Event Comment: [Huddart, whose 1st appearance on the stage was at the Crow Street Theatre Dublin, on 14 May 1798, is identified in European Magazine, Oct. 1798, p. 258.] "In the gentle and tender scenes [Huddart] was impressive...but in the impassioned parts he was often too boisterous, and from his too eager exertion, he exhausted himself, in a great measure, before the conclusion of the piece" (Morning Herald, 16 Oct.). [Mrs Pope, as Miss Campion, had 1st appeared as Desdemona at the same theatre, 11 Mar. 1790. Mrs Wybrow was from the Royal Circus. She had appeared at cg on 6 June 1798.] Afterp iece [1st time; BALL. PI, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 1228. Text (i.e. synopsis of the ballet, and the songs) in his Circusiana (Lackington, Allen & Co., 1890), Vol. 1; it lists the cast for the Royal Circus]: Taken chiefly from the favourtie Piece of the latter Title [1st acted at the Royal Circus, 9 Apr. 1798], with Alterations and Additions by the original Author. The Music by Sanderson, and Scenery by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Blackmore, &c. Receipts: #294 15s. 6d. (290.8.6; 4.7.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. See Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 118. See also The Variety, in Bentley, Jacobean and Caroline Stage, III, 149-51; and James Shirley's The Ball; or, French Dancing Master, in Bentley, V, 1079. See also 10 Nov. 1661

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MF 2, by James Cobb. Text (unauthorized), Dublin: P. Byrne [1800]; synopsis of plot in Dramatic Censor, II, 135-36]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Overture composed by Mazzinghi, and the Music by Mazzinghi and Reeve. The Scenes painted by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Hodgins, &c. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #132 17s. (128.7.6; 4.9.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiace [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1277; not published; synopsis of plot in Dramatic Censor, I, 124-25]: Altered [by the author] from The Pavilion. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by [William] Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [And see 16 Nov. 1799.] Receipts: #270 15s. 6d. (185.2.0; 1.13.0)

Event Comment: [Query whether this New Scene in the Masquerade was added to the performances of Harlequin Skeleton after 4 Feb. 1769.] Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Gave the Princess Dowager's Footmen (by Gray) #1 1s. and her Chairmen (by Holt) #1 1s. (Account Book). Receipts: #197 16s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never perform'd. New Scenes and Dresses (playbill). This Comedy was written by Mr Obrien. It was very much hiss'd from the 2d Act & with the greatest difficulty we got thro' the Play amidst Groans hisses &c. They would not Suffer it to be given out again. After many Altercations between the Audience Mr G. & Mr King by the Author's Consent the Play was withdrawn (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble briefer. See long review of The Duel in British Theatre article, London Magazine, Dec. 1772, and Town and Country same month.] Paid Mr Scott (c[opper] laceman) #83 9s.; Mr Waller (hosier) #17 18s. 6d.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #80 19s.; Mr Barrow & Co. for oil, #45 13s.; Mr Cropley (linen draper) #73 14s.; Mr Cubitt (tinman) #15 19s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #241 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations for the dances. [No after money.] The New Grand Ballet, call'd the Turkish Pirate, and the Comic Entertainment of Dancing, the Laundress's Visiting Day were perform'd last Monday at Drury Lane, with uncommon applause. The Scenery was well contriv'd, the habits very elegant, and the dance in a taste particularly agreeable. The comic entertainment is a fine piece of low humour, the various characters were well represented and afforded a great deal of Mirth; Sig Salomon especially, in the character of the woman's taylor, show'd a great deal of a good comedian as well as an excellent dancer, and the whole was greatly approv'd of.--London Courant; or New Advertiser, 31 Dec

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A dramatic enterainment by William Whitehead. New Scenes, Dresses, and other Decorations. The Farce receiv'd great applause (Hopkins Diary). [An account of the staging of the afterpiece appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine, Jan., concluding: These are the outlines of the Fable of this singular production, which, excepting the episode of Tom Southerton and Dolly Flack, seemed to give great satisfaction to the audience."

Event Comment: Never acted. Comedy by Wm. Whitehead. New Scenes and Dresses. Full Prices

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe. Altered by the author the following season as The Wicklow Mountains. Dross not listed in Airs, but it is the only other character in Larpent MS 1117]: With new Scenery, Music, and Dresses. The Music partly compiled, and the Overture, new Music, and the Accompanyments to the National Airs, composed by Shield.The Union Pipes and the Harp to be played by Topham and Weippert. The Scenes painted by Richards, Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore and assistants. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #215 (210.18; 4.2)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. Mainpiece: Acted but once [28 Mar. 1795] these 5 years. In IV a Grand Banquet. Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.: Tickets to he had of Holman, No. 73, New-street, Hanover-square. Account-Book: Paid George? Papendick for [unspecified] Manuscript Plays of Kotzebue #200. Receipts: #350 2s. (257.6; 6.1; tickets: 86.15)

Event Comment: The original Music [of the TE DEUM] is in two Scores, MS., one of them in the possession of the King of Naples, and the other in that of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, by whose gracious condescension the use of this Score will be allowed for that night. The new Organ, built by Green (organ-builder to his Majesty) for the new Subscription Room, will be played upon this occasion by Greatorex. Boxes to be taken of Rice. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 7:00. To begin at 8:00

