Event Comment: [This was
Mrs Abington's 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except
for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her
former
Beatrice was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating per
formance; but her Beatrice of this night was,
for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come
forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated
for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (
Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by
George Colman, ynger (
London Chronicle, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: Much Ado About Nothing
Performance Comment: Benedick-Lewis; Leonato-Hull; Don Pedro-Clarke; Claudio-Toms; Balthazar (with a song)-Townsend; Don John-Waddy; Antonio-Thompson; Borachio-Farley; Conrade-Claremont; Friar-Davenport; Verges-Simmons; Dogberry-Munden; Town Clerk-Powel; Hero-Mrs Mountain; Margaret-Miss Leserve; Ursula-Mrs Platt; Beatrice-Mrs Abington.Afterpiece Title: Diamond Cut Diamond
Dance: II: Masquerade Dance- incident to the Play
Entertainment: Monologue.Preceding: a new Occasional Address-Murray