Event Comment: Mainpiece: In 5 Acts, altered from
the Dramatic Romance by
David Garrick, Esq. With a new Overture and new additional Musick by
Storace [on 2 Jan. 1792 and
thereafter, added:
Shaw] and o
ther Eminent Masters. Entirely new Scenery by
Greenwood, and new Dresses, Decorations and Machinery. To conclude with a
Grand Procession of the Hundred Knights of Chivalry, and
the Representation of an Ancient Tournament. [
These were included in all subsequent performances.] Books of
the Songs to be had at
the Theatre.
Morning Post, 3 Jan. 1792, prints a full description of
the Procession of over 100 persons: 1st,
Anglo-Saxon Knights and banners;
then ancient
British knights,
Norman knights,
Indians,
Turks,
Scythians,
Romans, a dwarf, a giant; at end, "soldiers drawing a superb picture of
St. George, knights in chain mail, a cupid leading a knight covered with a silver net,
Hymen, piping fauns, bands of cupids drawing an altar--flame burning, cupids hovering over it, and o
thers feeding doves below, a troop of
Arcadian shepherds drawing
the car of
Cymon and
Sylvia, characters of
the drama, and chorus." "At
the conclusion of
the procession, a tournament took place of both horse and foot, between several combatants in armour, who fought with lances, swords and battle-axes:
three of
Hughes' horses [from
the Royal Circus] were introduced, and managed with much dexterity;
the Prince of Wales'
Highlander made one of
the procession, and entered
the lists as a champion, fighting with an enormous club; against him a small female warrior was opposed, by whom he was subdued. It was by far
the grandest spectacle ever seen upon
the stage. Many of
the characters were taken from
Sir Philip Sydney's
Arcadia, in which
the scene of
the piece was laid; and
the dresses of
the knights, armour, &c. from
the drawings and descriptions of
the best antiquarians" (
Oulton, 1796, II, 215). [This was
Edmund Kean's 1st appearance on
the stage; he was about four years old. He personated a cupid lying in Cymon and Sylvia's car (
Kelly, Reminiscences, II, 21-22).] Account-Book, 13 Jan. 1792: Paid Hughes for his Horses #16 19s. 10d.; 23 Jan.: Paid
Gough for his Greyhounds in Cymon #5 19s. 6d. Receipts: #420 6s. (385.0; 35.5; 0.1)