Miller's company had not met with the success that had fallen to its rival, the Kembles. In 1783, the two companies performed Hamlet. This was unusual, and it may have been that the Kembles wished to give the Worcester audiences a chance to compare Mr. Penn and John Kemble in the title role. Contemporary reports praised Kemble's 'great success'.
It became the practice in the 1790s to bring the 'stars' of the London stage to head the residential provincial comapnies during the special weeks. This was found to be so successful that the custom increased, and was the beginning of the period of the 'star' actor, which dominated the 19th century theatre.
