Event Comment: [The
Young Gentleman who played
Zaphna was
Wroughton. "His real name was
Rottan, but altered euphonia gratia. He was designed for a surgeon
and served his apprenticeship at
Bath. The following playbills show that he met with approbation on the
stage. He remained with
Covent Garden from this time till the end of the season 1785-86. He then played in
Ireland one Winter,
and was engag'd at
Drury Lane Theatre in the beginning of the season 1787-88. This was the occasion of Mr Wroughton's leaving Covent Garden, I mean it was thus conjectured.
Mr Lewis had been appointed manager of that theatre for
Mr Harris. Mr Lewis
and Mr Wroughton lived next door neighbors in
Broad Court at the top of
Bow Street,
and were sworn friends:--they laughed together, lived together--In the season 1784-85 two new performers
Mr Holman and Mr Pope, appeared on the
Covent Garden Stage--these young men were great favorites with Mr Harris; Mr Holman, attracting at this time very crowded audiences, stood so particularly high in his regard, that his partiality made him guilty of some injustice to older
and abler actors in the theatre.
Mr Henderson had really cause to complain of neglect;
and Mr Wroughton thought himself equally oppressed. At this time we had a Club
and met every Wednesday fortnight during
Lent at the
Long Room in
Hamstead at dinner. Our Club consisted of a certain number of us belonging indifferently to either theatre,
and two or three other gentlemen who were not actors.
Mr King,
Mr Quick,
Mr Farren,
Mr Mattocks, myself, etc., etc. When the bottle had a little warmed Mr Wroughton he threw out some sarcasms on his Friend Mr Lewis's management; Mr Lewis retorted; Their tempers grew hot, their words grew aggravating; Mr Wroughton struck Mr Lewis; Mr Lewis returned the blow. They were parted; all the pleasures of the day were over,
and the Club broke up in confusion. I was not present this day, but have related what
Mr Siddons told me of this Quarrel,
and I imagine that Mr Wroughton's attack on Mr Lewis sprang from a suspicion that he was too willing to execute Mr Harris's designs in favour of Mr Holman. Be this as it may, Mr Wroughton was discharged from cg at the expiration of his Articles with Mr Harris."--
Hopkins MS Notes.] Receipts: #186 3s. (Account Book)