Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but thrice these six years. [See 13 April 1748.] Written by Shakespear. Music composed by the late Mr Lampe. Afterpiece: A Mock Opera not performed these five years

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted 8 years. [See 5 Feb. 1748.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years [but see 8 May 1758]. Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Fennell had acted Douglas at Edinburgh on 5 July 1788, and perhaps Previously.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2, by Charles Bonnor and Robert Merry. Larpent MS 886; not published. Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1790, pp. 321-23. Author of Prologue unknown]: Interspersed with Dialogue, Airs, Duettos, Chorusses, Dances, &c. &c. &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations entirely new, and painted by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Pugh, Malton, with many Assistants [including W. Hamilton (European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468]. Among others will be exhibited the following Scenes taken from accurate Drawings made on the Spot: The Jacobines Convent, Rue St. Honorie; Places de Greve; Inside of the Hotel de Ville; View of the New Bridge called Pont Louis Seize; Fountain des Innocens; Palais Bourbon; View of the Champ de Mars, with the Grand Pavillion preparatory to the Festival; A Grand Assembly; View of the Triumphal Arch, prepared for the Procession to the Champ de Mars; Perspective View of the Champ de Mars, with the Bridge of Boats. With an exact Representation of the Banners, Oriflammes, &c. &c. in the Grand Procession to the Champ de Mars. The Whole to conclude with a Representation of the Grand Illuminated Platform, as prepared by the City of Paris, on the Ruins of the Bastille, for the Entertainment of the Provincial Deputies, and the Public. [The above has reference to the "Grand National Fete" held in Paris, 14 July 1790, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. It is included in all subsequent playbills.] The Dances [composed] by Byrn. The Music composed and compiled [from Reeve and Naumann] by Shield. The Dresses all Characteristically French and New. Books of the Songs, &c. with a short Description of the Performance [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1791: Paid Bonnor #200. Receipts: #316 16s. (296.14; 20.2)

Event Comment: [Fennell had acted Douglas at Edinburgh on 5 July 1788, and perhaps Previously.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2, by Charles Bonnor and Robert Merry. Larpent MS 886; not published. Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1790, pp. 321-23. Author of Prologue unknown]: Interspersed with Dialogue, Airs, Duettos, Chorusses, Dances, &c. &c. &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations entirely new, and painted by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Pugh, Malton, with many Assistants [including W. Hamilton (European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468]. Among others will be exhibited the following Scenes taken from accurate Drawings made on the Spot: The Jacobines Convent, Rue St. Honorie; Places de Greve; Inside of the Hotel de Ville; View of the New Bridge called Pont Louis Seize; Fountain des Innocens; Palais Bourbon; View of the Champ de Mars, with the Grand Pavillion preparatory to the Festival; A Grand Assembly; View of the Triumphal Arch, prepared for the Procession to the Champ de Mars; Perspective View of the Champ de Mars, with the Bridge of Boats. With an exact Representation of the Banners, Oriflammes, &c. &c. in the Grand Procession to the Champ de Mars. The Whole to conclude with a Representation of the Grand Illuminated Platform, as prepared by the City of Paris, on the Ruins of the Bastille, for the Entertainment of the Provincial Deputies, and the Public. [The above has reference to the "Grand National Fete" held in Paris, 14 July 1790, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. It is included in all subsequent playbills.] The Dances [composed] by Byrn. The Music composed and compiled [from Reeve and Naumann] by Shield. The Dresses all Characteristically French and New. Books of the Songs, &c. with a short Description of the Performance [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1791: Paid Bonnor #200. Receipts: #316 16s. (296.14; 20.2)

Event Comment: Benefit for Maguire and Tindal. Afterpiece: Never perform'd there

Event Comment: Both pieces By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: Never performed there. Last night was deposited in the Vault of St Paul's Covent Garden the remains of James Bencraft, that truly honest, amiable, and benevolent man, whose perpetual pleasantry and delectable vein of humour cannot more aptly be described than in the words of Hamlet-"That fellow of infinite jest &c., Alas poor Jemmy" (+Winston MS 9 from The Gazetteer)

