Event Comment: HHarlequin Ranger oblig'd to be deferr'd. A new Dramatic Entertainment call'd
Taste written by
Mr Foote.
The House was full as soon as open--before
the first Music, several Speeches were made in ye Pit, moving
the Farce might be acted before
the Play, wch was insisted on by some, & oppos'd by o
thers
Cross, Cross, Prompter &c. was often call'd--
The Curtain went up, & ye Clamour encreas'd, ye farce &c.
Mr Mossop (who did
Zanga ) came off--I went on, & spoke--
Gentlemen, I perceive
the farce has been desir'd before ye Play, wch cannot be comply'd with, for ye performers in ye Farce, having nothing to do in
the Play, are not come--a great applause follow'd--Mr Mossop went on again--but ye noise renew'd, & he retir'd again, & wanted to undress wch I prevented;
Mr Lacy (Manager)
then went on, # spoke to ye same effect I had done--
The play was
then call'd for, & it went on with Applause--Tho' I believe Audience wish'd it over--
The play done--
Mr Garrick spoke ye
Prologue in
the Character of an
Auctioneer , with surprising Applause--when he had done, he made this Apology--Gents--a performer being taken ill,
the Author, Mr Foote, is here & will if you please, perform his part, this he spoke in a Hesitating manner, & was greatly applauded--
the first Act went off well, &
Mr Worsdale, a painter (to whom Mr Foote had given
the profits of
the farce) play'd a Woman's part, & was greatly received--When Mr Foote came on--he made this Speech--Gent: I have left
the Stage some time, nor have I any hopes of Profit from this Piece, but as a performer is taken ill, I had ra
ther appear my self, than have so many people, whom Curiosity has drawn toge
ther, b disappointed--Great Applause--In ye Second Act,
the people grew Dull, & towards ye End, hiss'd greatly, wch I believe wou'd not have been, had not Mr Foote, bid
Blakes pull off his Wig at ye Discovery of
Mr Puff --vide Farce--it ended with ye usual Noise, when given out, of No more--Encore &c. &c. Sunday we had great debates about it, & at last it ended it shou'd be play'd no more 'till Mr Worsdale's benefit & an advertisement was put in
the paper to signifie that as ye Farce was not so well receiv'd as was expected,
the Author had withdrawn it to Alter &c. &c. we put up--We were told on Monday it wou'd be call'd for by
the Audience; but no such thing happen'd.
The fact concerning
the performer's being taken ill is this--At ye practise,
the Night before, Mr Foote seem'd dissatisfied with
Mr Yates in
the part of Puff, so got Mr Garrick next Day, to prevail with Mr Yates to let 'em say he was sick, that Mr Foote might have occasion to do
the part (Cross).
Mr Goodfellow begs leave to acquaint his friends that through
the Indisposition of two of his principal performers, he is compelled to postpone his Benefit to a far
ther Day; Timely notice of which shall be given in this paper; Tickets deliver'd out for Monday
the 13th Instant will
then be admitted.--As
the sole intent of this Benefit is to satisfy his creditors, who are to share
the profits arising from it, he humbly hopes to meet with encouragement, and assures those ladies and
Gentlemen who honour him, that
the whole performance shall be carried on with
the utmost decorum, and will be free from all danger of interruption (
General Advertiser). Receipts: #200 (Cross)