
the Lord Mayor of London and the jos
tices of the psace for the city and the
parts djscsnt should take steps to sup
press all stage plays, interludes and COM
mon plays. Every actor caught perform
ing such things was, for the hrst offence,
to be publicly whipped in q market town
on q market day, and, for the second, TO
be treated as an inoorrigible rcgus and
| vagabond, and committed to prison. To
carry out this order IL wss enjoiHed that
the ''copmauder- in chief of the Guard of
the Horses" should give his assistance, and
that the militia might &lso bs employed.
A piece called "Ths Bloody Brother" at
the Cockpit, was actually broken mp by
soldiers. Ard In 1855, letter 20 Joseph
Williamson, secretary et state, relates
how 'tat The plsy houss th;s week many
were put to the rout BY the soldiers, and
hsd broken crowns" Every spectator
caught In q plsy-houss wss TO be fined Ave
shillinss for each offence; the money to
90 to the poor of the parish. After this
there was no more life In ths drama til
Close upon the end of the Commonwealth.
Actors Joined one or other of the armies,
and plsy-writers turned pRmphleteers.
Although occasionally cases of play -sctIng
occur, il was practically stamped on. from
Is4S till 1868.
The supremacy Of R.chsrod Cromwell
proved the signal fer a revival. Several
new bousse sPrEug mp. and tho play be-
came the fashion. Charles the Second lent
a willing and effective hand 70 the resur-
rection of tbs draus, but thought it ne
cessary TO attempt TO restrict the number
of companies. However, As he gave hls
license to almost any one who asked or
paid for II, the business soon got beyond
his control Abuses became frequent,
and n complaint Is heard that 'd!scon-
tents I'm Ireland were raised to great
height bscau.e players were allowed to
oontemn the Irish on their stage" The
Cockpit WAS ths Royal house; and one
tGeorpe johnson wAs, In 1862. receiving
thirty pounds year from the treasurer OF
the chamber for managing IT, With the
Restoration came the Introduction of sc-
trssses. Female parts had previously been
PLAYED by the choir boys from the ChsPels
Royal. Soon Betterton came on the scene;
and the drama, after short period of al
most complete extinction, took new lease
of life, and came to admit of elaboration
| and separation into countless Glasses of
entertainment not at that time conceived
Of