Everybody who has seen “The Critic” must have been filled with curiosity to read the Press notices on Mr. Puff’s tragedy “The Spanish Armada.” The following sequel to Sheridan’s comedy embodies some of these.
THE OTHER CRITICS.
Scene.—Dangle’s house. Mr. and Mrs. Dangle, Sneer and Sir Fretful Plagiary discovered discussing the first performance of Puff’s play, which has taken place a week previously. A table is littered with Press cuttings dealing with the event, supplied by the indispensable Romeike.
Sir Fretful Plagiary.
I give you my word, the duel scene was taken wholly from my comedy The Lovers Abandoned—pilfered, egad!
Dangle.
Bless my soul! You don’t say so?
Sir Fretful Plagiary.
And Tilburina’s speech about the “finches of the grove.” ’Twas I first thought of finches, in my tragedy of Antoninus!