Event Comment: Sethona Publish'd. Note of Hand deferr'd Dodd ill (Winston MS 10). Paid Mr F. Aickin's joint note with Mr J. Aickin #4 10s.; Mr Everard (late Cape) a debt & Costs #3 18s.; Mr Highley on acct #200; Mr Hopkins, Licence for Note of Hand & Sethona, #4 4s.; Miss P. Hopkins 1 night 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #239 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. The Tragedy of All for Love, which was to have been performed this evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the indisposition of Mrs Barry and Miss Younge; therefore Mr Aickin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of the Tempest in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. Paid extra flute and hautboy 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Aickin did not act (Winston MS 10). [This month published The Sentimental Spouter; or, Young Actor's Companion. The whole comprising the essence of theatrical delivery, and the beauties of dramatic poetry. Price 1s. 6d. Printed for Wheble (Gentleman's Magazine Register).] Receipts: #123 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to F. Aickin: #49 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dibdin. As You Like It deferr'd. Miss Younge ill. Tickets deliver'd for As You Like It will be taken. Rec'd Mr Stanley's Oratorio Acct #233 18s. (Treasurer's Book). N.B. Dibdin did not play this night. Receipts: #100 4s. 6d. Charges: #69 15s. 6d. Profits to Dibdin: #33 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Places for Boxes to be taken of Fosbrooke at the Stage Door. Paid salary list #626 16s. 6d.; Miss Robins in full of #16 13s. 4d. Receipts: #191 5s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. By Desire of the Most Noble Order of Bucks. Benefit for Griffith. [Author of Epilogue unknown.] Tickets delivered for November 22 and for The West Indian will be admitted. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15

Event Comment: Afterpiece [by Bickerstaffe]: a Musical Entertainment never performed there before. The Cnaracters new dress'd. [Daphne identified by Winston MS 10 and by Kemble note on playbill.] Paid Cooper (printer) #42 1s. (Account Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine commends Miss Wewitzer for the lower register of her voice. Belives she will be a credit to her tutor, Griffiths the Organist."] Receipts: #181 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Driscol, Banks, Barnard, Miss Davis, and Trott (Lobby Doorkeeper). Tickets deliver'd by Mlle Huette, Mrs Hanmeuze, Mrs Griffith will be taken. Tomorrow the Fair Penitent and on Friday Romeo and Juliet, being the last time of the Company's performing this season

Event Comment: Benefit for Shade, Cameron, Nix, Woollams, Wood, Dangerfield, Wilson, Panchaud, Irish, Edwards, Wooldridge, Griffiths. Kemble Mem.: BT. the box-keepers. Receipts: #528 8s. 6d. (30.13.6; 16.7.6; 11.7.6; tickets: 470.0.0) (charge: #211 14s.)

Event Comment: [Benefit for twelve on basis of varying percentages of tickets.] Benefit Banks, Trott, Carney, and Bianchini. Tickets deliver'd out by Sadler, Elliot and others will be taken. /For Pit Gallery Value Half-Value/Ruby 145 48 20 #45 9s. #22 14s. 6d./Banks 6 127 144 #34 19s. #17 9s./Carny 8 42 65 #13 11s. #6 15s. 6d./Bianchini 10 38 46 #12 16s. #6 8s. (two-thirds)/Sadler ... 11 28 #4 9s. #2 4s. 6d. (two-thirds)/Elliott 1 20 45 #7 15s. #3 17s. 6d. (two-thirds)/Mrs Hayman 4 22 35 #7 16s. #3 18s./Mrs Russell 7 27 26 #8 8s. #4 4s./Mrs Keene 3 20 23 #6 1s. #3 0s. 6d. (whole)/Mrs Hales ... 16 13 #3 14s. #1 17s./Mrs Hanmore 1 11 16 #3 10s. #1 15s./Mrs Griffiths ... 7 14 #2 9s. #1 4s. 6d./Totals 180 389 475 #150 17s. #75 8s. 6d./ (Account Books, Egerton 2268). Paid Woodfall, printer part of his bill for last season #52 12s. Paid Servandoni #10 10s., and Price (a Smith) for work at lif #9 5s. (Account Books, Egerton 2268)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis, Redman, Gardner, Widow Collins. Tickets deliver'd by Rawlins, Mrs Gould, Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Paddic, Mrs Gwinn, a Gentlewoman under Misfortunes, &c. will be taken. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 22 April 1760.