Event Comment: "Mrs Siddons fatigued herself so much with her exertions...that she was unable to speak the Epilogue. An apology was accordingly made for its omission, and very favourably received by a drowsy audience, who were happy to find the Tragedy had reached its conclusion" (Dramatic Censor, II, 134). Receipts: #212 1s. (159.17.6; 51.2.6; 1.1.0)

Event Comment: [The Young Gentleman who played Zaphna was Wroughton. "His real name was Rottan, but altered euphonia gratia. He was designed for a surgeon and served his apprenticeship at Bath. The following playbills show that he met with approbation on the stage. He remained with Covent Garden from this time till the end of the season 1785-86. He then played in Ireland one Winter, and was engag'd at Drury Lane Theatre in the beginning of the season 1787-88. This was the occasion of Mr Wroughton's leaving Covent Garden, I mean it was thus conjectured. Mr Lewis had been appointed manager of that theatre for Mr Harris. Mr Lewis and Mr Wroughton lived next door neighbors in Broad Court at the top of Bow Street, and were sworn friends:--they laughed together, lived together--In the season 1784-85 two new performers Mr Holman and Mr Pope, appeared on the Covent Garden Stage--these young men were great favorites with Mr Harris; Mr Holman, attracting at this time very crowded audiences, stood so particularly high in his regard, that his partiality made him guilty of some injustice to older and abler actors in the theatre. Mr Henderson had really cause to complain of neglect; and Mr Wroughton thought himself equally oppressed. At this time we had a Club and met every Wednesday fortnight during Lent at the Long Room in Hamstead at dinner. Our Club consisted of a certain number of us belonging indifferently to either theatre, and two or three other gentlemen who were not actors. Mr King, Mr Quick, Mr Farren, Mr Mattocks, myself, etc., etc. When the bottle had a little warmed Mr Wroughton he threw out some sarcasms on his Friend Mr Lewis's management; Mr Lewis retorted; Their tempers grew hot, their words grew aggravating; Mr Wroughton struck Mr Lewis; Mr Lewis returned the blow. They were parted; all the pleasures of the day were over, and the Club broke up in confusion. I was not present this day, but have related what Mr Siddons told me of this Quarrel, and I imagine that Mr Wroughton's attack on Mr Lewis sprang from a suspicion that he was too willing to execute Mr Harris's designs in favour of Mr Holman. Be this as it may, Mr Wroughton was discharged from cg at the expiration of his Articles with Mr Harris."--Hopkins MS Notes.] Receipts: #186 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Places for boxes may be had at the Stage Door of Mr Fosbrook. [Fosbrooke mentioned first time in the bills.] Paid Mrs Seddon [Siddons] by order of Mr D. G. paid to Mr Becket #20. Receipts: #267 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Portia by Mrs Siddons being her first appearance upon this Stage a good figure rather handsome--wants Spirit and ease her Voice a little course very well receiv'd (Hopkins, Diary). Paid Mr Wrighten on note #100; Mr Garrick 2 nights for Bon Ton and Little Gipsey, #238. Receipts: #197 (Treasurer's Book). Books of the Songs and Chorusses of the Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. [This note appeared on all subsequent bills advertising the Jubilee this season.] The most accomplished actress can display little other abilities in this part [Portia] than a correct elocution, and a knowledge of the author. The lady of last night being thus circumstanced [her first appearance] it is impossible to pronounce what the nature or extent of her powers may enable her to execute when placed in a situation that calls them forth. But from the speciman she gave there is not room to expect anything beyond mediocrity. Her figure and face, although agreeable, have nothing striking, her voice (that requisite of all public speakers) is far from being favourable to her progress as an actress. It is feared she possess a monotone not to be got rid of; there is also vulgarity in her tones, ill calculated to sustain that line in a theatre she has at first been held forth in; but as these observations are formed when the lady laboured under the disadvantages of a first attempt in the metropolis, her future efforts may perhaps entirely remove them (Middlesex Journal, 30 Dec. Quoted in Hampden, Journal)

