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No. LX.

SIMPSON AND CO.

A Comedy

IN TWO ACTS.

BY JOHN POOLE.

ALSO THE STAGE BUSINESS, CASTS OF CHARACTERS COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETC.

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The Costumes are those of the present day, Mr. Simpson wearing a plain gray or brown suit.

EXITS AND ENTRANCES.

R. means Right; L. Left; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door, S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door

RELATIVE POSITIONS.

R., means Right; L., Left; C., Centre; R. C., Right of Centre' L. C. Left of Centre.

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION.

H13 sterling little comedy, from the pen of Poole, has kept session of the stage for the last twenty-five years, and from intrinsic excellence, is entitled to a place in the "Modern andard Drama."

It has been said by an able critic of the day, that "we are ficient in comedy, because we are without characters in real e." Society has certainly become so fused in its character, at an uniform phase is outwardly presented to the world. Our guiar points wear off by attrition; and individual eccentricies are now less prominent, than in the days when our early omic writers found such ample materials for their imperishable works. There are, doubtless, less subjects afforded for the dislay of strong and marked characters on the stage, in this age of refinement and intellectual progress, than were presented when the grades of society were more distinctly separated, and each class furnished specimens which the skilful dramatist could convert into a source of infinite entertainment to his audiences. And yet the author of "Simpson & Co." has contrived to sclect from the ordinary walks of society a few characters of an entirely common-place character, and by the aid of elegant and sprightly language, dramatic incidents, and humorous situations, to produce a piece that invariably amuses an audience, and is likely to maintain its position on the stage, as long as genuine comic humour is relished by the public.

The original cast of this comedy combined the talents of Terry, John Cooper, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Davidson, Mrs. W West, and Mrs. Orger-all artists, in that sense of the term in which only it should be used; and the long career of success the piece experienced on its first production at Drury Lane, may in

great measure be attributed to the individual excel ences of these distinguished performers.

We have lately seen two excellent casts of Simpson & Co. in this city-at the Park and at Palmo's: Bass. at the Park, gave great unction and effect to Mr. Simpson, while Mrs. Ver non was equally rich in her delineation of his jealous helpmate Dyott and Mrs. Abbott were also above mediocrity as Mr. and Mrs. Bromley. At Palmo's nearly the same cast was presented Mr. W. B. Chapman being the Mr. Simpson, a part that is ad mirably adapted to his peculiar quaint and truly comic style The piece had a run of several nights, and drew forth as hearty peals of laughter and applause, as, perhaps, ever greeted its re presentation with its originally powerful cast.

H.

SIMPSON AND CO.

ACT I.

CENE I.—A Handsome Apartment in the House of Simpson and Co.

BROMLEY discovered at a table, writing.

Brom. [Laying down his pen.] Ought I to pursue this dventure? If I proceed, the destruction of my wife's appiness and my own may-psha! under my assumed ame of Captain Walsingham, what have I to fear? I'll nish my letter, though, like the others, it may be returnd, or unnoticed. [Writes.] " And rely on the entire and ternal devotion of your adorer, Charles WalsinganNew Hummums." [Folding it.] Charles Bromley, of Mincing-lane, merchant, partner in the house of Simpson & Co., and married, transformed into Captain Walsingham! [Directing the letter.] "To Mrs. Fitzallan, Harley street." [Seals it.] There! [Rises and comes forward.] There's a fatality in this wild adventure! Charmed by a beauty in an opera box, I dog her carriage, and learn that she is a Mrs. Fitzallan, widow of an officer lately dead in India. Under pretext of arranging some business for her, in which I find she is concerned with the India Company, I call on this Mrs. Fitzallan-am cursed coldly received by Mrs. Fitzallan; call again, and am completely cut by Mrs. Fitzallan; make my bow, and resolve to think no more of Mrs. Fitzallan; stroll into the Exhibition, and the first portrait I see is that of the lovely Mrs. Fitzallan! I contrive to get a miniature copy of the portrait, and conceal it by a secret slide in my pocket

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