MASKS AND FACES; OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN. A Comedy IN TWO ACTS. BY TOM TAYLOR AND CHARLES READE. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1854 [_The Authors reserve the right of Translating this work._] PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS, LONDON GAZETTE OFFICE, ST. MARTIN'S LANE. "MASKS AND FACES" was produced by Mr. Webster in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. HAYMARKET. ADELPHI. _Sir Charles Pomander_ Mr. Leigh Murray Mr. Leigh Murray. _Mr. Ernest Vane_ Mr. Parselle Mr. Parselle. _Colly Cibber_ Mr. Lambert Mr. G. Honey. _Quin_ Mr. James Bland Mr. Paul Bedford. _Triplet_ Mr. Benjamin Webster Mr. Benjamin Webster. _Lysimachus Triplet_ Master Caulfield Master Caulfield. _Mr. Snarl_ Mr. Stuart Mr. O. Smith. _Mr. Soaper_ Mr. Braid Mr. C. J. Smith. _James Burdock_ Mr. Rogers Mr. R. Romer. _Colander_ Mr. Clark Mr. Hastings. _Hundsdon_ Mr. Coe Mr. Lindon. _Call Boy_ Mr. Edwards Mr. Waye. _Pompey_ Master C. J. Smith Master C. J. Smith. _Mrs. Vane_ Miss Rosa Bennett Miss Woolgar. _Peg Woffington_ Mrs. Stirling Madame Celeste. _Kitty Clive_ Miss Maskell Miss Maskell. _Mrs. Triplet_ Mrs. Leigh Murray Mrs. Leigh Murray. _Roxalana_ Miss Caulfield Miss Caulfield. _Maid_ Miss E. Woulds Miss Mitchenson. MASKS AND FACES, OR, BEFORE AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN. ACT I. SCENE I.--_The Green Room of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. A Fire-place C., with a Looking-glass over it, on which a call is wafered. Curtain rises on Mr. Quin and Mrs. Clive, seated each side of Fire-place._ CLIVE. Who dines with Mr. Vane to-day besides ourselves? QUIN. His inamorata, Mrs. Woffington, of this theatre. CLIVE. Of course. But who else? QUIN. Sir Charles Pomander. The critics, Snarl and Soaper, are invited, I believe. CLIVE. Then I shall eat no dinner. QUIN. Pooh! There is to be a haunch that will counterpoise in one hour a century of censure. Let them talk! the mouth will revenge the ears of Falstaff;--besides, Snarl is the only ill-natured one--Soaper praises people, don't he? CLIVE. Don't be silly, Quin! Soaper's praise is only a pin for his brother executioner to hang abuse on: by this means Snarl, who could not invent even ill-nature, is never at a loss. Snarl is his own weight in wormwood; but Soaper is--hush!--hold your tongue. [_Enter Snarl and Soaper L.D. Quin and Clive rise._] (_Clive, with engaging sweetness_). Ah! Mr. Snarl! Mr. Soaper! we were talking of you. SNARL. I am sorry for that, madam. QUIN. We hear you dine with us at Mr. Vane's.