*p1794 04 21 dl MACBETH. Duncan, King of Scotland-Bensley; Malcolm-C. Kemble [1st appearance in London]; Donalbain-Master De Camp; Macbeth-Kemble; Banquo-Wroughton; Macduff- Palmer; Lenox-Whitfield; Rosse-Barrymore; Fleance- Master Gregson; Siward-Aickin; Seyton-Benson; Physician-Packer; Officer-Banks; Serjeant-Caulfield; Murderers-Phillimore, Webb; Armed Head- Jones; Bloody Child- Master Harlowe; Crowned Child-Master Chatterley; Hecate-Bannister; Witches-Moody, Dodd, Suett//Lady Macbeth-Mrs Siddons; Gentlewoman-Miss Tidswell. Apparitions of Eight Kings; Lords; Ladies; Attendants and Soldiers. Occasional Prologue spoken by Kemble. Occasional Epilogue spoken by Miss Farren. Also THE VIRGIN UNMASK'D. Goodwill-Packer; Blister-Suett; Coupee-Bannister Jun.; Quaver-Dignum; Thomas-Benson//Miss Lucy-Mrs Bland. SINGING. Mainpiece: With the original Music of Matthew Locke, and Accompaniments by Dr Arne and Linley. Chorus of Witches and Spirits by Mrs Crouch, Mrs Bland, Miss Leak, Miss Arne, Miss Menage, Miss Granger, Miss Chatterley, Miss Redhead, Miss Gawdry, Mrs Bramwell, Mrs Butler, Kelly, Master Welsh, Sedgwick, Dignum, Cooke, Biggs, Trueman, Evans, Lyons, Maddocks, Welsh, Danby. C0MMENT. Mainpiece [with alterations by John Philip Kemble. Prologue by the Rt. Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick. Epilogue by George Colman, the younger (text of both on broadsides bound with Kemble playbills; the epilogue refers to exhibiting to the audience an iron curtain: a safeguard against fire. But the curtain was not ready until 1 May, q. v.)]: The Scenery, Machinery and Habits are entirely new. Painters-Greenwood, Malton, Catton, Capon, Buzarglo, French, Edwards, and their Assistants. Machinist-Carbonel [recte Cabanel]. The Dresses and Decorations are executed by Johnston. Boxes 6s. Second Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. Second Price 2s. Gallery 2s. Second Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. Second Price 6d. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 5:15 To begin at 6:15 [sec 12 May]. A new and accurate Edition of [MACBETH] to be had at the Theatre. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, Little Russel-Street. "Some alterations were made with great judgment, particularly the omission of the visible appearance of the Ghost of Banquo, which some of the best judges of the drama had long since recommended the exclusion of . . . . We think ourselves warranted to give our opinion in favour of the alteration" (European Magazine, May 1794, p. 384). "There were sundry other novelties, perhaps revivals, as to the witches and their incantations; indeed the noble firmness and compactness of the action was dreadfully broken and attenuated by the vast crowds of witches and spirits that filled the stage, and thundered in the car a music of dire potency. The auxiliary injured the principal, and Matthew Locke became the rival of his master. Mere speech, however masterly, is weak upon the ear after the noise (call it harmony if you will) of a full orchestra, and perhaps fifty voices, with difficulty kept together in tolerable time and tune" (Boaden, Jordan, I, 260). "Hecate's companion spirit descends on the cloud and rises again with him. It would be better if they were not made to fly backwards . . . Thunder rolled through the whole play" (Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.). Powell: Macbeth rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #648 11s. (623/10; 21/12; 10 persons in the Prince of Wales's Box 3/0; 0/9).