The Discovery (Frances Sheridan play)

The Discovery is a comedy by Frances Sheridan. The play premiered on the 5th February, 1763, at the Drury Lane Theatre, London. The actors being David Garrick, Frances' husband Thomas Sheridan, William O'Brien, Charles Holland, Mrs. Hannah Pritchard, Mary Ann Yates, and Jane Pope. Garrick agreed that Thomas Sheridan should play the lead role and be paid with two night's profits.^[1]

Aldous Huxley controversially rewrote the play and provided a new ending, for a Chatto and Windus edition in 1924.^[2]

References

1. The Theatrical Inquisitor, Or, Monthly Mirror 1818 - Volume 11 - Page 348 "In January, 1763, Mrs. Sheridan produced her first play of "The Discovery,* in which, Mr. Garrick, according to Davies, " consented that Mr. Sheridan should play the principal part, and receive for his labours the advantage of two nights' profits,"
2. The Plays of Frances Sheridan ed. Robert Goode Hogan, Jerry C. Beasley 0874132436 1984 Page 33 "More recently, the revision of The Discovery by Aldous Huxley, who mangled Mrs. Sheridan's comedy by rewriting its sentimental passages and providing a new ending, was published from the London house of Chatto and Windus in 1924."