Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece: Not acted these 12 years. Rec'd Mr Stevens 1 year's rent to Lady Day last (taxes deducted #13 3s. 8d.) #3 6s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). Mrs Barry Isabella (1st time) great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Burton died on Sunday 3 May (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #158 15s. Charges: #64 17s. Profit to J. Palmer: #93 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [In mainpiece the playbill does not list the Child; for the assignment see Morning Post, 10 Oct., and edition of 1787 (Rachael Randall).] "[Mrs Siddons's] merit in the character was infinite, and the applause she received unbounded. In various of her scenes the plaudits were repeated . . . During the fourth and fifth acts there was almost an incessant clapping, and when Isabella expired her death was rendered glorious by the theatre's resounding with thundering applause for more than a minute" (Morning Chronicle, 11 Oct.). "L'actrice la plus noble dans ses manieres, madame Siddons, ne perd rien de sa dignite quand elle se prosterne contre terre . . . Enfin, il arriva ce moment terrible ou Isabelle, s'etant echappee des mains des femmes qui veulent l'empechcr de se tuer, rit, en se donnant un coup de poignard, de l'inutilite de leurs efforts. Ce rire du desespoir est l'effet le plus difficile et le plus remarquable que le jeu dramatique puisse produire; il emeut bien plus que les larmes: cette amere ironie du malheur est son expression la plus dechirante. Qu'elle est terrible la souffrance du coeur, quand elle inspire une si barbare joie, quand elle donne, a l'aspect de son propre sang, le contentement feroce d'un sauvage ennemi qui se serait venge!" (Mme de Stael: Corinne, livre XVII, chapitre iv). Receipts: #181 11s. (147/0; 34/6; 0/5)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. Benefit for Mrs Wells [whose 1st appearance in tragedy was as Jane Shore at DL, 30 Apr. 1783; her 2nd was as Isabella at DL, 30 Apr. 1784, on which night she spoke the Address noted above]

Event Comment: Powell: Glorious First of June rehearsed at 11; Isabella at 12 (the Epithalamium). Receipts: #454 14s. (357.0.0; 93.3.6; 4.10.6)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 3s. Printed on Five sheets of superfine paper, Five Principal Scenes in Romeo and Juliet, designed, drawn, and engraved by Mr Ant. Walker. Printed and sold by John Tinney, at the Golden Lion in Fleet St. The drawing and Engraving of the three following Plays of Shakespeare are in great forwardness, and the scenes of each play will be sold at a time: 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, Merry Wives. These plates will serve for Mr Pope's edition of Shakespeare in quarto, Sir Thomas Hanmer's edn. 6 Vol. quarto, or for any of the Folio editions. And may be framed and glazed for furniture. There will be a few sets neatly coloured for Gentlemen and Ladies who chuse them so (Public Advertiser). [A set of these prints is available in the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Five Principal Scenes were: The scene in Capulet's Housev where Romeo kisses Juliet 's hand; the Balcony Scenev ; the scene in which Friar Lawrence hurries the young couple off to be married; the Apothecary scenev ; and the death scenev . If, as may be, these scenes were taken from--as they were certainly stimulated by--the Barry-Nossiter production, they may present a good likness of Maria Isabella Nossiter, who so captivated London that season. If, also, they were taken from the theatre production, they give evidence that Barry used a balcony, not only a window.

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. A new and accurate edition of Isabella to be had at the Theatre. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Kemble as Biron, but he being ill on Thursday night, an apology was made for Whitfield's assumption of Biron, on the ground of his having studied the character on two hour's notice" (Diary, 6 Apr.) Public Advertiser, 28 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 3, London Road, St. George's Fields. Receipts: #274 6s. 6d. (117.4.0; 15.5.6; 3.1.0; tickets: 138.16.0) (charge: #123 13s. 6d.)