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lamash, Griffiths, Kear, and Carpenter. Tickets deliver'd by Stevens and for The Gamesters will be taken. The Gamesters cannot be performed on account of Parsons's indisposition. Carpenter only acted (Winston MS 11). Receipts: #194 12s. Charges: #66 8s. 6d.Profits to beneficiaries: #128 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Thompson, Griffiths & Nix. Tickets delivered for A Bold Stroke for a Wife will be taken. Receipts: #287 15s. (84/14; 20/15; 01/6; tickets: 182/0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Shade, Cameron, Woollams, Wood, Wilson, Dangerfield, Irish, Edwards, Griffiths, Nix, Wooldridge, Panchaud & Cole [box-keepers]. [This was Dodd's last appearance on the stage.] "Dodd was one of the most perfect actors that I have ever seen. He was the fopling of the drama rather than the age. I mean by this, that his own times rarely shewed us anything so highly charged with the vanity of personal exhibition. He was, to be sure, the prince of pink heels, and the soul of empty eminence. As he tottered rather than walked down the stage, in all the protuberance of endless muslin and lace in his cravats and frills, he reminded you of the jutting motion of the pigeon. He took his snuff, or his bergamot, with a delight so beyond all grosser enjoyments that he left you no doubt whatever of the superior happiness of a coxcomb" (Boaden, Kemble, I, 55). Receipts: #580 17s. 6d. (25.17.0; 37.3.6; 11.0.0; tickets: 503.4.0; odd money: 3.13.0) (charge: #211 17s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 1050; published (pirated) 1795]: The Musick, principally new, composed by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Mozart, Bianchi, Ditters and Sarti. The Scenes and Decorations are all designed and painted by Greenwood, except the View of the New Settlement, which is by Capon. The Dresses, &c. are executed by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Powell: Cherokee rehearsed at 9:30. Receipts: #340 5s. 6d. (284.5.0; 54.13.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by William Linley. Also attributed to Cordal Powel, librarian to the Prince of Wales (London Chronicle, 19 Jan. 1796). Larpent MS 1106; not published, except for Airs (C. Lowndes, 1796). Synopsis of action in Pocket Magazine, Jan. 1796, p. 59]. The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenes [for a description of which see Theatre Notebook, 1965, XIX, p. 58] entirely new, and painted by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston and Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. Nothing under Full Prince will be taken. Account-Book, 22 Jan.: Paid Wm. Linley for music of new pantomime #25. Receipts: #619 3s. (608.9; 10.14)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 3 (except for 1st two performances, which were 2), by James Harvey D'Egville. Synopsis of action (C. Lowndes [1795])]: A Representation calculated to shew the extent and powers of the New Stage, and which has been in preparation during the whole of the Season (notice on playbill of 10 Feb.). The Musick composed by Krazinsky Miller. The Scenes, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations are entirely new. The Scenery designed and executed by Marinari, and his Assistants. The Machinery designed by Cabanel, and executed by him and Jacobs. The Dresses and Decorations by Johnston and Miss Rein. Powell: [The pantomime] was astonishingly well received, except the chorus of 'Happy Pair' at the end, which was so shamefully managed that the performers met with, what they much deserved, great disapprobation. The acting of the piece was in general well conducted, but the Processionv [The Piece will conclude with the Entry of Alexander into Babylonv, and his Marriage with Statirav (playbill)], for want of room to arrange behind, was unavoidably sent on in a very confused manner...Alexander's car could not be sent on this evening, not being yet complete. [These difficulties are somewhat surprising, in view of the fact that the pantomime had had 54 rehearsals. And see 13 Feb.] 11 Feb.: Chorusses to New Ballet rehearsed at 10; Natural Son at 11; New Ballet at 11; New Ballet (full rehearsal) at 6; 12 Feb.: New Ballet rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #504 3s. 6d. (417.2.0; 83.16.6; 3.5.