| Citation |
PC.773.097
2-9 Aug 1773:1133 (343)
London, May 4 . . . Last night an incredible number of
persons attended very early at the doors of Covent Garden
theatre, to see Mrs. Yates play the character of Margaret of
Anjou, in the tragedy of the Earl of Warwick, for Mr.
Smith's benefit. . . [20 lines describing the mayhem in the
crowds trying to get in.] at length the curtain drew up,
and the first act was gone through without the audience
hearing a syllable; in the second, the house was more quiet,
and the rest of the play was tolerably well heard. Mrs.
Yates received the greatest applause; she never played
better in her life. After the tragedy, Mr. Garrick's
epilogue was delivered by Mrs. Yates with characteristic
humour. Before the farce began, Mr. Smith stepped forward
and thanked the public in general, and the audience of the
night in particular, for all their favours. The pit was
almost wholly laid into the boxes, and the first receipt of
the house amounted to 313L.
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