Event Comment: A New Comic Opera of Two Acts written by
Mr Bate--Much hissing and Crying out no more no more!--
Mr Reddish was desired to give out
the Play as soon as
Matilda was over--but he with his usual politeness ran up and undress'd himself as fast as he could so that
the play was not given out till
the End of
the Farce as soon as
the Blackamoor was given out for
the next Night
they kept a great Noise and call'd for ano
ther Farce to be given out--at length
they began to be more appeas'd and went away vowing Vengeance on it
the next Night (
Hopkins Diary).
The Overture and Music of
the afterpiece entirely New. Books of
the Songs &c. to be had at
the Theatre. New Scenes, Dresses, &c. [This is
Larpent MS 400.
Sir Oliver Oddfish distrusts his servants and is about to replace
them with blacks, giving his nephew
the chance to introduce
Frederick , his daughter
Julia 's lover, in disguise as a blackamoor, and to effect an elopement. Act I criticizes
Londoners and concludes with
the comment, "O that I should ever live to see
the day when white
Englishmen must give place to foreign blacks."
MacMillan's note from
Kemble differs slightly.] Paid
the late Mr Johnston's bill to his executors #44 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Afterpiece reviewed in three columns in
the Westminster Magazine for Feb. Reviewer thought it had been produced well in all departments, music, scenery, costume, and acting, but concluded it a
theatrical trifle giving not much credit to its author.] Receipts: #166 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)