Event Comment: A New Pantomime of Mr Messinks went off with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Music By Dibdin. New Scenes, Habits, and Machines. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Repeated.] Paid 4 days salary list at #85 12s. 11d., #342 11s. 8d.; Miss Mansell on acct #5 5s.; Mr Clinch ditto, #6 6s.; Dr Arne for Mrs Bradley 2 nights per order #5 5s.; Stopages nil (Treasurer's Book). [Full description of the New Pantomime is given in the Westminster Magazine (January 1773): Harlequin born to the Pigmies comes to manhood, gets a job from the Register Office in a Nobleman's family where he meets Colombine. They love, and elope, a chase ensues through several noted places in London, which are detailed in the review. The union of the lovers is finally consended to, and all closes with dancing. "Some of the paintings in the scenery are well executed; and the generality of Mr Dibdin's music deserves equal praise." In it Mrs Wrighten gives a ludicrous imitation of Miss Catley's manner of singing. The reviewer's general thesis about the London stage of this period, given first in the preliminary number, 1 Jan. 1773 continues: "The Stage seems now buried in universal darkness...The Publick for several weeks, has been fed with the lean carcass of two villainous pantomimes."] Receipts: #162 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [not acted since 18 Sept. 1778. Mrs Brooks is identified in Reed, p. 145]. "Miss George spins around every fifteen seconds like a top, and then runs to the back of the stage. She too is very apt to stay at the back of the stage. She knows when it is her turn to speak, joins the party, speaks, spins, and away again! Pray, Miss George, sometimes do your friends the favour to stay amongst them, and attend to what is going forward" (Morning Chronicle, 24 July)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George. [Monologue by Charles Stuart {.European Magazine, Sept. 1786, p. 165).] Morning Chronicle, 31 July: Tickets to be had of Miss George, No. 23, King-street, St. Ann's, Soho. Afterpiece: Never performed here

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces The Follies of a Day, but "In consequence of an accident to Miss Farren The Follies of a Day was unavoidably postponed, in lieu was represented The Liar [which is also listed in the Account-Book]. Mrs Kemble being indisposed, Miss Collins personated Miss Grantham in a manner which greatly added to Miss Collins's reputation" (Diary, 11 Oct.). And see 10 May 1791.] Receipts: #289 7s. 6d. (239.15.0; 48.7.6; 1.5.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. [Mrs Jordan's 1st appearance as Lady Bell was at this theatre, 21 Apr. 1789.] 3rd piece: To conclude with a Prospect of the Infernal Regions, and a Rain of Fire. Times, 4 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, No. 63, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Receipts: #318 11s. 6d. (78.0.6; 84.18.0; 4.12.6; tickets: 151.0.6) (charge: #216 8s. 1d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Miss Biggs as Angela, but "On account of the sudden indisposition of Miss Biggs, Miss Heard will perform the part of Angela, and hopes for the usual indulgence of the audience" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill).] Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Thomas John Dibdin, based on Der Wildfang, by August Ferdinand Friedrich von Kotzebue. Prologue by Miles Peter Andrews (London Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1800)]: The Overture and Musick composed by Kelly [with one selection from Paisiello]. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #264 17s. (139.8.6; 122.17.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Pullen and Mrs Pullen. Afterpiece: a Ballad Opera of Three Acts. [Author unknown.] This Opera, relating to the Affair of Father Girard with Miss Cadiere, &c. is entirely new, being a faithful Translation from the French Original, as it was forbid in Paris

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Norris. Being positively the last Time this Company will ever perform. 7 P.M

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Faulkner. Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of Several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. Miss Faulkner playing Polly "for the 1st time." Tickets of Page at the stage door in Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Miss Faulkner at her house in Leicester Fields

Event Comment: Benefit of Settree. Tickets delivered by Mas. Settree and Miss Twist will be taken

Event Comment: LLady Townly a $Miss Hart-Her 1st appearance-Some Applause (Hopkins MS Notes)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted Before. [Printed play, Dublin 1762 lists Talthybius-$Castle; Lycus-$Ackman; Cratander-$Moody; Paeonian-$Fox; Officer-$Scrase; Sigea-$Miss Hippisley.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Radley. Afterpiece: 2 acts new taken from The Jovial Crew, With additional Chorusses and Air. Music by Bates

