Event Comment: Windham Diary (30 Jan. 1784), 41: On the Wednesday 1 went to see Mrs Crawford in 'Belvidera', and found her much as I expected, though her disparity was very great. I can perhaps better conceive the delusion that, aided by a little prejudice [in favor of Mrs Siddons] and the recollection of Mrs C. in better times, could hesitate about the preference. The chief faults that I should find would be, that her articulation was cramped and timid, her tones sometimes colloquial and vulgar, her action confined, and her countenance inexpressive. A new man of the name of Pope performed; I pronounced him in my own judgment as inferior, upon the whole, to Brereton. [Henderson's 1st appearance as Pierre was at Bath, 14 Oct. 1773.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. Public Advertiser, 5 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 99, High Holbourn. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 15 Apr. 1763]. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Frederick Pilon]: Altered from [The Comical History of Don Quixote, Part II, by Thomas] D'Urfey. In Act I A Grand Baratarian Procession of Sancho to his Government. The Characters all dressed in the Habits of the Times

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. Public Advertiser, 29 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Edwin, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Altered from Beaumont and Fletcher [i.e. from Fletcher alone]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years [acted 28 May 1782]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bates. 1st piece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Not acted these 15 years [acted 18 Dec. 1771]

Event Comment: Benefit for Bonnor. 1st piece: Not acted these 5 years. 2nd piece: Translated from La Fete de Campagne; ou, L'Intendant Comedien malgre lui, written by Mons. Dorvigny, and acted in Paris with uncommon applause. 3rd piece: Written by Harry Carey; not acted these 16 years [acted 28 May 1773]

Event Comment: Benefit for Stevens and Miss Besford [who had hitherto appeared only as a dancer]

Event Comment: Benefit for Newbold and Miss Bird. [2nd piece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.]

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ferdinand to Johnstone, but "The sudden illness of Johnstone gave much dissatisfaction, though Cubitt did all in his power to supply his place" (Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1785, p. 451). William Palmer was from the Norwich theatre; Meadows from the HAY.] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] The Alterations and Improvements in the Theatre this Season are made by Richards, and executed under his Superintendance by Catton and others. [Public Advertiser, 22 Sept., notes that these improvements consisted of the enlargement of the boxes, in which "the seats are formed into recesses which communicate with the other boxes"; all the pillars, "even those of iron in the back boxes [being] capped, cased, fluted and gilt"; the front of the boxes and galleries being newly painted a "warm lilac"; the back of the boxes being wainscotted and painted crimson.] Paid Charewomen for cleaning Theatre #13 0s. 6d. Receipts: #214 2s. 6d. (210/10/0; 3/12/6)