Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by Samuel Birch, adapted from Camille; ou, Le Souterrain, by Benoit Joseph Marsollier des Vivetieres, and from Les Victimes Cloitrees, by Jacques Marie Boutet de Monvel; the songs written by Thomas John Dibdin. Larpent MS 1236; not published. The playbill states that this was "Taken from the German," but London Chronicle, 12 Dec., says that its source is the same as that of The Captive of Spilburg (see dl, 14 Nov.). An examination of the MSS of these two pieces (Larpent 1230 and 1236) proves that such is unmistakably the case]: With entire new Scenes, Machinery, Dresses & Decorations. The Music composed and selected by Steibelt and Attwood. The Action of the Chorusaes, Finales, &c. under the Direction of Farley, and the Action of the Overture by Bologna Jun. A new Descriptive Overture, composed by Steibelt, on a Plan never before introduced on the English Stage, accompanied by Action. "The overture is...nothing more than music adapted to pantomime; and, in the present instance, the dumb shew is an unnecessary anticipation of the procession with which the piece opens" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 369). The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Blackmore, &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #338 17s. 6d. (325.14.6; 13.3.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger]: With new Musick, Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Musick entirely new, composed by Kelly with an overture by Dussek]. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, with the assistance of Chalmers and Banks. The Machinery, Decorations and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood and Gay. The Female Dresses designed and executed by Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "We have to congratulate the town on the acquisition of three admirable dramatic writers, in the persons of Johnston, Greenwood, and Miss Rein, who have here exhibited a specimen of the Sublime and Beautiful which it will be difficult, indedd, to surpass" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1799, p. 47). [This piece is "an exhibition of music and dialogue, pantomime and dancing, painting and machinery, antique dresses and armour, thunder and lightning, fire and water, illumination, processions, banquets, battles, sieges, explosions, and everything that can surprize, enchant or terrify the spectators" (Morning Chronicle, 21 Jan.). Morning Chronicle, 16 Feb. 1799: This Day is published Feudal Times (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #483 15s. 6d. (381.10.6; 100.6.6; 1.18.6)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 5, by George Holman, based on Die Rauber, by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. Prologue by John Taylor (Poems, I, 65)]: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. The Musick composed by Attwood, and selected from Dr Arnold, Callcott, and Mozart. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 4 Sept. 1799;: This day is published The Red Cross Knights (2s.). Ibid, 22 Aug.: It was remarked from its extreme length and the frequent fall of the drop scene that it was a play in ten acts instead of five--indeed this method of preparing for a new scene disjoints the business, and of course tends greatly to injure the effect

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Thomas Knight]: With new Music, new Scenes and Dresses. The Music composed by Mazzinghi and Reeve. The Scenes painted by Richards and Phillips. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Account-Book, 5 Feb. 1800: Paid Knight for Turnpike Gate #125; Reeve and Mazzinghi for music in same #50. Morning Chronicle, 29 Nov. 1799: This day is published The Turnpike Gate (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #288 17s. (281.2.6; 7.14.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1246; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by William? Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Notice on playbill of 20 Nov.: The Author of The Pavilion, submitting with deference to the decision of the Public, has withdrawn it for the present to make such alterations as he hopes may render it an Entertainment better entitled to their approbation. (On 21 Jan. 1800, altered, it was acted as The Ring.)] "Miss DeCamp need never wish to have a better foil to her exquisite style of acting, than the puny efforts of Kelly and Mrs Crouch. They may be singers, but never should attempt to perform" (Dramatic Censor, I, 9). Receipts: #291 4s. 6d. (157.3.0; 131.8.6; 2.13.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?). Not published; Songs: Larpent MS 1272]: Invented by T. Dibdin, & produced under the Direction of Farley. To conclude with an Allegorical Procession of the Seasons, Months and Hours, to the Temple of Domestic Happiness. With entire new Music, Scenery, Machinery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations. The Overture and Music composed by Moorehead. The Dances by Bologna Jun. The Scenery by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Wilkins, Bromley, the two Whitmores, Powell. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, C. Dibdin Jun., &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs [J. Barker, 1799] to be had in the Theatre. "The opening scene of the new pantomime is highly interesting. The representation of the Volcanov, and the fight in the air between Floridel and Cratero, may with justice claim the epithet of grand and magnificent" (Dramatic Censor, I, 13). Account-Book, 6 Feb, 1800: Paid Moorehead for music in Volcano #25. Receipts: #366 7s. (344.17; 21.10)

Event Comment: Afterpiace [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1277; not published; synopsis of plot in Dramatic Censor, I, 124-25]: Altered [by the author] from The Pavilion. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by [William] Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [And see 16 Nov. 1799.] Receipts: #270 15s. 6d. (185.2.0; 1.13.0)