s EASON
O E
,746-1747
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YEAR is marked by the resurgence of Covent Garden.
٦ Under John Rich, of all people, the Covent Garden company
,3 presented Garrick,
Qüin,
Ryan, Mrs Pritchard, and Susanna
Cibber in a series of the popular pathetic tragedies sucli as
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Shore and The Fair Penitent , anti culminated in the production of the
first new play at tliat theatre in four seasons, Hoadly's The Suspicious Husband)
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comedy which was an immediate success. The remarkable liistrionic
performances given by Garrick as Lothario and Quin as Horatio in TheFair
Penitent drew instant recognition from the London audiences
tlic tlieatre
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night after nigh
and many years later Richard Cumberland and
h.mas Davies were to recall tlie spectacle oftliese two great actors playing
3gainst eaclt otlicr on tire same stage as one of tire outstantling events of tire
Century. Fashionable London society turned out for The Suspicious Husband,
;
no telling h
long this play woul
have run had not Garri.ck
،;
ill a
th; twelfth ::rmance. Drury Lane responded vigorously,
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its new leading man, the Irislr actor Barry; and it is instructive to
ote the nunrber of plays offered as the only foaturc of the evening’s enter-
ainnrent, without lrclp of afterpieces. I’antomime declined and almost
dis-
appeared as the audiences flocked to tire theatres wlrere legitimate dranra was
by excellent acting. Hal, am too eschewed pantomime and achieved
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performances during the win
season at the small theatre in
’Oodnran's Fields, witlr Mrs Lewis Hallaiu and Miss Budgcll as tire main
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of attraction. Consequently: Londoners had once again a choice of
fee tlreatres presenting regular drama.
This lrealthy state of affairs was not to continue. In the spring Garrick
Was to become joint owner of Drury Lane witlr James Lacy. With the advent
1247