Event Comment: Bills were put up for a
Word to the Wise. As soon as the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing
Mr Garrick went on the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but
Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to the Wise & the other Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy them. at Length the House was dismiss'd about Nine O'Clock (
Hopkins Diary). A Word to the Wise, Damn'd (
Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said the author was willing to withdraw his play, but then the party for Kelly [opposed by the
Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so: they insisted on the play, the other that it should not be, etc.; the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for the new play and the other against it. When
King came on, being called to speak the
prologue, the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him. The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst the rest, and had our money returned.
Parson Horne [
Horne Tooke] there but did not interfere, tho'at the bottom of it (
John Baker, Diary, p. 189)