Event Comment: Benefit for
Mrs Egerton. Afterpiece: Not acted in 3 years. [See 3 April 1769.] [
Genest in Volume of
News Clippings (
Harvard Library) quotes
Edinburg Evening Courant of 29 April: Last night between
the play and
the farce at
Drury Lane Theatre, a disturbance arose which continued for a full hour.
Mr Weston it appeared was in debt to
the managers a considerable sum of money, on which account
they had impounded all
the cash received on his benefit night.
This
the comedian did not like, and
therefore yesterday evening sent word
that he could not play,
that he was arrested and detained in a springing house, but desired
that no apology should be made of his being 'suddenly ill' (
the usual stage plea) as it would be an egregious falsehood. After
the play
Mr Vernon came forward and inform'd
the audience
that Mr
Weston 'was suddenly taken ill' and could not perform.
Weston instantly started up in
the front of
the upper Gallery, and inform'd
the house
that he was not ill, but in
the custody of an officer, and if
the audience would have patience he'd inform
them of
the whole affair. A long altercation ensued.
The Managers sent on Mr Vernon repeatedly; and after much pro and con
Weston came down and played his part of
Sneak."
The article must have referred to
the 24
th of April, when
Weston play'd Sneak in
The Mayor of Garratt.
The Managers promis'd
the Town a publication of
the whole affair."] Paid
Mr Brathwait for men's cloa
ths #33s. Receipts: #200 8s. Charges: #70 12s. Profit to
Mrs Egerton: #129 16s. (Treasurer's Book)