SEASON OF
1762-1763
H E theatrical audience, relatively peaceful for five
M seasons, rioted at the height of this one, ruining performances and
SpfS-iwJv t*le chandeliers at Drury Lane in late January, and demolishing
\V;is the interior of Co vent Garden in early February. The instigator
Pres- Wddeus Fitzpatrick. The cause (which the rioters won) was for
tHain„Vl11^ t^e custom of admittance at half-price after the third act of the
dii:
P'cce. I fie managers, however, were able to hold out for full prices
r,n8 th
es
e tun of a new pantomime, because of the expense entailed in the
p and Machines used to produce it.
becarii °Wln8 these riots two matters of excellent policy and practice
established. The first was the decision of the patent houses (14 March)
to
ady.
Only -jC]y 'Se t*1c official versions of their playbills in the Public Advertiser
expec|_ *S act Made for clarity, at least, as to precisely what the public might
4dverr t0 See uud when. The King’s Opera House specified the Public
(jt r aud the Daily Advertiser as its official organs of communication
for ]n rUary)- The second, led by Garrick at Drury Lane (and prepared
benec was the complete abolition of the stage loungers — even at
nt Perfor ‘
the
audie
fflances. On 21 February he pointed out what a nuisance to
he eilCc und to the actors the presence of spectators on stage was and
of his p dle banishment stick. Beard supported this move at the beginning
of 4^ enC^t Season at Coven t Garden, 15 March. Audiences saw a total
p Performances and 10 oratorios this season,
the jSsu ablets, periodicals, and newspapers reported the riots and discussed
as a ^ different note crept into the press early in the season, however,
Garriy, Cr Under the rubric of Theatrical Intelligence (3 November) applauded
attempt at historical authenticity of costume in his performance
947