The Covent Garden Theatre, or Pasquin Turn'd DrawcansirMacklin, Charles
General
The Covent Garden Theatre, or Pasquin Turn'd Drawcansir
Macklin, Charles
English drama
Pas.
Gentlemen and Ladies, pray take Your Places, and now Marforio make your
return.
Mar.
Why, this being Masquerade Night there are no Drums or Routs. So we have
taken up but a very few-- But, as I return'd me Guide led me to the
other Play House, from whence, by the unanimous Consent of the Audience
I have brought away a disorderly Lady.
Pas.
Produce her.
Marforio brings on Miss Giggle.
Miss Brill.
Miss Giggle as I live, dear Creature what brings you here?
Gig.
This Exotic Gentleman, by an Authority from Apollo, as he says----
Omn.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
Pas.
Pray what is the Lady's Offence?
Mar.
Disturbing the Audience.
Pas.
In what manner.
Gig.
Why, I'll tell you Mr. Pasquin. You must know the Play was a Tragedy;
and several of the Audience were ridiculous enough to cry at it-- And so
Sr. Charles Empty and I were diverting Our selves with laughing at the
various Strange Tragical Faces the Animals, exhibited, that's all.
Omn.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
Gig.
Upon this the Goths fell a hissing-- & cry'd out-- out-- out--
Sr. Eter.
O the Savages!
Mar.
But there is a further Charge against this Lady; She is said to be a
common Nusance at the Theatres; and that She frequently Sets the whole
House in a Titter to the Confusion of the Actors, & the general
disturbance of the Audience, by constantly exposing her Nudities to
Publick View, contrary to the Ideas of female Modesty, and the Laws of
Decency.
Miss Dy.
O fye Seignior, how can you make use of so indelicate an Expression.
A Lady's Nudities, why, you might as well have said-- I vow it is almost
plain English, I protest such an Expression is enough to get your Farce
hiss'd off the Stage--
Pas.
I am extremely Sorry the Phrase offends your Ladyship, but if you will
Substitute any other.
Dia.
I think Mr. Drawcansir when those Objects are to be expos'd that--
a Lady's Proturberances, her Snow balls, or her Lover's Amusements--
wou'd be much more delicate.
Sr. Rog.
You are very right Madam, and if they happen to be of the immense kind--
Cupid's Kettle Drums Mr. Pasquin, wou'd not be an-- unelegant Phrase,
ha, ha, ha.
Omn.
Ha, ha, ha, ha.
Pas.
Your Ladyship is quite right, go on with the Charge.
Mar.
That the moment this Lady appears in the Boxes the grave part of the
fair Sex are seen to put their Fans before their Faces; and are heard to
whisper one another-- Lud what an indecent Sight Miss Giggle's Neck is--
It is really quite obscene! I wonder somebody does not tell her of it,
then the Men, they are all in a high Grin; and the Smarts are frequently
heard to roar out-- O Gad-- they are ravishingly White, and smooth as
polish'd Marble!
Dia.
Mr. Pasquin observing upon the whiteness or smoothness of a Lady's
Circumstances is not so Chaste as I cou'd wish.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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