Event Comment: TThe Suspicious Husband deferr'd by
Garrick's Indisposition [repeated in
the bills]. From
The Museum, or Literary and Historical Register, No 25, 28 Feb. 1747, p. 382: On
the Present State of
the Theatre: I remember when you and I were last in Town toge
ther, some years ago, we were eternally repining at
the wretched condition of
the stage.
Quin was
then at
the head of
the Fraternity; but a very different man from what he is at present, and merely a bad copy of
Booth; with all his mouthing and pageantry, but without his musical elocution, or his dignity. Whe
ther Time or Emulation has had
the greatest hand in Improving him, I know not; but certain it is, that he is improved, beyond what you will really imagine. He has got much more variety, and much more Spirit. He was always a tolerably just speaker; but
then he has hardly anything more; he recited ra
ther than acted....However,
Rich has...got
Quin,
Garrick,
Mrs Cibber and
Mrs Pritchard to
the new house.
The consequence has been, that
the stage was never, in my memory, so fashionable; not even in
the Time of
Mrs Oldfield's highest fame. A good taste both of acting and of plays
themselves, is much more general than I ever expected to have seen it; and those who are skilled in such matters, tell me, that Rich will be a greater gainer this season than has been known for
these many years. Receipts: #108 1s. 6d