Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown]: A Romance of the Fourteenth Century, Formed upon the Plan of an unpublished Drama [Johanna von Montfaucon], written and transmitted by Augustus von Kotzebue, The Overture, Songs, Chorusses, Marches and Finale, with appropriate Symphonies between the Acts, by Busby. The Scenery, Dresses, Machinery & Decorations entirely New. The Scenery by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The arrangement of the Marches, Chorusses & Military Movements incidental to the Piece, under the direction of Farley. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. The Words of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "The appropriate beauty of the scenery, in which the rules of perspective are critically observed, the splendour of the decorations and the richness of the dresses, have been rarely equalled" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1800, p. 75). Receipts: #318 6d. (316.2; 2.4)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; P 2, by John Fawcett. Text 1st published by Duncombe and Moon, c. 1825]: With entire new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and most of the Musick composed by Dr Arnold. The Selections from eminent Masters, and the whole adapted by him to the Action of the Drama. The Scenery, comprehending a display of Views in the Island of Jamaicav, designed and painted [on playbill of 1 July: from Views taken on the Spot, and documents of undoubted authority] by S. Whitmore. The Machinery by Ronaldson, Sylvester, &c. The Dresses [on playbill of 1 July: made for the purpose by Persons acquainted with the spot where the Scene of Action lyes] by Gay, Mrs Egan, &c. A Prospectus of the Action with the Songs annexed, Price Six-pence, to be had at the Theatre [and reprinted in Dramatic Censor, III, 21-29]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Rogers. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Receipts: #39 3s.; tickets #27 2s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A tragedy by Hall Hartson, never performed here before. [According to The Theatrical Monitor, No IX (19 Dec. 1767), the mainpiece was at that time in rehearsal. The Monitor requested that every expense possible be laid ott upon it, and puffed the abilities of Barry and Mrs Dancer highly.

Event Comment: MMr Barry's 1st appearance this season.--A quarrel in the Green Room between Mrs Barry and Mr Aickin (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [Mrs Siddons's 1st appearance as the Countess of Salisbury was at Bath, 25 Nov. 1778.] "So thoroughly wretched, so utterly destitute of all Requisites is this Tragedy ... that it excites with Wonder not a little Indignation that the unexampled Genius of such an actress [as Mrs Siddons] should be wasted on Dullness if possible yet more unexampled" {Public Advertiser, 8 Mar.). Receipts: #275 0s. 6d. (256/7/0; 16/19/6; 1/9/0; ticket not come in: 0/5/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. 1st piece [1st time; INT 1, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 1213; not published]. Genest, VII 365, states that the Epilogue Address "was in all probability the Epilogue to Alonzo [by David Garrick]." 3rd piece: conclude with a Rural Procession: Four Lads bearing Streamers-Plough decorated with Flowers-Four Countrymen bearing a May-day Garland-Four Lasses Bearing Implements of Husbandry-Country Girls leading a Lamb, decorated with Flowers-Four Lasses bearing a Garland-a Chorus and Finale. Tickets delivered for Every One has His Fault will be admitted. Times, 17 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russell-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #259 16s. 6d. (124.7.0; 2.13.0; tickets: 132.16.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Mainpiece: Mr Colman's Last New Comedy. [He was the author of the Epilogue, which was spoken by the Dramatis Personae. In afterpiece the playbill retains Mrs H. Johnston as Malvina, but she "being indisposed, her part was performed with great effect by Madame [sic] St.Amand" (London Chronicle, 15 Mar.).] Receipts: #379 16s. (378.3; 1.13)

Event Comment: Under the Patronage of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Duke of Clarence, Duke of Cumberland, and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York [and] the Duchess of Devonshire and the Duchess of Gordon. Benefit for O'Keeffe, the Unfortunate Author of the following successful Dramatic Pieces: The Son in Law, Agreeable Surprise, Peeping Tom, Dead Alive, Young Quaker, Life's Vagaries, Castle of Andalusia, Czar, Tony Lumpkin in Town, Poor Soldier, Modern Antiques, Basket Maker, Wild Oats, Wicklow Mountains, French Grenadier [never acted], Positive Man, Love in a Camp, Tantara Rara Rogues all, Beggar on Horseback, Toy, London Hermit, Highland Reel, Blacksmith of Antwerp, Man Milliner, Irish Mimic, Little Hunchback, World in a Village, Fontainbleau, Magic Banner, Farmer, Doldrum, Sprigs of Laurel, Birth Day, Prisoner at Large, &c. &c. Tickets delivered for The Belle's Stratagem will be admitted. [O'Keeffe is referred to as being unfortunate because he was totally blind. In delivering his Poetical Composition, which is printed in Dramatic Censor, II, 265-67, the Monthly Mirror, June 1800, p. 367, reports that he was led on and off the stage by Lewis. It also notes that "Mrs Jordan...came from Drury-Lane, where she had performed the Child of Nature, to officiate at Covent-Garden as the handmaid of charity."] The Last Night of the Company's performing this season. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Lewis, but "Lewis being indisposed, Knight on Tuesday evening appeared as his substitute in Young Rapid" (True Briton, 19 Jan.).] Receipts: #437 16s. (431.1; 6.15)

