Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit [9 rows (London Chronicle, 5 Apr.)] will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four. Morning Chronicle, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No 49, Marlborough-street. Receipts: #412 11s. (212.2.0; 10.18.6; 0.0.6; tickets: 189.10.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those whose Infirmities oblige them to retire from the Stage. The whole Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who have seats in the Pit are earnestly requested to be early at the Theatre, and Servants are desired to attend at half past Four o'Clock to keep Places. "The fine tragic powers of [Mrs Siddons] and Kemble were but wasted on the turgid trumpery of the play...But Kemble in this scene [end of Act III] was so impassioned and transcendent that it killed all the rest of the piece. The scorn of Mrs Siddons at his dissimulation--her haughty bearing and marking emphasis, with the piercing powers of her eye, are all treasured where they should be" (Oracle, 16 May). Receipts: #117 14s. (107.11.0; 9.12.6; 0.10.6; tickets: none listed, but Oracle, 17 May, reports that tickets were purchased for as much as one guinea and a half) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Oratorio: Written by Milton. Set to Music by Handel. Among the instrumental performers are Messrs Ashley andSons, Patria, Sarjant, Billington, Mahon, Boyce, Mountain, Howard, Lavenu, Simpson, Gwilliam, Purney, Munro, Leander, Kaye, Sharp, Lyon, &c. Double Drums by J. Ashley. The whole under the direction of Harrison and Ashley. At Play-house Prices. No money to be returned. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin precisely at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Books of the Performance, with the names of the performers to their respective songs, price 6d., may be had at the Theatre, and to prevent imposition in the streets, the Manager's books are printed with the following words at the bottom of each title-page, "Printed by H. Macleish, Duke's court, Drury-Lane.

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those whose Infirmities oblige them to retire from the Stage. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same for rest of season]. Receipts: #372 1s. (224.10; 44.7; 1.10; tickets: 101.14) (charge: free)

Event Comment: The King's Theatre having been rented to the Proprietors of Drury-Lane House, with a reserve of the Nights for the Italian Opera to be carried on there for the Opera Trust, the Drury-Land Patent will in future be moved on Tuesdays and Saturdays to the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market, where all old and new Renters, claiming under the Drury-Lane Patent, will be entitled to Free Admission, and to their Rights for each Night of Performance. Half Price not being taken at this Theatre, the Performances will be reduced to the old established Prices. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes in the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market, to be taken at Fosbrook's Office at the King's Theatre as usual. [Mainpiece in place of Cymon; afterpiece of The Patron, both advertised on playbill of 25 Jan.] Receipts: #140 11s. (139.0; 1.11)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those whose Infirmities oblige them to retire from the Stage. The Last Time of Mrs Siddons's performing this Season. Receipts: #170 13s. (122.8; 0.0; tickets: 48.5) (charge: free)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Johnstone, but "Johnstone's character was played by Townsend" (Thespian Magazine, July 1794, p. 282). It is not stated who substituted for Townsend.] Tickets delivered [Account-Book: by Cubitt and Ledger; Cubitt being allowed #50 worth of tickets sold; Ledger's tickets being free, i.e., he to have the remainder] for FONTAINVILLE FOREST will be admitted. Receipts: #195 19s. (62/12/ 6; 7/7/6; tickets 125/19/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Welsh. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Samuel Birch]: The Music principally new, composed by Attwood, with a few selections from Mozart. Books of the Songs to be had hn the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 21 May 1795: This Day is published The Adopted Child (1s.). Ibid., 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Master Welsh, No. 9, Margaret-street, Westminster. Receipts: #226 10s. (87.13.6; 43.3.6; 17.7.0; tickets: 78.6.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. 2nd piece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 20 Dec. 1773]. 3rd piece: By permission of the proprietor of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden. Morning Chronicle, 20 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #667 3s. (344.8.0; 22.7.6; 21.8.6; tickets: 278.19.