Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Wells, but she "was so ill last night that she could not perform the part of Jane Shore. It was undertaken by Mrs T. Kennedy" (Public Advertiser, 21 Dec.).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe]: The Pantomime, and the whole of the Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. designed and invented by Loutherbourg, and executed under his superintendance and direction by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Catton Jun., Turner, assisted by two other celebrated artists [all subsequent playbills have "a celebrated artist"; he was the Rev. Matthew William Peters (Public Advertiser, 16 Dec.)]. The Music entirely new, composed by Shield. Books containing a short account of the Pantomime, as well as the Recitatives, Airs, Duets, Trios and Chorusses, and a Description of the Procession, to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. [This was the last theatrical piece for which De Loutherbourg designed the scenery. For a detailed account of it see "De Loutherbourg and Captain Cook", by Ralph G. Allen, Theatre Research, IV, 195-211.] Account-Book, 17 Oct.: Paid De Loutherbourg on acct. #120; 20 Dec.: Paid Goodwin for copying Music #10 14s.; 14 Feb. 1786: Paid O'Keeffe in full for Omai #40. Receipts: #309 19s. (302/7; 7/12)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. [Mrs Wells had 1st acted Macheath at the hay, 14 Sept. 1781; Bannister had acted Polly at the same theatre, 16 Sept. 1785.] Gazetteer, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bannister, No. 7, Suffolk-street, Haymarket. "There is now a most vehement rage of innovation in language, government, religion, and everything else...On the British stage, with infinite applause, young and beautiful actresses perform sometimes the Parts of highwaymen; and some singing actors squall in an affected voice resembling, and intended to imitate, that of women; the most humourous dramatic pieces are frittered away into songs; and I should not be surprised to hear that henceforth Miranda and Juliet are to be personated by grim-visaged grenadiers seven feet high, and Falstaff by a slender miss just entered her teens" (Universal Magazine, Mar. 1795, p. 171). Receipts: #285 14s. (162.4.6; 5.9.6; tickets: 118.0.0)

Event Comment: [The playbill retains Mrs Crouch, but "The indisposition of Mrs Crouch was an abatement, for which, though an apology was made, nothing could atone. Miss Dall was her substitute. Captivity was sung by Incledon, 'being his first appearance in the character of Marie? Antoinette'" (Thespian Magazine, Apr. 1793, p. 247).] MS annotation on BM playbill (cg, Vol. VIII), 2 Mar.: "Rec'd 5 nights Oratorio Rent #262 10s. [i.e. #52 12s. a night].

Event Comment: On account of the Indisposition of Parsons, HEIGHO FOR A HUSBAND! [advertised on playbill of 6 Jan.] is obliged to be postponed till Saturday next. [In 1st piece the playbill retains Mrs Bland, but she "being indisposed her part in The Mariners was given to Miss De Camp" (Thespian Magazine, Jan. 1794, p. 30). It is not stated who took Miss De Camp's place.]

Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: The King's Company. This is another in the series of plays acted entirely by actresses and probably Performed in the early summer of 1672. The Prologue and Epilogue are in Covent Garden Drollery, 1672. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 313): This play was reviv'd at the Old Theatre, in little Lincolns-Inn-fields, and acted all by Women, a new Prologue and Epilogue being spoken by Mrs Marshall in Man's Cloaths, which Reader may find printed in Covent-Garden Drollery, 80, pag. 3. &c

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the Prologue suggests that it was given shortly before Bartholomew and Southwark Fairs (Drolls shortly will amuse ye at the Fair), even though the play was not advertised until mid-October (Post Boy, 15-17 Oct. 1696). One song, Alas! when charming Sylvia's gone, is in the Edition and was also published separately,with the indication that Daniel Purcell set it. In the Edition, a song, Fairest nymph that ever bless'd our Shore, is sung in Act II Betwixt Mr Leveridge a Spaniard, and Mrs Cross an English Lady. Tne composer is not named. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: and 'tis a most damnable Farce