Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Tickets delivered for the 24th of April will be taken. Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.: Tickets [for 24 Apr.] to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 7, King-street, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Written by Richard Steele. 3rd piece [1st time; ENT I, author unknown. Larpent MS 830; not published]. Receipts: #253 17s. 6d. (159.12.0; 8.9.6; tickets: 85.16.0)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces the 1st night of The False Friend (see 24 Oct.), but "Miss Farren was taken ill, and The Beggar's Opera was the substitute. It proved, however, to be a substitute flat, stale and unprofitable. We never saw more indiffernet acting" (Oracle, 22 Oct.). Afterpiece in place of Richard Coeur de Lion, advertised on playbill of 20 Oct.] Paid Watch & Beadles, St. Martin's parish? 1 Year #42 10s. 4d. Receipts: #73 4s. (46.17.0; 24.17.6; 1.9.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. To prevent Confusion Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to send their Servants to keep Places by Half past Four o'Clock. God save the King was sung "by the performers and by the audience five times: twice on the entrance of the King and Queen, once after the Play, twice after the Farce" (World, 19 Dec.). And see 23 Apr. 1790. Account-Book: In the Pit of this Night 525 Persons, this is the greatest Number ever remembered to be in at any One Time. R. P. [i.e. Richard Peake, sub-treasurer]. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (279.13.0; 9.18.6; 1.0.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by James Wild. Text (no publisher, 1790)]: Being a Collection of favorite Scenes from the Following celebrated Pantomimes: Harlequin Sorcerer, Mother Shipton, Choice of Harlequin, Lord Mayor's Day, Druids, Fryar Bacon, Harlequin Freemason, Norwood Gipsies, Omai, Magic Cavern, and Harlequin Rambler. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Original Scenery, Machinery, &c. painted by Lambert, Dall [both deceased], Carver, Hodgins and Richards-and now all repaired and repainted. The Music selected by Shaw from Pepuch [sic], Dr Arne, Dr Arnold, Dr Fisher, ?M.? Arne, Vincent, Dibdin and Shield. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 31 Dec.: Paid Wild for his Attention to the Pantomime #30; Boyce for Ditto #15; Shaw for Ditto #10. Receipts: #233 5s. 6d. (204.8.6; 28.17.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Part of the Pit [9 rows (World, 23 Mar.)] to be laid into the Boxes. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, probably by Isaac Bickerstaffe, but also ascribed to Mrs Jordan and to Richard Ford. Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1799]. Kemble Mem.: The Farce is written by Mr Bickerstaffe. World, 29 Apr. 1790: The Spoil'd Child was sent to Mrs Jordan from Bickerstaffe in Italy, where her fame had reached. Public Advertiser, 13 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan at her house, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #352 18s. 6d. (137.13.0; 12.4.6; 1.7.0; tickets: 201.14.0) (charge: #111 6s. 11d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Brunton. 1st piece [1st time; T 3, by Mariana Starke, based on La Veuve du Malabar, by Antoine Marin LeMierre. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald. Epilogue by Richard John Hughes Starke (see text)]: With new Scenes and Dresses. And a Procession representing the Ceremonies attending the Sacrifice of an Indian Woman on the Funeral Pile of her deceased Hqsband. 2nd piece: Not acted these 18 years [acted 4 May 1776. Miss E. Brunton was from the Norwich theatre]. Morning Chronicle, 1 Feb. 1791: This Day is published The Widow of Malabar (1s. 6d.). Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Brunton, No. 35, Gerrard-street, Soho. [The mainpiece is sometimes stated to have been 1st acted at Mrs Crespigny's private@theatre@in@Camberwell, 1790, but "'The Widow of Malabar' was not first produced at Mrs Crespigny's Theatre. The Tragedy performed there is called 'The British Orphan' (also by Mariana Starke)" (Gazetteer, 24 Jan. 1791).] Receipts: #338 13s. (208.7; 2.8; tickets: 127.18)

