Event Comment: New
Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by
Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits
and Decorations. The Scenes designed by
DeLoutherberg,
and painted by Messrs
French</a>, Royer,
and Greenwood. Books of the songs
and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause.
Mrs Abington played finely--
Mr Slingsby &
Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Gr
and (
Hopkins Diary). [
MacMillan's note from
Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.;
J. French</a> on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the
Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot,
and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several
characteristic airs,
and elegant dances,
Mr Oldworth...proclaims
Maria his only daughter
and gives her to
Sir Harry. After a dance of
Cupids,
Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the
Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to whi
ch by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union,
and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville,
and a gr
and dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders
and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, whi
ch as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)