Event Comment: "The represention announced for last night at this Theatre was Twelfth Night; but as Mrs Jordan found herself too ill to perform, new bills were issued, and the substitute was to be The Siege of Belgrade. About the middle of the day, however, Mrs Jordan found herself well enough to perform, and the other bills were circulated, importing that the play was to be Twelfth Night. But, in the afternoon, Mrs Jordan found herself too ill to perform, and a message was sent again to the theatre, signifying the melancholy disappointment. It was then too late to make any other change, and Twelfth Night was represented, Mrs Goodall reading the part of Viola. There was considerable difficulty in collecting the performers, after these repeated changes. Barrymore could not be found, and Caulfield dressed for Orsino; but when he was ready to appear Barrymore arrived, and took the part. It was then discovered that Phillimore was absent, and Caulfield was doomed to dress once more, for Phillimore's character; but soon after Phillimore came to the house. Mrs Kemble being indisposed, Miss Mellon undertook her part of Maria ...The Audience (a large one) indeed grumbled a little at this kind of dramatic hocus pocus, but on the whole, were not churlish in their testimonies of satisfaction" (True Briton, 13 Jan.). Receipts: #222 19s. (160.4.0; 58.11.6; 4.3.6)

Event Comment: The Company will be apprised at the doors as soon as the audience part of the Theatre is full. "When the curtain drew up for the new ballet, ladies [were] at the wings sitting...[and] several hundred gentlemen occupied the back of the stage, so that the beautiful scenery which had been prepared for the ballet lost all its effect" (Oracle, 22 Feb., which also states that the part of Roxalana was danced by Mme Hilligsberg). [Didelot and 1st appeared at the former king's theatre on 8 Dec. 1787.

Event Comment: A New Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Florence, 1793, as La Confusione nata dalla Somiglianza; ossiano, I Due Gobbi]); the music by Portogallo. [Viganoni had 1st appeared at the former king's Theatre throughout the seasons of 1781-82 and 1782-83.

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Wilkinson. Mainpiece [T 3, by John Penn, 1st acted at Richmond, Feb. 1796. Prologue by the author (see text)]: A New Historical Play in 3 Acts (with songs [by John Wall Callcott]). Morning Herald, 11 Apr.: This Day is published The Battle of Eddington, as acted at the Haymarket and at Richmond (1s. 6d.). Tickets to be had of Wilkinson, No. 14, Mary-le-bone-street, Golden-square. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, altered anonymously from the anonymous Bickerstaff's Unburied Dead]. 3rd piece [1st time; INT 1, by John Cartwright Cross]. Oracle, 11 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Quick, No. 98, High Holborn. Receipts: #424 (207.2; 5.8; tickets: 211.10)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Banti. A Grand Serious Opera (1st time in this Country [1st performed at Paris, 1779]); the Music by Gluck. Accompanied With Chorusses under the Direction of Kelly. With entirely new Scenes designed by Marinari, and executed under his direction, Dresses and Decorations. Tickets to be had of Mme Banti, No. 7, Hay Market. The Company are respectfully entreated not to come upon the Stage this Night, as the Iphigenia is accompanied with a degree of Spectacle on which the effect of the Performance chiefly depends; besides, the Machinery used in this Opera will make it dangerous for the Company to be upon the Stage during the time of the representation. "We never saw a House more splendid, more crowded, nor more gratified...In spite of the request not to crowd upon the stage, it was quite thronged; and it was impossible to move the complicated and superb scenery with effect. We lament that no means can be devised to save the stage from this perpetual intrusion" (Morning Chronicle, 8 Apr.). "Banti had a crowded house for her benefit, and is said to have netted 1500 guineas" (Monthly Magazine, May 1796 p. 321)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Tickets delivered for The Country Girl will be admitted. [Afterpiece in place of The Sultan, advertised on playbill of 11 Apr.] Oracle, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 12, New Lisle-street, Leicester Fields. Receipts: #346 11s. (158.3.0; 49.11.6; 4.2.6; tickets: 134.14.0). (charge: #241 16s. 6d.)

