Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by George Colman elder (London Chronicle, 9 May). Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1780]: With New Scenes and Dresses. "No modern theatrical piece ever met with a fuller success, nor deserved it more... The performers deserve every sort of commendation for their spirited exertion in supporting the respective characters, especially Smith, King and the incomparable Mrs Abington" (Gazetteer, 9 May). "To my great astonishment there were more parts performed admirably in The School for Scandal than I almost ever saw in any play. Mrs Abington was equal to the first of her profession, Yates (the husband), Parsons, Miss Pope, and Palmer, all shone. It seemed a marvellous resurrection of the stage. Indeed, the play had as much merit as the actors. I have seen no comedy that comes near it since The Provoked Husband" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 82). Receipts: #224 10s. (215.12.0; 8.14.6; 0.3.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by George Colman elder, based on Le Barbier de Seville; ou, La Precaution Inutile, by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais; music by Samuel Arnold and, by attribution, Pierre Alexandre Monsigny. Prologue by the author (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 209). Epilogue by David Garrick (Garrick's Poetical Works, II, 340). Larpent MS 436; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Sept. 1777, pp. 467-69]: With New Dresses and Scenes

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations and New Airs [composed by Fisher (Gazetteer, 6 Oct.)]. Receipts: #170 16s. 6d. (170.6.0; 0.10.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Principal Characters new dressed. Receipts: #180 15s. 6d. (178.19.0; 1.16.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With New Dresses and Decorations. Afterpiece: Never acted there. Receipts: #165 18s. 6d. (164.8.0; 1.10.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Principal Parts New Dressed. Receipts: #202 15s. (201.10; 1.5)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Characters new dressed in the Habits of the Country. Receipts: #160 3s. (159.1; 1.2)

Event Comment: The New Tragedy of Percy [announced on playbill of 8 Dec.] is obliged to be deferred till to-morrow, on Account of the Indisposition of two principal Performers. Receipts: #99 19s. (97.19; 2.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With Alterations and Additions, particularly two Grand New Scenes designed by DeLoutherbourg [see 2 Jan.]. Receipts: #163 13s. 6d. (122.15.0; 40.11.0; 0.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece: To conclude with a grand View of Greenwich Hospital designed by DeLoutherbourg. [This was included in all subsequent performances; notice of the two New Scenes (see 1 Jan.) is omitted. Henderson, under his stage name of Courtney, had 1st acted Capt. Bobadil at Bath, 21 Nov. 1772.] Receipts: #230 1s. 6d. (204.9.0; 25.0.6; 0.12.0)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the Music by Anfossi [with additions by Tommaso Giordani]; under the Direction of Giordani

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 214; IV, 195)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 7 Feb. 1778: This Day is published The Battle of Hastings (1s. 6d.). "This piece was received with uncommon applause...[Palmer's] heroic exclamation-'all private feuds should cease when England's glory is at stake'-was so sensibly felt by the audience that a repetition was called for, but judiciously refused, as out of character in a tragedy" (London Magazine, Jan. 1778, p.37). Receipts: #243 15s. 6d. (235.0.0; 8.13.0; 0.2.6)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the Music by Gassmann; under the Direction of Giordani

Event Comment: Benefit for Jermoli. A new Comic Opera; the Poetry by Goldoni; the Finales and Airs by Piccinni and Paisiello. [Performed on 24 Jan. 1786 as Il Marchese Tulipano.] Tickets to be had of Jermoli, No. 29, Cockspur-street, Charing-cross

Event Comment: Benefit for Dodd. Public Advertiser, 21 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Dodd at his house in New Ormond-street, Queen's-square. Receipts: #245 7s. 6d. (102.15.0; 19.9.0; 0.7.6; tickets: 122.16.0) (charge: #68 19s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Miss Hopkins'. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2 (?), by Thomas Holcroft. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: The Music [by William Shield (European Magazine, Jan. 1782, p.59)] entirely new. Public Advertiser, 15 Apr. Tickets to be had of the Miss Hopkins', No. 7, Little Russel-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #129 8s. 6d. (61.15.0; 24.5.6; 0.1.0; tickets: 43.7.0) (charge: #66 11s. 6d.)

Event Comment: A Comic Opera [1st time; COM 3, by Antonio Andrei]. The Music entirely new by Sacchini

Event Comment: Benefit for the New General Lying-in-Hospital, in Store-street, Tottenham-Court-Road. Tickets delivered for Venice Preserv'd will be taken. Receipts: #149 1s. 6d. (66.4.6; tickets: 82.17.0) (charge: #115)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 150 years [acted 31 Jan. 1723]. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher [with alterations by George Colman elder. Prologue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 354)]. The Musick by Purcell. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 30 July 1778: This Afternoon at five is published Bonduca (1s.)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of A New Pantomimical Piece (never performed), A Bartholomew-tide Entertainment; or, A Trip to Chatham. This was laid aside, and seemingly, never acted.