Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 2 Nov.]. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] Mainpiece: The Sixtieth Night [but in the previous season (its 1st) the play had been acted 56 nights. On this evening Bannister Jun. acted in the mainpiece at dl and in the 3rd piece at the hay.]. Account-Book, 16 Nov.: Paid Jarvis for 4,000 Songs of Haunted Tower #28 4s. Receipts: #256 2s. 6d. (214.12.0; 40.10.6; 1.0.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Additions [by John Philip Kemble] from Dryden. The Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, with the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Linley Jun. Afterpiece: 30th [recte 29th] time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. The Overture, new Songs and Accompaniments by Shaw. Receipts: #199 18s. 6d. (157.10.0; 40.8.0; 2.0.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Times. [Palmer Jun. was from the hay.] "It is necessary to remind both Macbeth and his Lady that there is a measured declamation, of which the natural utterance of passion knows nothing, and that words and syllables may be divided and subdivided till the fatigue of the ear overcome every other feeling...Between the first and second acts Ca ira was loudly called for from the pit and gallery. The clamour, after preventing the first part of the second act from being heard, subsided as unaccountably as it rose. The performers, in compliance with an admonition from the pit, began the act again, and proceeded without further interruption" (Morning Chronicle, 20 Feb.). "In Macbeth there was too much that was not Shakespeare, too much bad taste and shabbiness in the costumes of the witches, and all in all too much claptrap. He found it insufferable that Banquo should take the part of his own ghost and felt that the audience should behold the specter only in Macbeth's terror, as was the case with the banquet guests. 'Mr Kemble has desired on several occasions to suppress the ghost,' Meister says, 'but has never had the courage to do so.'" (J. H. Meister quoted in J. A. Kelly, 134). For Kemble's eventual courage in this matter see dl, 21 Apr. 1794.] Receipts: #425 6s. (383.2; 40.4; 2.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Bannister Jun. as Edward, but he "was so ill as to be incapable of performing-his part of Lord Edward was read by Bland" (Thespian Magaune, Jan. 1794, p. 30). Afterpiece in place of HARLEQUIN PEASANT, advertised on playbill of 2 Jan.]

Event Comment: Paid Barratt for Oil and Candles #132 10s. Powell: The Jew rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister Jun.); The Citizen at 12. Receipts: #457 5s. 6d. (382/14/0; 70/12/0; 3/7/6; tickets not come in: 0/12/0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of THE LIAR, advertised on playbill of 10 June]. The Publick is most respectfully informed that LODOISKA [also advertised on playbill of 10 June] cannot be acted this Evening, on Account of the Indisposition of Bannister Jun. Receipts: #178 17s. 6d. (125/9/0; 46/15/0; 6/13/6)

