Event Comment: A New Panto
mime of
Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (
Hopkins Diary).
Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and
Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.;
Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.;
Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.;
Dr Arne for
Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Panto
mime is given in the
Westminster Magazine (January 1773):
Harlequin born to the
Pigmies co
mes to
manhood, gets a job fro
m the
Register Office in a Noble
man's fa
mily where he
meets
Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in
London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "So
me of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of
Mr Dibdin's
music deserves equal praise." In it
Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous i
mitation of
Miss Catley's
manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preli
minary nu
mber, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage see
ms now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous panto
mimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)