Event Comment: N.B. This was Mr Packer's first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre. He had acted one night at Covent Garden in the preceding season, Johnson, in the Rehearsal and the Frenchman in Lethe, which pieces were perform'd for Mr Lee's Benefit. Mr Garrick was there, and engag'd Mr Packer, who was going to Ireland, with Mr Barry, and Mr Woodward, into the Drury Lane Company. I am writing this on the sixth of April 1801--tonight Mr Packer told me the above Particulars at Drury Lane Playhouse, where he has always remained since his first being engaged there (J. P. Kemble's note on Huntington bill). Receipts: #100 (Cross); #107 1s. 6d. (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years. [See 11 Nov. 1752.] Characters New Dressed in the Habits of the Times. This play is alter'd by Mr Colman and receiv'd with Some Applause, but it don't seem to hit the present Taste a few hisses at the End (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid salary list #630 1s. 6d.; Widow Hunter #2 2s.; King's glass bill #3 17s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Mainpiece reviewed and contrasted with the original in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "Upon the whole we cannot esteem this a striking comedy, even with the assistance it has now received,--the fine manner in which it is got up, and the great expence which the managers have been at in habiting the whole dramatis personae in splendid and characteristic Old English dresses. All the actors except Mr King and Mr Parsons performed but indifferently. Bensley is the worst Old Man we ever saw. He presents the countenace of a sickly old woman; and the uniform goggle of his eye, by which he means to express infirmity and distress is the look of a man in anguish from the colic. Mr Palmer, Mr Brereton, and Mr Davis have a bloated vulgarity about them, which should ever deter the manager from assigning them the parts of cavaliers or men of fashion. Baddeley, as usual, overdid his part, and Mr Yates, as usual, was not very perfect in his."] Receipts: #192 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Abington continuing ill, The Maid of the Oaks oblig'd to be deferr'd. Soon after the Farce began off off--no, more, no more, was the General Cry with much hissing--Mr King went on Two or three times to know their pleasure but they would not hear him. They Call'd for Mr Garrick he attended--but they would not hear him for a long time tho' Attempted Several times to speak--at last Somebody said hear him! hear him!--Mr G. told them that he would wait their [sic] all Night with pleasUre if they requir'd it--hear him! again was bellow'd out--he told them he waited to know their pleasure--whether they would have the Blackamoor go on or if they would have any other Farce then a great Noise ensued; as soon as they were quiet Mr G. told them that his Theatrical Life would be very Short and he should be glad to end it in peace--A man in the Pit said if you have a mind to die in Peace don't let this Farce be play'd again Mr Garrick was on and off the Stage several times nothing would content them--at Length Mr King told them that the Author had taken the Copy from the Prompter and was gone away with it.--Soon after this they withdrew So ended this troublesome Affair (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble is considerably lengthened.] Paid Mr Rowland's bill for dinners #8 9s. 3d. Receipts: #284 18s. (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: In Mr G. fine Scene with Thomas , Just as he was going to trust him with the Secret the House was very Silent and Mr G. very fine a fellow in the Gallery bawld out--Speak louder--It disconcerted Mr G. very much (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr Waller's Bill (hosier) #30 16s. 9d.; Mr Pryer [Turner] #3 2s.; Mr Bannizter [sic] for two songs #5 5s. Receipts: #242 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: ["When the Commemoration of King Charles's Death [on 30 Jan.] falls on a Sunday we always act on Monday. "This occurred for the first time, at both dl and cg, on 31 Jan. 1785. Previously, when 30 Jan. was a Sunday, both theatres had observed the commemoration on Monday 31 Jan. In mainpiece the playbill retains Kemble as Faulkland, but "Mr Benson read FaulklandR for me [this because Kemble was detained returning from Bath to London]" (Kemble Mem.).] Receipts: #231 7s. (180.12.0; 50.1.6; 0.13.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wrighten, prompter. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Kemble as Orlando, but "I had fallen from the Ladder in my Book-room, and bruised my Leg. Mr Barrymore acted Orlando for me" (Kemble Mem.).] Oracle, 29 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wrighten, next the Stage-Door. Receipts: #328 18s. (63.0.0; 17.3.6; 2.9.6; tickets: 246.5.0) (charge: #116 16s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Rosetta first time by Miss Sharp--a loud Voice a bad face and mean figure She had Applause--but it won't do (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly and adds: Miss Sharpe was a Scholar of Mr Bates's--since married to Mr William Palmer, brother to Mr John and Mr Robert Palmer."] Rec'd the late Mr Powell's bond for #200 and 9 years interest in full #290; Stopages #11 18s. Paid Barrow and Co., Oil Bill #50 3s.; Powney, (stationer) #14 11s. 6d.; Tallow Chandler's third bill #47 12s. 4d.; Evans on Wardrobe acct #10 10s.; Grist on acct #6 6s.; Machin, Chorus 13 nights, #3 5s. Receipts: #116 13s. [Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Miss Biddy by Miss Jarratt (an apprentice to Mr Jefferson) a pretty little figure & met with Applause. Not much of an Actress (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr L. Frederick for sattin, #57 18s. 6d.; Mrs Sykes for women's cloaths #13; Mr Vernon on note #9 9s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine (Treatre, XL) writes of Miss Jarratt, she has been under the tuition of Mr Jefferson and promises to be become an agreeable actress in parts (such as Biddy").] Receipts: #224 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Tragedy of Hamlet having been greatly Altered by D. G. was perform'd for the first time Mr Garrick playd divinely & Merited the great