Event Comment: "The orchestra, during the whole time of representations [of the opera] has by no means been conducted with that exactness that should be expected from that band...It must be supposed that neither the master of music at the harpsichord, nor Mr Cramer, the leader, have influence or power enough to prevail on the band to play, or rather, to accompany, more correctly...The arias of the tenor and base [sic] have been played, or rather accompanied, too fast, and without harmony with the voices of Morelli and Fineschi, which being good, and they seeming to wish to sing with all possible expression, the orchestra should have accompanied accordingly. Mme Storace, howefer, has baffled the efforts of the musicians to make her sing out of tune, quick or slow. As they fiddled, she modulated" (Public Advertiser, 17 Jan.). Receipts: #147 12s. 6d. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in Kemble Mem., "Mr Greatheed's third night," but not on the playbill; in the preceding season the play had been acted 8 times, and it was the custom for the author of a new play to have his benefits on the 3rd, 6th and 9th nights]. Receipts: #160 17s. (139.5; 19.8; 2.4; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: 1st piece: 1st Time [at this theatre; see dl, 7 Nov.]. "Mr Hayley's Marcella, which was anticipated on Saturday evening at Drury Lane, and was received with considerable marks of disapprobation...was brought forward [at Covent Garden] under the auspices of the Author" (Public Advertiser, 11 Nov.). "[The performers all acted well at Covent Garden; and Kemble was the only one at Drury Lane who even knew his part" (Prompter, 11 Nov.). Receipts: #201 17s. (197.13.6; 4.3.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Part of the Pit [9 rows (World, 23 Mar.)] to be laid into the Boxes. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, probably by Isaac Bickerstaffe, but also ascribed to Mrs Jordan and to Richard Ford. Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1799]. Kemble Mem.: The Farce is written by Mr Bickerstaffe. World, 29 Apr. 1790: The Spoil'd Child was sent to Mrs Jordan from Bickerstaffe in Italy, where her fame had reached. Public Advertiser, 13 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan at her house, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #352 18s. 6d. (137.13.0; 12.4.6; 1.7.0; tickets: 201.14.0) (charge: #111 6s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1792]: The Scenes entirely new, designed and executed by Greenwood. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Musick composed principally by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from [Una Cosa Rara, by] Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler], Salieri, and Paisiello. "The Siege of Belgrade is a very pleasing vehicle for the music, which in a modern opera is all that is expected from the poet" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1791, p. 66). "The battle between Palmer and Kelly ought to be shortened. It is almost as ludicrous as that between Don Whiskerandos and Beefeater, in Mr Puff's Tragedy [in The Critic]" (Gazetteer, 4 Jan. 1791). Account-Book, 24 May 1791: Paid Cobb for Copyright of Siege of Belgrade of #210. Receipts: #267 9s. 6d. (242.0.0; 23.9.6; 2.0.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Bernard. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, author unknown. Larpent MS 909; not published]: With proper Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music entirely new, composed by M. P. King. Morning Chronicle, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Bernard, No. 35, Bow-street. Receipts: #299 2s. 6d. (120.10.6; 11.8.0; tickets: 167.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Broadhurst. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 910; not published]: Overture and Music entirely new, composed by Percy, with some airs from Andreozzi and Stevens. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 24 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Broadhust at Mr Percy's, No. 13, Tavistock-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #202 9s. (52.5.6; 3.17.6; tickets: 146.6.0)

Event Comment: Return'd Mr Thornhill for places he could not get to #1 10s. Receipts: #459 13s. (418.12; 40.5; 0.16)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Times. [Palmer Jun. was from the hay.] "It is necessary to remind both Macbeth and his Lady that there is a measured declamation, of which the natural utterance of passion knows nothing, and that words and syllables may be divided and subdivided till the fatigue of the ear overcome every other feeling...Between the first and second acts Ca ira was loudly called for from the pit and gallery. The clamour, after preventing the first part of the second act from being heard, subsided as unaccountably as it rose. The performers, in compliance with an admonition from the pit, began the act again, and proceeded without further interruption" (Morning Chronicle, 20 Feb.). "In Macbeth there was too much that was not Shakespeare, too much bad taste and shabbiness in the costumes of the witches, and all in all too much claptrap. He found it insufferable that Banquo should take the part of his own ghost and felt that the audience should behold the specter only in Macbeth's terror, as was the case with the banquet guests. 'Mr Kemble has desired on several occasions to suppress the ghost,' Meister says, 'but has never had the courage to do so.'" (J. H. Meister quoted in J. A. Kelly, 134). For Kemble's eventual courage in this matter see dl, 21 Apr. 1794.] Receipts: #425 6s. (383.2; 40.4; 2.0)