Event Comment: ["The Lord Ogleby of (The Clandestine Marriage) raised Mr King to the summit of comic excellence, which his more recent great character, Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal, has established him in the unrivalled possession of" (Johnson, ed. Waldron, 169).] Receipts: #245 (211.9; 33.6; 0.5)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 2. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 347. There is no certainty that this is the premiere, but the fact that the play was given again on 4 Dec. 1672 suggests that this was the first performance and that it was also acted on Tuesday 3 Dec. 1672. A song, How pleasant is mutual love, set by John Bannister for this play, is in Choice Songs and Ayres, First Book, 1673. See Cibber, Apology, ed. Lowe, I, 155, for Underhill's acting of Justice Clodpate. Downes (p. 33): This Play in general being Admirably Acted, produc'd great Profit to the Company. Note, Mrs Johnson in this Comedy, Dancing a Jigg so Charming well, Loves power in a little time after Coerc'd her to Dance more Charming, else where

Event Comment: [Holman is identified on playbill of 5 Nov. Address by John Barwis (European Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 336, which also lists name of speaker).] Mainpiece: With new Dresses, Scenery and Decorations. In Act I a Masquerade Scene. [This notice is included in all subsequent playbills.] "This easy and natural performance of Holman . . . will prove a fatal blow to the cause of the Attitudinarians and Face-makers; to those who think dramatic excellence consists in . . . finding out meanings that were never meant ... in stretching out their fingers like monkies dying in convulsions ... in uttering their words like minute-guns at royal funerals" (Public Advertiser, 1 Nov.). "Why does Romeo wear black in the last Act? Is it on account of his banishment? He has not heard of Juliet's death" (Gazetteer, 28 Oct.)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: Taken from the French of Patrat; Performed but once [at cg on 24 Apr. 1798]. [On this night the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Aickin, Caulfield, Wathen, Trueman, Bannister, Miss DeCamp, Miss Heard.] On playbill of 13 June: 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. Printed by T. Woodfall, No. 104, Drury-Lane

Event Comment: NNeville MS Diary: Read ye parts of Varanes and Athenais before I went into ye Pit to see ye Play of Theodosius. Barry and Mrs Dancer are excellent in Varanes and Athenais. Young Barry did Theodosius, and Sowdon Marcian, who, tho' ugly, has a pretty good person and is a tolerably good player. Liontine by Bannister

Event Comment: MMr Bannister made his first appearance on this stage in Merlin with a new Song introduced.--He was received with applause, --is a tall figure, good voice and sings well (Hopkins MS Notes). [The grand procession of the orders of chivalry hereafter a regular feature of Cymon.

Event Comment: Benefit for Reddish. Neville MS Diary: Went to see the Maid of the Mill played for the first time at Drury Lane. Bannister is the best Giles I have seen since Beard left the stage. The farce was No Wit like a Woman's, played but once before. Assisted in hissing it as both foolish and immoral

Event Comment: Benefit for Piguenit, Treasurer. Price 3s. [No vocalists in concert, but musical imitations by Bannister.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 Years. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearances on the stage were at the hay, 27 Aug. and 2 Sept. 1778.] Receipts: #165 18s. (139.12.0; 26.5.6; 0.0.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun

Event Comment: Arthur and Emmeline [announced on playbill of 23 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred, on Account of the Indisposition of Bannister. Receipts: #186 5s. 6d. (142.1.0; 40.0.6; 4.4.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance as Young Philpot was at the hay, 7 Sept. 1789.] Receipts: #191 5s. 6d. (162.7.0; 27.3.0; 1.15.6)

Event Comment: No Money to be returned. 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 2 Nov.]. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] Mainpiece: The Sixtieth Night [but in the previous season (its 1st) the play had been acted 56 nights. On this evening Bannister Jun. acted in the mainpiece at dl and in the 3rd piece at the hay.]. Account-Book, 16 Nov.: Paid Jarvis for 4,000 Songs of Haunted Tower #28 4s. Receipts: #256 2s. 6d. (214.12.0; 40.10.6; 1.0.0)

Event Comment: Paid Barratt for Oil and Candles #132 10s. Powell: The Jew rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister Jun.); The Citizen at 12. Receipts: #457 5s. 6d. (382/14/0; 70/12/0; 3/7/6; tickets not come in: 0/12/0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of THE LIAR, advertised on playbill of 10 June]. The Publick is most respectfully informed that LODOISKA [also advertised on playbill of 10 June] cannot be acted this Evening, on Account of the Indisposition of Bannister Jun. Receipts: #178 17s. 6d. (125/9/0; 46/15/0; 6/13/6)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Paid Mrs Phillimore on Account of moving the Wardrobe to and from the Opera House #4 4s. Powell, 22 Sept.: Henry V rehearsed at 10; No Song No Supper at 12; 23 Sept.: No Song No Supper rehearsed at 10 (for Bannister and Mrs Bland); Provoked Husband a 11. Receipts: #308 2s. 6d. (218.11.0; 88.15.0; 0.16.6)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: With additional airs. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance as Hob was at dl, 3 June 1795.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis, also the author of Prologue and Epilogue (see text)]. "The Epilogue was spoken by Bannister Jun. in the character of Queen Elizabeth, who ascends from a trap in the middle of the stage, and who is supposed to have obtained the permission of Pluto to revisit her kingdom, in order to witness the representation of the East Indianv" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1799, p. 367). Receipts: #200 13s. 6d. (131.11.0; 67.9.6; 1.13.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5]: By the celebrated Henry Fielding; and never yet performed or published. With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. [and incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by the same (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1778: This Day is published The Fathers (1s. 6d.). "This play was written by Mr Henry Fielding, some years before his death. Mr Garrick saw it at that time. Mr Fielding gave the only fair copy he had of it to his friend Sir Charles Williams, of whose judgment he entertained a high opinion. Sir Charles soon after went abroad, and the comedy was mislaid. Mr. Fielding communicated this circumstance to his family on his death-bed; and enquiry was made for it, but without effect. At length Mr Thomas? Johnes, Member for Cardigan, looking over Sir Charles's books, found a comedy in manuscript, which he read, and, approving, had it transcribed and sent to Mr Garrick for his opinion, who, like Archimedes, cried out, 'This is the lost sheep! This is Mr Henry Fielding's play!' Mr Garrick communicating it to Mr Johnes, Mr Johnes immediately sent the original manuscript, which was in Mr Fielding's hand-writing, to the family, with his best wishes for its success, promising to assist it to the utmost of his power" (Gentleman's Magazine, Dec. 1778, p.586). See also, for corroboration of the above and for other details, Wilbur L. Cross, The History of Henry Fielding, 1918, III, 99-104. Receipts: #210 11s. 6d. (186.6.0; 23.19.6; 0.6.0)