The Contrast | Page 3

of professional?actors. Several plays by native authors had been?previously published, the more noteworthy being the?'Prince of Parthia,' a tragedy by Thomas Godfrey?of Philadelphia, which was probably written, and was?offered to Hallam's company in 1759 (but not produced),?and was printed in 1765, two years after the?author's death.<1>
A comedy called the 'Mercenary Match,' by one?Barnabas Bidwell, is said to have been performed by?the students at Yale College, under the auspices of the?Rev. Dr. Ezra Styles, President of the College. Dunlap?speaks of having heard it read, but does not mention?whether it was from a manuscript or printed?copy. It was printed at New Haven in 1785.?The 'Contrast,' however, was the first to meet successfully?the critical judgment and approval of a professional?manager. This fact alone should redeem it?from the neglect and inattention it has heretofore met?with. Besides, it possesses considerable intrinsic merit,?and as an acting play will compare favorably with?many of the English comedies of the period; and?though, perhaps, meager in plot and incident, it is?bright, humorous, and natural; the dialogue is sparkling?with genuine wit; and its satire aimed at the evils and?follies of the time is keen and incisive. The contrast?between the plain and simple honesty of purpose and?breeding of our American home life and the tinseled?though polished hypocrisy and knavery of foreign?fashionable society is finely delineated, and no doubt?suggested the name of the play. Thoroughly natural?in its plan and characters, it was a bold venture of a?young writer in a new literary domain.
The character of Jonathan is a thoroughly original?conception; nothing of the typical Yankee, since so?familiar and popular, had as yet appeared, either on?the stage or in print.
The 'Contrast' was first performed<2> at the John?Street Theater, New-York City, on the 16th of April,?1787, and undoubtedly met with the approval of the?public, as it was repeated on the 18th of April, the 2d?and 12th of May the same season, and was reproduced?with success later at Philadelphia, Baltimore, and?Boston. It was, as far as can be learned, the first literary?effort of its author, a most remarkable genius,?and one of the pioneers in several branches of our literature,?who, up to within a few weeks of its production,?had never attended a theatrical performance.
Royall Tyler, the author of the 'Contrast,' was?born at Boston, Mass., July 18, 1758, and belonged to?one of the wealthiest and most influential families of?New England. He received his early education at?the Latin School, in his native city, graduated at?Harvard, and during the Revolutionary War, and?afterward in Shay's Rebellion, acted as aid-de-camp?with the rank of Major on the staff of General Benjamin?Lincoln. It was owing to the latter event that he?came to New-York, being sent here by Governor Bowdoin?on a diplomatic mission with reference to the?capture of Shay, who had crossed the border line from?Massachusetts into this State. This was the first time?that Tyler had left his native New England, and the?first time he could have seen the inside of a regular?theater, thus confirming the statements made in the?preface of the play as to the author's inexperience in?the rules of the drama, and as to the short time within?which it was written, as his arrival in New-York was?within but a few weeks of its first performance.
Tyler was apparently immediately attracted to the?theater, for he became a constant visitor before and?behind the curtain, and rapidly gained the friendship?of all the performers, particularly that of Wignell, the?low comedian of the company. He gave Wignell the?manuscript of the 'Contrast,' and on the 19th of May,?the same year, produced for that actor's benefit his?second play, 'May-day in Town, or New-York in an?Uproar,' a comic opera in two acts. He shortly afterward?returned to his home at Boston, where, several?years later (1797) another play from his pen, called 'A?Good Spec, or Land in the Moon,' was produced. I?have been unable to ascertain whether either 'Mayday'?or 'A Good Spec' was ever printed or not.
Tyler's modesty or indifference as to his literary reputation,?as evidenced in his treatment of his plays,?characterized his conduct throughout life with respect?to his other works; so that, of the many productions of?his pen that have been printed, the only one that bears?his name upon the title-page is a set of Vermont Law?Reports. And though early in life he acquired among?literary circles a reputation as a witty and graceful?writer of poetry and prose, it is doubtful whether he?benefited much by his writings, either pecuniarily or?in popularity, as an author. They were undoubtedly?the recreation of his leisure moments, and though?they were thrown off from time to time without apparent?effort, they bear internal evidence of being the?result of deep reflection and much reading.<3>
Tyler adopted the legal profession, married, settled?in Vermont, became celebrated as a successful advocate,?was elected a Judge, and later, Chief Justice of?the Supreme Court of Vermont, and died at Brattleboro,?in that State, August 16, 1826.
The success of the 'Contrast' was one of the powerful?influences which aided in bringing about