Event Comment: [In 3rd piece the playbill lists Barrymore in place of Bannister Jun., but "Barrymore continuing ill C. Kemble play'd the part of Vapour in My Grandmother" (Powell).] Powell: My Grandmother rehearsed at 11 (Vapour's Scenes); New Ballet [Glorious First of June] at 12. Receipts: #135 7s. (84/13/6; 49/9/0; 1/4/6)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: With additional airs. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance as Hob was at dl, 3 June 1795.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. With Additions from Dryden; the Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun. [Afterpiece in place of A Friend in Need, advertised on playbill of 21 Feb.] The Publick is respectfully informed that on Account of the sudden Indisposition of Sga Bossi DelCaro, The Scotch Ghost [advertised on playbill of 21 Feb.] cannot be performed this Evening (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #212 2s. 6d. (145.1.0; 61.0.0; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; BALL P 1, by John Cartwright Cross. Text, i.e. synopsis of ballet, and the songs, in Cross's Circusiana (Lackington, Allen and Co., 1809), Vol. I. Bologna, Bologna Jun. and Mrs Parker were from the Royal Circus]: Invented and under the Direction of Cross. With entire new Scenes, Dresses, Music and Decorations. The Overture and Music principally new, with a Selection of some novel Irish Air, by Reeve, composer of the Music to Oscar and Malvina, &c. The Harp by Weippert. The Scenery, comprehending a Display of the most Romantic Views in Ireland, painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, and Blackmore. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper and Goostree. The Dresses by Dick, Mrs Egan, &c. The Following are a Part of the new Scenes, &c.: The Ancient Temple, dedicated to Bel, the God of Fire, with the Flactaga, or Sacred Fire burning; it having been enacted that, on the last Evening of October, no other Fire should be Used thro'out the Kingdom, that all might be derived from that, which being a Fire Sacrifice, would render the rest Propitious and Holy. The Dargle, where the Irish Druids consulted their Oracle. A View near Wicklow. The Salmon Leap. Entrance of a Subterraneous Pass. Maon's Cavern. Cemetery and Dungeon, appertaining to the Round Tower, Moated Castle, &c. Receipts: #264 2s. 6d. (259.19.6; 4.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Additions from Dryden; the Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun. Receipts: #142 7s. 6d. (79.17.6; 60.10.0; 2.0.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Lacy, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane. Tickets to be had of Fosbrook, at the Box Office of the Drury Lane Theatre, and Rice, at the Box Office of the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, where Places for the Boxes may be taken. [Address by John Taylor (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 370). On this night the following appeared both at dl and at the hay: Hollingsworth, Caulfield, Bannister Jun., Suett, Miss Pope, Mrs Bland.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. The many Ladies who have Places for the suceeding nights of the new Pantomime [The Magic Oak] are respectfully acquainted that, on account of Bologna Jun.'s accident, it cannot be performed before Easter Monday. [The Mouth of the Nile, also advertised on playbill of 5 Mar., was not acted on this night.] Doors, &c. as 21 Nov. 1798. Receipts: #364 13s. 6d. (361.13.6; 3.0.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: By permission of G. Colman, Esq.; never performed here. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance at this theatre was on 2 Feb. 1779.] 3rd piece: Not performed here these 3 years. [No play of this title had been hitherto acted anywhere. But it appears to be the same as The Sailor's Prize, for which see cg, 1 May 1795.] Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Receipts: #478 (208.6.6; 13.17.6; tickets: 255.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sedgwick. Mainpiece: With additions from Dryden. The Musick by Purcell and Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Linley Jun. Morning Chronicle, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Sedgwick, No. 18, Clement's-inn. Receipts: #390 8s. 6d. (97.13.6; 56.4.6; odd and after-money: 2.13;0; tickets: 233.17.6) (charge: #217 2s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis, also the author of Prologue and Epilogue (see text)]. "The Epilogue was spoken by Bannister Jun. in the character of Queen Elizabeth, who ascends from a trap in the middle of the stage, and who is supposed to have obtained the permission of Pluto to revisit her kingdom, in order to witness the representation of the East Indianv" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1799, p. 367). Receipts: #200 13s. 6d. (131.11.0; 67.9.6; 1.13.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Miss Radley became Mrs Fitzgerald (Winston MS 10). Ld. Townly, Mr Sparks Jun: first Appearance (Cross Diary). Mr Sparks Junr Son of Mr Isaac Sparks made his first Appearance on any Stage in Ld. Townly a fine figure and met with Applause (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris Jun. Tickets to be had of Vestris, No. 2, Haymarket

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Additions (by John Philip Kemble] from Dryden. The Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, with the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day

Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 437: This being the queen s birth day, a new ode was sung before her upon the occasion: the nobility and gentry, with the lord mayor and aldermen of this citty, attended to compliment thereon. Gentleman's Journal, May 1692: The 30th of April, being Her Majesties Birth-day, was observ'd with all the usual Solemnity. I design'd to have sent you an Attempt of mine in Verse, on that noble Subject: But having happily obtain'd a Copy of those writ by Sir Charles Sidley, it would have been an unpardonable Crime, to have joyn'd my weak Essay to a Piece by so great a Master. [The Ode, Love's Goddess Sure, the music by Henry Purcell, is in Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXIV (1926), i.

Event Comment: With the Ceremonial of her Coronation in the same Manner as it was Perform'd in the Play of King Henry the Eighth

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these Six years [8 April 1735]. Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry VIv. The artful acquisition of the Crown by King Richardv. The Murder of Young King Edward Vv and his Brother, in the Tower. The Landing of the Earl of Richmondv, and the Death of King Richard in the memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv, being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster. [This customary description appears in all subsequent notices.