Event Comment: Paid 5 days salary list #441 15s.,; King's extra salary #2 10s.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s.; Mr J. Palmer on note #21 (Treasurer's Book). [This month was printed An Apology for the Conduct of Charles Macklin, Comedian, which, it is hoped, will have some effect in favour of an aged player, by whom the public at large have been uncommonly gratified." Price 1s. Axtell (Gentleman's Magazine Register). This year was publish'd Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose, with Cursory Theatrical Remarks, by P. Lewis, Comedian. Contains some apostrophes to Garrick, Holland, etc.] Receipts: #213 4s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [The Public Advertiser contains an apology to the Duchess of Kingston from Foote, but with a hint that he may have to publish the scenes from The Trip to Calais (those in question, see 4 Aug.) unless her attacks upon him in the press cease. Her reply in the same paper suggests she will have nothing further to de with "an extortionable assassin of private reputation....I scorn to be bullied into a Purchase of your Silence."

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. [Advertised at foot of playbill, 13 Oct., as to be performed this day. But no bill occurs, nor is there any apology on the bill for 16 Oct. for its deferment. Yet bill for 18 Oct. presents Leoni as Arbaces with the note, being his second appearance on that stage.

Event Comment: This Musical Farce of one Act was wrote by Mr G on purpose to introduce Miss Abrams (a Jew) about 17 Years old. She is very small, a Swarthy Complexion, has a very sweet Voice and a fine Shake, but not quite power enough yet-both the Piece and Young Lady were receiv'd with Great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Books of the Songs, Choruses etc. of Afterpiece to be had at the Theatre. The Conscious Lovers oblig'd to be deferred till Monday, with which will be performed the last new Grand Ballet, The Savage Hunters. [Advertisement to the published edition: "The author of this musical Farce, begs leave to inform the readers, if there should be any, that it was merely intended to introduce The Little Gipsy to the public, whose youth and total inexperience of the stage made it necessary to give as little dialogue to her character as possible, her success depending wholly upon her singing-This reason added to another, which is that the piece was produced at an early part of the season, when better writters are not willing to come forth, is the best apology the Author can make for its defects."] Paid 6 days salary list at #104 7s.-per diem, #626 2s.; Mr Lamash on note #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [The note on sale of books of the songs and choruses for the afterpiece occurs on all subsequent bills this season in which May Day is mentioned. The songs and chorusses and overture by Dr Arne. The afterpiece reviewed in Westminster Magazine for Nov.: The preparation is palatable, and the hand of the preparer is discoverable from the affinity between the scene of Roger and the Old Man, and that of whittle and Thomas in the Irish Widow....The Music of the overture and Finale were remarkably light and pretty: some of the airs also did Dr Arne credit. As to Miss Abrams, she has a sweet pipe, and a natural shake that charmed us;-If maturity does but strengthen her voice, at the same time that it gives her ease in deportment, she will prove an ornament to the stage."] Receipts: #205 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Alexander the Great? [announced on playbill of 4 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred. [The playbill lists Mrs Yates as Lady Townly, but see following note. Miss Younge's name appears in all subsequent playbills, except on 19 Dec.] Alexander was advertised for this Night, but Lacy being hoarse, who was to have played Alexander, it was obliged to be deferred, and this Play substituted. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock at (Night) before we got it settled. Mr. Sheridan ordered me not to send to Mrs. Yates about (it) till the Morning. About eight o'clock I sent her Notice that the Provoked Husband was to be performed at Night. A little after nine, she sent Word by her Niece that she was never so ill treated in her life, that she was never before asked to play on the fifth of November [which day was traditionally set aside for the acting of Tamerlane], that she would not play Lady Townly that Night, nor would she play any more; and if she had an Inclination to play, she had no Cloaths ready to play it in; and sent back the Part of Semiramis in a new Tragedy that was preparing [see 16 Nov., 14 Dec.]. I got Miss Younge to do Lady Townly, and an Apology was made by Packer that Mrs Yates having refused this Morning to do Lady Townly, Miss Younge at a Minutes' Notice undertook to do it. Miss Younge was much applauded and Yates had a few hisses (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #179 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Epilogue by David Garrick. Second Ballet: with New Scenes [by deLoutherbourg] and Dresses [by Lupini]. Two new Grand Ballets, composed by Gallet, were introduced in this Piece (The Maid of the Oaks) in which Gallet and Mlle Dupre made their first Appearance upon the Eng. Stage--the first Dance, which was to be in the 2nd Act, was obliged to be deferred till the end of the 3rd Act, as Lupini, who made the Dancers Dresses, had not brought them to the House--this put us all into great Confusion, and Dodd made an Apology to the Audience, that an unforseen Accident had prevented the Dance being done in the proper Place. At the beginning of the 3rd Act most of the Dresses were brought, but not all, and some of the Dancers were obliged to put on what Dresses could be got for them--They were all very much confused--the Music also was not perfect. Gallet went on, and spoke in French to the Audience, and told the Band that he wished they had any Heads. In the first Dance Mlle Dupre fell down, and a little after Gallet fell down, but (they) did not hurt themselves, and the Dance went on--and even with all these Disadvantages was much applauded (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #181 19s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years [not acted since 20 Apr. 1765]; in [it] will be introduced a Grand Triumphal Entry of Publiusv, with the original Music composed by Boyce. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] This is the first Time that Mrs Yates played since the Paper Quarrel between the Managers and her. Before the Play began Mrs Yates went on, and made the following apology, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope what has been already published has been sufficient to satisfy the Publick that I did not intend to affront or insult them. I have only to add, that it ever has (been) and ever shall be my Study and Endeavour to please that Publick from (whom) I have received so many Favours." The Audience applauded, and the Play went on--Mrs Yates played finely and had great applause (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #145 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Performed There. On account of the Additional Airs, contracted into 3 Acts. [Public Advertiser, 30 Dec., notes that the principal omission was the conspiracy of Alonzo, Antonio, &c., and that the Masque in Act IV was removed to the concluding scene of the play.] With New Dresses, Scenery and Decorations. The Music by Purcell, John Christopher? Smith, Dr Arne and Fisher. [In afterpiece the playbill retains Delpini as Pierrot, but "[Hull] made an apology for the illness of Delpini, telling the audience that the Signor had hurt himself so much the preceding evening in performing the part of Pierrot that he could not come out of his room; the managers therefore hoped that the audience would accept of Wewitzer in the character" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Dec.). The playbill also adds Wewitzer as the Gardener; this part was perhaps omitted.] Paid Enderby, Oil Merchant, #258 17s. Receipts: #245 18s. (244.15; 1.3)

