Published: Pioneer, 11 July 1888; Pioneer Mail, 15 July 1888.

Attribution: In Scrapbook 4 (28/4 pp. 72–3).

Text: Pioneer, 11 July 1888.

Notes: An Unequal Match, by Tom Taylor (1817–80), originally performed in London in 1857, was performed at Simla on 6 July 1888. RK wrote of his review of the play: ‘Have attempted a new and slightly audacious form of criticism of The Unequal Match. Instead of writing a laboured review vowing that every one could not have been better I stuck four people into Peliti's balcony and made ‘em talk over the play as they naturally would. I fear, as I said, that the result is slightly acid and I fancy that G. W. A[llen]. won't be over and above anxious to retain me as a dramatic critic’ (to Edmonia Hill [7–8] July 1888: Letters, i, 241). The female lead in the play was taken by Mrs G. W. Allen, wife of the proprietor of the Pioneer.

Reprinted in the Martindell–Ballard pamphlets and in Harbord, iv, 2074–9.

Simla, 8th July.

First Voice.– Two coffees, and two vermouths: and this is the nicest table. Well, what did you thnk of it Mrs. X——?

Second Voice.– Oh de-lightful. Especially the dancing. How could they do it?

Third Voice.– No, no. Not Bluebeard – the Unequal Match last night.

Second Voice.– I didn't go. Was it amusing? I hear that –

Fourth Voice.– If we begin by listening to what we hear, we shall never

finish anything at all. I went, and I thought it would have been much better if it had not been played when it was.

First Voice.– Mrs. Y— is pleased to be oracular. How do you mean?

Fourth Voice.– And yet after all we cannot kick our legs over each other's heads eternally.

Second Voice.– Heaven forbid! It would make me nervous. You think – that it –

First Voice.– Didn't “bite” exactly after Bluebeard. I thought so, too. It's an old play. We played it here six years ago and it was a great success then.

Third Voice.– Before our taste had been vitiated by burlesques I suppose. Poor little Simla!

Second Voice.– Please don't go back to the Dark Ages! I wasn't born then. Mr. —, tell me what it was all about, and Mrs. Y— can tear the actors to pieces afterwards.