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: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger]: With new Musick, Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Musick entirely new, composed by Kelly with an overture by Dussek]. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, with the assistance of Chalmers and Banks. The Machinery, Decorations and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood and Gay. The Female Dresses designed and executed by Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "We have to congratulate the town on the acquisition of three admirable dramatic writers, in the persons of Johnston, Greenwood, and Miss Rein, who have here exhibited a specimen of the Sublime and Beautiful which it will be difficult, indedd, to surpass" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1799, p. 47). [This piece is "an exhibition of music and dialogue, pantomime and dancing, painting and machinery, antique dresses and armour, thunder and lightning, fire and water, illumination, processions, banquets, battles, sieges, explosions, and everything that can surprize, enchant or terrify the spectators" (Morning Chronicle, 21 Jan.). Morning Chronicle, 16 Feb. 1799: This Day is published Feudal Times (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #483 15s. 6d. (381.10.6; 100.6.6; 1.18.6)

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: Afterpiece: Scenery re-painted, and the Dresses and Decorations entirely new. Musick composed and selected by Kelly. Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood, Chalmers, and others. Machinery and Decorations designes, and under the direction o, Johnston, and executed by him and Underwood. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Receipts: #441 16s. 6d. (301.14.0; 139.11.6; 0.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Kelly, Gwinn, Mrs Harrison. Receipts: money #18 3s. 6d.; tickets #171 19s

Event Comment: Benefit for Kelly. Public Advertiser, 28 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Kelly, No. 7, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #216 15s. 6d. (76.9.0; 21.7.6; 2.18.0; tickets: 116.1.0) (charge: #120 17s. 5d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, adapted from Die Spanier in Peru, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (consisting of the 1st 30 lines and the concluding couplet of his Prologue to The Miniature Picture); Epilogue by the Hon. William Lamb (see text). For publication see 1 July]: The Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick, Airs and Chorusses incidental to the Piece composed and selected [from Gluck, Sacchini, &c. (Morning Chronicle, 25 May)] by Kelly. The Symphony preceding the Play, and those between the Acts, composed for the occasion by Dussek. The Scenery designed and executed by Marinari, Greenwood? Jun, Demaria, Banks, Blackmore, &c. [See Theatre Notebook, XX, 30-32, for suggestion that one scene was designed by DeLoutherbourg.] The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, and Gay. The Female Dresses designed and executed by Miss Rein. Account-Book, 14 May: Paid Miss Anne? Plumtree [i.e. Plumptree] for Spaniards in Peru #25. [It was this translation of Kotzebue's play that Sheridan adapted for the stage as Pizarro. For an account of the relationship between the translation and its adaptation see Marcella Gosch, "'Translators' of Kotzebue in England," Monatshefte fur deutschen Unterricht, XXXI, 178-83.] Paid Johnston [on this and other days] for sundries for Pizarro #135 14s. "It requires certainly more than English patience and spirits to sustain any Play of five hours in length. It is not one of the worst features of Pizarro that it contains a great deal which may be spared, without injury to the piece [see 25, 27 May]" (Morning Chronicle, 25 May). Receipts: #540 3s. 6d. (406.0.6; 17.5.0; 0.4.0; tickets sold by Fosbrook's Office: 116.14.0)

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [By John Kelly.] Receipts: #34 18s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A new Comedy. In Three Acts. With a Dramatical Introduction. [By John Kelly. For a puff, see Daily Advertiser, 29 Nov.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Mr Dryden. Afterpiece: A New Tragi-Comi-Farcical Operatical Grotesque Pantomime. [By John Kelly.]

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: On account of the Indisposition of the lady who was to have appeared in the character of Lady Emily, The Heiress [advertised on playbill of 5 Oct.] is deferred till Saturday next. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Walsh Porter. Larpent MS 1180; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Songs, Duetts, &c. composed by Kelly. The Overture by Shaw. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Master Elliot had previously appeared in the oratorios at cg.] Receipts: #368 14s. 6d. (239.10.0; 127.16.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time: MD 5, by James Boaden]: With new Musick [by Michael Kelly], Dresses, and Decorations. [Scenery by Capon (Theatre Notebook, XIX, 14).] Morning Chronicle, 16 Jan. 1799: This Day is published Aurelio and Miranda (2s.). Receipts: #271 16s. (218.15.0; 51.19.6; 1.1.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Scenery re-painted, and the Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood and Gay. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Account-Book: Paid Hatton, sword cutler, #5 10s; Chorus #11 16s. 6d. Receipts: #370 2s. (254.6.6; 114.3.0; 1.12.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Biggs as Angela, but "On account of the sudden indisposition of Miss Biggs, Miss Heard will perform the part of Angela, and hopes for the usual indulgence of the audience" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill).] Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Thomas John Dibdin, based on Der Wildfang, by August Ferdinand Friedrich von Kotzebue. Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews (London Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1800)]: The Overture and Musick composed by Kelly [with one selection from Paisiello]. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #264 17s. (139.8.6; 122.17.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. 2nd piece [1st time; MF 2, by Prince Hoare, Larpent MS 1289; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald, 29 Apr, Author of Prologue unknown]: The new Musick composed by Kelly. Morning Chronicle, 16 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 65, Gower-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #360 8s. 6d. (272.17.6; 80.9.6; 7.1.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #213 3s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Varney (Housekeeper). Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Sir Hugh-Clough; Rugby-$Marr; Bardolph-$Johnson (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #210 ($Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Kelly. Afterpiece [1st time, MF 2, by Prince Hoare]: The Music chiefly composed by Storace; the Rest selected from Pleyel, Harington, Giordani, Gluck, &c. [text adds Gretry]. Account-Book, 16 Dec. 1790: Paid P. Hoare for the Copyright of No Song No Supper #63. Gazetteer, 2 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Kelly, No. 27, James-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #273 5s. (125.19; 38.18, 2.2; tickets: 106.6) (charge: #109 19s. 4d.)

Event Comment: A Serious Opera, the music by Bianchi, under whose direction this Opera is now revived, and the Chorusses under Dr Arnold. ["A little miscreant Italian cabal, who have endeavoured to derange the performances at this Theatre, attempted to hiss Kelly, who had generously come from Drury Lane Theatre that the serious Opera might not be interrupted. The liberal feelings of the English subscribers overpowered the noise, and Kelly received the applause which his spirit deserved" (Morning Chronicle, 9 Feb.).