Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Tamerlane, announced on playbill of 23 Dec] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Ralph Wewitzer and Frederick Pilon. MS not in Larpent; not published. Synopsis of action in Town and Country Magazine, Supp. 1784, p. 717]: With new Scenery, Music, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes chiefly designed by Richards, and executed by him, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. The Overture, Songs, Chorusses and the whole Music of the Pantomime new, and composed by Shield. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. The Words of the Songs, &c to be had at the Theatre. "The performance was such as the first performance of pantomimes generally--machinery and scenery not so perfectly executed as when practice has rendered the movements more familiar to those to whom they belong, which, as the beauty of a pantomime depends on the celerity and adroitness of the scene-men, it seldom is discovered on the first night" (Public Advertiser, 28 Dec)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: George Barnwell
Afterpiece Title: The Magic Cavern; or, Virtue's Triumph
Performance Comment: Cast not listed. [Partial cast and names of certain performers from following sources: Songs (J. Almon, 1785) lists Old Man-Davies; Tanner-Doyle; Cooper-Darley; Abdiel-Miss Brett; Colombine-unassigned; the score (Longman and Broderip [1784]) lists Magician [i.e. Old Man?]-Davies; General Advertiser, 28 Dec. assigns Harlequin-Kennedy, and lists Johnstone, Mrs Bannister; Morning Chronicle, 30 Dec. lists Stevens.] hathi. Morning Chronicle, 30 Dec. lists Stevens.] hathi.Song: In Act I of mainpiece song by Brett