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''Love in Several Masques'', a play by Henry Fielding, was first performed on 16 February 1728 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The moderately received play comically depicts three lovers trying to pursue their individual beloveds. The beloveds require their lovers to meet their various demands, which serves as a means for Fielding to introduce his personal feelings on morality and virtue. In addition, Fielding introduces criticism of women and society in general. The play marks Fielding's early approach to theatre and how he begins to create his own take on tradition 18th-century theatre conventions. Critics have emphasised little beyond how the play serves as Fielding's first play among many. The possible sources of the play including a possible failed pursuit of a lover by Fielding, or the beginnings of Fielding's reliance on the topic of gender, identity, and social ethics. ==Background== ''Love in Several Masques'' was Fielding's first play. It was advertised on 15 January 1728 in the ''London Evening Post'' and first ran on 16 February 1728 at the Theatre Royal. Performances were held on 17, 19 and 20 February, with the third night being the author's benefit. The play was never revived.〔Fielding 2004 p. 9〕 The cast included four members among some of the most talented of the Theatre Royal actors. Although it only ran for four nights, this was a great feat because John Gay's popular ''The Beggar's Opera'' was performed during the same time and dominated the theatrical community during its run.〔Rivero 1989 pp. 6–7〕 It was first printed on 23 February 1728 by John Watts, and a Dublin edition appeared in 1728. The play was later collected by John Watts in the 1742 and 1745 ''Dramatick Works'' and by Andrew Millar in the 1755 edition of Fielding's works. It was later translated and printed in German as ''Lieb unter verschiedenen Larven'' in 1759.〔Fielding 2004 pp. 10–14〕 Most of the information on the play and its run is known because of Fielding's preface in the printed edition of the play. The printed ''Love in Several Masques'' is dedicated "To the Right Honourable the Lady Mary Wortley Montague", his cousin. It is probable that she read the original draft of the play, which is alluded to in the dedication.〔Hume 1988 pp. 29–30〕 Information on her reading the draft comes from a letter written in approximately September 1727.〔Battesin 1989 pp. 246–248〕 In the letter, Fielding writes: The play was completed during September 1727 and it was listed in the ''British Journal'' of 23 September 1727 as being scheduled. There is little information on Fielding's editing of the work, and none to support that anyone suggested corrections except Anne Oldfield, who he thanked in the Preface for supplying corrections. The prologue, dedication, and preface were probably composed during January or February 1728, with the dedication and preface most likely composed between the last nights of the show, 20 and 21 February, and its publication, 23 February.〔Fielding 2004 pp. 2–4〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Love in Several Masques」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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