Event Comment: "At
the conclusion of
the Opera on Saturday, a scene of riot and tumult took place which
the King's Theatre has not witnessed since
the celebrated discords between 'Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee' in
the days of
Handel and
Bononcini. At
the commencement of
the last dance hostilities commenced by hissing and hooting from
the pit and boxes...
The dancers, however, were not dismayed, but continued
their evolutions, though
the noise was so
great that
they derived but little aid from
the music. At last a body of malcontents, among whom were several stars and ribbons, sallied from
the pit and took possession of
the stage, from which
they drove
the light-heeled troops, and immediately began to perform a ballet tragique.
The chamber of
Ifigenia was despoiled of all its ornaments, and side scenes, and patent lamps; Roman tents and triumphal cars danced on
the stage in all
the mazes of confusion, nor did
they cease, till
they had demolished everything
they found that was moveable.
Mr Carnevale came forward to inform
the audience that
Mr Gallini could not be found...
The ostensible reason given for this riot, which in our opinion is not to be justified on any pretense, is that Mr Gallini has not engaged dancers of sufficient eminence" (
Public Advertiser, 10 Feb.)