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Storace. Mainpiece: By permission of the Proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. Never [previously] acted at this theatre. Tickets delivered for the 11th Instant will be `dmitted. Morning Chronicle, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Sga Storace [for 11 May], No. 26, Howland-street, Fitzroy-square. Receipts: #443 12s. (193.6; 75.4; 5.11; tickets: 169.11) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund, for the Relief of those whose Infirmities oblige them to retire from the Stage. Ballet: Manual Exercise as 20 May. Receipts: #253 4s. 6d. (105.3.0; 37.12.0; 15.1.6; tickets: 95.8.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; MD 5, by James Boaden, based on Herman von Unna, by Anders Fredrik, Count Skjoldebrand. Prologue by John Litchfield. Epilogue by the author (see text)]: In the course of the Play, the Customs of the Tribunal in the Citation of the Offender-the Leading away to Judgement-the Habits and mysterious Signs of the Ministers of Vengeance, will be given with Accuracy. In the last Act, the awful Assembly of the Free Judges at Midnight, with the Ceremonies of the Trial-elucidating an Institution, which, by Secrecy and Certainty of its Judgements, produced many alarming Events in the 15th Century, throughout the Germanic Empire. Morning Herald, 20 June 1795: This Day is published The Secret Tribunal (2s.). Receipts: #93 11s. (82.19; 10.12)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 9th Night [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the preceding season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Office, Russel Street. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. 2nd Price 6d. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 2 Nov.]. An alteration in the Property taking Place in the present Season [i.e. the introduction of two new proprietors], the former Free List of the Theatre necessarily expires. Printed by C. Lowndes, next the Stage-Door. Receipts: #344 17s. 6d. (247.9.0; 95.1.0; 2.7.6)

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of The Wives Revenged, advertised on playbill of 22 Oct.] 2nd piece: 4th Time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. In the course of the Play, the Customs of the Tribunal in the Citation of the Offender-the Leading away to Judgment-the Habits and mysterious Signs of the Ministers of Vengeance, will be given with Accuracy. And in the Last Act, the awful Assembly of the Free Judges at Midnight, with the Ceremonies of the Trial-elucidating an Institution, which, by the Scenery and Certainty of its Judgments, produced many alarming Events in the 15th century, throughout the Germanic Empire. 3rd piece: In the course of the Pantomime a Representation of an Engagement between an English and French Man of Warv. A Shipwreckv. The original Allegoric Scene from Provocation. A View of an English Campv. A Naval and Military Procession. Receipts: #235 3s. 6d. (209.0.0; 26.3.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Mainpiece: In Act II a Masquerade Scene. [Author of Epilogue unknown.] Oracle, II Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #658 19s. 6d. (319.0.0; 46.8.0; 1.17.0; tickets: 284.4.0; odd money: 7.10.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Welsh. [2nd piece in place of The Sultan, advertised on playbill of 10 May. Medley is identified in MS list in Kemble playbills of new performers for this season.] "A riot took place this evening, occasioned by the performance of Skirmish by a new actor. This person, wanting every quality requisite for the stage, performed so very much to the dissatisfaction of the audience, that the piece was mutilated in such a manner that for some time it was insisted on that the whole should be repeated more perfectly and by another actor. This being impossible, some mischief was threatened, but after a short time the disturbance ceased" (European Magazine, June 1796, p. 396). Morning Herald, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Master Welsh, No. 9, St. Margaret-street, Westminster. Receipts: #292 4s. (84.11.6; 47.15.6; 12.14.0; tickets: 146.19.6; odd money: 0.3.6). (charge: free)

Event Comment: [This was Miss Farren's last appearance on the stage.] "On the conclusion of the play Wroughton came forward, and, instead of uttering the usual lines [i.e. giving out the play for the next night], delivered the following Address before the curtain dropped, all the Performers remaining on the Stage, and Miss Farren herself in a state apparently of much agitation. [Here follows the address (which is not listed on the playbill).] After Wroughton had delivered these lines, Miss Farren advanced and curtsied repeatedly" (True Briton, 10 Apr.). The address "was written by Sheridan during the performance of the comedy" (Morning Herald, 12 Apr.). "[Miss Farren's] figure is considerably above the middle height, and is of that slight texture which allows and requires the use of full and flowing