Event Comment: [For
Cross' comment, see dl.] Receipts: #203 8s. 6d. Paid
Barry one third of the surplus of this night's receipt over and above #80 allow'd for the charges:-#41 2s. 10s. Paid
Lambert (Scene Painter) 3 month's salary to 16 Nov. last:-#25 (Account Book). [
Lee, who seems to have entered earlier on a percentage-of-Box-Receipts: basis for his salary, received only one-third of receipts above a house charge of #100.] The Tragedy of
King Lear was presented on this stage;
King Lear by
Mr Barry, and
Cordelia by
Mrs Bellamy; The latter was received with universal satisfaction; but on the former's appearance, after a thundering Peal of Applause, a few misguided persons made it necessary for Mr Barry to inform the audience that it ever had been his study to contribute his utmost to the entertainment of the town, and that all reports of his having been exorbitant in his demands were injurious and totally groundless. Upon this he was desired with one general acclamation to proceed in the play. The disturbers of the public were ordered to be silent or to be turned out of the house; and this great actor proved, by the improvement he has made in this character, that excellent as he is, he is still capable of reaching new strokes of perfection; and in the conclusion of the play the applause he met with was the tribute of hearts gratefully agitated through the whole performance with a variety of passions thrown into a ferment by powers most wonderfully suited to tenderness and compassion (
London Chronicle, 3-6 Dec.)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: King Lear And His Three Daughters
Afterpiece Title: The Virgin Unmask'd
Dance: JJovial Coopers, as17571107