Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece entirely new Composed by Dibdin. [An adaptation of
Goldoni's
Il Filosofo di Campagna.] Book of Songs to be had at Theatre (playbill).
The Wedg R. a Comic Opera of Two Acts wrote & composed by Mr Dibdin. The Music very pretty--as the Author was kept a Secret The Town fancy'd that is one of
Mr Bickerstaff & call'd out to know who was the Author.
Mr Garrick inform'd them that he had no power to declare who the Author was but he could assure them that it was not Mr Bickerstaffs this did not Satisfy them at last
Mr Dibdin went on & declard himself to be the Author & made an Affidavit of it & then the Farce went on with Applause (
Hopkins Diary). [Account of
The Wedding Ring in
Westminster Magazine for Feb. 1773.] Paid #4 4s. for licensing
The Wedding Ring and
Alonzo (Treasurer's Book). [
Maria Macklin, in a MS letter to her father, 3 Feb. 1773, commented fully on this night's performance: "Written as it was suppos'd by Bickerstaffe. The music by Dibdin. I went with a party into the Gallery to see the event as there was a great riot expected, & indeed never did I see an audience more inflamed. They would not suffer them to begin the piece. At last
Mr King came on with a written paper in his hand, which he said he was desir'd to read in the name of the managers. After a great noise they let him read it. He said just before the play began the managers had receiv'd a letter from Mr Dibdin in which he declared that Bickerstaff was not the author of that piece, that he had made oath of it, and was ready to do the same again, but that for very particular reasons the author could not be given up. Then they stopp'd him & roar'd out that the author should be given up then. He continued as loud as he possibly could, reading on that 'but that if Mr Dibdin did not very soon given up the author he never should be suffered to appear again on that stage or any other.' Very luckily that turn'd them as I believe the House would have come down. The piece then began. Before the end of the first act one of
Bannister's songs were encor'd. The other party were against it and would not let it go on. They all stood up and insisted that the author should be known then. After some time the house being nothing but confusion, Dibdin was push'd upon the stage ready to drop with fright, and declared that he was the author himself. Then they were as noisy the other way. Made them finish the piece, but how you may guess in a storm. It is like the
Padlock, but the songs not so good." (
Brander Matthews,
Actors and Actresses, extra illustrated, Vol. I.
Harvard Theatre Collection.). Westminster Magazine this month included in parallel columns flattering "Characters of Mr Garrick and
Mr Colman," the Rival managers. The article especially praised Garrick's acting.] Receipts: #252 3s. 6d