Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by
R. B. Sheridan] never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses. [
Gentleman's Magazine for Jan. states: "Tuesday 17, Was performed for the first time at
Covent Garden a comedy call'd
The Rivals, said to be written by Mr Sheridan. Some objections being made both to language and character, the au
thor has
thought proper to withdraw his piece for correction, and it has since been played with applause." See 18 and 28 Jan. The
Westminster Magazine, Jan., remarked: "This comedy was acted so imperfectly, either from the timidity of the actors on a first night's performance, or from an improper distribution of parts, that it was generally disapproved....The au
thor promised some alterations, which implied that he would be glad the Town would suspend judgment till a farther hearing" See 28 Jan.
John Hampden quotes from
Lloyd's Evening Post, 18 Jan., the
Morning Chronicle and
Morning Post of the same date, and the
London Chronicle of 19 Jan. articles damning the casting and the imperfectness of the actors, the impudence of
Shuter in particular, and the fatigue of the audience.