Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Matthew Gregory Lewis; incidental music by Michael Kelly (see 2 Feb. 1798), with one selection from Jomelli. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1797, pp. 357-58)]: With new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by the late Mr Greenwood [who died on 1 Nov.], and executed by his Son, Pugh, and others. Times, 15 Jan. 1798: This day is published The Castle-Spectre (2s.). "There is a sufficient number of Ghosts, Hobgoblins, Cells and Trap-doors to serve for a pantomimical exhibition of the most extravagant nature, and the whole may, with no breach of propriety, be termed a Speaking Pantomime, of which Kemble is made the Harlequin and Mrs Jordan the Columbine" (Morning Herald, 16 Dec.). Receipts: #316 18s. 6d. (257.6.6; 58.17.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton, Miss Heard, Miss Tidswell, & Mrs Bramwell. [2nd piece: With alterations by John Philip Kemble.] 3rd piece: Not acted these 6 years. "Of [Wroughton's] comedy something favourably must be said. His personations are usually natural, easy, and spirited; he is perhaps too locomotive: he cannot bear to stand still...To this peculiar bustle of his motion may be attributed much of his success in Sir John Restless [in All in the Wrong]...For the same reason, no man can play Ford with half the effect Wroughton does" (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1796, p. 304). Morning Herald, 30 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Heard, No. 43, Haymarket [others not listed]. Receipts: #337 6s. 6d. (30.13.0; 40.16.6; 3.4.6; tickets: 260.10.0; odd money: 2.2.6) (charge: #202 11s.)

Event Comment: It being the first time of Mr Garrick's playing since his Marriage, the Jests in Benedick were receiv'd with uncommon applause: he married Mad. Viollete, on ye 22d of June: 1749 (Cross). Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Miss Younge having been a Season in Ireland is now return'd play'd Well & was receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Potter, Theatrical Review: We must beg leave to point out a small error in her playing the part of Imogen; and which was too obvious to escape notice: --When Iachimo arrives from Italy...he is introduc'd to her by Pissanio who says..."Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome comes from my Lord with letters." And Iachimo on his first appearance informs her, that "the worthy Leonatus is in safety." These circumstances ought to awaken the highest joy and transport in Imogen, instead of which, we wer sorry to observe, she dropped a solemn curtsey, and without one joyous feature said, with the utmost langor, "Thanks good sir, &c." And even after she had read the letter...she addresses herself to him again with the same indifference. Rec'd Mrs Groath, 1 yrs. Rent to Xmas last #3, and from Mr Atkins on Acct #5 5s.; Advanc'd Mr Barry, Box Office keeper #15; Ditto to Mr Watson, Box Office Keeper #10 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #164 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. N.B. After this night the Meeting of the Company will be laid aside for sometime. The Play was New drest in the Habits of the time & they look'd very well & was applauded (Hopkins Diary) Paid 3 days salary list at #91 16s. 4d. per diem, #275 9s.; Sundry salaries not on list last week as per partners in Memorandum Book, #44 8s.; Mr Granier for last week 12s. 6d.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s. Receipts: #226 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Kemble as Macbeth, Wroughton as Banquo, and Palmer as Macduff, but "The Publick are respectfully informed that Mr Kemble being confined by Indisposition...Macbeth will be performed by Palmer, Macduff by Wroughton, Banquo by Packer" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). No mention is made of the Physician, but Jones was Packer's usual substitute in this part. See 11 Apr. 1796.] Receipts: #218 11s. 6d. (153.14.6; 61.11.6; 3.5.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Milward. Not Acted these Seven Years. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, and there saw Romeo and Juliet, the first time it was ever acted; but it is a play of itself the worst that ever I heard in my life, and the worst acted that ever I saw these people do, and I am resolved to go no more to see the first time of acting, for they were all of them out more or less. Downes (p. 22): Note, There being a Fight and Scuffle in this Play, between the House of Capulet, and House of Paris; Mrs Holden Acting his Wife, enter'd in a Hurry, Crying, O my Dear Count! She Inadvertently left out, O, in the pronuntiation of the Word Count! giving it a Vehement Accent, put the House into such a Laughter, that London Bridge at low-water was silence to it. This Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, was made some time after into a Tragi-comedy, by Mr James Howard, he preserving Romeo and Juliet alive; so that when the Tragedy was Reviv'd again, twas Play'd Alternately, Tragical one Day, and Tragicomical another; for several Days together. [No specific notices are known which would indicate when Howard's version appeared.

Event Comment: Benefit for Cross, and Burton. Rec'd cash #36 15s., plus #116 6s. from tickets. Total #153 1s.; Paid Norton 6 Chorus #1 10s.; Paid Mr Dolmain (Embroiderer) #3 (Treasurer's Book). Tickets to be had of Mr Page at the Stage Door. Tickets deliver'd out by Grandchamps will be taken. Publish'd this day, the third edn. of Colley Cibber's Apology for his Life at 6s. With an Historical view of the stage during his own time, to which is now added A short account of the Rise and Progress of English Stage: also a dialogue on old plays and old players. Printed for R. Dodsley (General Advertiser). Receipts: #154 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)