Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of
The Force of Ridicule; afterpiece of
Richard Coeur de Lion, both advertised on playbill of 28 Nov.] "The new Comedy last night was deferred upon the pretext of
Miss Farren's illness...The Manager sent after
Mrs Siddons, who was found at
Covent-Garden Theatre, seeing
Abroad and at Home.
Brandon, however, ordered her a chair, and she kindly performed
Isabella.
Wroughton read the
Father" (
Oracle, 30 Nov.). "For near an hour the audience waited patiently...At half past seven
Palmer addressed the audience" He said that Miss Farren was ill, that to those who preferred to leave the theatre their money would be returned, and that instead of the new play
Mrs Siddons would act Isabella, "as soon as the dresses could be prepared for that purpose. This address was by no means favourably received, and hundreds of persons immediately left the house. A few minutes after eight, the Curtain drew up to the tragedy, which was well performed, and much applauded by the few who remained to witness it" (
Morning Herald, 30 Nov.). "November 30. Miss Farren last night refused to appear in a new Play at
Drury Lane which made much confusion in the House. The cause assigned was indisposition but that was not believed by the audience; and the fact
Lysons says is, that as she cannot obtain payment from the Theatre, she resolutely told them she wd. not appear unless her demands were paid...Such is the unprincipled conduct of
Sheridan" (
Diary of Joseph Farington, 1922, I, 174). [On 1 Dec.
Morning Herald prints a letter from Miss Farren, from
Green-street,
Grosvenor-square. saying that she really was ill. The editor of the paper adds a note in which he affirms his positive knowledge that rumours about a dispute as to Miss Farren's unpaid salary were without foundation.] Receipts: #134 2s. (82.2; 50.18; 1.2)