Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by
Andrew Franklin]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Overture and Musick composed by
Florio. The Scenes, designed by
Greenwood, and painted by him,
Banks, and assistants. The Machinery, Dresses and Decorations designed by
Johnston, and executed by him,
Gay, and
Underwood. The Female Dresses designed and made under the direction of
Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had at the
Theatre. "With thy exception of
Pizarro, this is one of the most magnificent spectacles the stage has for some time produced. The dresses...are attended with particular accuracy to the costume of the country...and the scenery is locally correct" (
Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1800, p. 173). "As a singer [
Mme Mara's] powers are indisputable; but as a performer she exhibits herself in a light which alternately provokes our ridicule and pity. Her delivery is an absolute libel on the profession. To the defects of a foreign pronunciation she joins a natural impediment of speech, which partakes too strongly of a lisp to warrant her bearing part in the prose dialogue of a play. What could possibly induce her to appear before the public under such disadvantages, unless she did it in compliment to the composer, we are at a loss to conjecture; nor less are we puzzled to account for the supineness of an audience which can patiently tolerate such puny efforts" (
Dramatic Censor, I, 347-48).
Morning Chronicle, 14 June 1800: This day is published
The Egyptian Festival (2s.). Receipts: #320 18s. 6d. (277.6.6; 42.8.0; 1.4.0)