05 March 1772
Event Information
Theatre:
Covent Garden
Theatrical Season:
1771-1772
Volume:
4
Comments:
[This New Comedy (by Mrs Elizabeth Griffith) seems not to have been performed this night, according to the author's Preface to her Edition of 1772. Shuter had been unattentive and absent from many rehearsals]: At length though late [in the season] a day was appointed for the representation, and on that morning Mr Shuter appeared at rehearsal, pretty much in the same state as before, and confessed himself incapable of performing his part, that night. Upon which the play was oblig'd to be further postponed, and handbills were sent about at noon, to advertise town of the disappointment....A further final day was afterwards determined on, but the audience being out of humour at their former disappointment, called Mr Shuter to account for it, on his first appearance; which threw him into such confusion, that he was not able to get the better of it, throughtout the whole performance...in the hurry of his spirits the actor not only forgot his part, the deficiency of which he endeavoured to supply with his own dialect, but also seemed to lose all idea of the character he was to perform; and made the Governor appear in a light which the author never intended: that of a mean, ridiculous buffoon. [Mrs Griffith concluded her preface by relating how her friends stood by the piece, but two or three in the gallery, when it was given out again objected and threw an apple at the chandeliers, which so perturbed the management that the play was withdrawn. She therefore published it by subscription, prefixing the names of about 440 subscribers, persons of the first quality, including James Boswell, Edmund Burke, Col. Burgoyne, the Duke of Devonshire, David Garrick, Mrs Montague, William Richardson, and a host of writers, players, and people of fashion. This list provides a pretty good roster of those who filled the boxes and part of the pit of both theatres at the time.] Paid Younger #2 2s. for the license for A Wife in the Right (Account Book). Receipts: #218 12s. (Account Book)
Performance List
Mainpiece
Title:
A Wife In The Right
Comments:
parts by Smith, Shuter, Bensley, Quick, Kniveton, Morris, Wignell, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, Mrs Gardner, Miss Miller. Prologue and Epilogue. Lord Seaton-Smith; Col. Ramsay-Bensley; Governor Anderson-Shuter; Bull-Quick; Squeezem-Kniveton; Varnish-Morris; Nicholas-Wignell; Lady Seaton-Miss Miller; Mrs Frankly-Mrs Mattocks; Miss Melville-Mrs Bulkley; Mrs Markam-Mrs Green; Lucy-Mrs Gardner; Prologue-Mrs Bulkley; Epilogue-Mrs Mattocks (Edition of 1772).
parts by Smith, Shuter, Bensley, Quick, Kniveton, Morris, Wignell, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, Mrs Gardner, Miss Miller. Prologue and Epilogue. Lord Seaton-Smith; Col. Ramsay-Bensley; Governor Anderson-Shuter; Bull-Quick; Squeezem-Kniveton; Varnish-Morris; Nicholas-Wignell; Lady Seaton-Miss Miller; Mrs Frankly-Mrs Mattocks; Miss Melville-Mrs Bulkley; Mrs Markam-Mrs Green; Lucy-Mrs Gardner; Prologue-Mrs Bulkley; Epilogue-Mrs Mattocks (Edition of 1772).
Cast:
- Role: Lord Seaton Actor: Smith
- Role: Ramsay Actor: Bensley
- Role: Governor Anderson Actor: Shuter
- Role: Bull Actor: Quick
- Role: Squeezem Actor: Kniveton
- Role: Varnish Actor: Morris
- Role: Nicholas Actor: Wignell
- Role: Lady Seaton Actor: Miss Miller
- Role: Mrs Frankly Actor: Mrs Mattocks
- Role: Miss Melville Actor: Mrs Bulkley
- Role: Mrs Markam Actor: Mrs Green
- Role: Lucy Actor: Mrs Gardner
- Role: Prologue Actor: Mrs Bulkley
- Role: Epilogue Actor: Mrs Mattocks
Afterpiece
Title:
The Intriguing Chambermaid
Comments:
As17711011.
As17711011.
Cast:
- Role: Drunken Col. Actor: Yates
- Role: Goodall Actor: Dunstall
- Role: Oldcastle Actor: Quick
- Role: Charlotte Actor: Miss Helme
- Role: Mrs Highman Actor: Mrs Ferguson
- Role: Lettice Actor: Mrs Green.