Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald, based on Das Schreibepult; oder, Die Gefahren der Jugend, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by Charles Moore (MS annotation by J. P. Kemble in Kemble-Devonshire copy in Huntington Library); Epilogue by John Taylor (see text)]: With New Dresses and Scenes. Morning Chronicle, 17 Dec. 1799: This day is published The Wise Man of the East (price not listed). Receipts: #323 14s. 6d. (321.12.6; 2.2.0)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. This performance was probably the first day of this revival, for Matthew Prior wrote to Abraham Stanyan, 8 Jan. 1699@1700: To-morrow night Betterton acts Falstaff, and to encourage that poor house the Kit Katters have taken one side-box and the Knights of the Toast have taken the other (HMC, Bath MSS. [London, 1908], III, 394). See also 28 Jan. 1699@1700. The play was advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3601, 13-16 May 1700, and the title page states: Reviv'd, with Alterations. Written Originally by Mr Shakespear

Event Comment: Benefit for Henry. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Receipts: #147 15s. 6d. (80.0.0; 29.6; 0.11.0; tickets: 37.5.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: A revived Serious Opera; the Music by the most eminent Composers [Bertoni, Gugliclmi, Giordani, Rauzzini, Gretry, &c], under the direction of Bertoni. With entire new scenes painted by Novosielski. New Dresses and Decorations both for the Opera and Dances. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin exactly at 7:00 [see 18 June 1782]. By Command of Their Majesties no Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. To prevent inconvenience in getting to their carriages, the Nobility and Gentry are requested to order their servants to set down and take up with their horses' heads towards Pall-Mali. The Subscribers to the Opera are intreated to send their instructions to Jewell and Johnson at the Office in Union-court before the opening of the Theatre, when the final arrangement of the Boxes will take place, and those which are not retained will then be disposed of. Subscriptions to be paid on delivery of the tickets. Books of the Opera, with an account of the Pantomime Dance, to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 2 Nov. 1761]. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. In Act I a Grand Banquetv. In Act II the Trial of Queen Katharinev. In V a Procession to the Christening of Princess Elizabethv. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] Mrs Siddons's Queen Katharine was "too laboured -particularly the Trial Scene, where the words came so slow and measured that they seemed to be distilled" (Public Advertiser, 29 Nov.). Receipts: #260 11s. (248.12; 11.6; 0.13)

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by Shakespear. Daily Journal, 28 Oct.: The same Night [Thursday 26] a Gentlewoman fancying she saw Smoke issue from under the Stage, as she sat in the Pit, during the Play Time,...and at the same time believing she smelt Fire, declared her Opinion so loud, and by her precipitate Endeavours to get out, gave such an Alarm all over the House, as was attended with the fatal Consequence of one Woman big with Child being press'd to Death, and several others Persons were very much bruised. [See also Daily Post, 27 Oct. A reward of #20 was offered by John Rich for the apprehension of the malicious ill designing Persons" who presumably occasioned the incident.-Daily Journal, 31 Oct.

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 13 Nov.: We hear King Henry the Eighth, with the magnificent Coronation of Queen Anne Bullen , and the Christning of Queen Elizabeth , still continues to draw numerous Audiences, which is owing to the Excellency of the Performance, and the extraordinary Grandeur of the Decorations

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of his Excellency Count Kinski, Ambassador from his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany. Written by Shakespear

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Daily Journal, 30 Dec.; And we hear, that...the Grand Master and Wardens [for the Free Masons] and most of the Gentlemen present took Tickets to appear in White Gloves at...Drury-Lane, this Evening, where the Play of Henry IV. Part II is to be acted for their Entertainment; and it is said a Prologue and Epilogue will be spoken suitable to the Occasion, and in Honour of that Society