John Collier in Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, London - 28 November, 1716, at night
from Correspondence of Mr John Collier (deceased) and His Family, 1716-1780, page 5:
Letter from John Collier to Mary Cranston, 29th November 1716
I was last night at the Playhouse in Lincoln’s Inn to see the Dramatick Opera called the Island Princesse, or the Generous Portuguese. We had Interludes of Musick, Singing and dancing very fine, but was surpriz’d with the performance of a little boy and girle not above 5 or 6 years old in Dancing, wch at present carrries the applause of the Towne and is Very uncommon.
Charles Lane Sayer (ed.), Correspondence of Mr John Collier (deceased) and His Family, 1716-1780, volume 1 (London, 1907), p. 5. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1689595924101 accessed: 28 November, 2024
Listeners
Listening to
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'Frost Music' from King Arthur
written by Henry Purcell |
performed by Cook, George Pack, Letitia Cross, Miss Smith, Mlle Salle, Moreau, Mrs Schoolding, Newhouse, Reading, Richard Leveridge, Salle |
a serious dance
written by Moreau |
performed by Cook, George Pack, Letitia Cross, Miss Smith, Mlle Salle, Moreau, Mrs Schoolding, Newhouse, Reading, Richard Leveridge, Salle |
Experience Information
| Date/Time | 28 November, 1716, at night |
| Medium | live |
| Listening Environment | in the company of others, indoors, in public |
Notes
Mary Cranston became John Collier's second wife in 1717. The Island Princess that Collier describes in this letter was actually a play by John Fletcher.