Event Comment: Paid Music the 13th, 15th, 17th Inst. #23 9s. 6d.; Properties Ditto #2 5s.; Kettle Drum Ditto 15s.; Wardrobe #11 1s. 6d.; Supernumeraries #1 16s. 6d.; Chorus Singers #3; Cox for Scenemen #28 2s. 7d.; Hodgins [painter] #4 4s.; Extra Music #2 5s.; Richards, painter #20. [Wilson's last appearance at this theatre was on 20 Jan. 1786.] Receipts: #222 2s. 6d. (208.16.6; 13.6.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being a Collection of favorite Scenes from the following celebrated Pantomimes: Harlequin Sorcerer, Mother Shipton, Choice of Harlequin, Lord Mayor's Day, Druids, Fryar Bacon, Harlequin Freemason, Norwood Gipsies, Omai, Magic Cavern, Harlequin Rambler. The Dances [composed] by Byrne. The Original Scenery, Machinery &c. painted by Lambert, Dall, Carver, Hodgins and Richards. The Music selected by Shaw from Pepuch [sic], Dr Arne, Arnold, Fisher, M.? Arne, Vincent, Didbin, Reeve, Shield. Receipts: #193 7s. (187.15; 15.12)

Event Comment: [Fennell had acted Douglas at Edinburgh on 5 July 1788, and perhaps Previously.] Afterpiece [1st time: P 2, by Charles Bonnor and Robert Merry. Larpent MS 886; not published. Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1790, pp. 321-23. Author of Prologue unknown]: Interspersed with Dialogue, Airs, Duettos, Chorusses, Dances, &c. &c. &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations entirely new, and painted by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Pugh, Malton, with many Assistants [including W. Hamilton (European Magazine, Dec. 1790, p. 468]. Among others will be exhibited the following Scenes taken from accurate Drawings made on the Spot: The Jacobines Convent, Rue St. Honorie; Places de Greve; Inside of the Hotel de Ville; View of the New Bridge called Pont Louis Seize; Fountain des Innocens; Palais Bourbon; View of the Champ de Mars, with the Grand Pavillion preparatory to the Festival; A Grand Assembly; View of the Triumphal Arch, prepared for the Procession to the Champ de Mars; Perspective View of the Champ de Mars, with the Bridge of Boats. With an exact Representation of the Banners, Oriflammes, &c. &c. in the Grand Procession to the Champ de Mars. The Whole to conclude with a Representation of the Grand Illuminated Platform, as prepared by the City of Paris, on the Ruins of the Bastille, for the Entertainment of the Provincial Deputies, and the Public. [The above has reference to the "Grand National Fete" held in Paris, 14 July 1790, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. It is included in all subsequent playbills.] The Dances [composed] by Byrn. The Music composed and compiled [from Reeve and Naumann] by Shield. The Dresses all Characteristically French and New. Books of the Songs, &c. with a short Description of the Performance [T. Cadell, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1791: Paid Bonnor #200. Receipts: #316 16s. (296.14; 20.2)

Event Comment: 1st piece: Acted but Once [on 5 May 1790]. With new Scenes and Dresses. A Procession, representing the Ceremonies attending the Sacrifice of an Indian Woman on the Funeral Pile of her deceased Husband. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] The Music by Stevens. [Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald. Epilogue by Richard John Hughes Starke.] Receipts: #231 14s. 6d. (230.6.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Henry Bate]: With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music (with a few exceptions) composed entirely new by Shield. And new Scenery designed and chiefly executed by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Williamson was formely a chorus singer at this theatre; Mme Pieltain had sung at the king's in the season of 1788-89. Afterpiece in place of The Deaf Lover, advertised on playbill of 25 Feb.] "The author is very little responsible for his part of the entertainment, which he acknowledges was composed chiefly for the purpose of [the music, which] in the taste of the present day is almost the only essential part of such an entertainment" (Gazetteer, 28 Feb.). Oracle, 7 May 1791: Thas Day is published The Woodman (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #243 2s. (239.17.6; 3.4.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Prince Hoare, based on La Grotta di Trofonio, by Giovanni Battista Casti. Not in Larpent MS; not published]; Written by the Author of No Song No Supper. The Music composed principally by Storace [partly adapted from Salieri, composer of Casti's opera; one song each by Anna Storace, Thomas Attwood, Giovanni Paisiello, Richard Suett]. Oracle, 28 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 26, Bridges-street. Receipts: #280 2s. (100.12.0; 33.13.6; 4.13.6; tickets: 141.3.0) (charge: #119 9s. 8d.)