Event Comment: Artaxerxes [announced on playbill of 21 May] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. Afterpiece [1st time; C 3, by Elizabeth Inchbald. Prologue by Henry Sampson Woodfall, Jun. (see text)]: Taken from the celebrated piece called Guerre Ouverte; ou, Ruse Contre Ruse [by Antoine Jean Bourlin, dit Dumaniant]. Public Advertiser, 1 Dec. 1787: This Day is published The Midnight Hour (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #74 5s. (70.2; 4.3)

Event Comment: Benefit for the London Hospital. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Stage Door of the Theatre; the Doors of which will be opened at 5:30, and the Performance to begin precisely at 6:30. No Money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up, nor will any Person be admitted behind the Scenes. [Master Braham is identified in Grove. Address by Arthur Murphy (Town and Country Magazine, July 1787, p. 324).] This was the opening night of this theatre, which had been built by and was under the management of John Palmer. Following the afterpiece he explained to the audience the objections of the proprietors of dl, cg and hay to his opening the theatre. He said that he had from the Lieutenant of the Tower of London what he considered to be sufficient permission, but that he would nevertheless close the theatre temporarily. Palmer's difficulty was that he had no really legal permission from anybody for the performance of actual plays. See 3 July, and for further details the head-note to this season. World, 18 July, prints an official accoudting for this night from the theatre's treasurer: Receipts were #273 12s.; paid for music, advertisements, servants, &c. #37 10s.; lost in bad silver #1 19s.; paid the London Hospital #234 4s.; the players acted without salary

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5]: Altered from Beaumont and Fletcher, by Dryden [by Thomas King. The original alteration, 1700, was by Sir John Vanbrugh, not by Dryden. The present alteration has been attributed to John Philip Kemble, but in his copy of the play, now in the Huntington Library (K-D 95), he has written "by Thomas King"]. Public Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1787: This Day is published, as now revived with material Additions, The Pilgrim (1s.). Receipts: #85 9s. 6d. (72.5.0; 13.4.6; 0.0.0)

Event Comment: "The leaving Percy untaken up [by Falstaff, in V.iv of mainpiece] was an improvement. The best acting was that of Mrs Pitt" (World, 6 Nov.). Afterpiece: With new Music, Scenes, Machinepy, Dresses, and Decorations. A few of the Airs compiled from Purcell, Travers, Sacchini, &c. The rest of the Music composed by Shield. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and many assistants. To conclude with the Representation of the inside of a Nabob's Palacev. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #199 0s. 6d. (193.16.0; 5.4.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. To conclude with a Splendid Representation of the Fairy's Palacev. The Paintings by Greenwood. The Music compiled and composed by Linley? Sen. Books of the Songs, Introduction, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #121 9s. (92.0.0; 27.18.6; 1.10.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Performed but once [on 14 Apr. 1787]. With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. [Prologue by Edmond Malone; Epilogue by John Courtenay (see text). Afterpiece in place of The First Floor, advertised on playbill of 10 Dec.] Receipt2: #223 10s. (195.13.0; 27.8.6; 0.8.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald. Larpent MS 789; not published. Prologue by Henry Sampson Woodfall Jun. (London Chronicle, 17 Dec.); Epilogue by Frederick Pilon (Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.)]. [Miss Blower had 1st appeared at dl, 27 Apr. 1782, and thereafter in Dublin.] Receipts: #180 7s. 6d. (169.19.0; 10.8.6)

