*p1773 11 20 cg The Duellist. Parts by: Woodward, Smith, Shuter, Lewis, Wroughton, Kniverton, Quick, Cushing, Miss Miller, Miss Barsanti, Miss Wilde, Miss Pearce, Mrs Kniveton, Miss Valosi, and Mrs Green. With a <i>Prologue</i> and an <i>Epilogue</i>. General Gantlet-Woodward; Capt. Boothby-Smith; Sir Soloman Bauble-Shuter; Counsellor Witmore-Lewis; Lord Lovemore-Wroughton; Governor Mammon-Kniveton; Serjant Nonplus-Quick; Lady Lovemore-Miss Barsanti; Mrs Boothby-Miss Miller; Lady Bauble-Mrs Green; Emelia-Miss Wilde; Mrs Goodwill-Mrs Kniveton; Echo-Miss Valois; Combrush-Miss Pearce; Mactotum-Cushing; With <i>Prologue</i>-Smith; <i>Epilogue</i>-Miss Barsanti (Edition of 1773).*a1773 11 20 cg Thom^as^and Sally. ^As17731023^, but <i>Hornpipe</i>-Miss Besford.*c1773 11 20 cg Mainpiece: A Comedy [by $William Kenrick=] never performed before. [The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for the failure in his Preface to the 1773 edition by reference to the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from the <i>Public Advertiser</i> (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called the <i>Duellist</i> was performed, for the first time, at <i>Covent Garden Theatre</i>. Previous to the curtain being drawn up, the following written handbill was dispersed about the house. '$Mr Macklin= has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last they have succeeded so far in their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this theatre, and thereby have deprived him of the means of a livelihood; therefore if the public have any spirit, they will not suffer the new play to begin till $Mr Colman= promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into the green-room, and had a very visible effect on the performers, as was plainly evident from their confusion. The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by the general applause of the audience. The overture to <i>Thomas and Sally</i> being attended to with silence, the greatest part of the author's friends quitted the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in the gallery, a riot ensued, and the entertainment was not suffered to go on till another play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account, then analyses several other objections which he dismisses, to wit, in the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in <i>Latin</i> (omitted from the printed version); in the audience, a conspiracy of $Garrick= and $Bickerstaffe= against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book).