Imagine, if you can, an early 18th century English audience not in the mood for Shakespeare, the sitting Poet Laureate, or anything so heavy. Cricket match is rained out and Bedlam is closed for renovation. These folk just want to stroll down to the local corner playhouse on half-price Wednesday, pick up a cheap bottle of wine and some greasy chips and have a nice chortle, cahoot, yuk, etc.
They would be splendidly satisfied if the The Clandestine Marriage were playing that evening. No long soliloquies, preachy speeches or inside jokes. No heroes or sympathetic characters. No daggers, evil motives or dastardly rogues. Indeed, there are no characters in this amusing farce that are much better or worse than another. Just an amusing comedy about pretensions, human nature and anxieties. If you can't have a good time with it, thou best lighten up,
They would be splendidly satisfied if the The Clandestine Marriage were playing that evening. No long soliloquies, preachy speeches or inside jokes. No heroes or sympathetic characters. No daggers, evil motives or dastardly rogues. Indeed, there are no characters in this amusing farce that are much better or worse than another. Just an amusing comedy about pretensions, human nature and anxieties. If you can't have a good time with it, thou best lighten up,