The Town Fop
by Aphra Behn
Financially based on George Wilkins' popular play "The Poverty of Forced Marriage". Timothy himself was shaped to some extent by Sir Francis Ilford, but as Genest aptly points out, he can be considered a new character. In the old drama, Claire, the original Selinda, tragically dies of a broken heart. There's no denying that Ben greatly improved Wilkins' scenes. Betty Fluntite's well-painted character is her own, and realistically vivid episodes of Curtain IV's bagnio replace a not-so-interesting or vibrant tavern with a significant commitment to wit and humor, perhaps not rigid ownership.
