Event Comment: A New Comic Opera of Two Acts written by
Mr Bate--Much hissing and Crying out no more no more!--
Mr Reddish was desired to give out the Play as soon as
Matilda was over--but he with his usual politeness ran up and undress'd himself as fast as he could so that the play was not given out till the End of the Farce as soon as the
Blackamoor was given out for the next Night they kept a great Noise and call'd for another Farce to be given out--at length they began to be more appeas'd and went away vowing Vengeance on it the next Night (
Hopkins Diary). The
Overture and Music of the afterpiece entirely New. Books of the Songs &c. to be had at the Theatre. New Scenes, Dresses, &c. [This is
Larpent MS 400.
Sir Oliver Oddfish distrusts his servants and is about to replace them with blacks, giving his nephew the chance to introduce
Frederick , his daughter
Julia 's lover, in disguise as a blackamoor, and to effect an elopement. Act I criticizes
Londoners and concludes with the comment, "O that I should ever live to see the day when
white Englishmen must give place to foreign blacks."
MacMillan's note from
Kemble differs slightly.] Paid the late
Mr Johnston's bill to his executors #44 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Afterpiece reviewed in three columns in the
Westminster Magazine for Feb. Reviewer thought it had been produced well in all departments, music, scenery, costume, and acting, but concluded it a theatrical trifle giving not much credit to its author.] Receipts: #166 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)