Event Comment: A Gratis Play. This is put for ye Benefit of Mrs Horton, an old Actress who has left ye Stage some Years, but Mr Morgan (an old Actor) is to have a third of it (Cross). No building on Stage. None behind Scenes. No money returned after Curtain is up. Receipts: #89 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. No Gentlemen can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra, or behind the scenes except those who attend the Royal Family. The Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken places for this evening, are desired to be at the Theatre by Five o'clock at the farthest, or their places cannot be secur'd

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [See 22 Oct. 1760.] Lord Townly by Mr Powell, 1st time great applause. Mr Castle hiss'd in Count Basset (Hopkins). Mr Powell's first appearance in Lord Townly-The last scene he felt greatly, and in a few times performing will play the part well (+Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #231 19s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Baker, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Mainpiece: By Partiuclar Desire. Afterpiece: For the last time this season. None admitted behind scenes. [Public Advertiser assigns two parts (Bridget and Dame Kitely) to Mrs Baker. Questionable.

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is Drawn up. Places for the boxes to be had (only) of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin exactly at Six o'clock. Vivant Rex & Regina! [Customary note for each bill. Only significant changes will be further noted. The company was weakened by the loss of Woodward (see 23 Oct.) who accompanied Foote to Edinburgh, and of Mrs Bellamy who was not engaged. Miss Catley, however, returned from Ireland after an absence of 9 years. And Ross returned after four years.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A masque in 3 parts with Music by Dibdin. New Scenes, Machines, Habits, and Decorations. This Entertainment is got up at vast Expence both in Scenery & Dresses very great applause (Hopkins Diary). But I wish it may answer the expence (Hopkins MS Notes). Book of Chorusses & Songs may be had at the Theatre. [The afterpiece thoroughly reviewed and excoriated by Theatrical Review for 28 Oct.] Paid Mr Dorman for coals #45 10s.; Mr Booth over stop'd last season 10s. 6d.; Supernumerary Soldiers #1 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #259 12s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Lethe is reviv'd with Alterations & a New Character-very well receiv'd & great Applause-Mr Garrick play'd with great Spirit & was much Applauded (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan notes lack of Fribble parts in Larpent MS. Yet Theatrical Review, 11 Jan., describes briefly the alterations, suggesting, The character of the Fine Gentleman in the former Lethe had some strong allusions to the behaviour of Gentlemen behind the scenes at the playhouses, which custom being abolished of late years, the character had lost its importance, on which account it is altered to a Fribble, and consequently entirely new written." A methodist taylor, an Irishman, Mr & Mrs Carbine (originally Mr & Mrs Tatoo) are also new. See account also in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre NO. XXXIII).] Paid Salary list, #502 3s. 6d.; Mrs Abington's cloaths acct #2; Mr S. French 6 days #1 10s.; Rec'd, Stopages. #11 13s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #245 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on The Loves of Mars and Venus, by Peter Anthony Motteux]: With New Scenes and Dresses. The Music chiefly composed by Dibdin. [Dr Arne and Dr Arnold each wrote one air.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 5 Feb. 1778: This Day at Noon is published Poor Vulcan! (1s.). [The playbill lists Reinhold in place of Mahon, but on the Kemble playbill his name is deleted and a MS annotation substitutes Mahon's.] Receipts: #232 5s. 6d. (230.2.6; 2.3.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with the scene of the Waterfallv, as it was originally produced. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Receipts: #110 5s. (83.11.0; 26.11.6; 0.2.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Elizabeth, Baroness Craven, later Margravine of Anspach. Larpent MS 564; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]: After the Prologue, a Naval Overture. The Airs from the most eminent Composers [with new music by Dr Arnold, Lady Craven, and Tommaso Giordani]. The Scenes new painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 July 1781: This Day is published the Songs in The Silver Tankard (6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered from his The Banditti (see 28 Nov. 1781). Text in his Dramatic Works, Vol. 1 (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: With new Scenes [by Carver (O'Keeffe, u, 38)], Dresses, and a new Overture. The Selected Airs by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan, the Irish Bard. The Overture and New Airs composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [This was Sga Sestini's 1st appearance on the English-speaking stage. For several preceding seasons she had been a member of the Italian opera company performing at the King's.] "Sestini . . . was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs. Yet she was . . . long a favourite with the mass of the public, though not with the connoisseurs" (Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 33). Account-Book, 30 June 1783: Paid O'Keeffe in full for The Castle of Andalusia #368 18s. 6d. Receipts: #166 2s. 6d. (165/9/0; 0/13/6)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Miss Collett, but on the Kemble playbill a MS annotation substitutes Miss Simson.] "Since the first performance, the scene of the Physicians has been judiciously struck out [of afterpiece]" {Universal Magazine, Nov. 1782, p. 254.) Paid Pemberton for copying parts #2. 3s. 6d. Receipts: #232 0s. 6d. (207/17/0; 23/12/0; 0/11/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Thomas Hull; also ascribed to Samuel Jackson Pratt. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by S. J. Pratt. {Miscellanies, 1785,1,271). MS: Larpent 603; not published]: With a grand Masquerade Scene, and Decorations incident to the Piece. Receipts: #234 17s. (223/13/0; 11/1/6; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by John O'Keeffe (O'KeefFe, II, 301); it included a song, music by Carter, When I was a little baby, written by Hannah Cowley]: New Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 26 Jan. 1784: This Day is published A Bold Stroke for A Husband (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #199 5s. 6d. (194/13/0; 4/12/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by George Colman, ynger. Prologue by the Hon. Francis North. Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 2 Sept. 1788: This Day is published Ways and Means (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by John Rose, based on Raoul Sire De Crequi, by Jaques Marie Boutet de Monvel]: With new Scenes [by Greenwood (Public Advertiser, 19 Oct.)], Dresses and Decorations. The Music composed principally by Attwood; the rest selected from Mozart and Sarti. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 20 Dec. 1792: This Day is published The Prisoner (1s.). Receipts: #217 10s. (128.12; 86.10; 2.8)

