Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill omits Earl of Richmond. The assignment is taken from Oracle, 14 Nov.] "In the play Trinculo's curtain [as used for his 1st scene in The Tempest] stood for the Tower, and Bosworth Field was a delightful little farm-yard" (Oracle, 15 Nov.). The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 9 Jan. 1792]. Receipts: #189 2". (152.18; 35.1; 1.3)

Event Comment: "Falstaff is rather more satirical than facetious...This idea of the part, King adopted; and he gave the text with such correctness and force, that so far from lessening his reputation by attempting so arduous a character, he has in reality afforded new proof of his critical taste and versatility of genius" (Morning Herald, 7 Aug.)

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of A MOGUL TALE; 2nd piece of THE SON-IN-LAW, and THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD, all advertised on playbill of 17 July.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Permission of the Proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. [As afterpiece the playbill announces Oscar and Malvina, but "The Poor Sailor played" (MS annotation on BM playbill, cg, Vol. ix). "The audience were in a violent uproar, at the change from Oscar and Malvina to The Poor Sailor" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1795, pp. 122-23).] Receipts: #190 7s. (182.17; 7.10)

Event Comment: "The shrillness of [Mrs Hopkins's] voice, and the squabbishness of her figure are admirable accompaniments to the peevish expression of her features, and thus as far as natural requisites go, she is perfectly suited to old maids and crabbed aunts" (Monthly Mirror, Aug. 1796, p. 240). [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Palmer, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Wathen, Suett, Miss DeCamp.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years (notice on playbill of 8 Nov.). Afterpiece: The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenery by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston, Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 3 Apr. 1797]. Receipts: #318 4s. 6d. (237.14.6; 76.5.6; 4.4.6)

Event Comment: [Longley is identified in European Magazine, Dec. 1797, p. 410, but Monthly Visitor, Jan. 1798, p. 64, says that he was Clarke, "from the Shakesperian Theatre at Tottenham Court Road." Afterpiece in place of The Shipwreck, advertised on playbill of 24 Nov.] "[Longley] is not inferior to some Falstaffs we have seen upon the London stage, and he possesses all the traditionary shrugs, winks and bye-play usual in the representation of the part" (True Briton, 27 Nov.). Receipts: #140 18s. (101.15; 38.3; 1.0)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: Taken from the French of Patrat; Performed but once [at cg on 24 Apr. 1798]. [On this night the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Aickin, Caulfield, Wathen, Trueman, Bannister, Miss DeCamp, Miss Heard.] On playbill of 13 June: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre. Printed by T. Woodfall, No. 104, Drury-Lane

Event Comment: "...Richard III, which I saw performed at Drury-lane theatre at the beginning of the present season...The dresses of the characters which here make their appearance are in the usual half-and-half mode, made up from portraits of Charles I's reign, and from unrestrained fancy. Richard's habit, indeed, shews a faint hint, at the costume of his day; but how modernized! A fancy cap and feather,with a milliner's white-ribband rose, sewed thereon. A deep ruff, of that make not known until the reign of James I From the neck depends a ribband With the George: this decoration never seen in paintings till about the fashions of the abovementioned monarch's court. On his legs and feet, white silk stockings, white shoes, and red roses. These latter ornaments unknown before Elizabeth or James I's modes of dress prevailed; at any rate, they should have been white ones to have accorded with the party-badge in his cap." Writer signing himself "An Artist and an Antiquary" in Gentleman's Magazine, Apr. 1800, p. 319. Receipts: #225 16s. 6d. (178.3.6; 47.12.0; 0.1.0)