Event Comment: Morning Chronicle, 7 June: Foote caught cold on Wednesday last...Unwilling to disappoint the public [last night] he determined to play his part in The Devil upon Two Sticks, but, after he had ended the second act, was so much worse that he was obliged to retire...An apology was made to the audience, and Palmer undertook to read the remainder of Foote's part

Event Comment: [Author of Prologue unknown. In afterpiece the playbill assigns Leander to Mahon, but "after the play Hull made a genteel apology for the non-attendance of Mahon...who, by some unaccountable accident, was not arrived in town, at the same time begging their acceptance of a young Gentleman' (Morning Post, 23 Sept.). For Bowles as Leander see 10 Oct.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No Persons admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 13 Oct.]. Receipts: #187 13s. (186.4; 1.9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. [The playbill retains Wilson as Maclaymore, but "At the close of the Play Hull came forward and made an Apology for Wilson's not playing Maclaymore...on Account of his being taken suddenly ill with an Ague, and begged their Acceptance of Fearon in the Part, which was accepted with that good Nature which distinguishes a British Audience" (Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct.).] Receipts: #100 15s. 6d. (100.11.0; 0.4.6)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Merope, announced on playbill of 4 Jan. "We played last night Much Ado about Nothing, and had an apology to make for the change of three principal parts. About twelve o'clock Mr Henderson sent word he was not able to play. We got Mr Lewis from Covent Garden, who supplied the part of Benedick. Soon after Mr Parsons sent word he could not play. Mr Moody supplied the part of Dogberry; and about four in the afternoon Mr Vernon sent word he could not play. Mr Mattocks supplied his part of Balthazar...In the middle of the first act, a message was brought me that Mr Lamash (who was to play the part of Borachio) was not come to the House. I had nobody there that could go on for it, so I was obliged to cut his scenes in the first and second acts entirely out, and got Mr Wrighten to go on for the remainder of the part. At length we got the play over without the audience finding it out. We had a very bad house. Mr Parsons is not able to play in The School for Scandal to-morrow night; do not yet know how we shall be able to settle that" (Garrick, Private Correspondence, II, 328-29: Hopkins, prompter,in letter to Garrick, 6 Jan. 1779. He does not state who took Wrighten's place as the Sexton.).] On account of the sudden Illness of a Principal Performer, the new Pantomime [The Wonders of Derbyshire, announced on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred till Friday. Receipts: #74 11s. (48.19; 25.10; 0.2)

Event Comment: [This was a puppet show, rewritten by Charles Dibdin from his Comic Mirror; it consisted of 7 different acts, presented in 3 Parts. The audience was both misled into thinking that it was to be performed by actual persons, and made angry because of the "almost unintelligible manner of conveying [the various acts], as the singers were scarcely audible, and the objects very indistinctly visible.' A riot ensued. Lighted candles were thrown on the stage against the curtain, chandeliers broken, benches torn up. The audience was not "satisfied" until Colman the proprietor of the theatre, disclaimed any concern with the entertainment, and Dibdin made an apology. Although announced for repetition on 3 Mar., it was not again performed. (See Dibdin, II, 65; Morning Chronicle, 2 Mar. )]

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Miss Harper, but she "still continuing [ill], an apology was made, and the audience entreated to allow Miss Hitchcock to read the part of Lapra-a request with which they readily acquiesced" (+London Chronicle, 6 Sept.).

