Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered from his The Banditti (see 28 Nov. 1781). Text in his Dramatic Works, Vol. 1 (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: With new Scenes [by Carver (O'Keeffe, u, 38)], Dresses, and a new Overture. The Selected Airs by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan, the Irish Bard. The Overture and New Airs composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [This was Sga Sestini's 1st appearance on the English-speaking stage. For several preceding seasons she had been a member of the Italian opera company performing at the King's.] "Sestini . . . was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs. Yet she was . . . long a favourite with the mass of the public, though not with the connoisseurs" (Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 33). Account-Book, 30 June 1783: Paid O'Keeffe in full for The Castle of Andalusia #368 18s. 6d. Receipts: #166 2s. 6d. (165/9/0; 0/13/6)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Castle Of Andalusia
Performance Comment: Principal Characters by Mattocks, Reinhold, Quick, Edwin, Wilson, Brett, Fearon, Stevens, Davies, Thompson, Mahon; Miss Harper, Mrs Kennedy, Mrs Wilson, Miss Platt, Sga Sestini (1st appearance on the English stage). [Cast from Songs (T. Cadell, 1782): Don Fernando [in later seasons, usually Ferdinand]-Mattocks; Ramirez [beginning with season of 1787-88 called Don Caesar]-Reinhold; Spado-Quick; Pedrillo-Edwin; Don Scipio-Wilson; Philippo-Brett; Don Juan-Fearon; Vasquez-Stevens; Rapino-Davies; Calvette-Thompson; Sanguino-Mahon; Lopez-Ledger; Don Alphonso-Mrs Kennedy; Victoria-Miss Harper; Catalina-Mrs Wilson; Dame Isabel-Miss Platt; Lorenza-Sga Sestini.] hathi. hathi.Afterpiece Title: Cross Purposes