drapery, an advantage of which she well knows how to avail herself...She possesses ease, vivacity, spirit and humour, and her performances are so little injured by effort, that we have often experienced a delusion of the senses, and imagined, what in a theatre it is so difficult imagine, the scene of action to be identified, and Miss Farren really the character she was only attempting to sustain" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1797, pp. 236-37). Account-Book: Renters, Free, Orders and Private Boxes at School for Scandal #199 9s. [The tally is also entered of 3,656 spectators in the theatre.] Receipts: #728 14s. 6d. (654.18.0; 70.7.0; 3.9.6; being the largest amount taken at this theatre, on a night not devoted to a benefit, between 1794 (when it was opened) and 1800)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Welsh. Morning Herald, 18 May: Tickets to be had of Master Welsh, No. 9, Margaret-street, Westminster. Receipts: #355 9s. 6d. (72.13.6; 58.13.0; 4.12.0; tickets: 219.11.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those whose Infirmities oblige them to retire from the Stage. Receipts: #179 8s. (75.11; 50.14; 3.7; tickets: 49.16) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. [In mainpiece the playbill retains King as Sir Peter Teazle, but "Murray, on account of the indisposition of King, was the Sir Peter to Mrs Jordan's Lady Teazle" (Monthly Mirror, May 1797, p. 311).] Tickets delivered for the 15th [for which day the benefit was first announced] will be admitted. "On the whole, Mrs Jordan's Lady Teazle, if not excellent, was respectable; and at a time when it was thought that it would be impossible to personify her Ladyship [i.e. after the retirement of Miss Farren], Mrs Jordan is commendable in having endeavoured it...[Sir Peter] was a part well suited to Murray, who excels in the still and the pathetic...In the screen scene his mirth in revealing to Charles the story of the French milliner, and his amazement the moment after when Charles, throwing down the screen, presented that milliner in the shape of Lady Teazle, must confirm the reputation of Murray. 'Lady Teazle!' (exclaimed he, turning from her towards the door, and in an accent alarmingly impressive), 'Lady Teazle, by all that is damnable!" (Monthly Visitor, June 1797, pp. 531-32). True Briton, 6 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #550 3s. (232.4.0; 72.2.0; 7.10.6; tickets: 238.6.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer's Orphan Family [see dl, 18 June 1798]. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 27 Nov.]. Boxes 6s. Second Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. Second Price 2s. Gallery 2s. Second Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. Second Price 6d. No Money to be returned. Tickets may be had at Lloyd's Coffee House [for this night only]; and of Fosbrook, at the Box Office, Little Russel Street, where, only, Places for the Boxes can be taken. The Public are respectfully informed that Mr Aickin is appointed Manager. Printed by C. Lowndes next the Stage-Door. Receipts: #571 15s. (519.8.6; 45.17.6; 1.16.0; tickets: none listed; Sundry Sums left at Door: 4.13.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Prologue by Counsellor Moore (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 368). Epilogue by John Taylor (see text)]: With new Scenes and Dresses. "Lewis's Gossamer is one of those characters which no actor could play but himself, because no man has that happy freedom and facility, that fashionable playfulness and spirit, so joyous, free, and unrelaxing, which distinguish all his performances of this nature" (Monthly Mirror, ibid). Morning Chronicle, 8 Mar. 1799: This Day is published Laugh When You Can (2s.). Receipts: #268 10s. (263.17; 4.13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, based partly on Die Indianer in England, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue, Epilogue by the author (see text)]: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis]. Receipts: #706 5s. 6d. (350.16.6; 42.4.0; odd and after-money: 7.4.6; tickets: 306.0.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Rose Didelot. Tickets to be had of Mrs Rose Didelot, No. 8, Haymarket. 2nd ballet: 1st time; composed by J. D'Egville. [In all subsequent performances this was billed as Tarare.] "D'Egville, Laborie, and St.Pierre are excellent dancers and fine manly figures. Laborie possesses more elegance than St. Pierre; but the latter greater animation. D'Egville displays much taste and poetical spirit in the invention of ballets...[which] are far richer in naive situations, and possess a more free poetical spirit than those of Paris" (Goede, 265-66)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Morning Chronicle, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. Receipts: #439 12s. 6d. (228.14.6; 40.6.0; 0.16.0; tickets: 169.16.0) (charge: free)