Event Comment: [
The playbill retains
Mrs Jordan as
Matilda and
Mrs Crouch as
Laurette, but Mrs Jordan "sent word she was too ill to perform this Evening.
The audience called for Crouch to act Matilda" (
Kemble Mem.). "She instantly complied...and was received with
the most marked respect" (
Morning Chronicle, 28 Nov.).
The audience refused to believe that Mrs Jordan's illness was genuine, and for several days she was treated harshly by letters to and paragraphs in
the newspapers. For her letter explaining her "real inability from illness to sustain her part in
the entertainment" see
Oulton, 1796, II, 103-6; see also 10 Dec. "
Richard Coeur de Lion was advertised as
the afterpiece; but on account of
the sudden illness of Mrs Jordan,
High Life below Stairs was proposed to be substituted;
the house, however, seeming to disapprove of this change, Mrs Crouch kindly undertook
the part of Matilda;
Miss Hagley took hers of Laurette" (
Public Advertiser, 28 Nov.).] Receipts: #285 10s. (220.3; 64.10; 0.17)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Heiress
Afterpiece Title: Richard Coeur de Lion