'Edward Ravenscroft' (
1654?–
1707),
English dramatist, belonged to an ancient
Flintshire family.
He was entered at the
Middle Temple, but devoted his attention mainly to literature. Among his pieces are
★ ''
Mamamouchi'', or ''The Citizen turned Gentleman'' (
Dorset Garden, 1671, pr. 1675)
★ ''
The Careless Lovers'' (Dorset Garden, 1673, pr. 1673), a comedy of intrigue
★ ''
Scaramouch a Philosopher'', ''
Harlequin a Schoolboy'', ''
Bravo a Merchant and Magician'' (
Theatre Royal, 1677)
★ ''
English Lawyer'' (Theatre Royal, 1678), an adaptation of
George Ruggle's
Latin play of ''
Ignoramus'', presented before
James I at
Cambridge in March 1615;
★ ''
The London Cuckold'' (Dorset Garden, 1683), which became a stock piece, but was struck out of the repertory by
David Garrick in 1751
★ ''
The Italian Husband'' (
Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1697).
He wrote in all twelve plays, in which he adapted freely from
Molière and others, confessing on one occasion that he but winnowed
Shakespeare's corn. He ventured to decry the heroic drama, and
John Dryden retaliated by satirizing his ''Mamamouchi'', a foolish adaptation from Molière's ''
Bourgeois Gentilhomme'' and ''
Monsieur de Pourceaugnac'', in the prologue to the ''
Assignation'' (Dryden, Works, ed. Scott, iv. 345 seq.)
References
★