Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; D 3, by Henry Neuman, based on Der Opfertod, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Text (R. Phillips, 1799) assigns no parts]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice, at the Theatre. The Theatre, since the last Season, has been newly Decorated. [Beginning with 19 June the playbill: Printed by T. Woodfall, Drury Lane; on 4 Sept.: No. 104, Drury Lane.] Morning Chronicle, 27 June 1799: This Day is published Family Distress (2s.). Gentleman's Magazine, May 1800, pp. 406-8, prints a letter from "J. B." in which strong exception is taken to Kotzebue in general, and this play in particular. "Theatrical entertainments have an extensive influence upon the manners of Society. When well regulated, and the pieces for representation well selected both as to matter and manner, they may be esteemed friendly to morality, and improvers of public taste. But what shall we say when both these ends are disregarded; when moral virtue is banished from the scene, and purity of taste is destroyed by affected language and pantomimical decorations? Improvements in almost every art and science have been within a few years, rapid and important. But that is not the case with the stage; nor can it be, while Kotzebue and his friends usurp the venerable boards of Shakespeare." The writer then, in sarcastic terms, outlines the plot of Family Distress. [Pope and Miss Chapman were both from cg.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Arne and Miss Young. Mainpiece: Acted there but twice. Afterpiece: A reviv'd Burlesque Opera not performed these 16 years. Set to Music by Mr Arne. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss De Camp as Lady Elinor, but an "apology was made by Caulfield, stating . . . that Miss De Camp was extremely hoarse . . . and that Miss Heard would perform Lady Elinor" (Thespian Magazine, Jan. 1794, p. 31).]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years (notice on playbill of 8 Nov.). Afterpiece: The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenery by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston, Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 3 Apr. 1797]. Receipts: #318 4s. 6d. (237.14.6; 76.5.6; 4.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Mellon. Morning Chronicle, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Mellon, No. 17, Little Russell-Street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #122 2s. 6d. (71.17.6; 48.17.6; 0.19.0; odd money: 0.8.6; tickets: Miss Mellon to pay a Moiety over #50 [total of tickets not listed]) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Clarke. Mainpiece: Not acted this season. No Building on Stage. Receipts: #53 15s. 6d. plus #99 14s. from tickets (Box 129; Pit 379; Gallery 106) (Account Book). Charges: #65 17s. 6d. (Account Book). [Query: for Mrs Evans, Miss Mullart?. See Comment, 28 Dec. 1761.

Event Comment: Benefit for Several. Watson, Roberts, Palmer. Tickets deliver'd by Daney and C. Roberts will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Part of Pit laid into the Boxes. Paid Mr J. French on acct #5 5s.; Housekeeper's 2 bills #14 16s.; Properties #1 13s. 8d.; Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #263 10s. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to Miss Pope: #188 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Younge. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 23 Apr. 1773]. Public Advertiser, 13 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Miss Younge at Thelwall's, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #217 16s. 6d. (83.16.0; 17.14.6; 9.1.0; tickets: 107.5.0) (charge: #64 15s.)

Event Comment: [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Palmer, Miss DeCamp, Miss Heard.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss DeCamp. Morning Chronicle, 10 May: Tickets to be had of Miss DeCamp, No. 14, Tottenham-court-road. Receipts: #431 9s. (143.8.6; 82.12.0; 2.5.0; tickets: 203.3.6) (charge: #217 8s. 2d.)

Event Comment: EEgerton 2320: Receipts: #83. Mrs Roberts hiss'd, Mr Mills too

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Lampe and Miss Young. Afterpiece: Set to Musick by Mr Lampe. [Tickets at Lampe's House, Brownlow Street.