Event Comment: "Miss Hilligsberg cannot be praised enough for her exertions and sucess in the execution of [the second] ballet, which has given her an opportunity of making herself perfect in her profession [this being her 1st season on the stage]...The scenery has no doubt by Noverre, and if it is not more magnificent it is not for want of genius on his part, but to spare the purse of the Managers...The Palace of Cupidv for the reception of Psiche in the first, and that of Venus in the last act, with the appearance of Jupiter, &c. in the skies, were very well executed, and beautifully arranged by the actors" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #202 11s. (non-subscription]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb]: Some of the Airs compiled from the best Masters; the rest of the Music, the Overture, Accompaniments, &c. by Linley? Sen. With variety of new Scenery ["A view of Calcuttav, from a painting done on the spot by Hodges, opens the piece" (Public Advertiser, 26 Feb.)], Dresses and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 6 Mar. 1788: This Day is published Love in the East (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #207 8s. 6d. (172.8.0; 33.9.6; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. Mainpiece: With (1st time) Alterations and Additions by the Author [John O'Keeffe]. The Overture, Airs, &c. by Dr Arnold. The selected [music] by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan. The new additional Songs by Shield. Public Advertiser, 22 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, Broad-court, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #325 8s. 6d. (164.6.6; 3.19.0; tickets: 157.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Lady Eglantine Wallace. Prologue by Joseph Jekyll (World, 14 Apr.). Epilogue by Thomas Morris, with five lines added by Edward Topham (Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.)]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 26 Apr.: This Day is published The Ton (18d.). "On the next representation we hope the other performers will not give the audience reason to believe that the prompter has a part in the play from his frequent audibility" (Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.). Receipts: #295 18s. 6d. (294.9.0; 1.9.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by James Cobb, based on Doktor und Apotheker, by Gottlieb Stephanie]: With entirely new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music composed by Carl? Ditters [von Dittersdorf] and with additional music by Stephen? Storace. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #182 13s. (126.1; 55.12; 1.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; C 3, by James Wild]: Reduced [from the same by Henry Fielding] into 3 Acts. Receipts: #287 8s. 6d. (282.2.6; 5.6.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; C 3, by John Philip Kemble, based on 'Tis Well It's No Worse, by Isaac Bickerstaffe]. Morning Chronicle, 13 Mar. 1789: This Day is published The Pannel (1s.). Receipts: #204 8s. (165.3.0; 38.1.6; 1.3.6)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera (never performed [in London; 1st performed at Vienna, 1786]); the Music by Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler], under the direction of Mazzinghi. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. Those Subscribers of last season who have not yet signified their intention respecting the retaining of their Boxes are respectfully requested to send their names, in writing, to the Treasurer's office in Union-court, Hay-market, on or before Thursday next, the 15th inst., or the Manager will be under the necessity of disposing of the Boxes. Subscriptions are received and Tickets delivered as usual, at Messrs Ransom, Morland and Hammersley, No. 57, Pall-Mall. All persons claiming admission into the Opera House by Silver Tickets or Renters' Shares are requested to send the same to the Treasurer's Office as early as may be, that they may be examined and properly certified, otherwise they cannot be admitted. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout opera season]

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (never performed [in London; 1st performed at Turin, 1788]); the Music by Cherubini [with additions by Tarchi and Sarti (World, 26 Jan.)], under the direction of Mazzinghi. With magnificent new Scenes, Dresses and other Decorations

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John O'Keeffe. In 1796 altered by the author as The Lie of the Day. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb., which also gives the names of the speakers)]: With new Dresses and Scenery. Receipts: #204 11s. 6d. (202.10.0; 2.1.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Some of the Airs compiled from the best Masters. The rest of the Music, the Overture, Accompanimedts, &c. by Linley? Sen. [Mrs Edwards was from the hay.] Receipts: #197 16s. 6d. (169.19.0; 26.14.6; 1.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryder. Public Advertiser, 20 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Ryder at his house, No. 5, Bow-street, Covent-garden. 1st piece: The Overture, Airs, &c. by Dr Arnold. The selected by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, Carolan the Irish Bard. 2nd piece: 1st time Here. Translated from the French of La Bonne Mere, by Horatio Edgar? Robson, and at this Time reading with great success and general applause by LeTexier in Lisle-Street [and 1st acted at the hay, 22 Aug. 1788]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Ryder, altered from The Man of Parts, by Isaac Jackman; not published]. Receipts: #271 0s. 6d. (191.15.6; 5.7.0; tickets: 73.18.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 2nd piece [1st time; C 3, by John O'Keeffe. Not in Larpent MS; not published. This is an unusual instance of the playbill containing, on the 1st night of a new play, the full cast]: Taken from Mrs Centlivre's Gamester. Receipts: #345 13s. (256.2.6; 4.3.6; tickets: 85.7.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [C 5, by the Hon. Henry Seymour Conway, adapted from Les Dehors Trompeurs; ou, L'Homme du Jour, by Louis de Boissy; incidental music by Michael Kelly. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: 1st time at a public theatre. With new Scenes and Dresses. [This was 1st acted on 31 May 1788 at the private theatre in the town house of the Duke of Richmond, which was situated on what is now Richmond Terrace, Whitehall. It was demolished in 1819.] Diary, 16 June 1789: This Day is published False Appearances (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #138 3s. (114.15.0; 22.5.6; 1.2.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Farren, "but on account of the sudden indisposition of Miss Farren her part in the play was read by Mrs Ward, who gave it with great effect, and having studied Miss Farren's manner, was a very tolerable substitute" (Diary, 2 May).] Afterpiece [1st time; C 3, by John Philip Kemble]: Taken from [The Country Lasses; or] The Custom of the Manor [by Charles Johnson]. Diary, 6 May 1789: This Day is published The Farm House (1s.). And see 6 May. Receipts: #165 3s. (125.12.0; 34.18.6; 4.12.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells, mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Prologue by Robert Merry. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (World, 16 May)]. Morning Herald, 30 Mar. 1793: This Day is published The Dramatist (1s. 6d.). Public Advertiser, 29 Apr: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No 15, Beaufort Buildings, Strand. Receipts: #291 8s. 6d. (173.19.0; 9.9.6; tickets: 108.0.0)