Event Comment: This piece was greatly Cut & Alter'd. the 5th Act Entirely left out & many Airs interspers'd all through; got up with a vast deal of trouble to everbody concern'd in it but particularly to
Mr Coleman, who attended every Rehearsal & had alterations innumberable to make. Upon the Whole, never was anything so murder'd in the Speaking.
Mr W. Palmer &
Mrs Vincent were beyond Description bad; & had it not been for the Children's Excellent performance, (& particularly
Miss Wright who Sung delightfully) the Audience would not have Suffer'd'em to have gone half thro' it. The Sleeping Scene particularly displeas'd. Next day it was reported, The Performers first Sung the Audience to S leep, & then went to Sleep themselves (
Hopkins).
Fairies pleas'd--Serious parts displeas'd--Comic between both (
Cross Diary). This piece of
Shakespear's was greatly cut and altered,--the fifth act entirely left out,--and many airs introduced--got up with a vast deal of trouble to all concerned, but particularly to
Mr Colman, who attended every rehearsal, and had alterations innumerable to make. Upon the whole, I believe, never was piece so murdered as this was by the singing speakers, in which Mrs Vincent and Mr W. Palmer were beyond description bad; and had it not been for the children's excellent performance (particularly Miss
Wright, who ran away with all the applause and very deservedly) the audience would not have suffered them to have gone half thro' it.--The sleeping particularly displeased. The next day it was reported, the performers sung the audience to sleep, and then went to sleep themselves (
Hopkins Diary-
MacMillan). Overture and airs composed by the most eminent English masters. Book of the play sold at the theatre, 1s. [See "
A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hands of
Garrick and
Colman,"
PMLA, June 1939.] Receipts: #98 7s. (MacMillan)