Diary of Mary Berry, 4 May 1818

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

163

text excerpt

Went to the Opera: the Court was not there, and the public were displeased with the ballet, would not see it, and such a noise was made in the pit that the curtain was dropped, and the second act of the opera was beginning. This displeased them still more; the pit became noisier than ever. The police then addressed a word to the orchestra, and the play ended; but it was not yet nine o'clock, and the displeasure of the public was demonstrated by all sorts of noise, shouting, roaring, and, finally, by throwing the benches in the pit one upon another. At least a quarter of the rioters were officers. I know not whether it was out of respect to them that the guard did not arrest some and turn others out. But once the guard did enter, and retired again without touching anybody. The pit at a London theatre could not have been uproarious with more perfect impunity. With difficulty we got our chairs to go home.

excerpt from 'Diary of Mary Berry, 4 May 1818' pp. 163 (169 words)

1542297717396:

1542297717396