Applause he receivd It is Alterd much for the better in regard to the part of Hamlet & I think the alterations very fine & proper (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble considerably briefer. See "Garrick's Long Lost Alteration of Hamlet," PMLA, Sept. 1934.] Paid Mr George Garrick on account #100; Mr Bulkley for Mr Weston, #2 8s. (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine comments unfavorably on the Hamlet alteration: "How far the critics will approve these mutations we will not at present determine; but the admirers of Shakespeare must certainly be displeas'd, whenever they see his immortal works mutilated."] Receipts: #284 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Comedy is written by Mr Cumberland but I think inferior to his other Productions was tolerably well receiv'd but a most excellent Epilogue was Written by Mr G. & Spoken by Mrs Abington which gave a great Lift to the Play Uncommon Applause to the Epilogue (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Mr Lauchery per order #1 1s. (Treasurer's Book). [From the Westminster Magazine, Dec. 1774: We cannot think Mr Cumberland has courted the Comic Muse in this play so successfully as in the West Indian, and the rest of his comedies. His language is unexceptionably good; he is often as witty as Congreve, as easy as Vanbrugh, and as satirical as Wycherly. But language alone will not do. The plot is ill conducted.] Receipts: #243 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Mrs Greville. Farce (in 2 Acts) Never performed before, and for that night only. This Farce was written by Mr Waldron-Some Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Mr Wegg's rent half year to Lady Day last #57; Duke of Bedford ditto #164 2s. 10d.; One yrs Paving, Cleansing & Lighting to ditto #39 7s. 6d.; Mr Moody for Mr Philips #13 13s.; St Martin's Charity School, 1 year, 1774 #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for May gives the following cast for the farce: Reuben-$Waldron; Blunt-$Moody; Sharp-$Dodd; Flimsy-$LeMash; Joseph-$Burton; Mrs Reuben-$Mrs Davies; Betty-$Miss Platt. It then bluntly tells the plot and concludes: "The whole is beneath criticism."

Event Comment: This Play is alter'd by Mr Lenox from Eastward hoe! it was well perform'd and had Applause--some hisses at the End it won't do much (Hopkins Diary). Characters new dress'd in Habits of the Time. (MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Mr Abrahams by Mr D. G. #40; Mr Caesar for Trimmings #6 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Long review of the play and its merits and demerits as an adaptation appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Nov. It was approved of in general.] Receipts: #189 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Love. Mr Love Hiss'd in the Scotchman. Dumont by Mr Powell (Hopkins). Characters Dress'd in Habits of Times. Mr Love was hissed very much in the Scotchman, and the Farce hissed at the end (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). No building on stage. On Saturday Othello with a New Burletta call'd Music A-La-Mode, or Bayes in Chromatics For the Benefit of Vernon. [The principal characters were to have been played by King, Vernon, Packer, Fox, Mrs Mrs Dorman, and Miss Young (Public Advertiser, 13 April). But it was deferred at the last minute and seems never to have been performed. Larpent MS 237 lists the parts: Dr Crochet, Player-Kemble">Packer; Squire, Justice; Damon; Daphne, Chorus of Shepherds and Nymphs. $J. P. Kemble thought it a burlesque at the expense of Dr Arne (professor of nonharmonic music). The Player wants in it to banish all but four plays (Tamerlane, London Cuckolds, George Barnwell, and Twelfth Night) and fill stage performance with music.] Receipts: #208 14s. 6d. (MacMillan); charges: #64 4s. [Profit to Love: #144 10s. 6d.

Event Comment: DDesdemona-Mrs Davies. $Mrs Havard being ill Mr King play'd Iago (Hopkins). Mrs Yates ill...Mrs Davies Desdemona (Cross Diary). Benefit for Vernon. Tickets for The Roman Father will be taken. Both main and afterpiece, By Particular Desire. Mr King Iago. Mr Havard could not play Mrs Havard being dead (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). A mistake in the Diary. Mrs Havard died Friday 27th (J. P. Kemble MS Notes-MacMillan). Music A La Mode deferr'd on account of Indisposition of a principal performer. Last time of performing till the Holidays. Charges: #64 4s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 7 Oct. 1768.] Mr Clinch made his first appearance in the part of Alexander tolerable figure & Voice a Little too much upon the Brogue, he is very wild & Aukward-but was receiv'd with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Dr Arne as per order #31 8s.; Mr Stacie for drawing leases, #3 3s. Tallow chandler's first bill #29 13s. 3d.; Mr Jefferson on note, #200 (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine more favorable to Clinck's performance than is Hopkins.] Receipts: #149 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This Comedy written by Mr Kelly was brought on the Stage by Capt. Addington as his own was well perform'd & receiv'd with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #24 12s. 6d.; Paid salary list #529 2s.; Mr King's extra salary #3; Miss Brooker, 8 weeks not on list #8. (Treasurer's Book). [Mainpiece reviewed favorably by the Westminster Magazine: "He that cannot relish such a pleasing picture of Manners with such powerful Sentiments, so interesting a Fable, and so striking a Moral, must be a churl indeed."] Receipts: #244 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: For Mainpiece New Scenes, Dresses, Music, Machinery, and Decorations (playbill). This piece was written by Mr G. which he wrote in a hurry & on purpose to Shew Some fine Scenes which were design'd by Mons DeLoutherberg particularly a Burning Palace &c. which was extremely fine & Novel. Mr Weston Play'd very well, The Music by Mr Dibdin. the worst he ever Compos'd. The Piece was very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid for supernumary soldiers #1 12s. (Treasurer's Book). [The afterpiece reviewed, but not well liked by the Westminster Magazine.] Receipts: #219 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)