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by John Cartwright Cross. MSS: Larpent MS 1139 (as licensed for the hay in Aug. 1796, but, although advertised for performance on 31 successive nights, not acted there), and Larpent MS 1142 (as licensed for dl); not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald. 7 Nov.]: The Overture and Musick by Reeve. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #320 4s. (213.14.6; 104.10.0; 1.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Bernard. 2nd piece [1st time in London; M. INT 2, by John Bernard, 1st acted at Bath, 18 Apr. 1786. Music by William Boyton. Larpent MS 732; not published]: By Permission of the Bath Managers [William Keasberry and William Wyatt Dimond]. Receipts: #189 15s. (76.9; 1.16; tickets: 111.10)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. There is no indication as to whether this is the premiere. This performance is on the L. C. lists at Harvard. See VanLennep, Plays on the English Stage, p. 19. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 32): The third new Play Acted there [dg] was the Gentleman Dancing-Master, Wrote by Mr Witcherly, it lasted but 6 Days, being like't but indifferently, it was laid by to make Room for other new ones. A song, with music by John Bannister, for this play is in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673

Event Comment: The King's Company. This play appears in Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 117, preceding 11 Dec., with no date assigned. See also 11 March 1661@2

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. [King, Queen, Prince of Wales, and three eldest Princesses present.

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. With two New Scenes in the Afterpiece painted by Richards and Dahl. Mr Woodward, at the particular request of several persons of Quality has changed from the Fair Quaker to The Busy Body. Tickets deliver'd for Fair Quaker will be admitted. House charges with candles and extras #65 15s. Balance to Woodward #102 7s. plus #58 5s. for 233 Box tickets (Account Book). [Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1767: "Speedily will be published the Battle of the Wigs, an additional canto to Dr Garth's poem The Dispensary. Occasioned by the Disputes between the Fellows and licentiates of the College of Physicians in London. By B. T. and M. B."] Receipts: #168 2s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Theatre to The French Dancing Master, and there with much pleasure gazed upon her (Lady Castlemaine); but it troubles us to see her look dejectedly and slighted by People already. The play pleased us [Pepys and Mrs Pepys] very well; but Lacy's part, the Dancing Master, the best in the world

Event Comment: Benefit Williams and Oates. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Comedy [in 5 Acts by Sir William Davenant, slightly altered for the stage by Henry Woodward] never acted there. [The lady identified by Hopkins MS Notes and named in the Edition of 1775. The Westminster Magazine for Nov. suggests Shuter instead of Quick for Sancho. The review thought it an indifferent Comedy which "yet could be made a most excellent farce....The dialogue has all the rust of antiquity about it, and the modernizing scenes are left to the discretion of the performers. However, in representation, this piece cannot fail of entertaining....Miss Leeson, who appeared in the character of Isabella, has an agreeable plaasing figure, a good face and a marking eye; her voice is weak, but after she got rid of her fright was sufficiently articulate; there was an ease and nature in her deportment and dialogue that entitles her to encouragement."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered into Three Acts. "All the comic part of the play is cut out" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1795, p. 123). Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by William Pearce]: The Incidents principally selected from the legendary Ballads of the 13th Century. The Scenery, Machinery, Music, Dresses and Decorations entirely new, and in correct conformity to the Times. The Pantomime invented by Mr Lonsdale. The Songs written by Mr O'Keeffe. The Overture and the Music (with the exception of a few Antient Ballad Tunes) by Reeve. The Dances invented by Byrn. [The concluding Grand Scene regulated by Thomas Harris (Monthly Mirror, supra).] The Scenery painted by Hodgins, Lupino, Phillips, Thorne, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Machinery by Sloper and Goosetree. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [For a further assignment of the Vocal Characters and for a more detailed synopsis, see 4 Jan. 1796.] Account-Book, 16 Jan. 1796: Paid Goosetree for the Keep and Hire of Horses for the Pantomime #15 13s. Receipts: #321 19s. (318.10; 3.9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Text: T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1800. Miss Waters is identified in the Songs]: The Scenes, Music, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations are all entirely new. The Music composed by Mazzinghi and Reeve. The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Backmore, &c. [based on drawings of Indian scenery by Thomas Daniell]. The Machinery and Decorations by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs, also describing the Scenes and Spectacle of the Return from the Tiger Hunt, to be had at the Theatre, price six pence. "The whole [forms] an exhibition of the utmost grandeur...The expense attending the decoration must have been immense...The dailogue is certainly not of the first description of writing, but it forms, on the whole, a very safe vehicle for some of the best music the English stage has for some time been able to boast"(Morning Herald, 13 Nov.). Account-Book, 27 Dec.: Paid Cuthbert for Wheels, &c. for the Elephants #13 18s. Receipts: #364 7s. 6d. (363.19.6; 0.8.0)

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: 3rd piece [1st time; P 2 (?), by John Cartwright Cross. MS of Songs only: Larpent MS 1203]: Partly New and Partly Selected. The Overture and Music by Reeve. The Scenery partly new & the rest completely repaired by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Blackmore, &c. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, Goostree Jun., &c. Receipts: #195 9s. (193.2; 2.7)