The Temple Beau is a play by Henry Fielding. It was first performed on January 26, 1730, at Goodman's Fields after it was rejected by the Theatre Royal. The play, well received at Goodman's Fields, depicts a young law student forsaking his studies for pleasure. By portraying hypocrisy in a comedic manner, Fielding shifts his focus from a discussion of love and lovers.
The play's relative success when compared to other plays at Goodman's Fields was in part caused by the relative freedom granted by Goodman's Fields, though the play was not dramatically different from Fielding's first play, Love in Several Masques. No contemporary reviews exist, but modern critics pointed to a general improvement in Fielding's play writing though it still had several noticeable weaknesses.
Read more about The Temple Beau: Background, Cast, Plot, Themes, Critical Response
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