The Cobbler of Preston

Last updated

The Cobbler of Preston
The Cobbler of Preston.jpg
Written by Christopher Bullock
Date premiered24 January 1716
Place premiered Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre
Original languageEnglish
GenreComedy

The Cobbler of Preston (first published as The Cobler of Preston) is a 1716 comedy play by Christopher Bullock, although a separate play of the same title was written by Charles Johnson the same year. [1] A one-act afterpiece is the origin of the phrase "Tis impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes". In the preface to the published version Bullock suggested that he had begun writing the play just four days before its premiere. [2] It takes inspiration from The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare and is set in Preston, Lancashire. The town had recently been scene of fighting during the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion at the Battle of Preston. Bullock's play does not overtly reference the rebellion, but has undertones supportive of the Hanoverian Dynasty.

Contents

It first appeared at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre as the afterpiece to a revival of The Confederacy by John Vanbrugh. The cast included John Ogden as Sir Jasper Manly, James Spiller as Toby Guzzle, Christopher Bullock as Snuffle and William Bullock as Grist and Benjamin Griffin as Dorcas Guzzle. [3]

Alternative version

On 3 February 1716 a separate version premiered at the rival Drury Lane Theatre, managed by Robert Wilks. A two act farcical afterpiece written by Charles Johnson it was more overtly political than Bullock's play and ultimately less successful. Johnson's piece is likely to have been written first, with Bullock hearing of its production and deciding to steal a march to get his own version performed first. [4] The cast included Lacy Ryan as Sir Charles Briton, Thomas Walker as Captain Jolly, William Pinkethman as Sir Kit Sly, Elizabeth Willis as Joan and Mary Willis as Betty. [5]

Related Research Articles

The Younger Brother, or, The Amorous Jilt is a comedy written by Aphra Behn. The play was first performed and published posthumously in 1696, but was probably written in the late 1680s.

Kensington Gardens is a 1719 comedy play by the Irish actor John Leigh. It is also known as Kensington Gardens, or, The Pretenders. It follows the attempts of several suitors to woo a wealthy rich widow, and the serious of complications that ensue.

The Half-Pay Officers is a 1720 comedy play by the Irish writer Charles Molloy. The play included popular scenes from Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and Love and Honour. It proved popular with audiences and was revived on a number of occasions. It premiered with the farce Hob's Wedding as an afterpiece.

The Fair Example, or the Modish Citizen is a 1703 comedy play by the English writer Richard Estcourt, originally staged at the Drury Lane Theatre. It was part of a growing trend of plays to feature a plot of an honest wife reforming her rakish husband along with Sir Harry Wildair, As You Find It, The Wife's Relief and The Modish Couple. It is a reworking of the 1693 French play Les Bourgeoises à la Mode by Florent Carton Dancourt. In 1705 a separate English adaptation of the French work John Vanbrugh's The Confederacy appeared at the rival Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket.

The Wife's Relief, or, The Husband's Cure is a 1711 comedy play by the British writer Charles Johnson. The plot revolves around a virtuous wife who tries to mend her husband's rakish ways.

The Play is the Plot is a 1718 comedy play by the British writer John Durant Breval.

A Woman's Revenge, or a Match in Newgate is a 1715 comedy play by the British writer Christopher Bullock. It was originally performed as an afterpiece to another work The Lucky Prodigal. With its Newgate Prison setting and cynical references to corruption, it could be regarded as a precursor to John Gay's hit The Beggar's Opera of a decade later.

Woman Is a Riddle is a 1716 comedy play by the British actor Christopher Bullock. Sometimes its title is written as A Woman Is a Riddle.

Hob's Wedding is a 1720 farce by the Irish writer John Leigh.

Hanging and Marriage is a 1722 farce by the British writer Henry Carey. Written as an afterpiece it premiered at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre accompanying a revival of Dryden's The Spanish Friar.

The City Ramble is a 1711 comedy play by the British writer Elkanah Settle. It should not be confused with the 1715 play A City Ramble.

Everybody Mistaken is a 1716 comedy play by the British writer William Taverner. The title is also written as Every Body Mistaken. A farce, it is a reworking of The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.

Adventures in Madrid or The Adventures in Madrid is a 1706 comedy play by the English writer Mary Pix. It was her final staged work.

The Contrivances is a 1715 comedy play by the British writer Henry Carey. A farce, it produced was an afterpiece to follow on from a revival of Bonduca.

<i>The Double Gallant</i> 1707 play

The Double Gallant is a 1707 comedy play by the British writer Colley Cibber.

<i>The Rival Fools</i> 1709 play

The Rival Fools is a 1709 comedy play by the British writer Colley Cibber. It drew inspiration from the earlier play Wit at Several Weapons. Despite Cibber's previous record of turning out hits, it was not a great success.

Appius and Virginia is a 1709 tragedy by the British writer John Dennis. It was a distinct reworking by Dennis of an older play of the same title by John Webster. It was not a particular success on its debut. It became best known for Dennis' use of an innovative new technique to imitate the sound of thunder. When Dennis' play was taken off and a revival of Macbeth put off, he was angered when he attended a performance and discovered they were using his thunder machine, reportedly exclaiming "they will not let my play run, and yet they steal my thunder". This gave rise to the expression "stealing thunder".

The Massacre of Paris is a 1689 tragedy by the English writer Nathaniel Lee. It was first staged by the United Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It is based around the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day massacre which led the killing of many Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion. The events had previously been portrayed in Christopher Marlowe's Elizabethan play The Massacre at Paris.

The Lying Lover; Or, The Lady's Friendship is a 1703 comedy play by the Irish writer Richard Steele. It was his second play, written while he was an army office doing garrison duty in Harwich during the War of the Spanish Succession. It is described as being both a restoration comedy and a sentimental comedy, and marked the transition between the two.

<i>The Campaigners</i> 1698 play

The Campaigners; Or, The Pleasant Adventures At Brussels is a 1698 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by Christopher Rich's Company.

References

  1. Burling p.61
  2. Van Lennep p.386
  3. Van Lennep p.386
  4. Nicoll p.48
  5. Van Lennep p.387-88

Bibliography