Event Comment: Mainpiece: Acted but once these 5 years [recte, twice: on 2 and 11 Feb. 1779]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by Edward Topham (see text). In 1794 this was altered by the author, and reduced to 4 acts]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 25 Jan. 1785: This Day is published The Natural Son (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #175 19s. 6d. (154/12/0; 21/0/0; 0/7/6)

Event Comment: There are two Kemble playbills for this night, one announcing Douglas, and a second, which reads: "On Account of the sudden and severe Indisposition of a Principal Performer . . . Douglas is unavoidably postponed, and This Evening will be presented . . . Macbeth. Macbeth-Holman; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Bates. The rest of the Characters, with the Vocal Parts, all as usual [see 4 Oct.]."

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. [Author and speaker of Prologue unknown.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15

Event Comment: Beaumarchais' New Comedy [The Follies of a Day announced on playbill of 10 Feb.] is unavoidably postponed, on Account of Mrs Bates's Indisposition. [Afterpiece in place of The Poor Soldier, similarly announced.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Kemble [who had 1st acted Macbeth at Hull, 30 Oct. 1778]. Public Advertiser, 17 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Kemble, No. 2, Leicester Court, Castle-street, Leicester Fields. [In mainpiece the playbill retains R. Palmer as Malcolm, but "Preceding the play there was an apology, on its appearance evidently exciting doubt and trepidation in the audience [probably for fear that Mrs Siddons would be unable to appear]; but Palmer's fourth word broke the spell. R. Palmer was suddenly prevented attending the house:--what could the house do, but laugh?--Laugh they did;--'and Barrymore will read his part.' The house laughed again. And so Britannia was delivered" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Apr.). The name of R. Palmer's substitute in the afterpiece is not given.] Receipts: #293 3s. (175/2; 9/16; 0/5; tickets: 108/0) (charge: #115 10s. 3d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrymore and Miss Field. Receipts: #165 19s. (32/17/0; 15/17/6; 2/10/6; tickets: 114/14/0) (charge: #107 13s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Pope. Tickets delivered for March 15 and 31 will be taken. Public Advertiser, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Pope at Mrs Sledge's, Henrietta-street, Covent Garden. "In the prominent display of Iago's jealousy, a material question of the play--slightly handled by the poet, and almost untouched by every preceding player--in this, Henderson's claim to praise is quite unrivalled" {Public Advertiser, 25 Apr.)