Event Comment: Benefit Henry Rich, Pit Officekeeper. Receipts: money #15 4s. 6d.; tickets #43 2s

Event Comment: Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. Receipts: #36 9s

Event Comment: Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Afterpiece: A New Dramatick Entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musick after the Italian Manner, in Grotesque Characters. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: #56 7s

Event Comment: Benefit J. and Ch. Rich. Receipts: #135 18s

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fifteen Years. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. All the Characters being new dress'd. Benefit John Rich. Receipts: money #79 11s. 6d.; tickets #21 7s

Event Comment: We are obliged to defer The Rape of Proserpine 'till farther Notice, on Account of the sudden Indispostion of Mr Rich. Receipts: #25 17s. 6d. Probable attendance: boxes, 21 paid and 8 orders; Pit, 55 paid and 17 orders; slips, 11 paid and 1 order; first gallery, 107 paid and 17 orders; second gallery, 95 paid

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: #106 7s. 6d. Rich's Register: Bespoke by the Dutchess of Richmond

Event Comment: Not Acted these Fourteen Years (i.e., by Rich's Company). Written by Mr Wycherley. Receipts: #101 5s

Event Comment: Benefit Allen, the Numberer [Rich's Register adds: the late Mr Wilks' Nephew.] Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Afterpiece: Intermix'd with Songs; taken from Moliere

Event Comment: A new Scene, representing the Ponte Real at Venice. [No receipts in Rich's Register.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Chambers. Receipts: money #49 1s.; tickets #99 15s

Event Comment: [Seymour is identified in European Magazine, Oct. 1787, p. 315. Address by Edward Hickey Seymour (London Chronicle, 4 Oct.).] "The clock striking two -instead of the usual folly of a small table bell, when Macbeth's drink was ready -forms an alteration of much good sense and propriety" (World, 2 Oct.). "Of the Lady Macbeths [since the time of Garrick] Mrs Siddons has exhibited the most happy effect of her skill -has shown a portrait of Lady Macbeth which before existed but in imagination. Mrs Yates claims the second place of eminence; her deportment and manner were equal to Mrs Siddons, but very inferior to her in pathos and energy. Mrs Pope's performance lays claim to praise, particularly in the sleeping scene, but there is a certain delicacy and tenderness associated with the powers of that lady which prevents her giving a glowing picture of that female fiend. Mrs Bates's performance was sufficiently marking and bold in some passages, but the whole wanted uniformity and finishing" (Public Advertiser, 4 Oct.). Receipts: #225 (224.5; 0.15)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Cross and Mrs Vincent. Receipts: money #30 14s.; tickets #100 10s

Event Comment: Benefit Kelly, Gwinn, Mrs Harrison. Receipts: money #18 3s. 6d.; tickets #171 19s

Event Comment: Benefit Hild. Bullock and Mrs Wall. Receipts: money #27 15s. 6d.; tickets #67 9s

Event Comment: Benefit Moreau, Mrs Moreau, Papillion. Receipts: money #36 5s.; tickets #59 1s

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentlewoman [Mrs Steed] and her Daughter. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Receipts: money #20 16s.; tickets #104 8s

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Horton. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; tc 5]: Altered from [The Picture, by Philip] Massinger [by Henry Bate; incidental music by William Shield. Prologue by William Pearce (see text)]. With New Dresses, Scenery, &c. Afterpiece: Written by O'Keeffe. London Chronicle, 10 Nov., prints the words of the Chorus, and also of a song sung by Quick, Poor Hillario, once so jolly, and of one sung by Mrs Martyr, Would you view the loveliest rose. Receipts: #209 16s. (205/3; 4/13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)