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces Richard Coeur de Lion, but "On acct. of Mrs Jordan's Indisposition [it] was put off and The Humourist substituted in its stead" (MS annotation on Kemble playbill). Kemble Mem. lists The Humourist, and notes "Mrs Jordan sent word she cd not act in Coeur de Lion, and forced me to change the Farce."] Receipts: #198 9s. (155.6; 36.19; 6.4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 32nd Night [i.e. in continuation, erroneously, of the reckoning for the preceding season, when it was acted 28 times]. With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music (with a few Exceptions) composed entirely new by Shield. And new Scenery designed and chiefly executed by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Covent-garden is the National Theatre. I was there on 10th Dec. and saw an opera called The Woodman. It was the very day on which the life story of Madam Billington, both from the good as well as from the bad sides was announced [i.e. Memoirs of Mrs Billington, and An Answer to the Memoirs of Mrs Billington, both anonymous, both predated 1792]...She sang rather timidly this evening, but very well all the same. The first tenor [Incledon] has a good voice and quite a good style, but he uses the falsetto to excess. He sang a trill on high C and ran up to G. The 2nd tenor [Johnstone] tries to imitate him, but could not make the change from the falsetto to the natural voice, and apart from that is most unmusical...But the cast is entirely used to him. The leader is Herr Baumgartner [sic], a German who, however, has almost forgotten his mother-tongue. The Theatre is very dark and dirty, and is almost as large as the Vienna Court Theatre. The common people in the galleries of all the theatres are very impertinent; they set the fashion with all their unrestrained impetuosity, and whether something is repeated or not is determined by their yells. The parterre and all the boxes sometimes have to applaud a great deal to have something good repeated. That was just what happened this evening, with the Duet in the 3rd Act, which was very beautiful; and the pro's and contra's went on for nearly a quarter of an hour, till finally the parterre and the boxes won, and they repeated the Duet. Both the performers stood on the stage quite terrified, first retiring, then again coming forward. The orchestra is sleepy" (Haydn, 273-74). Receipts: #194 11s. (191.8; 3.3)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years [acted 16 Jan. 1789]. Afterpiece [1st time at a public theatre (1st acted at Lord Barrymore's private theatre at Wargrave, 13 Apr. 1791); P 2, by Carlo Antonio Delpini. Not published]: With entire new Music, Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music composed by Baumgarten. The Scenes painted by Richards, Hodgins, Pugh, Walmsley, and other assistants. Books of the Songs [W. Woodfall, 1791] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. "The Piece was last night very incorrectly exhibited...The scenes of the destruction of the cottage by fire, the view of Strawberry-hill, and Blue Beard's infernal palace...are worthy of commendation. The last scene was not grand enough: the wings were by no means in unison" (Public Advertiser, 22 Dec.). Receipts: #279 13s. (249.19; 29.14)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces Katharine and Petruchio, in place of Richard Coeur de Lion, advertised on playbill of 21 Jan., but "On Acct. of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Goodall Katharine & Petruchio was put off and The Apprentice substituted in its stead" (MS annotation on Kemble playbill).] Receipts: #236 5s. (189.8; 45.1; 1.16)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Afterpiece [1st time; P 3, author unknown. "Founded on the Tale of Inkle & Yarico" (Kemble Mem.), by Sir Richard Steele, in The Spectator, No. II, 13 March 1710-11. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: The Music by Gluck and Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler]. Morning Herald, 9 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 3, London-road, St. George's Fields. Receipts: #452 16s. (169.17; 47.13; 2.11; tickets: 232.15) (charge: #169 5s. 8d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Joseph Richardson, based on The Coxcomb, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Prologue by Richard Tickell. