Hand written Invitation “to view the preparations for opening The Queen’s Theatre”, extended by Mr.Macfarren to Mr.Dando and his friends by MACFARREN, George

1 February 1831. Card 3 x 4½ inches, some light dust soiling, red wax seal (‘M’). George Macfarren (1788–1843), playwright and theatre manager. In February 1831 Macfarren took over the management of the theatre in Tottenham Street, which he called the Queen's Theatre, in honour of Queen Adelaide, and here he remained until July of the following year, producing, among numerous other works, The Danish Wife (1831) and a dramatic version of Handel's Acis and Galatea, for which Cipriani Potter wrote additional accompaniments. Macfarren seems to have laid particular stress on accuracy of detail and naturalness in staging the plays which he produced. Macfarren was the first to suggest the formation of the Handel Society. In 1841 he became editor and proprietor of the Musical World.