Storace has come down to the terms of her last engagement, and they are adequate to her abilities. The ci-devant Princess of Petersham still holds out: but it is thought that want of ammunition will occasion her soon to capitulate. When the theatre was opened in Goodman's fields a first rate actress thought herself amply paid with forty shillings per week: but, now, a first rate actress has the conscience to demand forty pounds Per night."—(Times, Oct. 9, 1794.)
"Mrs. Jordan has at last condescended to descend to her former situation in the Theatre, at her former salary."—(Times, Oct. 18, 1794.)
"The popular Dramatist, in his rage for hunting down the follies of the day, we hope will not forget to be in at the death of our masculine women of fashion. Their hunting, shooting, driving, cricketing, faroing, and skating, present a monstrous chaos of absurdity, not only making day, and night, hideous, but the sex itself equivocal. Lady men, or men ladies, 'you'll say 'tis Persian, but let it be changed.'"—(Times, Oct. 18, 1794.)
"Much has been said upon the Bath Fracas, but the circumstance has never yet been explained. It is briefly this: The Hon. Mrs. Twisleton was at the Ball-room, and stood up to dance: she stickled a little for precedence as an Honorable: the Master of the Ceremonies began to object to her dancing at all, as a Public Performer. Her partner instanced a Performer, M. Yanievitz, who was in the constant habit of appearing there. The Master of the Ceremonies went up to this amiable, and distinguished, foreigner, and intimated that his appearance there was thought too frequent, by the Subscribers. Mr. Yanievitz, demanded who had given the Master of Ceremonies this intimation: a satisfaction which was refused. Next morning Mr. Yanievitz wrote a proper letter to the M. C. expressive of his sentiments upon this occasion.
"A meeting of subscribers was called, and they resolved, that, in future, no Public Performer, of any description, should be permitted to appear in any of the Public rooms."—(Times, March 4, 1795.)
"Annual tickets, and orders are accompanied with a very great inconvenience: the side boxes are filled, at present, with butlers, and valets-de-chambre. It is not that these persons conduct themselves amiss, but they deter gentlemen from entering, whose appearance might prove distressing to them."—(Times, Sept. 26, 1795.)
"On an information being likely to be made against many of the performers in both Theatres, on the Act against profane cursing, and swearing—it became a question, as the Act is a discriminating one, whether they swore as gentlemen: when it was decided that they should be treated according to the Character they personified."—(Times, Dec. 17, 1795.)
"The Theatres were shut on Saturday evening, to commemorate, with the greater solemnity, the Martyrdom of King Charles."—(Times, Feb. 1, 1796.)
Drury Lane Theatre has not experienced a riot so wild, and unappeasable, as that of Tuesday evening, since the Blackamoor Washed White, of famous memory. The Entertainments advertised for the night's amusements were three. The Smugglers, having nothing contraband on board, was not only suffered to pass, but was hailed with three cheers:—The Virgin Unmasked had her admirers—but the Deserter was mauled most dreadfully—for Young Welsh had permitted a new Skirmish to make his debut, as Suett phrased it: and, being a miserable wretch, when the audience expressed a disapprobation, the Performers, to shorten the ridicule, shortened the scenes, which on such occasions, is usual, and prudent—but, the curtain dropping at ten minutes past ten, created a violent burst of indignation. Kelly first attempted to enquire the wishes of John Bull, and expressed himself, in the name of the Performers, ignorant of how he was disobliged. All striving to be heard, none, of course, could be so, and he retired. Uproar still increased, and, after near half an hour of this din, Suett made his appearance, and apologised for the badness of the stage struck hero, but he was soon given to understand, that that was not the cause of the Row, but that the audience expected to have the "Deserter" played wholly over again. Mr. S., after "looking as queer as a quartern of soap after a week's wash," expressed his concern that many of the Performers were gone, and the stage lights out, but this was the cause of fresh howlings, and as somebody cried out, 'God save the King,' he promised to send as many of the Orchestra, as could be found. In five minutes this popular hymn was received with acclamation. The curtain drew up, and all the Performers in the Theatre sung it. The curtain again dropt amid violent tumults which continued, and increased. Again Mr. Suett appeared, and declared 'how much hurt the Proprietors were at any part of the Performance being omitted: that it was without their concurrence, or even knowledge, and that such a circumstance should never happen again.' This rather mollified the audience, and many dispersed at a quarter past 11. Almost the whole of the lights in the house had been long extinguished: and some of the benches were torn up."—(Times, May 13, 1796.)
