Event Comment: By Command. Afterpiece: Written by
Mr Garrick. Acted by children.
Prince of Wales & 4 more went off very well (
Cross). New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. Full prices.
Prologue-writ by Garrick, spoken by
Woodward;
Epilogue-
Lady Flimnap. [
The run of seventeen performances of
the afterpieces seems to contradict
the judgement of
the author of
the Theatrical Examiner (1757, p. 89):
Lilliput is, I think,
the most petit, trifling, indecent, immoral, stupid parcel of rubbish, I ever met with; and I can't help judging it a scandal to
the public, to suffer such a thing to pass a second night, which at best was alone calculated to please boys and girls, and fools of fashion; it may gratify
them;
the manager to debauch
the minds of infants, by putting sentiments and glances in
their breasts and eyes, that should never be taught at any years, which are sufficiently bad when naturally imbibed.
The question of
Gulliver, in answer to
the infant lady's gross adresses, is horrid, if we allow an audience a common share of delicacy, what should we do with her? and what
the devil does it mean. Finally where is
the instruction, or even tolerable language, to gild
the dirt over. O tempora! O mores!"] Receipts: #210 (
Cross)