In modern times, censorship for satirical lampooning is still in existence, from politicians to moguls and oligarchs. This was still the case in the 1700s, when playwrights were looking to put verbal and visual daggers into powerful leaders they did not agree with or leaders they found hypocritical. Those leaders did not respond with the same kind of tongue-in-cheek humor. Thus, the Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737 came into play to silence these irritating voices.