A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME, CAST OF THE
CHARACTERS, SIDES OF ENTRANCE AND EXIT,
RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORMERS
ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE
STAGE BUSINESS,

AS NOW PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRES-ROYAL, LONDON.

Embellished with a Wood Engraving, from an original Drawing made expressly for this Work, by Mr. I. R. CRUIKSHANK, and executed by Mr. WHITE.

London:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY T. DOLBY, BRITANNIA
PRESS, 17, CATHERINE-STREET, STRAND;
AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1824.

Price Sixpence.

REMARKS.

The Tempest is the production of a poet, for the entertainment of poets. Dull matter-of-fact readers, as well as those who look for probabilities and unities, may save their precious time by not looking at The Tempest. It is a treat for those who can accompany Ariel in his boundless flights, whose imagina tions can create rugged and stupendous caverns, who can even create sounds, as well as visible objects, and enjoy a chorus of human and supernatural voices, accompanied by the pealing surges of a raging

ocean.

Dryden's introduction of mere human agency does not render the play less imaginative than it was. Once touched with the magic wand of the divine Shakspeare, the whole becomes a scene of enchantment. The admiration of the audience is most powerfully excited by the charms of music and the wild grandeur of scenery, and that appears to have been the author's only object in writing the play.

Costume.

PROSPERO.-Long green velvet tunic, slightly trimmed with orange binding, and a row of brass buttons entirely down the front; mantle with light Grecian border; flesh legs and sandals, iron-grey hairs; gold foil band round head.

HIPOLITO..-Crimson tunic, trimmed with blue and silver; white pantaloons, trimmed down seams with blue silk ribbon and silver buttons; red Morocco boots, cap to match tunic, and feathers.

ALONZO.---Crimson velvet shape, with gold leather and span. gles; large crimson robe, trimmed with ermine.

ANTONIO.---Black velvet shape, trimmed with scarlet silk, and gold spangles; white silk pantaloons, and russet boots; black velvet hat and feathers.

GONZALO.---Black velvet shape, trimmed with gold leather, and spangles; white stocking pantaloons, and russet boots.

CALIBAN.---Entire dress of goat's skin; long claws on the fingers; very dark flesh legs; the hair long, wild, and ragged.

FERDINAND.---Black velvet tunic, with scarlet trimming, ornamented with gold spangled clasps; white pantaloons, trimmed down the seams with gold.

STEPHANO.---Scarlet striped shirt; blue jacket without sleeves; duck petticoat trousers, and russet shoes.

TRINCULO.---As Motley in Castle Spectre. Parti-coloured shape of yellow, blue, and red; on the right leg an orange-coloured stocking, and a blue one on the left leg russet shoes.

:

ARIEL.Flesh arms and legs; white shirt, showered with silver stars and spangles; light blue drapery; the entire dress richly ornamented with paste.

MIRANDA and DORINDA.---White dress, trimmed with several rows of scarlet ribbon round bottom; large mantle of leopard-skin pattern; coral ornaments round head, waist, arms, &c.