Event Comment: By Command of
their Majesties. [This seems to be the night referred to by
The Volunteer Manager in
Theatrical Review of 1 January 1763 who condemns
Miss Poitier's scandalous costume and indelicate actions: "Would any person suppose she could have the confidence to appear with her bosom so scandalously bare, that to use the expression of a public writer, who took some moderate notice of the circumstance, the breast hung flabbing over a pair of stays cut remarkably low, like a couple of empty bladders in an oil-shop. One thing the author of that letter has omitted, which, if possible is still more gross; and that is, in the course of
Miss Poitier's hornpipe, one of her shoes happening to slipt down at the heel, she lifted up her leg, and danced upon the other till she had drawn it up. This had she worn drawers, would have been the more excusable; but unhappily, there was little occasion for standing in the pit to see that she was not provided with so much as a fig-leaf. The Court turned instantly from the stage-The Pit was astonished! and scarcely anything, but a disapproving murmur, was heard, from the most unthinking spectator in the twelvepenny gallery."
Miss Poitier subsequently denied any impropriety in action, and sought hearing in the
Theatrical Review. In the Volunteer Manager" section of the number for 1 March 1763 the editiors reaffirmed their stand on her indecency and refused to join further in a personal altercation.
Performances
Mainpiece Title: Love In A Village
Dance: II: The Sicilian Peasants, as17621125; Hornpipe-Miss Poitier