Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2. but printed in 3, by John O'Keeffe]: Taken [by its author]. with various Alterations, from the Opera of The Lad of the Hills [see 9 Apr. 1796]. The Music partly compiled, and the Overture, new Music and the Accompaniments to the National Airs, composed by Shield. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Account-Book. 3 Oct.: Paid O'Keeffe for the Alteration of the Lad of the Hills and the Golden Pippin [see 5 Nov.] #100. Receipts: #220 19s. 6d. (209.15.6; 11.4.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The principal parts of the Compilation from The Choice of Harlequin. The Magic Cavern, The Enchanted Castle, The Sylphs, The Sorcerer. The Music compiled from, and composed by Michael Arne, Shield, J. C.? Bach, Spofforth, &c. The Scenery, Machinery and Decorations are partly new, and the rest completely repaired by Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan. Blackmore, and assistants. Receipts: #210 14s. 6d. (209.16.6; 0.18.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mountain. 2nd piece [1st time: CO 2, by James Hook Jun. Larpent MS 1172; not published]: With appropriate Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Music by James Hook? Sen.. True Briton, 16 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mountain, No. 28, Maiden-lane, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #287 3s. (86.4.6; 14.6.0; tickets: 186.12.6)

Event Comment: "In the scene with Salanio and Solarino after the discovery of Jessica's flight, Elliston was more noisy than impressive; and the speech "hath not a Jew eyes?" &c. was delivered with such a dreadful rant as to destroy all the beauty of the poet, as well as the effect which this part always produces when judiciously delivered...Miss DeCamp's Portia was beyond what we could possibly have expected from a person of her line of acting. It was frequently above, but never below mediocrity" (Monthly Visitor, Sept. 1797, p. 257)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Receipts: #413 17s. (409.6; 4.11)

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: Benefit for Townsend and Mrs Johnson. 3rd piece [1st time in London; F 1, by William Dunlap]: Performed with distinguished Applause at the John St.? Theatre, New York [on 9 Jan. 1797]; compressed into one act [from two], and adapted for the English Stage by a Gentleman [perhaps the author]. "Commencing at half past eleven o'clock, and after a tiresome variety of other entertainments, the audience thought they had had enough for their money, and demanded the fall of the curtain before the conclusion of [Tell Truth and Shame the Devil]" (Monthly Mirror, June 1799, p. 367). Morning Chronicle, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Townsend, No. 9, Leicester-place. [Mrs Johnson not listed.] Receipts: #442 17s. 6d. (108.1.0; 1.11.0; tickets: 333.5.6, of which Townsend sold 218.2.0; Mrs Johnson 115.3.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hill, Rees and Miss Sims. Morning Chronicle, 6 June: Tickets to be had of Hill, No. 24, Bow-street, opposite the Pit Door. [Others not listed.] 2nd piece [1st time: M. INT 1]. Receipts: #287 7s. (50.17.6; 4.0.6; tickets: 232.9.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, and there, the pit being full, sat in a box above, and saw Catiline's Conspiracy, yesterday being the first day: a play of much good sense and words to read, but that do appear the worst upon the stage, I mean, the least diverting, that ever I saw any, though most fine in clothes; and a fine scene of the Senate, and of a fight, that ever I saw in my life. But the play is only to be read, and therefore home, with no pleasure at all, but only in sitting next to Betty Hall, that did belong to this house, and was Sir Philip Howard's mistress, a mighty pretty wench. Evelyn, Diary: I went to see the old play Cataline acted, having ben now forgotten 40 years almost

Event Comment: [Written by Shakespear. With new Scenes and Cloaths. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction the Pit and Boxes will be put together at 3s. Boxes on the Stage 4s. Gallery 1s. [The Prologue is in The Comedian, No. VII, October 1732, with a long essay on the major theatres of the present season.] Daily Advertiser, 4 Oct.: A very splendid and crowded Audience...testify'd their Approbation both of the Decorations and Performance. The principal Embellishments are as follows: On a large Oval over the Pit is represented the Figure of His Majesty, attended by Peace, Liberty, and Justice, trampling Tyranny and Oppression under his Feet; round it are the Heads of Shakespear, Dryden, Congreve, and Betterton. On the Coving on the Left Hand is painted the Scene of Cato pointing at the dead Body of his Son Marcus; in the Middle, that of Julius Caesar stabb'd in the Senate-House; and on the Right, that of Marc Anthony and Octavia, where the Children are introduc'd in All for Love. On the Sounding-Board over the Stage is an handsome Piece of Painting of Apollo and the Nine Muses. [See also Daily Post, 4 Oct. and Gentleman's Magazine, II (October 1732), 1028.

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Benefit Garrick. Boxes and Pit laid together at 5s. Victor to Garrick: My closest attention was never more commanded than by you last night in Othello....I was most inclined to fear for you in your address to the Senate, but there, even there, you excelled your present rival (Quin) whose merit lies chiefly in declamation-I found you had very judiciously applied your study to the great and striking passages in the character--the trance had a fine effect, your manner of falling into it, and recovery from it, was amazingly beautiful...it would be ridiculous to doubt of your ability to act this part in the utmost perfection; but to arrive at that point there are some things to be done.--Genest, IV, 147

Event Comment: "In his first scenes [Kemble] was judicious, but too studiously so; and though most critically correct in his address to the Senate, evidenced he was more anxious to do justice to the text of his author than the feelings of Othello. But in the subsequent scenes he made ample recompense, and most successfully combined accuracy of expression with spirit of character...We much approve his dressing Othello in the Moorish habit...[but] is it necessary the Moor should be as black as a native of Guiney?" (Public Advertiser, 29 Oct.). Receipts: #117 16s. (102.6; 15.5; 0.5)