Event Comment: The Publick are most respectfully informed that the New Tragedy of Almeyda [advertised on playbill of 13 Apr.] is obliged to be deferred [see 20 Apr.] on account of the Indisposition of Palmer. Receipts: #205 1s. (145.5.0; 55.5.6; 4.10.6)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera; 1st Time [in London; 1st performed at Naples, 1787]. The Music by Paisiello

Event Comment: Notice on playbill of 13 May: Mrs Siddons having consented, at the desire of many Ladies and Gentlemen who were disappointed of Places for the New Tragedy, to delay her departure from Town [see 2 May] His Majesties' Company will perform Almeyda on Monday next. Being positively the Last Night of Mrs Siddons's Appearance this Season. Receipts: #448 16s. 6d. (377.14.0; 68.19.0; 2.0.6; ticket not come in: 0.3.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrymore. Mainpiece: In Act II a Masquerade Scene. Morning Herald, 16 May: Tickets to be had of Barrymore, No. 20, Judd-place West, New-road, St. Pancras. Receipts: #155 9s. (97.9.6; 51.12.6; 4.10.6; tickets: none listed; odd money: 1.16.6) (charge: #217 5s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dignum. Morning Herald, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Dignum, No. 23, New North-street, Red-lion-square. Receipts: #148 10s. 6d. (81.10.0; 57.6.6; 2.3.0; tickets: none listed; odd money: 7.11.0) (charge: #214 1s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Viganoni. Tickets to be had of Viganoni, No. 131, Pall-mall. [Opera with a new translation by Lorenzo DaPonte of Marmontel's original libretto (Loewenberg, p. 322).

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: A new Comic Opera (1st tim [in London; 1st performed at Naples. 1792]); the Music by Guglielmi

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: Afterpiece: Not acted these 10 years [acted 18 Feb. 1789]. With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. Musick by late Mr Linley. The Scenery of First Part by Greenwood and his assistants, of Second Part by Marinari and his assistants. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston, Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay, Miss Rein. [Synopsis of plot (T. Becket, 1797).] Account-Book, 24 Dec.: Parrot bought and Cage for Robinson Crusoe #3 5s. 6d.; Paid Hunt, fireworker #2 3s. Receipts: #326 9s. (257.1; 62.13; 6.15)

Event Comment: Opera: The Music by Paisiello. L'Amour et Psiche [advertised in True Briton, 6 Jan.] is unavoidably postponed on account of the indisposition of Mme Hilligsberg. The Frequenters of the Gallery are respectfully informed that the Coffee-Room underneath, having since last year been very considerably enlarged, and entirely new ornamented by Mr Liparotti, will be opened for the present Season on this Evening, and the Company will please to observe that at the end of it, next to Market-lane, an additional Staircase has been erected for their greater accomodation in going to and coming from that side of the Gallery

Event Comment: [Miss D'Evelyn is identified in MS list in Kemble playbills of new performance for this season.] Complaints having been made of the Box-Keepers and Door Keepers of this Theatre applying for Christmas Boxes, it is requested by Proprietors that no such Application may be attended to; and any person belonging to the Theatre persevering in the Practice will be immediately discharged. Receipts: #197 1s. 6d. (133.8.6; 61.11.6; 2.1.6)

Event Comment: 2nd ballet: With entirely new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenes painted by Greenwood, and under his direction. "Magnificent, perhaps beyond parallel on a British stage, but it is considerably too long, as it was past twelve before it was concluded" (True Briton, 8 Feb.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Prince Hoare, based partly on Le Comte D'Albert et sa Suite, by Michael Jean Sedaine. Larpent MS 1153; not published; synopsis of plot in Monthly Visitor, Feb. 1797, p. 164]: The Musick partly new and partly selected [by Michael Kelly; overture by Stanislas Champein (BUC 567)]. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #321 14s. (184.18.6; 134.14.6; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. 2nd piece: Not acted these 12 years [acted 13 Dec. 1788]. 3rd piece: With all original Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. New Music composed, and ancient Scots Music selected and adapted, by Shield. The Overture by Reeve. With Harp Accompaniment by Weippert. True Briton, 27 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #519 1s. 6d. (386.10.0; 6.0.0; tickets: 126.11.6)