Note 13 — INTRODUCTION

During the run of this play one Warren, who was Powell’s dresser, claimed a right of lying for his master and performing the dead part of Lothario—about the middle of the scene Powell called for Warren; who as loudly replied from the stage, “Here Sir”—Powell (who was ignorant of the part his man was doing) repeated without loss of time, “Come here this moment you Son of a Whore or I’ll break all the bones in your skin”—Warren knew his hasty temper, and therefore without any reply jumped up with all his sables about him, which unfortunately were tied to the handles of the bier and dragged after him—but this was not all—the laugh and roar began in the audience and frightened poor Warren so much that with the bier at his tail he threw down Calista and overwhelmed her, with the table, lamp, books, bones, &c.—he tugged till he broke off his trammels and made his escape, and the play at once ended with immoderate fits of laughter—Betterton would not suffer The Fair Penitent to be played again, till poor Warren’s misconduct was somewhat forgotten—this story was told to Chetwood by Bowman [Sciolto]—(Genest, II, 281–2). [↩]