Event Comment: Human Nature cannot arrive at greater Excellence in Acting than Garrick was possess'd of this Night All words must fall far short of what he did and none but his Spectators can have an Idea how great he was-The Applause was unbounded. House (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #309 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Last time but one of the Company's performing this season. House. Mr Garrick as before Mr Vernon being hoarse Mr Davies play'd Sr. John Loverule some body in the Pit call'd for Vernon as his Name was in the Bills Mr Davies told them that Mr Vernon had been ill these two day [sic] and it was thought unnecessary to trouble them with an apology they afterwards call'd for the Early Horn Mr Davies told them he did not know of doing the part till after two therefore he was not prepar'd. they call'd out & bid him go on his own way (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble omits the comment on the afterpiece. Song The Early Horn had been traditional for the part of Sir John for over 30 years. See 10 Sept. 1741.] Paid Mr Short, Chorus, 5s.; Blurton 4 days salary in full #1 6s. 8d.; French on acct #100. Receipts: #305 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [Henderson's 1st appearance on the stage was as Hamlet, at Bath, 6 Oct. 1772. In I.iv "after the short ejaculation of 'Angels and ministers of grace, defend us!' he endeavoured to conquer that fear and terror into which he was naturally thrown by the first sight of the vision, and uttered the remainder of the address calmly, but respectfully, and with a firm tone of voice, as from one who had subdued his timidity and apprehension" (Davies, III, 30). "Palmer's Ghost would have been more in character had he given less into the rant of declamation and the bustle of stage action, which accord not with our ideas of a supernatural being; his crying, likewise, at the recital of his murder, was childish, and destroyed the solemnity of the scene' (Morning Post, 27 June).

Event Comment: [This was the last performance ever held in this theatre. On 27 June the Morning Chronicle published the playbill for that same evening: Love in a Village and Comical Courtship, but on 29 June the same newspaper reported that on "Friday [26 June] (soon after the performances of the evening were finished at China Hall, Rotherhithe) the theatre was discovered to be on fire. The flames increased so rapidly that in a short time the whole building, with all the scenes, stage, cloaths, &c. were consumed...There is no doubt but the theatre was wilfully set on fire." During the course of the summer it was rebuilt, but "Yesterday morning the play-house at China-hall, Rotherhithe, was blown down by the violence of the wind. The said play-house was burnt down last summer, but it being insured was rebuilt by contract, and the tiling of it completely finished last week" (Gazetteer, 26 Nov. 1778). And see 30 July.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [The playbill assigns Posthumus to Reddish, but "On Saturday afternoon, at four o'Clock, Notice was sent of the extreme illness of Reddish; and Lewis (on Application) finding it impossible to attempt the Character of Posthumus at that very short Notice [not having performed it for some Seasons) it was obligingly undertaken by Brereton of Drury-Lane Theatre" (Public Advertiser, 26 Oct.). Mrs Crawford, as Mrs Barry, had 1st acted Imogen at dl, 1 Dec. 1770.

