Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 7 Oct. 1791]. Middleton, after performing the first scene of Nerestan, retired abruptly into the wardrobe, pulled off his coat, and telling the dresser he should be back in ten minutes, left the theatre; he did not return, however, according to his appointment, and Davenport read the remainder of the character: a fit of insanity is supposed to have seized him" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1797, p. 55). [Middleton did not appear on the stage again until 27 Feb. 1797.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2 (?), by James Wild and John Follett. MS of Songs only: Larpent MS 1148; synopsis of action in Pocket Magazine, Dec. 1796, p. 412]: With entire new Scenery, Machinery, Music, Dresses. The Overture and Music by Reeve. The Scenery painted by Phillips, Blackmore, Hollogan, Thorne, Byrn. The Machinery, Trick and Changes of Scenery invented and executed by Cresswell and Sloper. The Dresses by Dick, Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Among the changes are a trunk into a gingerbread nut-man's wheel-barrow--a poor man's hut into an old oak, with a group of Gypsies boiling their kettle under it--one of the clowns into a thick candle, and the candle afterwards into a green-house tub, with a large shrub in it" (Oracle, 20 Dec.). Receipts: #193 5s. 6d. (183.4.6; 10.1.0)

Event Comment: At Hill's Large Theatrical Booth on the Bowling Green, Mainpiece an Italian Comic Farce translated into English by the celebrated Punch, Poet Laureate to the Grand Mogul

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hill. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. At 7 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit Pearce, Sandham, Bowcher, Miss Hill. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction

Event Comment: The Farce dislik'd (Cross). Receipts: #160 (Cross); #169 18s. 6d. (Winston MS 8). [See review of the reception and circumstances of publication in Gentleman's Magazine (p. 37), which presents Hill in no good light. See also review of A Letter to the Honourable Author of the Rout (idem.) with its charges against Garrick.

Event Comment: For the correspondence between Aaron Hill and the Duke of Montagu concerning Hill's proposed occupancy of hay see Buccleuch and Queensberry MSS, I, 369-71

Event Comment: See letter of Aaron Hill to Mallet, 23 Feb., in Hill, Works, I, 97-100

Event Comment: For a discussion of Stephens as Othello, see letter by Aaron Hill, 23 Oct., in Hill, Works, I, 272-76

Event Comment: By her Majesty's License and Authority. [dl had come under the management of Aaron Hill, who shared the direction of the house with seven actors.

Event Comment: Receipts: #173 3s. [When the comedians on 6 Nov. received a license to act, Collier became director of the opera, an enterprise which he farmed out to Aaron Hill. See Cibber, Apology, II, 101-6.

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 18 Nov.: We hear that the Theatre in the Hay-Market, where lately the French Strollers us'd to perform, will be opened in a little time, for the Diversion of the City and Liberty of Westminster. The Actors, as well as the Plays, they say, will be entirely new, and the whole to be under the Management and Direction of that noted Projector, $Aaron Hill, Esq.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Aaron Hill, Esq. And New Scenes and Clothes

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Aaron Hill, Esq

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Aaron Hill, Esq

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Aaron Hill, Esq

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Aaron Hill, Esq