Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness. [The Prince and Duke present.

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Librettist not known. Music by Handel.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 May: Last Night was perform'd ... Atalanta ...in which was a new Set of Scenes painted in Honour to this Happy Union, which took up the full length of the Stage: The Fore-part of the Scene represented an Avenue to the Temple of Hymen, adorn'd with Figures of several Heathen Deities. Next was a Triumphal Arch on the Top of which were the Arms of their Royal Highnesses, over which was placed a Princely Coronet. Under the Arch was the Figure of Fame, on a Cloud, sounding the Praises of this Happy Pair. The Names Fredericus and Augusta appear'd above in transparent Characters. Thro' the Arch was seen a Pediment supported by four Columns, on which stood two Cupids embracing, and supporting the Feathers, in a Princely Coronet, the Royal Ensign of the Prince of Wales. At the farther End was a View of Hymen's Temple, and the Wings were adorn'd with the Loves and Graces bearing Hymenael Torches, and putting Fire to Incense in Urns, to be ofter'd up upon this Joyful Union. The Opera concluded with a Grand Chorus, during which several beautiful Illuminations were display'd. . . . There were present their Majesties, the Duke, and the Four Princesses

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales

Event Comment: Benefit Essex. By Command of Their Royal Highness the Prince and Princess of Wales. [Tickets at Essex's Lodgings, Bow Street.

Event Comment: [E+Edward the Black Prince, a new play by Mrs Hoper. Apparently not published.

Event Comment: This play was wrote by Mr Shirly & was at Lisbon when Acted--it was receiv'd with great Applause--only a little groaning at some of the Love Scenes; the prologue greatly lik'd--he says the play attempted after ye Manner of Shakespear (Cross). Paid salary list at #51 7s. 7d. per diem, #308 5s. 6d.; Blakes per order #1 1s.; Maltair added to salary list at 10s. per day. Paid Lacy as per draft #105; Xmas box to Prince and Princess's footmen #2 2s.; Mr Maltair for 11 days #5 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [Maltair is presumably the dancer Maltare who had appeared at dl in 1740.] Receipts: #180 (Cross); #185 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid Dr Arne for composing the Music for the Fairy Prince #120 (Account Book). Receipts: #230 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: With an Additional Scene painted by Cipriani, Representing the taking of the Bohemian Standard at the Battle of Cressyv. In memory of which, the Princes of Wales have ever since borne three Ostrich Feathers (the Bohemian Standard) as their crest, with the original motto Ich Dien. This scene is pleasingly executed and has a very good effect, and is the work of that celebrated artist Cipriani (Theatrical Review, II, p. 36). Paid Whitefield a Bill for making cloaths #30 8s. 7d. (Account Book). Receipts: #184 8s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MD 2, by John Rose; music by Thomas Attwood]: Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Salary List (Enthoven Collection): Paid Rose for Caernarvon Castle #18 6s. Morning Herald, 16 Sept. 1793: This Day is published Caernarvon Castle (1s.). [This piece had reference to the birthday of the Prince of Wales, which was 12 Aug.

Event Comment: "Edward the Black Prince was performed at the Royalty Theatre on Monday evening, by a private party of Gentlemen" (Morning Herald, 9 Mar., which makes no mention of an afterpiece)

Event Comment: [By David Lewis.] Benefit the Author. N.B. By reason of the Heat of the Weather, the said Tragedy will be perform'd only for the Benefit of the Aug&thor (this Season). Receipts: money #18 15s.; tickets #126 16s. Probable attendance: boxes, 16 by money and 386 by tickets; stage, 12 by money; pit, 30 by money and 202 by tickets; slips, 1 by money; first gallery, 34 by money; second gallery, 34 by money