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Morning Herald, 1 May 1792: This Day is published The Fugitive (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #315 7s. 6d. (275.0.0; 39.2.0; 1.5.6)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 958; not published]. Without insisting on the great Expence that has been incurred in re-building this Theatre (in the erecting of which no other Object has been attempted but the greater ease, safety and accomodation of the Spectators) it appears upon the Books that the Annual Disbursements of the past Seasons have gradually been encreasing from Year to Year, under the Direction of the present Proprietor, to nearly the sum of #10,000 per Annum more than the usual Expenditure of any of his Predecessors; it is therefore trusted the Necessity of the following small Advancement of the Prices of Admission to the Boxes and the Pit will be sufficiently apparent to the Justice of that Public whose Liberality has never yet been doubted. E. Barlow, Treasurer. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. No Money to be returned. The Office for taking Places for the Boxes is removed to Hart-street. The principal new Entrance to the Boxes is from the Great Portico in Bow-street; from the Small Portico are Entrances to the Pit and Gallery only. In the Old Passage from the Piazza are new Entrances to the Boxes, Pit, and Gallery. Carriages coming to Bow-street Entrances are desired to set down and take up with the Horses' Heads towards Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 12 Nov.]. [The audience objected vociferously to the increased prices of admission and to the absence of a 2nd gallery (and see under 19 Sept.). "The Prelude passed off without a syllable of it being heard...Two acts of The Road to Ruin displayed the performers' skill in pantomime, for not a word was heard...The Irishman in London then walked over the stag amidst the same riot and confusion which attended the preceding pieces" (Times, 18 Sept.).] Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Careless Husband; Afterpiece of Richard Coeur De Lion, both advertised on playbill of 27 Sept.] Receipts: #159 19s. (111.0; 45.15; 3.4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by William Pearce]: With new Music, Dresses, &c. The Music composed by Haydn, Sacchini, and Shield. The Scenery by Richards. Books of the Songs [W. Woodfall, 1792] to be had at the The Theatre. Public Advertiser, 20 Apr. 1793: This Day is published Hartford Bridge (1s.). Receipts: #294 17s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Thomas Morton. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: The Scenes, principally new, designed and painted by Richards, Hodgins, Pugh, Walmsley, and assistants. With entire new Dresses and Decorations. "The management of the earthquake in which the Temple of the Sun is destroyed was a very fine piece of stage mechanism; the effect of which was considerably heightened by the improved performance of the Bold Thunder, and that also of his Electrical Harbinger. The gradations and cadences of the first were superior to anything of the kind we remember within the walls of the theatre...The scene of the rising sun was uncommonly dingy" (Public Advertiser, 3 Dec.). "Mr Morton in full for Columbus #214 10s. 6d." [MS annotation on BM playbill, 26 Dec. 1792 (cg, Vol. VIII)]. Morning Herald, 14 Dec. 1792: This day at noon will be published Columbus (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #301 8s

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by William Pearce]: With new Music, Scenes and Dresses. The Music composed and selected [From Paisiello and Gretry (BUC, 946)] by Shield. The Scenes designed and executed by Richards. Books of the Songs to be at the Theatre. ["Mr Pearce #100 for Midnight Wanderers" (MS annotation on BM playbill (cg, Vol. VIII), 2 Mar. 1793).] Morning Herald, 21 May 1793: This day is published The Midnight Wanderers (1s.). Receipts: #332 17s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Edward Morris, with incidental music by Richard Suett. Prologue by Charles Morris; Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Morning Herald, 23 Apr. 1793: To-morrow will be published False Colours (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #231 9s. (188.2; 38.18; 4.9)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being a Collection of favorite Scenes from the following celebrated Pantomimes: Harlequin Sorcerer, Mother Shipton, Choice of Harlequin, Lord Mayor's Day, Druids, Fryar Bacon, Harlequin Freemason, Norwood Gipsies, Omai, Magic Cavern, Harlequin Rambler. The Dances [composed] by Byrne. The Original Scenery, Machinery &c. painted by Lambert, Dall, Carver, Hodgins and Richards. The Music selected by Shaw from Pepuch [sic], Dr Arne, Arnold, Fisher, M.? Arne, Vincent, Didbin, Reeve, Shield. Receipts: #193 7s. (187.15; 15.12)