Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Fontenelle. Public Advertiser, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Fontenelle at her house, No. 271, Holbourn. 2nd piece: Compressed into 3 short Acts. "Miss Fontenelle...is the best Romp we ever saw, Mrs Jordan alone excepted...We were sorry to see [her] fall over the groove of the scene; but as practice is more forcible than precept, we hope it will teach her the truth of Friar Lawrence's caution, 'they stumble who run fast'" (Diary, 4 May). Receipts: #219 19s. (133.14.6; 6.8.6; tickets: 79.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Seven Orphan Children of Peter? Harris, late Ballet-Master of this Theatre, who a short time since [on 23 Mar.] was unfortunately killed. Receipts: #311 1s. (73.12; 11.5; tickets: 226.4)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Baddeley as Medium, but "Barrett [undertook], at a short notice, the part of Medium for Baddeley, who was suddenly indisposed" (Diary, 9 July).

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 Lewis. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by John O'Keeffe. Prologue by John Taylor. Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (see text)]. "No piece in the remembrance of this writer was ever better acted. No piece was ever better cast...The palm of acting, however, must be given to Blanchard. One short scene of rustic generoisity, in which he gives his purse to Farmer Banks, displayed finer efforts than we ever saw before" (Oracle, 18 Apr.). Public Advertiser, 15 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #315 (225.6.6; 3.15.6; tickets: 85.18.0)

Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. 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 14 Nov.]. The Avenues to the Boxes, Pit and Gallery are all at the Front of the Theatre in the Hay-Market, and the Door in Market-Lane is for Chairs only. "The short time since it had been determined to occupy this theatre had not been sufficient to enable the workmen to perfect what was intended so soon as was expected; nor could they be got out in time for opening the doors in the afternoon: this delay, and the difficulty of finding the way to different parts of the house [see 24 and 27 Sept.], caused some disgust" (Universal Magazine, Sept. 1791, p. 220). 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1, James Cobb; music by Storace (Kemble Mem.). Larpent MS 918; not published]. Receipts: #472 8s. 6d. (451.7.6; 20.6.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Compressed [from 4 acts] into 3 short Acts. Receipts: #296 6s. (290.9.6; 5.16.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Sir H. Lovewit , but he was ill, and Benson "at very short notice [supplied] Palmer's place" (Thespian Magazine, Dec. 1792, p. 150).] Receipts: #164 7s. (110.10; 50.9; 3.8)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Bland; in afterpiece the playbill assigns Euphrosyne and 1st Bacchant to Mrs Bland, 2nd Bacchant to Miss DeCamp, Pastoral Nymph to Miss Dall, but "In consequence of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Bland...nearly the whole female cast of Comus was last night altered a short time previous to the performance. Miss Dall was the Euphrosyne, Miss DeCamp the 1st Bacchant, and Mrs Bramwell the Pastoral Nymph. In The Mountaineers Miss DeCamp was Mrs Bland's successor" (Morning Herald, 3 Sept.). Mrs Bramwell's part as a Bacchant was probably omitted.

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: "Spectas, et tu Spectabere is the inscription over the curtain in the Little Haymarket Theatre. I was there on 29th [sic] July 1794: they gave a National opera, N. B. a piece in Scottish costumes. The men were dressed in flesh-coloured breeches, with white and red ribbons twisted round their stockings, a short, brightly-coloured, striped masons' apron, brown coat and waistcoat, over the coat a large, broad ensign's sash in the same style as the apron, and black cap shaped like a shoe and trimmed with ribbons. The women all in white muslin, brightly coloured ribbons in their hair, very broad bands in the same style round their bodies, also for their hats. They perform the same abominable trash as at Sadlers Wells. A fellow yelled an aria so horribly and with such exaggerated grimaces that I began to sweat all over. N. B. He had to repeat the aria. 0 che bestie!" (Haydn, pp. 294-95)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Johnstone, but "An apology was made for Johnstone's absence from the theatre, on account of indisposition, and his character was undertaken, at a short notice, by Macready" (Morning Herald, 13 Nov.).] Receipts: #159 18s. (149.1.6; 10.16.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Mattocks, but "Mrs Davenport undertook the part of Mrs Fancourt at a very short notice, on account of the sudden indisposition of Mrs Mattocks" (Morning Herald, 9 Dec.).] Receipts: #254 1s. (252.1; 2.0)