Event Comment: [The playbill retains Fawcett as Trudge, but "On account of the sudden indisposition of Fawcett the part of Trudge was last night assigned to Knight, who supported it with sufficient correctness and humour. The Theatre was but indifferently attended" (True Briton, 7 Jan.).] Receipts: #163 1s. 6d. (147.15.6; 15.6.0)

Event Comment: great applause to the Play (Hopkins Diary). Mainpiece: A tragedy never before acted [by Mrs Celisia]. Prologue (by Whitehead)-Reddish; Epilogue (by Garrick)-Mrs Barry. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations (Winston MS 10). [The Gentleman's Magazine for Feb. reviewed the mainpiece in great detail, concluding: "A combat between two knights in the days of chivalry and honour, not to determine whether a person accused is innocent or guilty, but whether a person under the infamy of acknowledged guilt shall suffer, is, as the Scotch peasant says emphatically of his pupil, a phenomenon. It is, however, but justice to Mrs Barry, to say, that in performing the part allotted her in this piece, she rises like perfection out of chaos, and therefore those who have not yet seen it represented should by no means be deterred by these strictures on the composition, supposing them to be just."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bannister. Mainpiece: Never acted here. The Music by Dr Arne. With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalry. Public Advertiser, 6 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bannister, No. 6, Great Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #252 8s. 6d. (177/14/6; tickets: 74/14/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@142, p. 81. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 348. There is no certainty that this is the premiere of this play; in fact, there is uncertainty concerning the first production, for Nell Gwyn saw a play on 19 March 1673@4, The Country Knight, about which nothing otherwise is known and which might be this play. Nevertheless, the fact that the play was not entered in the Term Catalogues until May 1676 makes it unlikely that the play was first acted two years before its publication, especially since it became a moderately popular play

Event Comment: Written by Sir Richard Steele, Knight

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a Grand Procession of the Knights of Chivalryv. Receipts: #133 3s. (125.18.6; 7.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Barry. Afterpiece: By MacNamara Morgan. Receipts: #133 14s. 6d. plus Tickets #163 3s. (boxes 479; pit 230; gallery 89). Charges #63. Total value of House: #296 17s. 6d. Profit to Barry #233 17s. 6d. Paid Samuel Wale for painting figures Boys & other decorations in a scene designed by Servandoni #5 5s. Paid Matthew Pearce, Bricklayer, #230, on account of the New Building. Paid Thomas Pervil for sundry cloaths as specified below, #112, 17s.: A Bloom Colored Brocade coat & Breeches with silver flowers & a Gold & Silver Brocaded Waistcoat & Coffs, #8; A Pompador Velvet Coat, Waistcoat & 2 pr. Breeches shot with silver, #11 11s.; A Blue cut and uncut Velvet Suit, Flower'd and Gold Ground, #10 10s.; A Dove colored Brocade Coat & Breeches, Gold & Flowers & a Gold & Silver Brocade waistcoat & Cuffs, #10 10s.; A Blue & Silver Brocade Coat & Breeches & Silver Brocade waistcoat & Cuffs, #10; a light color'd coat & Breeches & a blue silk waistcoat with gold lace, #14; A copper color'd velvet coat & breeches, and yellow waistcoat, embroider'd with gold, #20; A blue velvet suit, plain, #4 10s.; A crimson velvet Roab Surcoat, belt sword & Bonnet worn by a Peer in Parliament, & a Green velvet Roab, purple velvet surcoat & hood-a Knight of the Thistle's dress, #17 16s.; a plain crimson velvet suit, #6 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalryv. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] With new Dresses, and the Scenery entirely new painted. [Miss Simson is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill.] Receipts: #226 6s. 6d. (204.10.0; 21.12.0; 0.4.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The music composed by Michael Arne. With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalryv. Receipts: #159 19s. (134.8; 25.11; 0.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music by Michael Arne. With a Grand Procession of different Orders of the Knights of Chivalryv. [This was included in both subsequent performances.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 Years. Receipts: #162 19s. (130.8.0; 31.11.6; 0.19.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music by Michael Arne. With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalryv. [This was included in both subsequent performances.] Receipts: #161 18s. 6d. (121.12.0; 39.17.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Knight. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: By Desire of the Knights of the Antient and Most Noble Order of the Golden Fleece. Benefit the Office-Keeper. [See letter in today's Daily Advertiser, for support of Cibber's Careless Husband: were its Author dead would be universally esteem'd one of the most polite Comedies in the World.

Event Comment: Benefit for Baddeley. Public Advertiser, 13 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Baddeley, No. 2, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: The Music composed by Michael Arne. With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of the Knights of Chivalry. Receipts: #217 5s. (113/9; 35/8; 0/1; tickets: 68/7) (charge: #115 9s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a Grand Procession of the different Orders of Knights of Chivalry. Receipts: #121 5s. 6d. (82/5/0; 36/4/6; 1/18/6; tickets not come in: 0/17/6)