Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Leonard Macnally; words to some of the songs by Edward Lysaght]: With new Music, Scenes and Dresses. The Music composed by Shield [with selections from Sacchini, Bertoni, Lord Mornington, &c. (Public Advertiser, 19 Apr.); overture by Baumgarten, being the same as that used by him in William and Nanny at CG, 12 Nov. 1779 (Town and Country Magazine, Apr. 1784, p. 171)]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 30 Oct. 1784: This Day is published by J. Almon Robin Hood [listing cast for season of 1784-85] (1s. 6d.). [In the season of 1789-90 this was reduced to an afterpiece of 2 acts.] Receipts: #206 4s. (204/3; 2/1)

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Edwin, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Written by Ben Jonson, and altered by George Colman, Esq. Receipts: #349 15s. 6d. (250/15/6; tickets: 99/0/0) (charge: #105)

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: "Being possessed of an excellent understanding, and under the general impression of elegant manners, there appears to be no study [in Mrs Abington], no imitation--all is the result of the moment--natural, well-bred, and easy" (Public Advertiser, 25 Nov. 1784). Mainpiece: Altered from Cibber's Non-Jour, and the Tartuffe of Moliere. Not acted these 12 years [acted 12 Oct. 1773]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 14th Night [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. With new Music [consisting of 6 new songs (Gazetteer, 2 Oct.)], Scenes and Dresses. The new Music and Accompaniments to the adapted Airs by Shield. The Overture by Baumgarten. The Words of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [It was "represented in an altered state . . . The second act is almost newly written, and the language of the whole opera amended and pointed with great neatness" {London Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 315).] "At the end of the first act [of mainpiece], Davies came forward and informed the audience that Mrs Kennedy was of a sudden taken dangerously ill, and hoped that Cubitt might be permitted to read the remainder of her part; a request that was immediately complied with" (London Chronicle, 13 Oct.). [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 11 Oct.]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Mark Londsale. Prologue by the author {London Chronicle, 10 Nov.)]: The Overture, new Airs and Accompaniments composed by [Thomas] Linley [Sen.]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 18 Nov. 1784: This Day is published The Spanish Rivals (1s.). Receipts: #160 2s. 6d. (104/12/0; 54/18/0; 0/12/6)

Event Comment: The Confederacy and Arthur and Emmeline [the latter announced on playbill of 10 Jan.] are obliged to be deferred a few Days. Receipts: #146 11s. 6d. (108/16/0; 37/10/6; 0/5/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Spencer and Mrs Hedges. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Receipts: #173 16s. 6d.(17/3/0; 10/6/0; 0/11/6; tickets: 145/16/0) (charge: #105 11s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Newbold and Miss Bird. [2nd piece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.]