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Thomas Lewis O'Beirne, based on Le Dissipateur; ou, L'Honnete Friponne, by Philippe Nericault, dit Destouches. Prologue by Frederick Pilon (Crouch, 1, 90). Author of Epilogue unknown. For Pastoral Interlude see 23 Nov.]: With new Scenery and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 13 Dec. 1780: This Day at Noon is Published The Generous Impostor (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #197 3s. 6d. (183.4.0; 13.10.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Matthew Gregory Lewis; incidental music by Michael Kelly (see 2 Feb. 1798), with one selection from Jomelli. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1797, pp. 357-58)]: With new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. The Scenery designed by the late Mr Greenwood [who died on 1 Nov.], and executed by his Son, Pugh, and others. Times, 15 Jan. 1798: This day is published The Castle-Spectre (2s.). "There is a sufficient number of Ghosts, Hobgoblins, Cells and Trap-doors to serve for a pantomimical exhibition of the most extravagant nature, and the whole may, with no breach of propriety, be termed a Speaking Pantomime, of which Kemble is made the Harlequin and Mrs Jordan the Columbine" (Morning Herald, 16 Dec.). Receipts: #316 18s. 6d. (257.6.6; 58.17.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 13 Nov.]. [Macready was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin. In mainpiece the playbill assigns Miss Ogle to Mrs T. Kennedy, but on the Kemble playbill her name is deleted, and a MS annotation substitutes Mrs Lewis's.] "The dress worn by Lewis, with small buttons innumerable, that gave it the air of a Hussar's jacket lengthened, was lately a coat won by the Prince of Wales" (Morning Chronicle, 20 Sept.). Receipts: #242 5s. 6d. (239.19.6; 2.6.0)

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: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Receipts: #44 5s. 6d. [Prince of Modena present.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Barry. Mainpiece: A Tragedy altered from Thomson [by Thomas Hull] never perform'd. Part of Pit laid into the Boxes. Servants who are to keep places are desired to be at the stage door by 4 o'clock, and those Ladies and Gentlemen who have taken seats in the Pit are requested to come early to prevent confusion in getting to their places. Epilogue by Sheridan. [This play had been refused a license on 26 March 1739, While Walpole was still Prime Minister, probably because of such speeches as: @Is there a cure on Humankind so fell@So pestilent, to Prince and People,@As the base servile vermin of a court;@Corrupt, Corrupting ministers and favourites?@How oft have such eat up the widow's morsel,@The Peasant's toil, the Merchant's far-sought gain,@And wantoned to the ruin of a nation!-Larpent MS, op. p. 65.@ Also the play equalizes Christianity and Mohammedanism before God, and gives a slight edge to the latter (Act IV, scene ii), suggesting the part politics play in Christian churches. An account of the alterations made for the present performance is given in the Westminster Magazine for March. The review concludes: The Play was got up altogether well, and reputedly acted, and is in its present state what the Ladies call "a very pretty tragedy."

Event Comment: Benefit for Massey. Tickets to be had of Massey, the Bell and Dragon, near Princes stairs

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted in place of Love Makes a Man, advertised on playbill of 15 Mar.]. Afterpiece: Loutherbourg's celebrated Pantomimev. Not acted these 3 years [acted 4 Dec. 1786]. With new Decorations, and the Scenery new painted. With a Processionv exactly representing the Dresses, Weapons, and Manners of the Inhabitants of Otaheite, New Zealand, Tanna, Marquesas, the Friendly Islands, Sandwich Islands and Easter Islands, Tschutzki, Siberia, Kamtschatka, Nootka Sound, Onalashka, Prince William's Sound, and the other Countries visited by Captain Cook. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Receipts: #256 17s. 6d. (250.5.6; 6.12.0)

Event Comment: [The Public Advertiser includes this day a 78-line poem in octasyllabic couplets on J. Lewis's portrait of Mrs Woffington: @Her Shape, her Features, and her Dress@As far as colour can express@Friend Lewis' pencil has design'd:@Poet 'Tis yours to paint her mind...@ And the versifier proceeds to describe her as she affects audiences in the theatre.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. Not acted these 4 years. 3rd piece: Never acted at this Theatre. Public Advertiser, 22 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, in Bow-street. Receipts: #346 0s. 6d. (254.19.6; 3.8.0; tickets: 87.13.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Morning Chronicle, 15 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis at his house, Broad-Court. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 2 May 1758]. 2nd piece [1st time in London; INT I: ascribed to John Philip Kemble, 1st acted at York, 27 Mar. 1779]. Receipts: #230 5s. (192.9; tickets: 37.16) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece: With a Representation of the Trial at Westminster Hall. Public Advertiser, 22 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Broad-court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #205 19s. (183.13; tickets: 22.6) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mrs Billington's severe Illness rendering it impossible to perform Fontainbleau [advertised on playbill of 13 Mar.], Lewis hopes the above Comedy will prove acceptable to those Ladies and Gentlemen who have Places, and to the Public in general. Public Advertiser, 11 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #242 16s. 6d. (156.12.6; 5.10.0; tickets: 80.14.0)