Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 4 May 1782. Miss Raymond is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill; Diary, 6 Apr., states she had acted two or three nights at Bath]. Receipts: #244 11s. (227.10; 16.6; 0.15)

Event Comment: [Russell was from the Margate theatre; he had 1st acted in London at the China Hall Theatre in 1776. In mainpiece the playbill assigns Careless to Barrymore, but "Careless Dignum, Barrymore Ill; Surface's Servant Evans for Banks" (Powell).] Powell: School for Scandal rehearsed at 11; Miss in her Teens at 12; New Ballet at 12. Receipts: #186 4s. (130.18.6; 53.13.6; 1.12.0)

Event Comment: [C$Cross suggests The Intriguing Chambermaid as afterpiece, but it is unsupported by the newspapers.] We hear that the Comedy call'd the Pilgrim is now in rehearsal, and will be acted soon, at the theatre Royal in Drury Lane; and that the Secular Masque written by Dryden and set to music by Dr Boyce will be performed with it. The Epilogue which was inserted in our Yesterday's paper, and copied from the Midwife's Magazine, we fine to be imperfect and not genuine, therefore think ourselves under a necessity of asking the Author's pardon. [Hope in a day or two to give it correctly (General Advertiser). Midwife No II, from which it was copied, adds the note: "This Epilogue was taken in shorthand the night I went to see Miss Jenny Cibber play the part of Alicia...Some few mistakes may therefore have happened which the candid reader will excuse and correct."] Receipts: #50 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pond. Tickets to be had of Mr Pond, in Bridges St., Covent Garden, and of Mr Crudge at the stage door. [Possibly she was the Young Gentlewoman who played Zara 15 Dec.

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. House charges #66 10s. [Profit to Dodd #112 4s.] Tickets deliver'd by Miss Tetley will be taken. B. Johnson's head bill #3 14s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #178 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A Concert of Music, Vocal and Instrumental, by the most celebrated performers, with Dancing by Miss Cranfield. Between the several parts of the Concert will be rehearsed (gratis) by Pupils, for their mutual improvement in Oratory The Fair Penitent [etc., as above]. By Subscription. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin precisely at 6:30. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. No money will be taken at the door, nor any person admitted without a ticket, which may be had at the Office near the Concert Room, where attendance will be given from Ten to One every day; and from half past Five till Eleven each evening of performing. Morning Chronicle, 19 June: A correspondent who was present declares the business of the evening was conducted with great regularity and decorum... The dresses were as good as those of the Theatres Royal, the band excellent, and the decorations neat and ornamental

Event Comment: Paid Hopkins's bill for licenses #5 5s.; Miss Younge for cloaths #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Full Prices (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #157 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list #525 2s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Mr French on acct #5 5s.; Mr C. Bannister per order #19 10s.; Miss Hopkins 140 nights not on List #46 13s. 4d. Rec'd stopages #18 4s. 6d. Receipts: #165 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 24 Oct. 1770.] Miss P. Hopkins made her first appearance in Celia-great applause (+Hopkins Diary). [The Young Lady who played Celia indentified by Winston MS 11 as Miss Pricilla Hopkins who became Mrs Brereton, then was married a second time to John Kemble. She had acted Celia 19 April 1773 in As You Like It. The Young Lady who played Tragedy was Miss Sharp, later married to W. Palmer (Winston MS 11).] Paid Mr Neale for a laced Hat #1 15s. Receipts: #155 7s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 16 years [not acted since 27 Oct. 1758]. With Alterations [by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick]. The Characters new dressed. This Play is revived with Alterations (by R. B. Sheridan Esq) and a new occasional Prologue written by Mr Garrick? and spoken by Dodd, both well received. Miss Essex made her first Appearance upon this stage in Silvia, a small mean Figure and shocking Actress, so bad that she is to do the Part no more. Reddish was very imperfect in Vainlove from the Beginning, but was so very much so in the last Act, that the Audience hissed very much, and cryed out, 'Off, Reddish, Off!" He went forward, and addressed them as follows, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been honoured with your Favour and Protection for these ten years past, and I am very sorry to give any cause for your Displeasure now; but having undertaken the Part at a very short Warning, in order to strengthen the Bill, and having had but two Rehearsals for it, puts it out of my Power to do Justice to the Part, or myself.' The Play then went on. So great a Lye was never delivered to an Audience by any Actor or Actress before. He had the Part at least six weeks in his Possession, and repeated Notice to be ready in it, and six Rehearsals was called for it,--indeed, he attended but three. Vernon undertook to study the Part at eleven o'clock to-night, and to perform it to-morrow (Hopkins Diary). [Miss Essex was from the hay.] Receipts: #209 6s

Event Comment: Benefit for Mas. Maltere, Miss Foulcade, Mrs L'font & Goodwin. Receipts: #130 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Catley, being the last time, but one, of her performing this season. Box, Pit and Gallery Tickets to be had of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. Charges #65 6s. Profit to Miss Catley #136 5s.; plus #67 11s. from tickets (Box 232; Pit 49; Gallery 22). Paid one year's Rector's Rate for theatre due Xmas last #8 15s., Watch rate #14 11s. 8d., and half year's paving rate due Mich. last #26 5s. Paid Recor's rate (one year's due Xmas last) for House in Bow Passage, 6s. 3d, and watch rate for ditto 10s. 8d. Receipts: #201 5s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Brett

Event Comment: Benefit Thompson, Le Sac, Miss Rogers

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George. Public Advertiser, 30 July: Tickets to be had of Miss George, No. 23, King-street, St. Ann's, Soho

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. 1st piece: Never performed here. [Miss Thornton is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. Address by Horatio Edgar Robson (European Magazine, May 1786, p. 369).] 2nd piece: Not acted these 7 years. 3rd piece: Written by Henry Fielding. Morning Herald, 19 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr, No. 31, Tavistock-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #280 6s. 6d. (138/15/6; 3/6/0; tickets: 138/5/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Nix and Miss Barnes. Receipts: #254 3s. 6d. (67.10.0; 23.19.6; 2.19.0; tickets: 159.15.0) (charge: #106 2s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Benefit Havard, J. Delagarde, Miss Wherrit. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Norsa. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Ridout and Dupre. [Rich's Register adds Livier and Miss Brunette.] Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. Receipts: money #11 19s.; tickets #104 16s