Doctor Bolus: a serio-comic-bombastic-operatic interlude: in one act .. To which is added a prologue / By George Daniel.

  • George Daniel
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Doctor Bolus: a serio-comic-bombastic-operatic interlude: in one act .. To which is added a prologue / By George Daniel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    REMARKS. It would be impossible to judge by any dramatic rule, ancient, or modern, so oiltre a species of composition, as a mock tragedy ; Kings, Queens, and Maids of Honour, in¬ triguing and tippling, killing each other one moment, and coming to life again the next, must, to all intents and purposes, like Garrick’s Ode to Shakspeare, be said to defy criticism” Such being the dramatis personae of “ Doctor Bolus,” we must be excused from entering into any minute examination of a piece altogether so heteroge¬ neous. The author’s intent and aim were evidently to produce a hearty laugh ; and, independent of any other merit that may possibly attach to this piece, it is fairly entitled to that of having fully answered the purpose intended. “ Tom Thumb,” •&,<, originally written by Field¬ ing, though'’extremely entertaining in the closet, would be wanting in effect upon the Stage : tragic parodies, however ludicrously conceived, and excellently represented, are not sufficiently palpable for a modern audience: the joke must be more apparent and picquant, it must be an absolute clencher, to excite universal risibility. It is therefore to the genius of Kane O’Hara, who transformed “ Tom Thumb” into ?iBurletta^ that it owes its great popularity. Comic words, adapted to serious music, produce an instan¬ taneous effect. Parody never conceived a happier burlesque (as regards performance) than “ Hope told a flattering tale.” The author of “ Doctor Bolus,” following the example of O’Hara, has enlivened his piece with various musical parodies ; and that his judgment was correct, as far as relates to public opinion, the effect they produced, aided by the powerful talents of the performers, renders sufficiently apparent. Although acknowledged disciples of Democritus, we will not go so far as, to declare, that a mock tragedy is as good as. a real one : yet who is prepared to say, that the latter, in the dog-days, would not be a most oppressive infliction ? Laughter, in summer time, comes as naturally to us, as sunshine and flowers ; the tree of mirth is then in full bearing, and fun becomes as plenty as blackberries ; A 3
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