Event Comment: [The playbill retains Mrs Hartley as Imoinda, but she "being taken suddenly ill, Mrs Jackson, though at a very short notice, will appear in the character of Imoinda this Evening" (printed slip attached to BM playbill).] Afterpiece: With Alterations and Additions [P 3. This was originally entitled The Mirror; it is billed, correctly, as the 16th time. Synopsis of this alteration in London Chronicle, 28 Dec.]. Receipts: #191 3s. (188.8; 2.15)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. King continuing so ill that it is impossible for him to perform this Evening, Waldron has kindly undertaken the Part of Sir Peter Teazle at a very short notice, and most humbly hopes for the indulgence of the Public. Receipts: #209 15s. 6d. (35/3/0; 15/10/6; 0/5/0; tickets: 158/17/0) (charge: #106 13s.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Wells, but she "was so ill last night that she could not perform the part of Jane Shore. It was undertaken by Mrs T. Kennedy" (Public Advertiser, 21 Dec.).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe]: The Pantomime, and the whole of the Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. designed and invented by Loutherbourg, and executed under his superintendance and direction by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Catton Jun., Turner, assisted by two other celebrated artists [all subsequent playbills have "a celebrated artist"; he was the Rev. Matthew William Peters (Public Advertiser, 16 Dec.)]. The Music entirely new, composed by Shield. Books containing a short account of the Pantomime, as well as the Recitatives, Airs, Duets, Trios and Chorusses, and a Description of the Procession, to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. [This was the last theatrical piece for which De Loutherbourg designed the scenery. For a detailed account of it see "De Loutherbourg and Captain Cook", by Ralph G. Allen, Theatre Research, IV, 195-211.] Account-Book, 17 Oct.: Paid De Loutherbourg on acct. #120; 20 Dec.: Paid Goodwin for copying Music #10 14s.; 14 Feb. 1786: Paid O'Keeffe in full for Omai #40. Receipts: #309 19s. (302/7; 7/12)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Abington. Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Ladies and Gentlemen are most earnestly requested to come early, to prevent Inconvenience in getting to their Places, and to send their Servants to keep them by Four o'clock. "At the close of the entertainment Mrs Abington came forward, and delivered a short poetical address to her fashionable auditory [written by Maurice Morgann (Monthly Mirror, Nov. 1797, p. 263)], apposite to her feelings on the present occasion" (Morning Herald, 11 Feb.). "The character [of Scrub] throughout was well conceived, and executed with a sprightliness and degree of humour that kept the house in a continual roar of laughter" (Public Advertiser, 11 Feb.) "Mrs Abington's voice was in its usual tone; her manners and deportment were inattentive and torpid, rather than active and interesting" (Morning Post, 11 Feb.). "With all her endeavours to give new points to the character, she entirely failed. Her appearance en culottes, so preposterously padded, exceeded nature. Her gestures to look comical could not get the least hold of the audience, though they had seen her before in men's clothes, when playing Portia in The Merchant of Venice, where her figure, dressed as a lawyer in his gown, gave effect to her excellent delivery on mercy, and the audience had been always delighted. But this leu de benefice, comparatively speaking, was disgusting and absurd as she dressed the character ... However, I have heard it originated in a bet she had previously made" (Henry Angelo, Reminiscenes, 11, 281-82). Receipts: #406 13s. 6d. (249/9/6; 1/9/0; tickets: 155/15/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: This [main] Piece, written by Dr Brown, is peculiarly happy in evincing to the world "That Virtue still shall conquer tho' in ruin." Mr Sterne presents his respectful Compliments to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Newington and its Vicinity, and now begs leave to inform them that he has been at a considerable Expence in procuring several Performers, in order that every Performance may give Satisfaction to those Ladies and Gentlemen who have so generously exerted their Interest for him and his Company; and as their Stay will be but very short, he hopes that his Care by obtaining so many fresh Members may meet with the Encouragement of a candid Public. N. B. Any Lady or Gentleman who will honor the Company by bespeaking a Play, their Commands will be thankfully received and attended to by applying to Mr Sterne

Event Comment: Benefit for the Seven Orphan Children of Peter? Harris, late Ballet-Master of this Theatre, who a short time since [on 23 Mar.] was unfortunately killed. Receipts: #311 1s. (73.12; 11.5; tickets: 226.4)

Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. The Avenues to the Boxes, Pit and Gallery are all at the Front of the Theatre in the Hay-Market, and the Door in Market-Lane is for Chairs only. "The short time since it had been determined to occupy this theatre had not been sufficient to enable the workmen to perfect what was intended so soon as was expected; nor could they be got out in time for opening the doors in the afternoon: this delay, and the difficulty of finding the way to different parts of the house [see 24 and 27 Sept.], caused some disgust" (Universal Magazine, Sept. 1791, p. 220). 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1, James Cobb; music by Storace (Kemble Mem.). Larpent MS 918; not published]. Receipts: #472 8s. 6d. (451.7.6; 20.6.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Compressed [from 4 acts] into 3 short Acts. Receipts: #296 6s. (290.9.6; 5.16.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in Kemble Mem., but not on the playbill. In mainpiece the playbill retains King, but "Mr King being ill I acted his Part to-night" (Kemble Mem.).]. Account-Book, 12 May: Author's Charge 3rd night of Fugitive enter'd short by error #12 16s. Receipts: #408 5s. (365.1; 41.0; 2.4; tickets: none listed) (charge: #147)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Sir H. Lovewit , but he was ill, and Benson "at very short notice [supplied] Palmer's place" (Thespian Magazine, Dec. 1792, p. 150).] Receipts: #164 7s. (110.10; 50.9; 3.8)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Mattocks, but "Mrs Davenport undertook the part of Mrs Fancourt at a very short notice, on account of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Mattocks" (Morning Herald, 9 Dec.).] Receipts: #254 1s. (252.1; 2.0)

Event Comment: king's "On 28th March 1795, I saw the Opera Aci & Galathea by Bianchi. The music is very rich in parts for the wind instruments, and I rather think one would hear the principal melody better if it were not so richly scored. The Opera is too long, especially since Banti has to keep everything going all by herself; for Brida is a good youngster with a beautiful voice but very little musical feeling; and Rovedino, and the good old Braghetti, and the wretched Seconda Donna-they all deserved, and received, not the least applause. The orchestra is larger this year, but just as mechanical and badly placed as it was before, and indiscreet in its accompaniments; in short, it was the 3rd time that this Opera was performed, and everyone was dissatisfied. It happened that, when the 2nd Ballet began, the whole public suddenly became dissatisfied and yelled 'off-off-off,' because they wanted to see the new Ballet which Madam Hilligsberg had given at her Benefice 2 days earlier. Everyone was embarrassed-there was an interval lasting half an hour-until at last a dancer came forward and said, very submissively: 'Ladies and Gentlemen: since the performer [sic, instead of proprietor] Mr Taylor cannot be found, the whole Ballet Company promises to perform the desired ballet next week, for which, however, the Impresario must pay Madam Hilligsberg #300.'That satisfied them, and they then yelled, 'go on-go on;' and thus the old Ballet was performed' (Haydn, 293)

Event Comment: A New Opera; the music by Paisiello. [On 8 Dec. 1787 this was performed under its original title of Il re Teodoro in Venezia.] "Whatever we may pretend, we are too ignorant of musical science as a nation to find pleasure in what produces rapture on an Italian stage. The operas that have been successively produced this season would each have been more popular if much shorter" (Morning Chronicle, 15 Apr.)

Event Comment: [In 1st piece the playbill retains Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth, but "The Publick is most respectfully informed that Mrs Siddons, being suddenly taken ill...Lady Macbeth will be performed by Mrs Powell, who having undertaken the part at a very short notice, humbly intreats their indulgence" (printed slip attached to BM playbill, Harris, Vol. V).] 3rd piece: Engagement as 6 Mar. Receipts: #173 18s. 6d. (106.18.6; 62.19.6; 4.0.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Cassio to Barrymore, but "Charles Kemble undertook Cassio at a short notice, and sustained it very creditably" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1797, p. 250).] Afterpiece: Engagement as 6 Mar. Receipts: #219 6s. 6d. (158.19.6; 59.6.6; 1.0.6)

Event Comment: Didelot having unfortunately met with an accident, in the performance of Thursday evening, which renders him unable to appear To-night, Mlle Parisot has had the complaisance, at so short a notice, to undertake to perform the part of L'Amour this Evening, relying upon the known indulgence of the Public

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Farley, Cresswell, Jackson, Street will be admitted. Afterpiece: A short Description of the Scenery, as 22 May. The Music, &c. as 8 Apr. [Mainpiece in place of A Cure for the Heart Ache, advertised on playbill of 27 May.] Receipts: #247 16s. (105.10.6; 7.5.6; tickets: 135.0.0)