Transcription
INTELLIGENCE from the ROYAL GROVE.
Yesterday evening an entirely new, and most splendid spectacle, rural, pastoral, satirical, whimsical, aquatic, rustic, operatical, picturesque, and pantomimical, called “LOVE FROM THE HEART; Or, Trial of Skill for a Wife;” was performed for the first time, and received throughout with a most general and unbounded applause, from a most brilliant and overflowing audience.
The Characters of this nouvelle, and most enchanting Piece, are as follow: The Lord of the Manor, Mr. Hammond; Trout, the Fisherman, Mr. Connell; Grist, the Miller, Mr. Carlo; Ninny, a Clown, Mr. Decastro; Gripe, the Steward, Mr. Fox; Sturdy, a resolute Fellow, Mr. Miller; Umpire of the Sports, Mr. Julien; Rub-a-dub, Crier of the Village, Mr. Wilkinson; Miller’s Man, Mr. Richards; Clodpate, a Countryman, Mr. Johannot; and Theodore, Son of Grist, in love with Rosetta, Mr. Birkitt; First Country Lass, Mrs. Nathan; Second ditto, Mrs, Woodman; Third ditto, Mrs. Reeves; Nanny, a Gardener’s Daughter, Mrs. Henley; and Rosetta, daughter to Trout, in love with Theodore, Mrs. Saunders. Principal Dancing Shepherds, Mr. Ferret, Mrs. Taylor, and Master Crossman. Ditto Shepherdesses, Mrs. Julien, Miss Fuzzi, and Miss Woodman. Dancers and Attendants on the Lord of the Manor, Messrs. Marqui, J. Taylor, Louis, Peter, Massie, Mrs. Stevens, Miss Woodcock, Miss Bilsingham, Miss Hudson, &c. Pantomime Characters attending the Village Sports, or Regatta: Harlequin, Mr. Parsloe; Old Man, Mr. Lawrence; Clown, Mr. Doser; Old Woman, Mr. Nicoud; First Columbine, Mr. Landsdale, Second ditto, Mr. Hangler; Countrymen, Assailants, Boatmen, Flag Bearers, &c. by the rest of the company.
Old Grist, the miller, and Trout, the fisherman, having thir dwellings parted only by a river that runs between them, Theodore, the former’s son, and Rosetta, the latter’s daughter, become enamoured of each other; but Grist, having acquired a great deal of wealth in trade, considers his son as entitled to a better match, and accordingly opposes their marriages. The Lord of the Manor feeling for the situation of the young people, proposes a trial of skill on the water for the fisherman’s daughter, and makes both Grist and Trout agree, that whoever wins the prize shall have Rosetta, with one hundred pounds. In consequence of this, the lads and lasses of the village are summoned by beat of drum, with spears and lances, decorated with ribbons, &c. and a trial of skill takes place on the river. A number of candidates offer themselves on the occasion, but Theodore proves victorious, and obtains Rosetta for his bride.
The incidents, with which this piece abounds, are numerous and mostly happily imagined; and the scenery is grand and superb to a degree, and equal, if not superior, to any thing of the kind ever ex
