Event Comment: This Comis Opera is Written by the
Revd Mr Bate. It is very Pleasant & the Music pretty. It is admirably Perform'd & was receiv'd with very great Applause (
Hopkins Diary). The Music of the Afterpiece by
Mr Carter. New Scenes, Dresses, Decoartions for afterpiece.
Paid for Licences of
Matilda &
Rival Candidates #4 4s.;
Mr Baddeley on note #10 10s.;
Miss Berkley #2 2s. on note (Treasurer's Book). [A long rewiew of the plot of the afterpiece appeared in the Feb.
Westminster Magazine, concluding: "In point of dialogue, poetry or music, it is inferior to few, if any, of the modern attempts of a similar kind; amongst which number, however, we desire to be understood not to include the ribald, unmeaning, sing-song compilations of the monotonous
Mr Dibdin. The Fable, indeed, is too light and trival to endure the severity of a critical analysis;
but it is at least sufficiently important to serve as a vehicle for the music; and the catastrophe has peculiar vivacity and theatrical spirit. Upon the whole the author has fully answered the end he proposed of introducing a deserving young composer whose name, it seems is Carter, to the public and who more than promises to be a composer of taste and genius. In this his first performance he both received and deserved the greatest encouragement and applause.
Mr Weston spoke a humorous
Epilogue accompanied by a large dog named
Dragon, which had a very good effect,
but as it was poor Dragon's first time of appearing on the stage, he, like all young performers of true feeling, seemed a good deal frightened...
but having conquored his fears, and recovered himself a little, he performed his part very chastely and to the entire satisfaction of all present."
Epilogue ends with a satirical remark upon
Sg Rossignol, the "bird imitator" at
Covent Garden. See 6 Jan.
cg.] Receipts: #204 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)