first night

first night (plural first nights)

1. The first public performance of a play or other show, normally assumed to be held in the evening.

   The first night was a disaster, and the cast were mostly in tears.

   • 1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados:

     First nights are not what they were, even within the memory of playgoers who would be startled to hear anyone else refer to them as "elderly."

2. The first night after marriage.
   • 2021 September 23, Poulomi Sarkar, “Here’s How You Can Make Your First Night Special!!!”, in Woman's era‎^[1], archived from the original on 26 September 2021:

     […] the first night seems to be playing a strong role in the development of the pioneer for the relationship.

   • 1985, Richard Smith, Newlyweds' Guide to Sex on the First Night‎^[2] (Humor), New York: Workman Pub, →ISBN, →ISBN:
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see first,‎ night.

• first-nighter

• first thing