Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Lord Lumbcrcourt to Wilson, but "Lee Lewes was the substitute for Wilson, and far indeed better than the man he appeared for" (Public Advertiser, 31 Jan.).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'KeerFe]: The Music composed by Shield. The Scenery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and others. The 1st Part of this Pantomime is an Alteration of the Last New One [Friar Bacon (see 23 Dec. 1783)], and the 2nd Part entirely new and never before exhibited. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. "If Macklin once loses the Catch Word he is gone irretrievably." At the end of the 3rd act, at half price, some apprentices coming into the pit talked so loudly that "Macklin stopped; he lost himself. ... He came to the Side of the Stage, and stooping down to the Talkers, said, 'Gentlemen, I must beg you to be silent; my Hearing and Recollection are not so perfect as they were; I cannot proceed for your Talking'" (Public Advertiser, 5 Feb.). Receipts: #286 14s. (282/15; 3/19)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Man Of The World
Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Rambler; or, The Convent in an Uproar
Performance Comment: Harlequin-Chalmers; Sea Captain-Bannister; Friar Bacon-Davies; Father-Fearon; Friar Bungy-Darley; Clown-Stevens; Sportsmen-Mahon, Booth; Hunchback Barber-Edwin; Abbess-Mrs Templeton; Mother-Mrs White; Waiting Woman-Mlle Semini; Columbine-Mlle Bithmere. Musical and Other Characters by Johnstone, Thompson, Doyle, Rayner, Jones, Helme, Bates, Ledger, Painter; Mrs Morton, Miss Stuart, Mrs Davenett, Mrs Martyr. The Lilliputians, Blefuscudians and Brobdignagians by New Performers . Mrs Morton, Miss Stuart, Mrs Davenett, Mrs Martyr. The Lilliputians, Blefuscudians and Brobdignagians by New Performers .