Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by
James Cobb. Text 1st published (unauthorized),
Dublin [1790].
Sga Storace had 1st appeared in concerts from 1774 to 1778,
and at
king's on 24 Apr. 1787
and thereafter]: With new Scenes, Dresses
and Decorations.
The new Music composed by
Storace,
the rest compiled from
Linley? Sen.,
Purcell,
Sarti,
Paisiello,
Martin y Soler?,
Pleyel, &c.
The Scenes designed
and executed by
Greenwood. Books of
the Songs to be had at
the Theatre. "In her own particular line on
the stage [Sga Storace] was unrivalled, being an excellent actress, as well as a masterly singer. She settled entirely in
England,
and after quitting
the opera (to which she was frequently recalled in times of distress, as was too often
the case), she engaged at
Drury Lane, where
the English opera was raised to an excellence not known before, by her singing, with that of
Mrs Crouch,
Mrs Bland,
Kelly,
and Bannister,
and under
the direction of her bro
ther
Stephen Storace, who composed, or ra
ther compiled, several very pretty operas, of which
the Haunted Tower,
and the Siege of Belgrade still remain favorites,
and are frequently performed" (
Mount-Edgcumbe, 65). Account-Book, 4 Jan. 1790: Paid Cobb on Acct. of
the Purchase of
the Copyright of
the Haunted Tower #157 10s.; 27 Feb. 1790: Paid Cobb in full for Copyright #52 10s. Receipts: #219 9s. 6d. (200.13.0; 17.14.6; 1.2.0)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Haunted Tower
Performance Comment: [Characters-Kelly, Baddeley, Moody, Suett, Dignum, Sedgwick, Whitfield, Williames, Bannister Jun.; Sga Storace (1st appearance on the English stage i.e. in a speaking part]), Miss Romanzini, Mrs Booth, Mrs Crouch. [Cast from Songs (J. Jarvis, 1789): Lord William-Kelly; Baron of Oakland-Baddeley; Hugo-Moody; Lewis-Suett; Robert-Dignum; Charles-Sedgwick; De Courcy-Whitfield; Martin-Williames; Edward-Bannister Jun.; Hubert-Webb; Servant-Lyons; Adela-Sga Storace; Cicely-Miss Romanzini; Maud-Mrs Booth; Lady Elinor-Mrs Crouch.Afterpiece Title: The Miller of Mansfield
Performance Comment: The King-Whitfield; Richard-R. Palmer; Joe (with a song)-Williames; Lord Lurewell-Benson; The Miller-Moody; Kate-Mrs Wilson; Peggy-Miss Collins; Margery-Mrs Hopkins [Public Advertiser: Mrs Booth].Public Advertiser: Mrs Booth].