Out with the old...

Members of the older generation in Etherege's play occasionally reference the "old" way of doing things, as opposed to the "new" -- in fashion, courting, dancing, etc. Given that The Man of Mode was staged in 1676, is it feasible to read these references as capturing a lingering nostalgia for pre-war styles, or are they merely generational markers? Considering the ongoing popularity of adaptations and "improvements" of pre-war plays, was there a palpable sense of historical divide in the theatre of the 1670s?