Mr.Congreve, with whom I have commemorated you, is anxious as to its success, and so am I.Whether it succeeds or not, it will make a great noise, but whether of claps or hisses I know not.

At worst, it is in its own nature a thing which he can lose no reputation by, as he lays none upon it."[5] Not only Swift, Pope, and Congreve were doubtful as to the opera's chance of success.
Colley Cibber refused it for Drury Lane Theatre, and even when it was accepted by John Rich for his theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, Quin had such a poor opinion of it, that he refused the part of Captain Macheath.
Very sound was the judgment of Rich, immortalised by Pope in "The Dunciad" (Book III, lines 261-264):-- Immortal Rich! how calm he sits at ease, 'Midst snows of paper, and fierie tale of pease; And proud his Mistress's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm; and the opera, to repeat a well-known _mot_ of the day, "made Gay rich and Rich gay." "The Beggar's Opera" was produced on January 29th, 1728, with the following cast:-- _Peachum_ ...

...

...

...