Event Comment: Paid 6 days salary at #82 16s. 5d. per diem--#496 18s. 6d.;
Mrs Abington on cloaths account #2;
Mr French on acct #2.
Mr D. Garrick's Night. Charges #84 (Treasurer's Book). Profit to D. G. for sixth night of
Inst of Garter #115 7s. 6d. Mainpiece: Not acted in 4 years. [See 2 Dec. 1767.] Garrick recovered from his illness (
Winston MS 10). [Of
the mainpiece: "How
the managers could think of shoving
Mr Cautherly into
the part of
Captain Plume, is, to us, a matter of surprize....
The part requires elegance, vivacity and
the easy deportment of an accomplish'd gentleman. We never remember to have seen this character more completely performed, than by
Mr Smith at
Covent Garden Theatre (who is everything that criticism can wish) nor much worse, than by Mr Cau
therly, who does not possess one requisite for
the character, and is
the effeminate and insipid School-
boy throughout
the whole. To this we may add, that he was not perfect, and made a great mistake, by coming in where he should not which oblig'd him to retire again. This was an unpardonable fault, though it was
the first time of his appearing in this character."--
Theatrical Review, 2 Nov. Of
the afterpiece: "We were not a little pleased to observe this evening, that
Mr King, in
the character of
Sir Dingle, omitted
the parody on
the lines with which
the third act of
Otway's
Orphan concludes. But we think
the introducing a chine of roast beef, decorated with a flag, to be carried off in triumph by
the rabble, accompanied, from
the orchestra with music of
the old song of that title is a pitiful addition to
the performance, and intended only as a sacrifice to
the caprice of
the riotous inhabitants of
the upper gallery. Had this Entertainment been exhibited at a
French theatre it would have had some claim to merit. This seems to be a piece of stage policy, arising from a consciousness, that
the whole performance is too contemptible to meet with countenance from any but
the sons of riot, for which reason
they are brib'd to support it, by this notable trick."--
Theatrical Review, 2 Nov.] Receipts: #199 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)