Event Comment: By Particular Desire. Paid Miss Robins in full of salary to 16th inst. incl. (now on the pay list) #9 6s. 8d. (Treasurer's Book). Benefit for Miss Younge. Tickets deliver'd for Zenobia will be taken. Mainpiece: Never performed there. Receipts: #259 15s. 6d. Charges #68 14s. Profits to Miss Younge: #191 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Taylor. Mainpiece: Written by Hugh Kelly Esq. Tickets to be had of Miss Taylor at Sergeant's, Paradise-street. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin precisely at 6:00

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with a Grand Representation of a Regattav. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Paid Supernumeraries #5 13s. 6d.; Billstickers #2 14s.; Music 1st week #25 7s. 6d.; Miss Younge's Cloathes #5. King being hoarse the Prelude [see 21 Sept.] was omitted--Miss Pope made her first Appearance these 2 years upon this stage in Miss Sterling--but coolly received (+Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #213 8s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by George Colman elder (London Chronicle, 9 May). Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1780]: With New Scenes and Dresses. "No modern theatrical piece ever met with a fuller success, nor deserved it more... The performers deserve every sort of commendation for their spirited exertion in supporting the respective characters, especially Smith, King and the incomparable Mrs Abington" (Gazetteer, 9 May). "To my great astonishment there were more parts performed admirably in The School for Scandal than I almost ever saw in any play. Mrs Abington was equal to the first of her profession, Yates (the husband), Parsons, Miss Pope, and Palmer, all shone. It seemed a marvellous resurrection of the stage. Indeed, the play had as much merit as the actors. I have seen no comedy that comes near it since The Provoked Husband" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 82). Receipts: #224 10s. (215.12.0; 8.14.6; 0.3.6)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Hitchcock's 1st appearance in London. Miss Farren was from the Manchester theatre. Miss Twist is identified in playbill of 14 July.] Because of Foote's acting scarcely anything but his own plays "a relaxation of discipline has been fallen into at the Haymarket... The audience last night, however, were not less surprized than pleased at the very regular manner in which the Comedy and the Burletta were exhibited. All the business of the stage perfect, all the little parts smoothly given, and the whole rather superior than inferior to a performance at either of the Winter Theatres" (Morning Chronicle, 10 June)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Richard Tickell, some of the songs attributed to Richard Brinsley Sheridan; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 18 Dec. Songs (no pub., 1781) omits several [i.e. all the non-singing] characters. MS not in Larpent; not published]: With entirely new Music and a new Overture [by Thomas Linley Sen.]. To conclude with a View of St. Mark's Place, and a grand Representation of the Carnival. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations, designed by De Loutherbourg, and executed under his Direction. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 Dec. 1781: This Day are published the Songs in The Carnival of Venice (6d.). Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1782: Received from Miss Giles for 1,550 Books of the Songs in the Carnival #31. Receipts: #225 18s. 6d. (216/4/0; 9/14/6; 0/0/0)

Event Comment: 1st piece: In 3 Scenes of Dialogue. 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Pepusch. [The playbill assigns Filch to Mrs Wilson and Mat o' th' Mint to Miss Morris, but "Miss Morris was merely a temporary substitute for Mrs Wilson who, it seems, is too far advanced in her pregnancy to dress en bomme" (Miming Chronicle, 4 June). But beginning with 7 June Mrs Wilson acted regularly until 3 Aug. Who acted Mat o' th' Mint on this present night has not come to light; the part was perhaps omitted.] 3rd piece: Ballet Tragi-comique. Composed by Signior Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. The Music by Gluck. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Machinist and Painter-Sg Rookereschi. Tailor-Sg Walkerino. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5 (?), author unknown. It was 1st advertised in Morning Chronicle, 15 Dec. 1783, for performance on 26 Jan. 1784, as "A new Comedy called The Artful Patriot; or, The Rage of the People." Prologue by Thomas Stewart (Morning Post, 23 Feb., which also gives names of T. Davis and Miss Hemet. Author of Epilogue unknown. MS not in Larpent; not published]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.] Powell: Love a-la-mode rehearsed at 10 (for King); Lodoiska music at 11 (for Kelly, Storace, Crouch); Natural Son at 12 (King, Moody. Miss Farren one scene). Receipts: #347 15s. 6d. (283/0/0; 53/13/6; 7/2/0)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by George Brewer]: The Musick by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald; 6 July 1796: This Day is published Bannian Day (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. [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Caulfield, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Miss Leak, Miss Heard