 Harlequin and the Forty Virgins opened the Easter season at Sadler 's Wells and lasted the entire season . Grimaldi sang " Me and my Neddy " , which proved very successful for both him and the theatre . Amid great expectations , he appeared at the Covent Garden Theatre on 9 October 1806 playing Orson opposite Charles Farley 's Valentine in Thomas Dibdin 's Valentine and Orson . Grimaldi , who considered the role of Orson to be the most physically and mentally demanding of his career , nevertheless performed the part with enthusiasm on tour in the provinces . 
