''The Note of Hand, or Trip to Newmarket'' is a 1774 comedy play by the British writer

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) (1631–1718), bishop, philosopher * Richard Cumberland (dramatist) (1732–1811), civil servant, dramatist * Richard Cumberland (priest) (1710–1737), Archdeacon of Northa ...

. A

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity o ...

it was the final play performed by

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1717 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil and friend of Sa ...

at the

Drury Lane Theatre The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Drur ...

before his retirement. The play mocked some of the leading Whig politicians of the era such as Charles Fox and the

Duke of Devonshire Duke of Devonshire is a title in the Peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This (now the senior) branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the wealthiest British aristocratic families since the 16th century and has be ...

. This may have been the cause of Cumberland's dispute with Richard Brinsley Sheridan who was a Whig.Mudford p.180 Sheridan went on to create a character closely based on Cumberland in the 1779 play '' The Critic''.

References

Bibliography

* Mudford, William. ''The Life of Richard Cumberland''. Sherwood, Neely & Jones, 1812. * Nicoll, Allardyce. ''A History of English Drama 1660-1900. Volume III: Late Eighteenth Century Drama''. Cambridge University Press, 1952. Plays by Richard Cumberland 1774 plays {{18thC-play-stub