Wild Oats Or The Strolling Gentlemen A Comedy In Five Acts And In Prose

Author : Esquire John O'Keeffe
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781712293300
Total Pages : 108 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (933 download)

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Download or read book WILD OATS OR THE STROLLING GENTLEMEN - A Comedy in Five Acts written by Esquire John O'Keeffe and published by . This book was released on 2019-11-27 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Remarks--"This comedy is the only attempt of the author to produce a drama above opera and farce. His productions, in the latter species of writing, are perfect compositions: nothing of the kind can be superior to his "Agreeable Surprise," and his "Son-in-Law." He has a number of other farces of little less attraction; such as "Peeping Tom."-Another class after that, and each possessing infinite fancy, whim, and novelty. Still success did not follow all his productions: a few years past he wrote very frequently, and sometimes too hastily.On the first night of representing any of those whimsical dramas, amidst loud peals of laughter at the comic dialogue or incidents, there was generally a most affecting spectacle behind the curtain. O'Keeffe, stone-blind, (not an affliction of birth, but of late years) led by his little son, as a guide, down to the stage-door-to the lock of which he would anxiously place his ear to catch the quickest information how his work was received-and when, unhappily hisses from the audience would sound louder than applause-in strong agitation he would press his hands to each side of his head, as if he had yet one sense too much. Thus he would remain, without sight or hearing, till some unexpected sally of humour in his drama once more put the house in good temper, and they would begin to laugh and applaud;-on which, his son, rapid as lightning, would pull him by the elbow, and cry out, "Now, father, listen again.""Wild Oats," would not disgrace an author of much higher pretensions in dramatic writing than Mr. O'Keeffe. There is great pleasantry throughout the play, many natural touches of simplicity, and some well-written dialogues and sentiments. The plot is interesting, the characters new, or at least in new situations, and the whole forms an evening's entertainment for an auditor of taste-such a one having at the same time in his memory, certain popular sentences from certain well-known comedies and tragedies: for without intimate acquaintance with all the quotations made use of by the hero of the piece, it must totally lose its effect, and this hero appear like a madman."