Event Comment: [D$DuBellamy, as would appear from a letter to the Printer of the Public Advertiser, 20 Sept. "Being at the Opera House last week to see the Conscious Lovers and As You Like It, not to mention the various and allowed excellencies of each performer, I was most agreeably surprized at the songs, in the bills said to be sung by a Gentleman, which indeed his genteel figure and polite address, at first sight well authenticated; but for the songs, viz. If Love's a Sweet Passion,--Blow, Blow Thou Winter's Wind,--with some others I must confess I never heard the like; his voice was finely masculine, strong, sweet, clear and articulate; his manner not servilely confined to the pedantic stiffness of some, or the affectation of others; in a word he sung like a Gentleman; and the sound, as Milton elegantly expresses it, 'Floated the Wings of silence.' This is not intended (by doing justice to Mr D. B@@y) to depreciate any....I am told he has applied to Mr Beard, with what success I know not, [hopes he will be one of the new singers at Covent Garden] signed T. S."]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: (Never Performed) a Comic Opera by Isacc Bickerstaffe. [The Theatrical Monitor, No XIV (27 Feb.), remarked: We were scraped, squalled and clapped, out of our senses at Covent Garden....It was thought there were no less than 500 orders in the house. O Shameful! Why are not a generous audience left to judge of a piece, Without this forc'd imposition." N.B. Hardly possible for "500 orders" to have filled the house which took in #233 19s.] Receipts: #233 19s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy [by Joseph Cradock] never performed. The Music composed by Mr Fisher. Words of the Epithalamium to be had at the Theatre. Paid Palmer (wax chandler) #140; Paid Buxton & Enderby (oyl merchants) #136 3s. (Account Book). Receipts: #220 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy [by Oliver Goldsmith] never perform'd. [Carried in the Account Book under its secondary title. A long and grudgingly favorable review appeared in the Westminster Magazine: On the whole the Comedy has many excellent qualities: though we cannot venture to recommend it as a pattern for imitation. Still attached to the laudable intent of it, we wish it may keep possession of the stage till a better comedy comes to relieve it." There follows a long account of Foote's Puppet Show.] Receipts: #234 11s. 6d

Event Comment: [Henderson's 1st recorded appearance as Falstaff was at Bath, 6 Mar. 1777. "In the frolicksome, gay, and humourous situations of Falstaff Henderson is superior to every man...His soliloquy in describing his ragamuffin regiment, and his enjoying the misuse of the king's press-money are so truly excellent that they are not inferior to any comic representation of the stage" (Davies, I, 252-53).] Afterpiece: Never performed here. The Musick composed by Dr Arnold

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never performed here

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Davis. 1st piece: Altered from [The Soldier's Fortune, by] Otway, by John Brownsmith. [not in Larpent MS; not published.] 2nd piece: A Poetical Interlude altered from Prior's Nut-brown Maid. 3rd piece: Altered to 3 acts. [Prologue by Shatford Jones. Author of Epilogue unknown. For authorship of 1st piece and prologue see Morning Chronicle, 25 Oct.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets delivered for Davis and Wright will be admitted

Event Comment: The King's Company. Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 15 Nov. 1681: This being ye Q.s birthday ye K.s players acted Alexdr ye great after wch was a ball & entertainment given to ye Ct. (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80). Luttrell, 15 Nov. 1681: The 15th, being the birth day of her majestie, was kept with ringing of bells, bonefires, &c.; and at night there was a play acted at Whitehall before the king and queen, where the court appeared in great splendor (A Brief Relation, I, 144). The Earl of Arran to Ormond, 15 Nov. 1681: I am going to a play at court (HMC, Ormonde MSS., New Series, VI, 230). L. C. 5@144, p. 246, 22 Nov. 1681: Whereas Jeoffrey Ayleworth, Thomas ffarmer, Thomas ffinall & Richard Tomlinson foure of his Mates Musitians have neglected their dury in attending at ye play acted before his Mate at Whitehall on Tuesday night last for which I have suspended them (L. C. to the Treasurer of the Chamber, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 100)