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Text: T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1800. Miss Waters is identified in the Songs]: The Scenes, Music, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations are all entirely new. The Music composed by Mazzinghi and Reeve. The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Backmore, &c. [based on drawings of Indian scenery by Thomas Daniell]. The Machinery and Decorations by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs, also describing the Scenes and Spectacle of the Return from the Tiger Hunt, to be had at the Theatre, price six pence. "The whole [forms] an exhibition of the utmost grandeur...The expense attending the decoration must have been immense...The dailogue is certainly not of the first description of writing, but it forms, on the whole, a very safe vehicle for some of the best music the English stage has for some time been able to boast"(Morning Herald, 13 Nov.). Account-Book, 27 Dec.: Paid Cuthbert for Wheels, &c. for the Elephants #13 18s. Receipts: #364 7s. 6d. (363.19.6; 0.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Hook Jun. Larpent MS 1065; not published; synopsis of plot in Pocket Magazine, May 1795, p. 334]: The Musick composed by Hook? Sen. The Scenes, Dresses, Decorations and Machinery are entirely new. The Scenery of the Opera designed and painted by Greenwood and Capon. The Masque and Decorations by Marinari. The Machinery by Cabanel and Jacobs.The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Afterpiece in place of The Adopted Child, advertised on playbill of 5 May.] Receipts: #269 8s. (213.0.6; 53.16.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 3, by Prince Hoare. Larpent MS 1126; not published; synopsis of plot in Monthly Magazine, May 1796, p. 320]: With new Scenes, Dresses, Decorations, &c. The Musick principally composed by the late Mr Storace [who had died on 19 Mar.], with a few Selections from Paisiello, Haydn and Sarti. [Grove, under Storace, states that the music was completed and prepared for the stage by Kelly and Sga Storace.] The Scenes designed and executed by Marinari and assistants. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "It was exceedingly tedious the first night, not being over till eleven o'clock. Since, it has been prudently cut down, and yet has lost nothing. A prologue, written on the very morning of representation, deploring the loss of the composer, was spoken (perfectly) by the last unfortunate Benson [for whom see 9 June. It was written by Hoare (Universal Magazine, May 1796, p. 362), and Was perhaps spoken only on the 1st night; it is not listed on any playbill]" (Monthly Magazine, May 1796, p. 320). "In short, possessing all the science of Harrison, the melody of Incledon, and the pleasing articulation of the late Mrs Kennedy, we have no hesitation in pronouncing [Braham] the first public singer of the present day. He was three times encored. His action is indifferent, and his dialogue scarcely audible" (Morning Herald, 2 May). Receipts: #297 14s. (258.10.6; 38.19.6; 0.4.0)

Event Comment: This piece was greatly Cut & Alter'd. the 5th Act Entirely left out & many Airs interspers'd all through; got up with a vast deal of trouble to everbody concern'd in it but particularly to Mr Coleman, who attended every Rehearsal & had alterations innumberable to make. Upon the Whole, never was anything so murder'd in the Speaking. Mr W. Palmer & Mrs Vincent were beyond Description bad; & had it not been for the Children's Excellent performance, (& particularly Miss Wright who Sung delightfully) the Audience would not have Suffer'd'em to have gone half thro' it. The Sleeping Scene particularly displeas'd. Next day it was reported, The Performers first Sung the Audience to S leep, & then went to Sleep themselves (Hopkins). Fairies pleas'd--Serious parts displeas'd--Comic between both (Cross Diary). This piece of Shakespear's was greatly cut and altered,--the fifth act entirely left out,--and many airs introduced--got up with a vast deal of trouble to all concerned, but particularly to Mr Colman, who attended every rehearsal, and had alterations innumerable to make. Upon the whole, I believe, never was piece so murdered as this was by the singing speakers, in which Mrs Vincent and Mr W. Palmer were beyond description bad; and had it not been for the children's excellent performance (particularly Miss Wright, who ran away with all the applause and very deservedly) the audience would not have suffered them to have gone half thro' it.--The sleeping particularly displeased. The next day it was reported, the performers sung the audience to sleep, and then went to sleep themselves (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Overture and airs composed by the most eminent English masters. Book of the play sold at the theatre, 1s. [See "A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hands of Garrick and Colman," PMLA, June 1939.] Receipts: #98 7s. (MacMillan)