Saturday 11 July 1668
At the office all the morning. After dinner to the King’s playhouse, to see an old play of Shirly’s, called “Hide Parke” the first day acted; where horses are brought upon the stage but it is but a very moderate play, only an excellent epilogue spoke by Beck Marshall. Thence home and to my office, and then to supper and to bed, and overnight took some pills… [Continued tomorrow. P.G.]
Terry Foreman Link to this
"...“Hide Parke” the first day acted; where horses are brought upon the stage...."
L&M note the stage directions do not demand a horse-spectacle, but there is a racing-scene in Act IV.
Robert Gertz Link to this
"Hyde Park...Where gaming and gambling rule and men and women are played...Hyde Park, the revived play by James Shirley..." Hmmn...Bess eyes poster.
"Beck Marshall was ok." Sam notes. "And I did like that bug-eyed character, the nervous bureaucrat who never wanted to be seen in a hackey, taking his pleasures, always scribbling notes as he did so. Great comic relief."
"The philandering jackass who looked rather pathetic chasing everything female?" Bess eyes him.
"Exactly...What a twit. Though his persistence and attention to business was commendable..,And he did tell that story well."
"He did have saving graces, I suppose...I would have liked to see more of his wife though. She seemed an interesting character."
Jenny Link to this
Well done, Robert!