Event Comment: [
Maria Macklin wrote her fa
ther (13 March 1773):
Smith has rais'd such a fury in
the Town, owing to
Colman's having refus'd
Mrs Yates to play for him, that last Saturday [6 March] being
the fifth night of
Alzuma, when
the play ought to have begun,
the Audience made a most violent noise, called for
Colman, insisted that
the play should not begin till he was found &
the reasons given why Mrs Yates was not suffered to play for Smith. In vain did
Bensley endeavor frequently to speak and tell
them that
Colman was not to be found.
The still continued hissing and roaring, and this last till past seven o'clock.
Dagge and
Harris were behind in a dreadful consternation least
the house should be demolished, of which indeed it was in some danger. At last
they said something must be said to quiet
them, when Smith in
the confusion ran on and told
them that
the managers had consented Mrs Yates should play for him.
Then
they sent him off to tell
them that his day must be settled whenever he thought proper, to give her time to come here. He went off and made
them fix it for
the 19th of April, went on and told
them it was settled.
They
then insisted that Smith should tell
them whe
ther everything was settled to his entire satisfaction. He assured
them it was.
The play was
then ordered to begin. I am told
they have given him up his articles for three years, at his desire. Several Gentlemen went round into
the Hall and sent for Smith, telling him his private quarrels with
the managers were nothing to
them. That if Mrs Yates play'd
they should be glad to see her, but that as she was not in
the company it was not right in him to disturb
the play and hinder
them from seeing it. He expostulated with
them and told his story.
The Town rings with this affair. Various are
the opinions. Some think it is her plan to get once more upon
the stage, and
they say
there is a most powerful Party making to oppose her & that she shall not play that night. O
thers say
Colman is very wrong to hinder her. I find she entirely built upon your playing for me, and
there has been a very impatient card in
the Ledger to
Colman insisting upon his telling
the town why Mrs Yates was hindered to play, and why
Mr Macklin had any more right to be suffered to come over so long unmolested to play for Miss Macklin? But that everybody sees thru'....
Colman I am certain has not a thing against your playing for me. He seems ra
ther to wish for your coming....I do not think
the Yeats's will be engag'd tho'
the Town rail much at
Mrs Hartley &
Miss Miller, and sure enough
they are bitter bad....On Tuesday I shall send you
the fate of
Dr Goldsmith's Comedy, which comes out on Monday next. It is call'd
the Mistakes of a Night....
Foote's
Rary Shew has been rehears'd three mornings but he got no money, so he shews off again at night instead-but it does not fill violently.
Alonzo goes on but
Barry is too ill to play.
The great support of it is
Mrs Barry's acting." (
Harvard Theatre Collection, A.L.S.)] Receipts: #196 19s