Event Comment: Never Perform'd. Founded on
Beaumont and
Fletcher. Music by
Thomas Linley. A Comic Opera the Music entirely new. [By
Thomas Hull altered from
The Royal Merchant; or the Beggar's Bush (
Biographia Dramatica). See 19 Dec. 1767 for further note on Music.]
Paid Mr Horne for 4 Tambourines #1 10s. (Account Book). Went into the Pit to see the opera founded on Beaumont and Fletcher, performed for the first time....The music may be good,
but the piece is trifling and childish, barren of incident and character except that of
Clause played by
Bensley and the
frightened peasant. The performers are in the
Flemish dresses of the times, and do the piece much justice. At the beginning of the 2nd act some fellows in the 2s. Gallery began a disturbance,
but were turn'd out and carried before
Sir John Fielding, where they confessed that they were hired to disturb this performance by a publican,
but refused to say whom....Stood in the well (
Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #225 1s. (Account Book)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Royal Merchant
Dance: I: A New Comic Dance, as17671021; II: A Grand Ballet The Garland-Fishar, Mrs Bulkley. [See17651003.