THE PADLOCK. A COMIC OPERA, In Two Acts. BY ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, d. 1812? = PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS, To which are added, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME,-CAST OF THE CHARACTERS, As now Performed at the THEATRES-ROYAL, LONDON. EMBELLISHED WITH A FINE WOOD ENGRAVING, By Mr. WHITE, from a Drawing by Mr. R. CRUIKSHANK. LONDON: JOHN CUMBERLAND, 19, LUDGATE HILL. > REMARKS. THIS is an amusing trifle, originally produced by Isaac Bickerstaff, but greatly improved by Mr. Dibdin. It was first produced in 1768, and, was so favourably received by the public that it was acted fifty-three nights in the first season. There is nothing in the plot to distinguish The Padlock from many other pieces. It has a beautiful young ward, and an amorous old guardian, who indulges his doating fancies, and is betrayed into a most ridiculous affectation of gallantry. In order to make his fair treasure the more secure, he locks her in his house with a ponderous padlock. Hence the title of the piece. But what can restrain the dazzling lustre of a lady's eyes, or curb the inclinations of a fine girl of eighteen? The young and beautiful Leonora is piously permitted to go to mass, and out of this religious freedom arose Don Diego's disappointment and the lady's deliverance. Leander, a young student of Salamanca, gets a sight of her, and resolves not only to deliver her from her old doating lover, but to secure to himself the lovely object of his enterprise. Hence follow the usual stratagems of iv begging alms, serenading, &c. Finally, all parties, except Don Diego, are made happy; but he, as is usual in such cases, puts the best possible face upon the matter, by joining their hands and wishing them happy. There is some truth, and a great deal of humour, in the characters of Mungo and Ursula. |