Event Comment: Mrs Siddons' second appearance. Receipts: #243 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lee Lewes. Afterpiece: In [it] will be introduced the Stockwell Scenes, with a Prologue [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Boaden, Mrs Siddons, I, 107)], in the Character of Harlequin, spoken by Lee Lewes; to conclude with the Escape through the Tub, as in Mother Shipton. [The Stockwell Scenes were included in all subsequent performances. The Prologue and Escape were included in the first 3 performances only (see 3 May).] Public Advertiser, 8 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Lee Lewes, No. 40, Charlotte-street, Rathbone Place. Receipts: #282 18s. (119.15; tickets: 163.3) (charge: #69 17s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations [by David Garrick]. [Henderson was from the hay.] 'The style of Henderson did not assimilate with the tone of the [dl] company. They declaimed in a higher key, and more upon the level. The frequent under-tones the former hardly struck the ear at any considerable distance' (Boaden, Siddons, I, 170). Receipts: #225 8s. (204.2; 20.14; 0.12)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by George Colman, the elder]. "The ground-work was the apologies received from the great actors, who all preferred their suburban shades to the temperature of the Haymarket...The prompter enters to apologize to the audience and return the money, but his plea is rendered nugatory by certain oratorical and mimetic personages stationed in the pit and boxes, who not at first being recognized by the house as professional people, a great confusion was produced. When Mrs Webb arose to address the audience, the joke became apparent, and a prodigious interest was excited' (Boaden, Siddons, 1,208). [In 2nd piece the playbill lists Baddeley, but "Previous to the beginning of the Play, Palmer came forward...and acquainted [the audience] that Baddeley then lay speechless [as the result of a stroke], and Hitchcock, the prompter, would, with their permission, read Baddeley's Part" (London Chronicle, 31 May). The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Public Advertiser, 6 July 1780: This Day is published The Manager in Distress (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; c 5, ascribed to Frances Burney (see Boaden, Siddons, 1, 272). MS: Larpent 596; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, July 1782, p. 312. Prologue by George Colman, the elder (Colman, Prose, III, 235). The play is anonymous.]

Event Comment: The Grecian Daughter [announced on playbill of 7 Dec] is obliged to be deferred to account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. Receipts: #111 2s. 6d. (81/3/0; 29/17/0; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: There will be no Play this Evening [The Grecian Daughter, also Belphegor had been announced on playbill of 16 May], on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. The Money received for Tickets issued for this Night will be returned at Fosbrook's Office

Event Comment: [The playbill announces as mainpiece The Countess of Salisbury, but the Kemble playbill deletes it. The Account-Book also deletes it, and lists the substitute play. Public Advertiser, 10 Mar.: The tragedy was "unavoidably deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons." Receipts: #144 17s. (121/16; 22/11; 0/5; tickets not come in: 0/5)

Event Comment: Mrs Siddons continuing so ill that it is impossible for her to perform on Saturday; her Benefit announced for that Evening is unavoidably postponed till further Notice [see 24 Apr.]. Receipts: #163 11s. (162/1; 1/5; ticket not come in: 0/5)

Event Comment: "[King's] utterance possessed an articulate velocity and smartness never heard but from him; and a collected confidence in himself that extorted an applause paid to the situation, or the sentiment, rather than the man" (Boaden, Siddons, II, 105). [Address written by Richard Cumberland (Betsy Sheridan, Journal, 1960, p. 25).] Receipts: #255 13s. 6d. (228/1/0; 27/11/0; 0/1/6)

Event Comment: Windham Diary (30 Jan. 1784), 41: On the Wednesday 1 went to see Mrs Crawford in 'Belvidera', and found her much as I expected, though her disparity was very great. I can perhaps better conceive the delusion that, aided by a little prejudice [in favor of Mrs Siddons] and the recollection of Mrs C. in better times, could hesitate about the preference. The chief faults that I should find would be, that her articulation was cramped and timid, her tones sometimes colloquial and vulgar, her action confined, and her countenance inexpressive. A new man of the name of Pope performed; I pronounced him in my own judgment as inferior, upon the whole, to Brereton. [Henderson's 1st appearance as Pierre was at Bath, 14 Oct. 1773.]

Event Comment: The Carmelite [announced on playbill of 11 Oct.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. Mainpiece: With accompaniments to the airs composed by Linley [Sen.]. Receipts: #75 16s. (53/12; 21/4; 0/0; tickets not come in: 1/0)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces The Distress'd Mother, but it was not acted on account of Mrs Siddons's illness. Its substitute is listed in the Account-Book. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar., announces that "Macbeth (see 18 Mar.) is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons."] Receipts: #163 19s. 6d. (132/12/0; 29/12/0; 1/0/6; tickets not come in: 0/15/0)

Event Comment: The Count of Narbonne [announced on playbill of 9 Feb] is obliged to be deferred, on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. Receipts: #116 19s. 6d. (77.5.0; 36.13.0; 1.16.6; tickets not come in: 1.5.0)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces Isabella, with Mrs Siddons as Isabella. But she was indisposed, and "the play was changed into The Winter's Tale" (World, 4 May).] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Charles Stuart. Prologue by the author (Public Advertiser, 17 May)]. Receipts: #137 17s. 6d. (93.2.0; 43.7.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Julia [advertised on playbill of 26 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Mrs Siddons. Afterpiece: 7th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. Receipts: #81 4s. 6d. (52.17.0; 27.3.0; 1.4.6)