Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by
George Colman, the elder]. "The ground-work was the apologies received from the great actors, who all preferred their suburban shades to the temperature of the
Haymarket...The prompter enters to apologize to the audience and return the money, but his plea is rendered nugatory by certain oratorical and mimetic personages stationed in the pit and boxes, who not at first being recognized by the house as professional people, a great confusion was produced. When
Mrs Webb arose to address the audience, the joke became apparent, and a prodigious interest was excited' (
Boaden, Siddons, 1,208). [In 2nd piece the playbill lists
Baddeley, but "Previous to the beginning of the Play,
Palmer came
forward...and acquainted [the audience] that Baddeley then lay speechless [as the result of a stroke], and
Hitchcock, the prompter, would, with their per
mission, read Baddeley's Part" (
London Chronicle, 31 May). The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places
for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.
Public Advertiser, 6 July 1780: This Day is published The Manager in Distress (1s.)