Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of
The Force of Ridicule; afterpiece of
Richard Coeur de Lion, both advertised on playbill of 28 Nov.] "
The new Comedy last night was deferred upon
the pretext of
Miss Farren's illness...
The Manager sent after
Mrs Siddons, who was found at
Covent-Garden Theatre, seeing
Abroad and at Home.
Brandon, however, ordered her a chair, and she kindly performed
Isabella.
Wroughton read
the Father" (
Oracle, 30 Nov.). "For near an hour
the audience waited patiently...At half past seven
Palmer addressed
the audience" He said that Miss Farren was ill, that to those who preferred to leave
the theatre
their money would be returned, and that instead of
the new play Mrs Siddons would act Isabella, "as soon as
the dresses could be prepared for that purpose. This address was by no means favourably received, and hundreds of persons immediately left
the house. A few minutes after eight,
the Curtain drew up to
the tragedy, which was well performed, and much applauded by
the few who remained to witness it" (
Morning Herald, 30 Nov.). "November 30. Miss Farren last night refused to appear in a
new Play at
Drury Lane which made much confusion in
the House.
The cause assigned was indisposition but that was not believed by
the audience; and
the fact
Lysons says is, that as she cannot obtain payment from
the Theatre, she resolutely told
them she wd. not appear unless her demands were paid...Such is
the unprincipled conduct of
Sheridan" (
Diary of Joseph Farington, 1922, I, 174). [On 1 Dec.
Morning Herald prints a letter from Miss Farren, from
Green-street,
Grosvenor-square. saying that she really was ill.
The editor of
the paper adds a note in which he affirms his positive knowledge that rumours about a dispute as to Miss Farren's unpaid salary were without foundation.] Receipts: #134 2s. (82.2; 50.18; 1.2)