Event Comment: Benefit for D'Auberval, ballet-master. Opera: An entirely new Species of Entertainment, after the French style [1st time; ser 3, by Antonio Andrei]. The Music entirely new, composed by Rauzzini. [Libretto (H. Reynell, 1784) is entitled Alina; o sia, La Regina di Golconda.] The Scenery and Decorations devised and painted by Novosielski. The Dresses in character, and entirely new by Lupino. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of D'Auberval, No. 5, Great Pultney-street, Golden-square. To prevent all manner of confusion, the Subscribers are most respectfully entreated to give early notice, addressed as above, of their intention concerning their Boxes

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 29 Apr.] Receipts: #229 16s. (226/17/6; 2/18/6)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Wilson, Darley, Thompson, Helme, Mrs Hamilton, and the Orchestra will be admitted (Account-Book). [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 22 May.] Receipts: #254 7s. 6d. (89/16/6; 1/2/0; tickets: 163/9/0)

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: 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 in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 13 Nov.]

Event Comment: The Man of the World and Patrick in Prussia [i.e. Love in a Camp; both announced on playbill of 28 Feb.] are obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Macklin and Edwin. Receipts: #143 14s. (13 8/1/6; 5/12/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by George Colman, the elder, altered from The Mutual Deception, by Joseph Atkinson, which was based on Le Jeu de l'Amour et du Hasard, by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, and 1st acted at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 2 Mar. 1785. Prologue by the author (.European Magazine, Sept. 1786, p. 166). Author of Epilogue unknown]. Afterpiece: Never acted at this Theatre. [Prologue and Epilogue by David Garrick.] "This play, originally French, was translated by an Officer (the plot of which may be found in The Man's the Master, as well as in many other English plays and farces) who, with some few additions, changed it into five acts, and called it The Mutual Deception (which is now in print), but was represented in Ireland with little or no success. This Comedy, however, has undergone many very masterly alterations, and received many additions by the able hand of the attentive Manager of this Theatre" (Public Advertiser, 30 Aug.). Public Advertiser, 6 May 1788: To be published May 7, Tit for Tat (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years [and in place of Every Man in his Humour, announced on playbill of 28 Oct.]. Receipts: #184 4s. (148.6; 34.17; 1.1)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Grecian Daughter, advertised on playbill of 12 Oct.] Afterpiece: As originally Performed. With new Dresses, the Original Music, Scenery and Decorations. "When the hissing began there was an attempt by the Clown to put the audience in humour, by rolling over and over across the stage with a woman, or a man dressed in women's clothes. If this were a coup d'oeil for the Galleries, it was certainly an insult to the Boxes...We are glad to say that obscenity failed to rescue folly" (World, 16 Oct.). Receipts: #262 4s. (261.3; 1.1)

Event Comment: The Lady of the Manor [advertised on playbill of 5 Feb.] is obliged to be postponed on Account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, advertised on playbill of 5 Feb.

Event Comment: Tickets to be had, and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Books of the Performance to be had at the Theatre. Boxes 10s. 6d. Pit 5s. 1st Gallery 3s. 6d. 2nd Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]

Event Comment: The Duenna [advertised on playbill of 11 Mar.] is obliged to be postponed on Account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer. [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, advertised as above.] Receipts: #226 10s. 6d. (223.4.0; 3.6.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted in place of Love Makes a Man, advertised on playbill of 15 Mar.]. Afterpiece: Loutherbourg's celebrated Pantomimev. Not acted these 3 years [acted 4 Dec. 1786]. With new Decorations, and the Scenery new painted. With a Processionv exactly representing the Dresses, Weapons, and Manners of the Inhabitants of Otaheite, New Zealand, Tanna, Marquesas, the Friendly Islands, Sandwich Islands and Easter Islands, Tschutzki, Siberia, Kamtschatka, Nootka Sound, Onalashka, Prince William's Sound, and the other Countries visited by Captain Cook. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Receipts: #256 17s. 6d. (250.5.6; 6.12.0)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1781]); the music by Sarti, under the direction of Mazzinghi. "At length in the spring arrived the celebrated Marchesi, whose fame had long reached this country, and who had been extolled to such a degree that impatience and expectation were raised to the highest pitch; and on the first night of his appearance the theatre was not only crowed to the utmost in every part, but on the rising of the curtain, the stage was so full of spectators that it was some time before order and silence could be obtained, and with some difficulty that Marchesi, who was to open the opera, could make his way before the audience. Marchesi was at this time a very well-looking young man, of good figure, and graceful deportment. His acting was spirited and expressive: his vocal powers were very great, his voice of extensive compass, but a little inclined to be thick (Mount-Edgcumbe, 66-67). Receipts: #437 15s. 6d., i.e. 560 tickets delivered to Prendergrass [see 8 Dec. 1787], who sold 558; 110 to Toosey, who sold 86; 400 to Butler, who sold 285; 236 to Snelson, who sold 204. Total non-subscription tickets sold: 1133

Event Comment: Mr Gallini Respectfully informs the Nobility, Subscribers, and Gentry that he sent a person to Paris on Monday last to engage the best capital Female Dancer that can be got; and if a good Man Dancer is to be procured, he is very ready to engage him, as he shall be happy to do every thing in his power to please the public and will spare no pains or expense for that purpose [see 7 Feb.] Didelot having had the misfortune to hurt his leg the first dance on Saturday last is unable to appear for some days

Event Comment: Benefit for Ryder. Public Advertiser, 20 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Ryder at his house, No. 5, Bow-street, Covent-garden. 1st piece: The Overture, Airs, &c. by Dr Arnold. The selected by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, Carolan the Irish Bard. 2nd piece: 1st time Here. Translated from the French of La Bonne Mere, by Horatio Edgar? Robson, and at this Time reading with great success and general applause by LeTexier in Lisle-Street [and 1st acted at the hay, 22 Aug. 1788]. 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, by Thomas Ryder, altered from The Man of Parts, by Isaac Jackman; not published]. Receipts: #271 0s. 6d. (191.15.6; 5.7.0; tickets: 73.18.0)

Event Comment: The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 3 May 1790]. Paid Say for Tallow Candles last Season #88 6s. 3d. "That beautiful and best drawn character that the world ever saw, Sir John Falstaff, was mangled by Ryder. He substitutes savageness to jollity, and stiff mimicry to the natural debauchery that should hang as easily on Sir John as the Roomy mantle he moves in...Lewis gave us more the manner of the pretty man of fashion than of a dissipated hero" (Prompter, 4 Nov.). Receipts: #168 1s. 6d. (164.12.6; 3.9.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Farren. Tickets delivered for Which is the Man? [originally advertised for this night] will be admitted. Gazetteer, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Farren, Gower-street. Receipts: #379 (128.19.6; 1.19.6; tickets: 248.1.0)

Event Comment: Paid Scott, Copper lace man, #100. Mainpiece: Masquerade as 13 Sept. Receipts: #200 7s. 6d. (196.6.0; 4.1.6)