Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece entirely new Composed by Dibdin. [An adaptation of
Goldoni's
Il Filosofo di Campagna.] Book of Songs to be had at
Theatre (playbill).
The Wedg R. a Comic Opera of Two Acts wrote & composed by Mr Dibdin.
The Music very pretty--as
the Author was kept a Secret
The Town fancy'd that is one of
Mr Bickerstaff & call'd out to know who was
the Author.
Mr Garrick inform'd
them that he had no power to declare who
the Author was but he could assure
them that it was not Mr Bickerstaffs this did not Satisfy
them at last
Mr Dibdin went on & declard himself to be
the Author & made an Affidavit of it &
then
the Farce went on with Applause (
Hopkins Diary). [Account of
The Wedding Ring in
Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1773.] Paid #4 4s. for licensing
The Wedding Ring and
Alonzo (Treasurer's Book). [
Maria Macklin, in a MS letter to her fa
ther, 3 Feb. 1773, commented fully on this night's performance: "Written as it was suppos'd by Bickerstaffe.
The music by Dibdin. I went with a party into
the Gallery to see
the event as
there was a great riot expected, & indeed never did I see an audience more inflamed.
They would not suffer
them to begin
the piece. At last
Mr King came on with a written paper in his hand, which he said he was desir'd to read in
the name of
the managers. After a great noise
they let him read it. He said just before
the play began
the managers had receiv'd a letter from Mr Dibdin in which he declared that Bickerstaff was not
the author of that piece, that he had made oath of it, and was ready to do
the same again, but that for very particular reasons
the author could not be given up.
Then
they stopp'd him & roar'd out that
the author should be given up
then. He continued as loud as he possibly could, reading on that 'but that if Mr Dibdin did not very soon given up
the author he never should be suffered to appear again on that stage or any o
ther.' Very luckily that turn'd
them as I believe
the House would have come down.
The piece
then began. Before
the end of
the first act one of
Bannister's songs were encor'd.
The o
ther party were against it and would not let it go on.
They all stood up and insisted that
the author should be known
then. After some time
the house being nothing but confusion, Dibdin was push'd upon
the stage ready to drop with fright, and declared that he was
the author himself.
Then
they were as noisy
the o
ther way. Made
them finish
the piece, but how you may guess in a storm. It is like
the Padlock, but
the songs not so good." (
Brander Matthews,
Actors and Actresses, extra illustrated, Vol. I.
Harvard Theatre Collection.). Westminster Magazine this month included in parallel columns flattering "Characters of Mr Garrick and
Mr Colman,"
the Rival managers.
The article especially praised Garrick's acting.] Receipts: #252 3s. 6d