Event Comment: Alexander the Great? [announced on playbill of 4 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred. [The playbill lists
Mrs Yates as
Lady Townly, but see following note.
Miss Younge's name appears in all subsequent playbills, except on 19 Dec.]
Alexander was advertised for this Night, but
Lacy being hoarse, who was to have played
Alexander, it was obliged to be deferred, and this Play substituted. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock at (Night) before we got it settled.
Mr. Sheridan ordered me not to send to
Mrs. Yates about (it) till the Morning. About eight o'clock I sent her Notice that the
Provoked Husband was to be performed at Night. A little after nine, she sent Word by her Niece that she was never so ill treated in her life, that she was never before asked to play on the fifth of November [which day was traditionally set aside for the acting of
Tamerlane], that she would not play Lady Townly that Night, nor would she play any more; and if she had an Inclination to play, she had no Cloaths ready to play it in; and sent back the Part of
Semiramis in a new Tragedy that was preparing [see 16 Nov., 14 Dec.]. I got
Miss Younge to do Lady Townly, and an Apology was made by
Packer that
Mrs Yates having refused this Morning to do Lady Townly,
Miss Younge at a Minutes' Notice undertook to do it.
Miss Younge was much applauded and Yates had a few hisses (
Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #179 11s. 6d