Event Comment: The Sixth Day...at the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Daily Advertiser, 2 Oct.: Last Saturday Night the reviv'd Play of Romeo and Juliet...was acted...to a numerous and polite Audience, with Great Applause. There was an extraordinary fine appearance of Ladies in the Boxes; and every one allow'd Miss Jenny Cibber (who has given Proofs of an uncommon Genius) was greatly inprov'd in the character of Juliet. The Quality and Gentry were all safely guarded to the chairs and Coaches by the Lads of St. James's Market. [Hill was the stage name for Johnson.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Drury Lane--New Painted and Decorated. Miss Pope's good acting is said to have made up for her deficiency in singing (Genest, V, 314). On Sept. 19 Fisher, Musician, married the widow of the late Powell, Patentee of cg (Winston MS 10). Rec'd Mrs Johnston's 1 year's rent to Lady Day Last #6; Paid Mr French on Acct per order Mr G. G. #20. Paid Renters #8. [This payment occurs each playing night throughout the season, and is not noted further.] The total amounted to #1576 (Drury Lane Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #188 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not played for 20 years. Afterpiece: By Desire. The Play very dull Little Applause (Hopkins Diary). Benefit for Reddish. Theatrical Review, 28 March: The plot of this piece is taken from a well known passage in history, which, however, is too barren of incidents for the support of a piece of 5 acts, on which account it is rather languid and tedious, notwithstanding the language in general is tolerable poetical. What could induce Mr Reddish to revive so dull a performance, after it had been neglected for 20 years, we cannot conceive, unless it was with a view of having an opportunity to rant a few speeches in favor of liberty; but (as the piece was miserably represented except in the characters of Timoleon and Eunesia) we think Mr Reddish extended his liberty a little too far with the public; for which neither his Occasional Prologue, the Solemn Sacrifice, nor the Epilogue spoken by Miss Younge, made sufficient atonement. Paid 4 days salary #333 19s.; Mrs Abington's Cloaths Acct #1; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s. (Treasurer'sBook). Receipts: #205 16s.; Charges: #67 6s. 6d.; Profit to Reddish: #138 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Brereton. Paid Mr Roberts, shoemaker #12 18s. 4d.; Rec'd from Mr C. Roberts half year's rent to Mich. last #5 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #116 9s. Charges: #67 6s. Profits to Brereton: #49 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last night of performing till the Holidays. Benefit for Watson, Palmer, Kaygill and Roberts. Tickets deliver'd by Wood and Humphrey will be taken. Paid Printer's Bill #9 6s.; Mr Wegg's Rent to Lady Day last #103 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #240 3s. Charges: #84. Profits to Watson, Palmer, Kaygill and Roberts: #166 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Booth has lately erected a Monument to B. Booth, is now upwards of 90, was the famous Miss Santlowe so much admir'd as Actress and Dancer (Winston MS 10). Advanc'd Mr Barry (b:office keeper) #15; Ditto to Mr Watson (b:office keeper) #10 (Treasurer's Book). [Operating cash returned to treasury on 5 June 1773, but with a deficit of #6 5s. Barry seems not to have been hired thereafter, Archeveque taking his place the following season.] Receipts: #173 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Chippendale, Chatterley, Ryder, Fisher, Evans, Miss Tidswell, Miss Campbell, Mrs Butler [who are named in the Account-Book, but not on the playbill]. Receipts: #68 1s. (36.3; 29.15; 2.3; tickets: none listed) (charge: #212 16s. 1d.)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction

Event Comment: At the Playhouse in Hampstead. Benefit Miss Jones Sr and Jr. N.B. That the Play may be no Hindrance to the Diversion at the Long Room, we shall begin exactly at 6 o'clock, and end about 8

Event Comment: Benefit Roberts, Boxkeeper

Event Comment: Benefit Cross (Prompter), DeMaimbray (Mechanist), and Desse. Tickets deliver'd out by Nodder, Owen, Miss Lee, and others will be taken. [This month in the Gentlemen's Magazine appeared a long essay from Champion No. 5, entitled The Character of an excellent Actor, an appreciative essay on the difficulties of acting, and the excellence of Garrick. The author avows he never exchanged a word with Garrick in his life. In July the Gentlemen's Magazine publish'd a reply to the contention that shewing good plays and giving men a relish for them was a satisfactory method of instructing the young, concluding instead against stage entertainments because they may be and are productive of much ill; and can serve no good end but what may be more effectively attained by other means.