SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Bells British Theatre"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Bells British Theatre")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 2604 matches on Event Comments, 540 matches on Performance Comments, 181 matches on Performance Title, 0 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: [Announced on playbill of 2 July, which lists no afterpiece, but not advertised on 3 July. Perhaps not acted; the theatre appears to have been closed until 21 July.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Venice Preserved

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 3]: Taken from [The Winter's Tale, by] Shakespeare [altered by George Colman elder]. Afterpiece: Likewise taken from [A Midsummer-Night's Dream, by] Shakespeare. Books of both pieces to be had at the Theatre. The Musick of both pieces by the most eminent Composers [i.e. Michael Arne, Dibdin, Dr Burney, Hook, Theodore Smith, Dr Arnold]. The Characters new dressed

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Sheep-shearing

Afterpiece Title: The Fairy Tale

Dance: With aPastoral Dance (incident to the [main]piece)-; End: As17770707

Event Comment: [Henderson's 1st appearance as Richard was at Bath, 20 Oct. 1772. Mrs Massey was from the Norwich theatre.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: K

Afterpiece Title: Miss in Her Teens

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by Sarah Gardner. Prologue by the author (London Chronicle, 11 Aug.). Larpent MS 435; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Aug. 1777, p. 433. For a description of the difficulties attending the reception of this play, from a recently discovered MS by Mrs Gardner, see Theatre Notebook, VII, 76-81]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Advertisement; Or, A Bold Stroke For A Husband

Afterpiece Title: The Citizen

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; BURL 3]: Written by the Author of Midas [Kane O'Hara; music by Samuel Arnold]. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 22 Aug.: This Afternoon, at Three, will be published April-Day (1s. 6d.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: April-day

Afterpiece Title: The Citizen

Dance: End I: a New Pastoral Dance-see17770611; End II: The Provencalle-see17770611

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Viii

Performance Comment: Cardinal Wolsey-Digges; Buckingham-Palmer; Cranmer-Younger; Surry-Davies; Cromwell-R. Palmer; Gardiner-Parsons; Lord Sands-Jackson; Lord Chamberlain-Egan; Norfolk-T. Davis; Suffolk-Fearon; King Henry-A Gentleman (from the Theatre Royal, Dublin; 1st appearance in London [Fotteral]); Anne Bullen-Mrs Colles; Patience (with a song)-Miss Twist; Queen Catherine-Mrs Massey (1st appearance in that character).

Afterpiece Title: The Portrait

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The First Part Of King Henry Iv

Performance Comment: As17770724 but Hotspur-Smith (from the Theatre Royal, Dublin; 1st appearance in London). 1st appearance in London).

Afterpiece Title: The Portrait

Dance: As17770728

Event Comment: [Miss Walpole was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #178 19s. 6d. (146.17.0; 31.13.6; 0.9.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love In A Village

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Dance: I: Country Dance (incident to the [main]piece)-; This was danced in both performances.] End II: [New Ballet, Demi-Caractere (composed by Gallet), Rural Grace-Gallet, Henry, Miss Armstrong, Mlle Dupre

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Digges. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Morning Post, 7 Oct.: Digges, far advanced in the autumn of his life, wanted that fire which is so indispensable to Macheath. His dress was beyond measure ridiculous, and his songs...discordant and tedious. [His 1st appearance as Macheath was at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 10 Oct. 1752.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: A Farce and Entertainments

Event Comment: [Death is identified in Public Advertiser, 9 Oct.; he was from the York theatre. Leoni's song is identified in London Chronicle, 9 Oct.] Receipts: #197 1s. (196.3; 0.18)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Afterpiece Title: The Royal Chace

Dance: End III: The Humours of Leixlip-Aldridge, Master Jackson, Miss Besford

Song: II: song [I have lost my Anna]-Leoni

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merchant Of Venice

Performance Comment: Shylock (1st time [at this theatre])-Henderson; Antonio-Bensley (1st appearance in that character); Gratiano-Dodd; Lorenzo (with songs)-Vernon; Duke-Packer; Launcelot-Parsons; Gobbo-Wrighten; Salanio-Farren; Solerino-Lamash; Tubal-Waldron; Bassanio-Palmer (1st appearance in that character); Jessica (1st time; with a song)-Miss Walpole; Nerissa-Mrs Davies; Portia-Miss Younge (1st appearance in that character).

Afterpiece Title: The Quaker

Dance: End III: Rural Grace, as17771002

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The First Part Of King Henry The Fourth

Performance Comment: Hotspur-Smith; King Henry-Bensley (1st appearance in that character); Worchester-Aickin; Sir Richard Vernon-Farren; Northumberland-Packer; Sir Walter Blunt-Hurst; Prince John-Lamash; Westmorland-Wrighten; Douglas-Chaplin; Poins-R. Palmer; Carriers-Moody, Parsons; Francis-Waldron; Bardolph-Wright; Sheriff-Griffiths; Gadshill-Holcroft; Peto-Nash; Prince of Wales-Palmer; Falstaff (1st time [at this theatre])-Henderson; Hostess-Mrs Bradshaw; Lady Piercy (1st time)-Mrs Cuyler.

Afterpiece Title: The Quaker

Dance: End II: Comic Dance-the Miss Stageldoirs

Event Comment: Paid Land Tax one-half year on Theatre #52 10s.; Tax on Window Lights #6 12s. 6d. Receipts: #171 11s. 6d. (171.3.6; 0.8.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: The Apprentice

Dance: Hornpipe, as17771017; End II: As17771008

Event Comment: [Kirkpatrick is identified in Morning Chronicle, 8 Nov. He was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #132 11s. 6d. (129.19.0; 2.12.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Richard The Third

Afterpiece Title: Comus

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 6 May 1776]. With Accompaniments to the Airs composed by Thomas? Linley Sen?.. Public Advertiser, 10 Nov.: "Jenny Diver forgot her song...and continued inflexibly silent till a Wag behind the Scenes assumed her Voice, and sung the Song for her"; ibid, 15 Nov., identifies this wag as Bannister, who sang "in a feigned voice." [Webster was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (167.2.0; 24.16.0; 0.8.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: All the World's a Stage

Dance: III: a Hornpipe-Blurton. [This was danced, as here assigned, in all subsequent performances.