Event Comment: [In 2nd piece the playbill retains Mrs Cargill as Macheath, but "Mrs Cargill and her husband [but see 8 Sept.] took it into their heads to set off suddenly for Bath last week; the consequence was the audience were on Tuesday evening disappointed of their Macheath, and, after an apology, agreed to receive Wood in the character, who played it extremely well, and was much applauded" (Morning Chronicle, 13 Sept.). Who acted Wood's part of Jenny Diver is not stated.

Event Comment: The last Night of this Season. [On this night Bannister was also acting at dl; on his arrival at the hay he made the following apology, "The instant the opera was finished at Drury Lane I hastened with all possible expedition to execute my duty." But the performance of the 3rd piece was so long delayed that the final curtain did not fall until 12 o'clock (Morning Herald, 17 Sept.).

Event Comment: Duplicity [announced on playbill of 25 Oct.] is again obliged to be postponed on account of Henderson's Illness. [Afterpiece in place of Comus, announced on playbill of 25 Oct. In mainpicce the playbill retains Mrs Mattocks as Mrs Racket and Miss Younge as Letitia, but "Miss Younge having yesterday lost a near Relation could not play her part in the Belle's Stratagem, in consequence of which an apology was made for her Absence ... To remedy the inconvenience Mrs Mattocks last night played the character of Miss Hardy, and Mrs Whitfield that of Widow Racket" (Morning Chronicle, 27 Oct.).] Receipts: #100 6s. (97/1/6; 3/4/6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Wilson, but "Last night the Audience of Covent Garden Theatre were detained above Half an Hour waiting for Wilson, who never appeared to play his character in Duplicity. At last an apology was made for his absence, and his Brother was permitted to read his part" (Morning Chronicle, 29 Dec.).] Receipts: #220 4s. (215/0; 5/4)

Event Comment: [In the 1st ballet the playbill lists Mme Rossi, but she did not dance. As the 2nd ballet the playbill announces Il Ratto delle Sabine, but Mme Rossi was ill, which "rendered a verbal apology unavoidable. 'Mme Rossi was in hopes that her wish to court your favour would enable her to overcome her illness, but it has been as sudden as it is now alarming. She has just been let blood. The manager therefore intreats your indulgence, and that you will accept of Apelles and Campaspe instead of the Grand Ballet, which cannot possibly be performed.' . . . Henry performed the part of Alexander with the greatest propriety" (Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.).]

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns the 1st Gravedigger to Parsons, but "an Apology was made for Parsons, and Suett went through his Part" (Public Advertiser, 2 Oct.). In afterpiece the playbill retains Parsons as Solomon; for Fawcett see 26 Nov.] "We have for so many years been accustomed to see Hamlet dressed in the Vandyke costume, that it may be material to state that Mr Kemble played the part in a modern court dress of rich black velvet, with a star on the breast, the garter and pendant ribbon of an order-the mourning sword and buckles, with deep ruffles: the hair in powder; which, in the scenes of feigned distraction, flowed dishevelled in front and over the shoulders" (Boaden, Kemble, I, 104). Receipts: #285 16s1. (265/14/0; 19/19/6; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Diana to Mrs Martyr, but "News of Mrs Martyr's husband's death having reached her the day before, an apology was made for her not playing Diana; Miss Wheeler, however, from the other house proved a very agreeable substitute" (.European Magazine, Oct. 1783, p. 310). In afterpiece the playbill assigns Lucy to Mrs Wilson, but on the Kemble playbill a MS annotation substitutes Mrs Davenett.] Receipts: #134 19s. 6d. (133/9/0; 1/10/6)

Event Comment: A Serious Opera, in 2 acts (never performed before [by Pietro Metastasio]); the Music entirely new by Anfossi. With new Scenes and Decorations, designed and painted by Novosielski. Public Advertiser, 10 May: The Event of Saturday night may teach the Managers, if they are not incapable of being taught, how it has happened that their House has for these six Weeks past been almost empty, and now at last was again full. For these six weeks past the Town has been disgusted with bad Music, ill sung; with that wretched Apology for a first rate singer, Rauzzini, and that barbarous dullness which he thinks Music, his Regina di Golconda. On Saturday Night there was the direct Reverse of all this wretched Infamy . . . There have been few finer Operas, and none since Farinelli's time so exquisitely sung

Event Comment: "A sudden disability [occurred] in one of the performers; an apology was made for Aickin, and ... his part was read by Gardner" (Public Advertiser, 14 June). [Who acted Gardner's part is not stated.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Kemble [who had 1st acted Macbeth at Hull, 30 Oct. 1778]. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Kemble, No. 2, Leicester Court, Castle-street, Leicester Fields. [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Malcolm, but "Preceding the play there was an apology, on its appearance evidently exciting doubt and trepidation in the audience [probably for fear that Mrs Siddons would be unable to appear]; but Palmer's fourth word broke the spell. R. Palmer was suddenly prevented attending the house:--what could the house do, but laugh?--Laugh they did;--'and Barrymore will read his part.' The house laughed again. And so Britannia was delivered" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.). The name of R. Palmer's substitute in the afterpiece is not given.] Receipts: #293 3s. (175/2; 9/16; 0/5; tickets: 108/0) (charge: #115 10s. 3d.)