Event Comment: [Advertised as performed but once, but see 18 Jan.
Sheridan in Preface to Edition of 1775 (2nd) refers to withdrawing
the piece to remove those imperfections in
the first representation which were too obvious to escape reprehension, and too numerous to admit of hasty correction." He blames his inexperience and want of judgment in
theatrical effects,
the extreme length of
the play act by act, and haste in writing. From
the Westminster Magazine Feb., which outlined
the plot in five columns:
The present state of
the Rivals is widely different from that in which we found it on
the first night's representation.
Sir Lucius O'Trigger being re-touched, has now
the appearance of a character; and his assigning
Beverley's reflection on his country as
the grounds for his desire to quarrel with him, is a reasonable pretence, and wipes off
the former stigma undeservedly thrown on
the sister Kingdom. An alteration of a principal incident gave a very favorable turn to
the fable and
the whole piece: that where young
Acres now delivers his challenge to his friend
Absolute, begging him to carry it to his Rival Beverly, not knowing
the two characters composed but one man; its being at first given to Sir Lucius,
the person who indited it, was highly inconsistent...we should be induced from many evident traits of literary genius to pronounce
the Rivals a good comedy."