I read this satire of The Conquest of Granada for Plays, Players, Playgoers: London 1600-1700.
It was pretty interesting to read this back to back. The Rehearsal takes a lot of the elements from The Conquest of Granada, and other heroic plays, and turns them on their side. The results are light and humorous. I believe this might actually be the first MST3K (hahaha). You have Johnson and Smith, two gentleman, enduring a rehearsal of a play by Bayes that often forgoes logic and plot for contrivances and conceits. The effect is quite amusing, as the play gets more and more ridiculous. Characters are introduced for no reason, songs and dances occur randomly, and the similies and metaphors are equally ridiculous.
Overall, a fun time, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who doesn't have a background in Restoration drama, or who hasn't at least read a Dryden heroic play.
Incredibly funny -- quite mad! I wager that I am missing some of the wit, though : I shall read it again after I become acquainted with John Dryden, and then shall savor the burn! Brilliant, however, on its own!
Proud for this play to be my highest rated work read, even if it is because of my own rating! I am not so pleased that it is my least popular read, at zero other people also having shelved it --THIS IS OFFICIAL : I recommend it!!
Shall update my review in the future, with Dryden on the brain!