Event Comment: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Ledger, Claremont, Goostree. Mrs Dick, Mrs Egan will be admitted. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 1111; not published]: To conclude with an Illumination, Transparency, and a Rural Procession. The Music partly selected, and partly composed, by Shield. The Harp by Weippert. The Bells by Lawrence. With appropriate Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. [Written in honour of the Royal Marriage" [see dl, 13 May] (Morning Herald, 19 May). "If we are to have these repeated Congratulations, let them be written by men of spirit and invention. The public are miserably placed, in cases like the present: between a respect for their King and a respect for their own understandings, they know not how to act" (Monthly Visitor, May 1797, pp. 454-55, which also includes a brief synopsis of the plot). Receipts: #254 9s. 6d. (84.0.0; 11.2.6; tickets: 159.7.0)

Event Comment: A Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Rome, 1766]); the music partly by Sarti and partly [i.e. with additions] by Paisiello. 2nd ballet: With entire new scenes by Degotti and executed by himself and Marinari. "The dresses [in this ballet] are said to be after designs from David; the costume is correct, perhaps, but it may be a little softened without injury to the effect. The contrast of colours is in some of them too harsh...The scenery is in a new stile. It has been our taste to assist the perspective by contracting the stage to a point. This was but a clumsy method, as the illusion was rarely complete, and it gave the idea of littleness. In this instance the stage is thrown open on every side, and the perspective is managed as every painter is obliged to manage it, on the broad surface, but still with the mechanic aids which scenery affords. The effect was enchanting" (Morning Chronicle, 30 Nov.). The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout season]. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Subscribers are most earnestly entreated to observe that, on account of the abuses frequently practised in their names, it has become absolutely necessary to adopt the former rule for Subscribers themselves to produce their Tickets at the doors as they pass into the Theatre. The Upper Boxes to be lett by the night, at one Guinea each for four persons. The way to them through the Gallery Staircase

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time: MD 5, by James Boaden]: With new Musick [by Michael Kelly], Dresses, and Decorations. [Scenery by Capon (Theatre Notebook, XIX, 14).] Morning Chronicle, 16 Jan. 1799: This Day is published Aurelio and Miranda (2s.). Receipts: #271 16s. (218.15.0; 51.19.6; 1.1.6)

Event Comment: p Comic Opera; the music by Paisiello. 2nd ballet: Originally composed by D'Auberval, and brought out with new Episodes and Dances by D'Egville [with music by Bossi], The Doors to be opened at 6:15. To begin at 7:15 [same throughout opera season]. Single tickets for the night, for pit or gallery, to be had at the office of the Theatre. [Sga Bolla was from the opera, Milan. Sga Clara's name is not in the playbill, but "The second comic opera singer, Sga Clara, was also new...There is much sweetness and delicacy in her voice, and perhaps it may be owing to her evident timidity that it did not seem to possess strength and compass in proportion" (Monthly Visitor, Jan. 1800, p. 71). Deshayes was from the Opera, Madrid.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown]: A Romance of the Fourteenth Century, Formed upon the Plan of an unpublished Drama [Johanna von Montfaucon], written and transmitted by Augustus von Kotzebue, The Overture, Songs, Chorusses, Marches and Finale, with appropriate Symphonies between the Acts, by Busby. The Scenery, Dresses, Machinery & Decorations entirely New. The Scenery by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The arrangement of the Marches, Chorusses & Military Movements incidental to the Piece, under the direction of Farley. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. The Words of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "The appropriate beauty of the scenery, in which the rules of perspective are critically observed, the splendour of the decorations and the richness of the dresses, have been rarely equalled" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1800, p. 75). Receipts: #318 6d. (316.2; 2.4)

Event Comment: Benefit Havard and Boucher, Prompter. Daily Advertiser, 2 June: We hear Mr Odel, Master.., Goodman's-Fields, intends to decline to concern himself any longer with the Management of that Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrington and R. Smith Charges #65 5s. 6d. Deficit to actors: #12 3s. 9d. apiece, covered by income from tickets: Barrington #37 1s. (Box 58; Pit 113; Gallery 56); R. Smith #61 8s. (Box 30; Pit 246; Gallery 170) (Account Book). Receipts: #40 18s

Event Comment: By Permission. By Particular Desire of the Antient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Benefit for L'Estrange, and Fearon

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by George Colman elder; also ascribed to George Keate. Larpent MS 565; not published]: In Three Scenes of Dialogue. 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Dr Pepusch. 3rd piece [1st time; B. BALL I (see king's, 29 Mar.)]: Ballet Tragi-Comique by Signior Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. The Music by Signior Gluck. With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Machinist and Painter-Signior Rookereschi. Tailor-Signior Walkerino. Morning Chronicle, 9 Aug.: Bannister with great good sense played chastely, and suffered the burlesque to arise out of his serious performance of Polly, not attempting to render the character ridiculous by making it more outre than it was rendered by his voice and figure

Event Comment: 1st piece: In 3 Scenes of Dialogue. 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Pepusch. [The playbill assigns Filch to Mrs Wilson and Mat o' th' Mint to Miss Morris, but "Miss Morris was merely a temporary substitute for Mrs Wilson who, it seems, is too far advanced in her pregnancy to dress en bomme" (Miming Chronicle, 4 June). But beginning with 7 June Mrs Wilson acted regularly until 3 Aug. Who acted Mat o' th' Mint on this present night has not come to light; the part was perhaps omitted.] 3rd piece: Ballet Tragi-comique. Composed by Signior Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. The Music by Gluck. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Machinist and Painter-Sg Rookereschi. Tailor-Sg Walkerino. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: In order to prevent Confusion among the Carriages, Ladies and Gentlemen are humbly requested to order their Servants to set down and take up with their Horses' Heads towards Pali-Mall. Servants are particularly desired not to croud the Doors, or to come up till called for. 1st piece: In three Scenes of Dialogue

Event Comment: 2nd piece: Not acted these 6 years. [Miss Griffiths is identified in European Magazine, June 1798, p. 397, and in playbill of 19 June.

Event Comment: This day is publish'd Isabella, or the Fatal Marriage, a Play, alter'd from Southern, as it is Performed at Drury Lane, printed for J. R. Tonson in the Strand. Price 1s. (Public Advertiser). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Massey, R. Palmer, Blissett, Painter and Hitchcock, prompter, will be admitted