Théâtre

Autograph Letter Signed 'G. Colman' from the playwright George Colman the Younger defending his imposition of a financial penalty on the recipient apparently an actress for non-attendance at a performance at the Haymarket Theatre.

11502 — Melina Place London; 21 July 1814. 1p. 4to. On aged and grubby paper. The letter provides an interesting insight into the niceties of Regency theatrical practice. Colman peremptorily addresses it to 'Madam' before expressing his displeasure and defending his imposition of a penalty as a result of the non-attendance of the recipient apparently an actress at a performance at the Haymarket. It begins 'It is always very unpleasant to me when I am obliged to recur to my rule of penalty establish'd in the Theatre; but in a case like your's sic it was unavoidable on the score of precedent; - for if such neglect of business were unnoticed any others would absent themselves on similar occasions. -' In the second part of the letter Colman instructs the recipient in consequence of her 'explanatory Letter' to 'tell Mr. Winston James Winston one of Colman's partners at the Haymarket that I beg he will send to the Treasury on Saturday to remit the whole of the forfeit'. It will be sufficient for her to show Winston the letter. Melina Place, London; 21 July 1814. unknown