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2(?), by James Messink and Carlo Antonio Delpini. Not in Larpent MS; synopsis of action in London Chronicle, 26 Nov.]: The Scenery, Machinery, &c. painted new by Carver, Greenwood and Garvey. The Overture and the rest of the Music composed new by Fisher. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 3 Feb. 1778: Paid Fisher for composing songs, &c. in The Tempest [see 27 Dec. 1776], and other pieces, as per bill, #131 11s. Receipts: #190 16s. (182.18; 7.18)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Sir Thomas Overbury

Afterpiece Title: The Norwood Gypsies

Dance: Afterpiece: Dancing-Aldridge, Dagueville, Miss Besford, Miss Valois

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Chances

Performance Comment: Don John (1st time [at this theatre])-Henderson; Frederick-Brereton; Duke-Packer; Petruchio-Aickin; Antonio-Parsons; Peter-Burton; Antony-Waldron; Francisco-Wright; Surgeon-Wrighten; First Constantia-Miss Hopkins (1st appearance in that character); Mother-Mrs Hopkins; Landlady-Mrs Bradshaw; Nurse-Mrs Love; Second Constantia-Mrs Abington.

Afterpiece Title: A ChristmasTale

Dance: In afterpiece: a Dance of Evil Spirits-

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on The Loves of Mars and Venus, by Peter Anthony Motteux]: With New Scenes and Dresses. The Music chiefly composed by Dibdin. [Dr Arne and Dr Arnold each wrote one air.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 5 Feb. 1778: This Day at Noon is published Poor Vulcan! (1s.). [The playbill lists Reinhold in place of Mahon, but on the Kemble playbill his name is deleted and a MS annotation substitutes Mahon's.] Receipts: #232 5s. 6d. (230.2.6; 2.3.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Percy

Afterpiece Title: Poor Vulcan

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Performance Comment: Gloster-Smith; Dumont-O'Brien Machin (from the Theatre Royal, Crow Street in Dublin); Ratcliffe-Bailey; Catesby-Shepherd; Bellmour-Barnes; Earl of Derby-Thompson; Lord Hastings-West; Alicia-Mrs Lefevre (1st appearance in town); Jane Shore-Mrs Massey.

Afterpiece Title: The Irish Widow

Song: Entertainments of singing-Mrs Mapples;, particularly the favourite song of The Soldier tir'd of war's alarms-Mrs Mapples

Event Comment: Hamlet [announced on playbill of 18 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Abraham Portal. Larpent MS 445; not published]: The Overture and Music [by Thomas Linley Jun.] entirely new. With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Words of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 Feb. 1778: This Day at Three will be published the Songs in The Cady of Bagdad (6d.). Receipts: #180 0s. 6d. (130.9.0; 49.7.6; 0.4.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cymbeline

Afterpiece Title: The Cady of Bagdad

Dance: In II: Masquerade Scene Dancing-Blurton, Henry; End III: The Provincalle, as17780128

Song: Masquerade Scene As17771031

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Stratagem

Performance Comment: Archer-Lewis; Aimwell-Wroughton; Gibbet-Booth; Boniface-Dunstall; Foigard-Fox; Sir Charles Freeman-Robson; Sullen-Clarke; Scrub-Quick; Dorinda-Mrs Lessingham; Cherry-Miss Brown; Lady Bountiful-Mrs Poussin; Mrs Sullen-Mrs Barry (1st appearance in that character at this theatre).

Afterpiece Title: Mother Shipton

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. 1st Gallery 3s. 6d. 2nd Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season. Mrs Farrell's cantata is identified in London Chronicle, 9 Mar.]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Acis And Galatea

Afterpiece Title: Dryden's Ode

Song: Between: As there are very few songs in Acis and Galatea that can be adapted for Mrs Farrell's voice, she will sing a cantata The rosy morn with crimson dye=-Mrs Farrell

Music: End Part I: concerto on the organ-Stanley; End Part II: concerto on the violin-probably Linley Jun

Event Comment: Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 4s. 1st Gallery 3s. 2nd Gallery 2s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. Books of the Oratorio to be had at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season. The Account-Book notes that the director of the oratorios this season was James Hook.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Acis And Galatea

Afterpiece Title: Sacred Canons

Music: End Part I: concerto on the German flute-Florio; End of Part III: concerto on the piano forte-Miss Weichsel; concerto on the hautboy-LeBrun; concerto on the violin-Master Weichsel

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Performance Comment: As17771008, but Tom-Lee Lewes (1st appearance in that character); Indiana-Mrs Barry (1st appearance in that character at this theatre).

Afterpiece Title: Mother Shipton

Song: As17771008

Event Comment: [Bingham is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill.] Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Miles Peter Andrews, based on Le Bucheron; ou, Les Trois Souhaits, by Jean Francois Guichard. Music by Francois Hippolyte Barthelemon]: With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar, 1778: This Day is published the Songs in Belphegor (6d.). [Text 1st published in Dublin: For the Booksellers, 1788.] Receipts: #196 0s. 6d. (156.5.0; 38.13.6; 1.2.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Venice Preserv'd

Afterpiece Title: Belphegor; or, The Wishes