Event Comment: [In 3rd piece the playbill lists Barrymore in place of Bannister Jun., but "Barrymore continuing ill C. Kemble play'd the part of Vapour in My Grandmother" (Powell).] Powell: My Grandmother rehearsed at 11 (Vapour's Scenes); New Ballet [Glorious First of June] at 12. Receipts: #135 7s. (84/13/6; 49/9/0; 1/4/6)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; PREL 1, by George Colman, ynger. In 1796 the 1st scene was acted as Sylvester Daggerwood]. Morning Chronicle, 3 July 1795: This Day is published New Hay at the Old Market (1s.). 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 had of Rice at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 29 Apr. 1774]. "In the scene where Varanes kills himself, Kemble...was peculiarly striking. His manner of sheathing the sword in his body, after he has exclaimed, 'I feel the art'ry where the life-blood lies! It heaves against the point!-Now-Oh ye gods!' astonished us; and we turned, with horror, from the sight" (Monthly Visitor, Feb. 1797, p. 161). "I asked [Mrs Siddons] in which part she would most wish me to see her? She named Portia in the Merchant of Venice; but I begged to be excused...Mrs Siddons's warmest devotes do not hold her above a demigoddess in comedy. I have chosen Athenais;...her scorn is admirable" (Walpole [15 Jan. 1788], XIV, 42). Receipts: #231 9s. (175.2; 54.14; 1.13)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Prologue by John Taylor. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text; although Boaden, Jordan, I, 286 says the Epilogue was by Samuel Rogers, being the same as that spoken on 27 Apr. 1795)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [Afterpiece in place of No Song No Supper, advertised on playbill of 18 Apr.] Morning Herald, 29 Apr. 1797: On Monday [1 May] will be published The Will (2s.). Account-Book: Reynolds to receive #33 6s. 8d. for every night of The Will. Receipts: #413 4s. (344.12.6; 63.16.6; 4.15.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by John Rose. Larpent MS 1167; not published]: A Mask, in honour of the approaching Royal Nuptials [the Marriage of Charlotte Augusta, Princess Royal of Great@Britain to Frederick William, Prince of Wurttemberg, on 18 May]. The Musick entirely new by Attwood. The Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. Books of the Interlude to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #254 15s. (166.15.0; 84.6.6; 3.13.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Aickin and Miss DeCamp, but "This was a singularly disastrous evening. Mrs Gibbs read Miss DeCamp's character...Aickin was taken suddenly ill after the first act, and the remainder of his part was read by Davenport." In afterpiece "Palmer, having gone through a scene of the Guardian, made an apology to the audience, and read the remainder of Heartly" (Monthly Mirror, Sept. 1797, p. 182). Miss Stuart was from dl.

Event Comment: On account of the Indisposition of the lady who was to have appeared in the character of Lady Emily, The Heiress [advertised on playbill of 5 Oct.] is deferred till Saturday next. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Walsh Porter. Larpent MS 1180; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Songs, Duetts, &c. composed by Kelly. The Overture by Shaw. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Master Elliot had previously appeared in the oratorios at cg.] Receipts: #368 14s. 6d. (239.10.0; 127.16.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Thomas Holcroft, based on Diego und Leonore, by Johann Christoph Unzer. Prologue and Epilogue by Francis Godolphin Waldron (Thomas Holcroft, Life, ed. Elbridge Colby, 1925, II, 125)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery by Marinari. [Johnston was from cg.] Times, 12 July 1798: This Day is published The Inquisitor (2s.)