Event Comment: ["The Play to-night was to have been
The Confederacy, by Desire of the
Duchess of Leinster, with
The Spoiled Child (both advertised on playbill of 7 May), for
Mrs Jordan's benefit...but she suspecting the House would be thin, pretended to be ill, would not act" (
Kemble Mem.). "
Love for Love (announced in playbill of this present night) and The Spoiled Child were deferred on account of the indisposition of Mrs Jordan, and
The West Indian and
The Island of St. Marguerite substituted...
Aickin and
Packer...could not be met with, and no other means of presenting The West Indian remained than Messrs
Williames and
Maddocks being permitted to read the parts of
Stockwell and
Capt. Dudley. This the audience refused to comply with, and insisted on having their money returned, which was at last done. The pit was cleared, not even one person remaining; but during the second act, four people came in...About thirty stayed in the boxes, and not a sufficient number to fill the front rows in the galleries...The West Indian, with two parts in it read, and a house thus uncomfortably thin, dragged dismally through the three first acts. The half-price produced considerable amendment in the appearance of the house" (
London Chronicle, 10 May).] Receipts: #45 0s. 6d. (11.13.0; 32.5.0; 1.2.6)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The West Indian
Afterpiece Title: The Island of St