1075

23 November 1795 @ Drury Lane Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece [altered by John Philip Kemble]: With new Scenes, Dresses, Decorations, and Machinery. In Act I, at the opening will be introduced, for the First Time a Battle between the Macedonians and the Persians. In Act IV, the Royal Banquet. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The Scenes designed and painted by Marinari. The Dresses and Decorations by Johnston and Miss Rein. The Machinery by Cabanel. "[In the last scene] the expiring tone with which [Kemble] pronounces 'Cover me'; his shivering, when wrapt round in the imperial robes; his wan and wasted countenance; the manner of his labouriously drawing his legs together, and their aguish knocking when they meet, surpass all description" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1796, p. 180). Receipts: #375 2s. 6d. (306.14.6; 67.3.0; 1.5.0)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Alexander The Great

Performance Comment: Characters by Kemble, Bensley, Palmer, Barrymore, C. Kemble, Caulfield, Whitfield, Maddocks, Benson, Packer, Trueman, Mrs Hopkins, Mrs Powell, Miss Miller, Mrs Siddons. Cast from text (C. Lowndes, 1795): Alexander-Kemble; Clytus-Bensley; Cassander-Palmer; Lysimachus-Barrymore; Hephestion-C. Kemble; Polyperchon-Caulfield; Perdiccas-Whitfield; Thessalus-Maddocks; Eumenes-Benson; Aristander-Packer; Slave-Trueman; Sysigambis-Mrs Hopkins; Statira-Mrs Powell; Parisatis-Miss Miller; Roxana-Mrs Siddons.

Cast

Role: Alexander Actor: Kemble
Role: Cassander Actor: Palmer
Role: Aristander Actor: Packer

Afterpiece Title: My Grandmother

Song: In II: Alexander's Triumphal Entry into Babylon-; The Grand Chorus of Priests Youths Virgins-Bannister, Sedgwick, Dignum, Wathen, Welsh, Wentworth, Trueman, Cooke, Danby, Evans, Fisher, Master Welsh, Master DeCamp, Master Gregson, Mrs Bland, Miss Leak, Miss DeCamp, Miss Arne, Miss Mellon, Mrs Bramwell, Mrs Boimaison, Mrs Maddocks, Miss Menage, Miss Jackson, Miss Granger, Miss Chatterley, Miss Wentworth, Mrs Butler