Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; B 3, by
Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by
the Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick (
Public Advertiser, 3 Aug. 1781)]: With a Procession. [This was included in all subsequent performances. For
the Sea Fight see 20 Nov.] With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations.
The Scenery designed by
DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his direction.
The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [same for rest of season, except on 1 May 1780]. "
The House was so crowded that
there were many disturbances, one so great that
Smith when he had nearly finished 'To be or not to be' was obliged to leave
the Stage, and when
the noise subsided, to return and begin
the soliloquy again... As
The Critic took up two hours and a half in performance, it must of necessity be considerably shortened" (
Morning Chronicle, 1 Nov.). "
The scene of
the battle with the Armadav [was] executed in
the most masterly manner.
The Motion of
the sea,
the engaging of
the ships, and
the destruction occasioned by
the fire-ships were happily contrived and accurately represented" (
London Chronicle, 1 Nov.). Account-Book, 9 Nov.: Paid R. B. Sheridan on Acct. of Critic #320. Receipts: #241 19s. 6d. (222.11.0; 19.3.6; 0.5.0)
Performances
Afterpiece Title: The Critic; or, A Tragedy Rehears'd
Performance Comment: Principal Characters by King, Dodd, Palmer, Parsons, Baddeley; Mrs Hopkins. Principal Tragedians by Moody, Farren, Aickin, Waldron, Lamash, Burton, Chaplin, Holcroft, Hurst, Wright, Wrighten, Grimaldi, Bannister Jun, Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Davenett, Miss Pope; [Cast from text (T. Becket, 1781): Puff-King; Dangle-Dodd; Sneer-Palmer; Sir Fretful Plagiary-Parsons; Interpreter-Baddeley; Signor Pasticcio Ritornello-Delpini; Under Prompter-Philimore; Mrs Dangle-Mrs Hopkins; Italian Girls-Miss Field, Miss Abrams; [Tragedians: Lord Burleigh-Moody; Earl of Leicester-Farren; Sir Christopher Hatton-Waldron; Son-Lamash; Sir Walter Raleigh-Burton; Beefeater-Wright; Governor of Tilbury Fort-Wrighten; Don Ferolo Whiskerandos-Bannister Jun.; Master of the Horse-Kenny; Justice-Packer; Constable-Fawcett; Thames-Gaudry; Confidante-Mrs Bradshaw; Justice's Lady-Mrs Davenett [in text: Mrs Johnston]; Tilburina-Miss Pope; Nieces-Miss Collett, Miss Kirby; unassigned-Aickin, Chaplin, Holcroft, Hurst, Grimaldi; Prologue-King. [This was spoken, as here assigned, at the 1st 14 performances only (see17791124), and again on 3 and 10 Dec.]This was spoken, as here assigned, at the 1st 14 performances only (see17791124), and again on 3 and 10 Dec.]