Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [by
William Kenrick] never performed before. [
The play failed to succeed. Kenrick accounts for
the failure in his Preface to
the 1773 edition by reference to
the Macklin affair (See 23 Oct., 30 Oct. and 18 Nov.) He quotes from
the Public Advertiser (22 Nov.): "On Saturday last a new comedy called
the Duellist was performed, for
the first time, at
Covent Garden Theatre. Previous to
the curtain being drawn up,
the following written handbill was dispersed about
the house. '
Mr Macklin has been pursued by a malicious party to such a pitch of rancour, that at last
they have succeeded so far in
their cursed designs, as to get him discharged this
theatre, and
thereby have deprived him of
the means of a livelihood;
therefore if
the public have any spirit,
they will not suffer
the new play to begin till
Mr Colman promises that Mr Macklin shall be engaged again.' This handbill found its way into
the green-room, and had a very visible effect on
the performers, as was plainly evident from
their confusion.
The piece was received with great marks of approbation, and given out again for Monday, which was attended with some hissing, but that was greatly overpowered by
the general applause of
the audience.
The overture to
Thomas and Sally being attended to with silence,
the greatest part of
the author's friends quitted
the theatre; which being taken advantage of by a party in
the gallery, a riot ensued, and
the entertainment was not suffered to go on till ano
ther play was given out for Monday." Kenrick agrees with this account,
then analyses several o
ther objections which he dis
misses, to wit, in
the play (a) too lengthy a satire on lawyers, (b) an indelicate passage in
Latin (omitted from
the printed version); in
the audience, a conspiracy of
Garrick and
Bickerstaffe against him; and lack of a claque of his own friends to carry through
their suport of him. Macklin's name appears on
the playroll this night, but only for a accumulated 4 days of pay #8 16s. (Account Book).] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)