Event Comment: Bills were put up for a
Word to the Wise. As soon as
the Curtain was drawn up a great hissing
Mr Garrick went on
the Stage Several Plays were propos'd to be done but
Mr Kelly's Party would have none but a Word to
the Wise &
the o
ther Party would not Consent, Mr Garrick offer'd to play himself but that would not satisfy
them. at Length
the House was dis
miss'd about Nine O'Clock (
Hopkins Diary). A Word to
the Wise, Damn'd (
Cross Diary). We stayed from 6 to past 10 in which time Garrick came out 6 or 7 times and talked to
the audience, tho' often 5 or 6 minutes before he could be heard. Once he said
the author was willing to withdraw his play, but
then
the party for Kelly [opposed by
the Wilkesites] said he had no right to do so:
they insisted on
the play,
the o
ther that it should not be, etc.;
the same about what play to be given out, one party calling for
the new play and
the o
ther against it. When
King came on, being called to speak
the prologue,
the hubbub forced him back, and one or two oranges struck him.
The people came away in great numbers after ten and we amongst
the rest, and had our money returned.
Parson Horne [
Horne Tooke]
there but did not interfere, tho'at
the bottom of it (
John Baker, Diary, p. 189)