Event Comment: Miss Robins made her first appearance upon the Stage in the part of the Country Girl an agreeable figure as a Woman & also in Breeches-she has a particular Cuddenish wa with her wch is not amiss in this Character, but I am afraid it will be a disadvantage to her in any other. Mr G. took great pains with her, & a long time in Training her before he brought her out he wrote & introduc'd a Song in the part and a New Prologue to introduce her & alter'd the Epilogue. all which & the Lady were very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] The Songs introduced in the Comedy [mainpiece] will be printed, and given at the doors of the Theatre. [The Westminster Magazine for December remarked of Miss Robbins' performance and reception, "The first was spirited and characteristic; the latter very favorable, and in our opinion deservedly so. She is no beauty but has strong expression. Her voice is pleasing, and her articulation was extremely distinct and proper."] Receipts: #149 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Descriptive passage as at cg 13 Oct. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 20 Oct.: Last Night was perform'd, gratis, the Tragedy of Richard the Third, at the late Theatre in Goodman's Fields, when the Character of Richard was perform'd by a Gentleman who never appear'd before, whose Reception was the most extraordinary and great that was ever known upon such an Occasion; and we hear he obliges the Town this Evening with the same Performance

Event Comment: [Benefit for Mr Mathews & $Jan: Auretti. Ye provok'd Husband? was play'd Palmer being ill (Cross). No Building on Stage. [The bills, all printed before the last minute change, list The Non Juror. Probably announcement was unnecessary, as audience came mainly to enjoy the dances this night.] Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: Last time of performing before the Holidays. Benefit for Johnston (Housekeeper). [Mr A. Johnston (Treasurer's Book). Paid Mr J. French's draft #32 5s.; Mr Calthorpe's 2nd & last payment this season #157 10s. Receipts: #294 19s. Charges: #84. Profits to A. Johnston: #210 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The King's Company. This is the first known performance of the comedy, but it may not be the premiere. Evelyn, Diary: At night saw acted the Committe, a ridiculous play of Sir R. Howards where that Mimic Lacy acted the Irish-footeman to admiration: a very Satyrus or Roscius. Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 16: @For his Just Acting, all gave him due Praise,@His Part in the Cheats, Jony Thump, Teg and Bayes,@In these Four Excelling; The Court gave him the Bays.

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 25-28 April 1696, suggests that it was acted not later than the period preceding Passion Week (6-11 April 1696). In addition, the large number of minor performers in the cast suggests a Lenten performance by the young actors. In Act I, Scene i, there is an Entertainment of Instrumental Musick, Compos'd by Signior Finger: Then a Song, set by Mr John Eccles, and Sung by Young La Roche. In III, iii: A Dialogue set by Seignior Baptist. The play is an adaptation of John Webster's Cure for a Cuckold. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702): The City Bride, by another Player, Damn'd

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece: Hull's "Alteration with Additions" to Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. Not acted these 30 years. [See 9 Oct. 1734, according to Genest, IV, 653.] No Building on Stage. [This alteration acted but once, not printed. Done again 1779, and printed in 8vo 1793 under title Comedy of Errors. [See Hogan, II, 151.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Marten, Anderson, R. Smith. Mainp1ece: Not acted this Season

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years. [See 15 May 1765.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 6 April 1771.] Part of Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Ladies send servants by 4 o'clock. Charges #67 6s. 6d. Profit to Smith #51 9s. 6d. plus #153 2s. from tickets (Box 427; Pit 205; Gallery 106) (Account Book). Receipts: #118 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunstall. Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. [See 29 Nov. 1764.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 2 Dec. 1769.] Charges: #64 5s. Profit to Dunstall #1 1s. 6d., plus #170 17s. from tickets (Box 433; Pit 410; Gallery 36). Paid Whitefield a quarter year's salary #25, and Sarjant ditto, #10. Paid Mrs Carne half year's salary #15 all due Lady Day last (Account Book). Receipts: #65 6s. 6d