| Citation |
VGW(RI.773.062
22 Jul 1773:12 (376 Supplement)
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. When the hour of admission was come, the
crowd was so pressing that much mischief was done, and many
things lost by the eagerness to push in, which every one
expressed. Those who were wise enough to draw back and
stand aloof, were not a little diverted at the humour of the
scene. The thick tailed macaronies had their clubs untied,
and their flowing locks and crimson faces made them resemble
a parcel of furies, on the other hand, the women's caps,
cloaks, and handkerchiefs, were torn off; . . . [9 lines]
The door keepers had hard work to secure the places that
were taken; one of them struck a gentleman, and got well
basted for his insolence; 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 313 L.
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