Event Comment: Afterpiece: Written by the Author of The Son-in-Law [John O'Keeffe]. The Overture and New Musick composed by Dr Arnold. "The same person who, in the play, performed the school-fellow of the Nabob with a great deal of nature, and original humour, here acted the part of the school-master; his name is Edwin, and he is, without doubt, one of the best actors of all that I have seen ... [He], in all his comic characters, still preserves something so inexpressibly good tempered in his countenance, that notwithstanding all his burlesques, and even grotesque buffoonery, you cannot but be pleased with him . . . Nothing could equal the tone and countenance of self-satisfaction, with which he answered one who asked him whether he was a scholar? 'Why, I was a master of scholars.' A Mrs Webb represented a cheesmonger, and played the part of a woman of the lower class, so naturally, as I have no where else ever seen equalled. Her huge, fat, and lusty carcase, and the whole of her external appearance seemed quite to be cut out for it" (Carl Philipp Moritz, Travels in England in 1782, London, 1924, pp. 73-74)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Nabob
Performance Comment: Sir Mathew Mite-Palmer; Mr Oldham-Aickin; Sir John Oldham-Usher; Touchit-Baddcley; Antiquarian-Massey; Waiter-R. Palmer; Nathan-Barrett; Moses-Pierce; Conserve-Egan; Secretary-Davis; Janus-Parsons; Putty-Edwin; Mrs Matchem-Mrs Webb; Sophy-Mrs Cuyler; Crocus-Mrs W. Palmer; Lady Oldham-Miss Sherry .Afterpiece Title: The Agreeable Surprise
Performance Comment: Characters by Bannister, Wilson, Wood, Webb, Egan, Stevens, Painter, Kenny, Edwin; Mrs Webb, Mrs Wells, Miss Harper. [Cast from Songs (T. Cadell, 1782): Compton-Bannister; Sir Felix Friendly-Wilson; Eugene-Wood; Chicane-Webb; John-Egan; Thomas-Stevens; Stump-Painter; Cudden-Kenny; Lingo-Edwin; Mrs Cheshire-Mrs Webb; Fringe-Mrs Poussin [see17820606; Cowslip-Mrs Wells; Laura-Miss Harper.] hathi. hathi.