Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Charles to Bannister Jun., but he "being suddenly taken ill, Barrymore was under the necessity of reading the part" (Morning Herald, 2 Oct.).] Error Smith, pit office-keeper, #2 11s. Receipts: #219 15s. (169.7; 49.15; 0.13)

Event Comment: By Command of Her Majesty. [This was the first time that members of the royal family had appeared in public since the beginning of the King's illness (his first attack of insanity) in November 1788. See also 21, 24 Apr.] The drop curtain with the King's arms on it shown when the front curtain first rose was the "original curtain exhibited on the opening of Lincoln's Inn Fields theatre [in 1714]...It has lain by in the scene-room of Covent-Garden theatre nearly seventy years, but was rescued from oblivion, retouched, and the appropriate ornaments added for the occasion" (Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.). On the Queen's entrance "the house called for God save the King, and the theatre being prepared, the song was immediately sung by Bannister, Johnstone, and Darley, the house joining in the chorus. It was encored...At the end of the play [it] was again called for, and again sung twice. At the end of the pantomime it was again called for; and the theatre not sending forward the performers, the audience cheerfully sung it for themselves; and having sung, they encored themselves; so that altogether it was sung six times in the course of the evening. Her Majesty had a bandeau of black velvet, on which were set in diamonds the words 'Long live the king.' The princesses had bandeaus of white satin, and 'Long live the king' in gold" (Universal Magazine, Apr. 1789, p. 218). Receipts: #388 16s. 6d. (385.12.0; 3.4.6)

Event Comment: [The playbilll retains Bannister as Diego, but he, "whose absence from Covent-Garden Theatre on Thursday evening was represented to the audience as the effect of indispostion, appeared that night at the Ranelagh Masquerade. We can remember no instance of disrespect from a performer to the town equal to this" (Gazetteer, 14 Feb.). The name of his substitute is not given.] Receipts: #196 11s. (189.0; 7.11)

Event Comment: The Public is most respectfully informed that The Pirates [advertised on playbill of 19 Feb.] is deferred on account of the Indisposition of Bannister Jun. Receipts: #169 15s. 6d. (123.18.6; 38.9.0; 6.16.0; tickets not come in: 0.12.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Revised and Altered [reduced from 5 acts to 4] by the Author [Richard Cumberland; MS of this version: Larpent 1026]. [In afterpiece the playbill retains Bannister Jun. as Robin, but he "being ill, Benson play'd Robin" (Powell).] Powell: Natural Son rehearsed at 11 (Miss Farren absent, Miss Tidswell one scene). Receipts: #149 9s. 6d. (106/6/6; 34/13/0; 8/10/ 0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of COMUS, advertised on playbill of 11 June.) Powell: Clandestine Marriage rehearsed at 10 (King ill; Barrymore one scene); Lodoiska at 12 (Bannister Sen. not call'd; Danby, Denman, Reynoldson, Hobler, Horsfall, Dorion Jun., G. D'Egville, Hamoir absent). Receipts: #114 2s. 6d. (74/19/0; 33/10/6; 5/13/0)

Event Comment: [Palmer's 1st appearance as Capt. Duretete was at Liverpool, 18 Aug. 1773. As afterpiece the playbill announces The Prize, but "The Public are respectfully informed that on Account of the sudden Indisposition of Bannister Jun. The Prize cannot be performed. This Evening will be presented Tit for Tat" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). In it "Barrymore being Ill, Benson play'd Villamour" (Powell).] Powell: New Ballet rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #117 12s. (71.0.6; 41.13.6; 4.18.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Jones as Alguazile, but "Alguazile Maddocks, Jones Ill. Bannister absent from this Evening's Performance [of afterpiece]; Cooke D, Ill" (Powell).] Powell: New Ballet rehearsdd at 12. Receipts: #153 11s. (92.19.6; 53.17.0; 6.14.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Bossi DelCaro. 2nd ballet: 1st time; composed for the occasion by Dupret; the music by Bossi, composer and leader of the Band at the Opera House. Of Age To-morrow [advertised on playbill of 30 May] is obliged to be deferred on account of the indisposition of Bannister Jun. Morning Chronicle, 30 May: Tickets to be had of Sga Bossi DelCaro, No. 1, Great Suffolk-street, Charing-cross. Receipts: #327 5s. (212.10.0; 61.13.6; 2.18.0; tickets: 50.3.6) (charge: #215 13s. 7d.)