Event Comment: "At the conclusion of the Opera on Saturday, a scene of riot
and tumult took place which the
King's Theatre has not witnessed since the celebrated discords between 'Tweedle-dum
and Tweedle-dee' in the days of
Handel and Bononcini. At the commencement of the last dance hostilities commenced by hissing
and hooting from the pit
and boxes...The dancers, however, were not dismayed, but continued their evolutions, though the noise was so great that they derived but little aid from the music. At last a body of malcontents, among whom were several stars
and ribbons, sallied from the pit
and took possession of the stage, from which they drove the light-heeled troops,
and immediately began to perform a ballet tragique. The chamber of
Ifigenia was despoiled of all its ornaments,
and side scenes,
and patent lamps; Roman tents
and triumphal cars danced on the stage in all the mazes of confusion, nor did they cease, till they had demolished everything they found that was moveable.
Mr Carnevale came forward to inform the audience that
Mr Gallini could not be found...The ostensible reason given for this riot, which in our opinion is not to be justified on any pretense, is that Mr Gallini has not engaged dancers of sufficient eminence" (
Public Advertiser, 10 Feb.)