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)