*p1797 10 06 cg Much Ado about Nothing. Benedick-Lewis; Leonato-Hull; Don Pedro-Clarke; Claudio-Toms; Balthazar (with a <i>song</i>)-Townsend; Don John-Waddy; Antonio-Thompson; Borachio-Farley; Conrade-Claremont; Friar-Davenport; Verges-Simmons; Dogberry-Munden; Town Clerk-Powel; Hero-Mrs Mountain; Margaret-Miss Leserve; Ursula-Mrs Platt; Beatrice-Mrs Abington.*a1797 10 06 cg Diamond Cut Diamond. ^As17971004^.*d1797 10 06 cg II: <i>Masquerade Dance</i>- incident to the Play.*e1797 10 06 cg <i>Monologue</i>.Preceding: a new <i>Occasional Address</i>-Murray.*c1797 10 06 cg [This was $Mrs Abington='s 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her former <i>Beatrice</i>r was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating performance; but her Beatrice of this night was, for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (<i>Monthly Visitor</i>, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by $George Colman, ynger= (<i>London Chronicle</i>, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14).