Event Comment: A New Opera; the music by Paisiello. [On 8 Dec. 1787 this was performed under its original title of Il re Teodoro in Venezia.] "Whatever we may pretend, we are too ignorant of musical science as a nation to find pleasure in what produces rapture on an Italian stage. The operas that have been successively produced this season would each have been more popular if much shorter" (Morning Chronicle, 15 Apr.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Welsh. [2nd piece in place of The Sultan, advertised on playbill of 10 May. Medley is identified in MS list in Kemble playbills of new performers for this season.] "A riot took place this evening, occasioned by the performance of Skirmish by a new actor. This person, wanting every quality requisite for the stage, performed so very much to the dissatisfaction of the audience, that the piece was mutilated in such a manner that for some time it was insisted on that the whole should be repeated more perfectly and by another actor. This being impossible, some mischief was threatened, but after a short time the disturbance ceased" (European Magazine, June 1796, p. 396). Morning Herald, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Master Welsh, No. 9, St. Margaret-street, Westminster. Receipts: #292 4s. (84.11.6; 47.15.6; 12.14.0; tickets: 146.19.6; odd money: 0.3.6). (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]: The Words of the Ode will be given in the Theatre. 3rd piece: A Short Description of the Scenery, &c. The Hall of Fingal-the Banquet preparatory to the celebration of the Nuptials of Oscar and Malvina; The Mountain of Ben Lomond; The Military Procession of Carrol to the Hall of Fingal; A View of the Sea and Rock, from which Oscar escapes, by leaping from a precipice, 20 feet high, into the arms of his Soldiers; A View of the Bridge, with the Camp of Carrol-the Death of Carrol, by the hands of Malvina, with his Descent into the Sea, and the Burning of the Camp of Carrol. The new Music composed, and the Ancient Scots Music selected and adapted by Shield. The Overture by Reeve. Morning Herald, 3 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #394 13s. (187.9; 3.10; tickets: 203.14)

Event Comment: [In 1st piece the playbill retains Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth, but "The Publick is most respectfully informed that Mrs Siddons, being suddenly taken ill...Lady Macbeth will be performed by Mrs Powell, who having undertaken the part at a very short notice, humbly intreats their indulgence" (printed slip attached to BM playbill, Harris, Vol. V).] 3rd piece: Engagement as 6 Mar. Receipts: #173 18s. 6d. (106.18.6; 62.19.6; 4.0.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Cassio to Barrymore, but "Charles Kemble undertook Cassio at a short notice, and sustained it very creditably" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1797, p. 250).] Afterpiece: Engagement as 6 Mar. Receipts: #219 6s. 6d. (158.19.6; 59.6.6; 1.0.6)

Event Comment: Didelot having unfortunately met with an accident, in the performance of Thursday evening, which renders him unable to appear To-night, Mlle Parisot has had the complaisance, at so short a notice, to undertake to perform the part of L'Amour this Evening, relying upon the known indulgence of the Public

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. 1st piece: Illumination, &c. as 18 May. 3rd piece: A short Description of the Scenery, &c. The Hall of Fingal--the Banquet preparatory to the celebration of the Nuptials of Oscar and Malvina. The Mountain of Ben Lomond. The Military Procession of Carrol to the Hall of Fingal. A View of the Sea and Rock from which Oscar escapes, by leaping from a precipice 20 Feet high, into the arms of his Soldiers. A View of the Bridge with the Camp of Carrol. The Death of Carrol by the hands of Malvina, with his Descent into the Sea, and the Burning of the Camp of Carrol. The Music, &c. as 8 Apr. Morning Herald, 18 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #326 0s. 6d. (164.17.6; 11.2.6; tickets: 150.0.6)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Farley, Cresswell, Jackson, Street will be admitted. Afterpiece: A short Description of the Scenery, as 22 May. The Music, &c. as 8 Apr. [Mainpiece in place of A Cure for the Heart Ache, advertised on playbill of 27 May.] Receipts: #247 16s. (105.10.6; 7.5.6; tickets: 135.0.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Acasto to Murray, but "An apology was made for Murray, who was prevented by illness from playing Acasto, which, at a short notice, was taken by Hull" (True Briton, 14 Oct.).] "This whole of [Mrs Spencer's] performance was marked by such unaffected simplicity that it was almost impossible to consider it as the mere fiction of the scene. This lady is really a great aquisition to the house" (True Briton, ibid). Receipts: #254 6s. 6d. (244.18.6; 9.8.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Goodall, but she "was taken suddenly ill yesterday, in consequence of which the part of the Countess was performed by Miss Biggs, at a very short notice, who acquitted herself with considerable ability" (Morning Herald, 9 May).] Receipts: #202 14s. 6d. (162.19.0; 38.15.6; 1.0.0)