Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time: P 1, by Roger Johnston. Not in Larpent MS; synopsis of action in World, 28 Dec.)]: The new Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood. Books of the Songs with a Description of the Pantomime [C. Lowndes, 1790] to be had at the Theatre. The Pantomime being partly compiled, Half Price will be taken. Receipts: #273 5s. (234.17.0; 35.11.6; 2.16.6)

Event Comment: The Public are respectfully informed that, a sufficient Profit being allowed to the Persons who sell Plays and Books of Songs in the Theatre, those Persons are forbidden to demand for such Plays or Books of Songs more than the Price marked thereon, upon pain of dismission from their employ. [Afterpiece in place of The Pannel, advertized on playbill of 27 Dec.] Powell: Messrs Danby & Fisher absent from this Evening's Performance, Ill. Measure for Measure rehearsed at 10; New Ballet at 12. Receipts: #208 8s. (167.4.6; 39.13.6; 1.10.0)

Event Comment: Under the license of the Lord Chamberlain. Leader of the band-Mountain. Grand Piano Forte-Reeve. Among the other Instrumental Performers are W. Ware, Haigh, Leffler Sen., Leffler Jun., Nicks, Alexander, Price, Francis, Cornish, English, Eley, Forster, &c. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [For names of speakers and singers see Morning Post, 5 Mar.; Oracle, 12 Mar.

Event Comment: Ode: Written in Honour of St. Cecilia, by Dryden, and set to Music by Handel. Among the Instrumental Performers are G. Ashley, leader of the band, Mara, Sarjant, C. Ashley, Boyce, Bridgetower, Harvey, Parkinson, Taylor, Nix, two Flacks, Dresler, Gwilliam, Shutze, Price, I. Sharp, W. Sharp, M. Sharp, J. Sharp, Archer, Cobham, two Munros, Wood, Cornish, Purney, Leffler, Woodham, Cantelo, Skillern, Franki, Simpson, Jenkinson, &c. Organ-J. Ashley. Double Drums (used at Westminster Abbey)-R. Ashley. The Chorusses will be numerous and complete. The Whole under the Direction of Ashley. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the Office in Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance (with the Imprimatur of H. Macleish) to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Composed by G. F. Handel. Among the Instrumental Performers: C. Ashley, Sarjant, Wm. Parke, Boyce, R. Ashley, Bridgtower, Pinto, Parkinson, Lavenu. the Flacks, Taylor, Mackintosh, Wm. Ware, Dresler, Francis, Gwilliam, Nicks, the Munros, Archer, I. Sharp, W. Sharp, M. Sharp, J. Sharp, Betts, Cobham, Jackson, Wood, Coyle, Cornish, Jones, Purney, Leffler, Woodham, Piele, the Cantelos, Skillern, &c. Organ-J. Ashley. Double Drums (used at Westminster-Abbey)-Jenkinson. The Chorusses will be numerous and complete; the whole under the direction of Ashley. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance (with the Imprimatur of E. Macleish) to be had at the Theatre, price 6d. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon, at the Stage-Door in Hart-street. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: In compliance with the request of several Ladies and Gentlemen, lovers of Handel's music, who find it inconvenient to attend at the beginning of the evening, Mr Ashley informs them that Half Price will be taken at the end of the Second Part

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Text: T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1800. Miss Waters is identified in the Songs]: The Scenes, Music, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations are all entirely new. The Music composed by Mazzinghi and Reeve. The Scenery painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, Backmore, &c. [based on drawings of Indian scenery by Thomas Daniell]. The Machinery and Decorations by Cresswell, Sloper, Goostree, &c. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs, also describing the Scenes and Spectacle of the Return from the Tiger Hunt, to be had at the Theatre, price six pence. "The whole [forms] an exhibition of the utmost grandeur...The expense attending the decoration must have been immense...The dailogue is certainly not of the first description of writing, but it forms, on the whole, a very safe vehicle for some of the best music the English stage has for some time been able to boast"(Morning Herald, 13 Nov.). Account-Book, 27 Dec.: Paid Cuthbert for Wheels, &c. for the Elephants #13 18s. Receipts: #364 7s. 6d. (363.19.6; 0.8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece [1st time; C 3, by Thomas John Dibdin. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (London Chronicle, 18 Mar.)]. Morning Chronicle, 12 Apr. 1799: This Day is published Five Thousand a Year (price not listed). Ibid, 8 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street. Receipts: #542 0s. 6d. (383.9.0; 2.19.0; tickets: 155.12.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitfield. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by John Till Allingham]. Morning Chronicle, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Whitfield, No. 10, Clifford's-inn. Ibid, 26 July 1799: This Day is published Fortune's Frolic (price not listed). Receipts: #394 13s. 6d. (79.15.0; 5.0.0; tickets: 309.18.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald, based on Das Schreibepult; oder, Die Gefahren der Jugend, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by Charles Moore (MS annotation by J. P. Kemble in Kemble-Devonshire copy in Huntington Library); Epilogue by John Taylor (see text)]: With New Dresses and Scenes. Morning Chronicle, 17 Dec. 1799: This day is published The Wise Man of the East (price not listed). Receipts: #323 14s. 6d. (321.12.6; 2.2.0)

Event Comment: The Rivals [advertised on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the indisposition of a principal performer. "There seems to be a perverse and impolitic system introduced of late years in the management of this theatre, in virtue of which certain plays are suffered to remain in a state of slovenly representation, to serve as a kind of stage lumber, on which the manager can immediately lay his hand (confident of a good half-price, from the popularity of his after-piece); he wants something, no matter what, to fill up the intermediate space of time. This is a system, however, which in the event cannot fail to prove equally injurious to the interest of the proprietors, and the gratification of that part of the audience who pay the full amount of admission" (Dramatic Censor, I, 45). Receipts: #188 5s. (102.16; 83.17; 1.12)

Event Comment: Principal Instrumental Performers are G. Ashley, leader of the band; C. Ashley, W. Parke, Boyce, Barret, R. Ashley, Parkinson, Woodham, Jenkinson, M'Arthur, the Munros, Purney, Cantelo, Taylor, M'Intosh, Gwilliam, Nicks, Cobham, Leffler, Betts, Flack, Dressler, Cornish, I. Sharp, W. Sharp, M. Sharp, J. Sharp, Ware, J. Ware, Wood, G. Jones, Moorehead, Slezack, Francis, Jackson, Vial, White, &c. Organ by J. Ashley. The Band and Chorusses will be numerous and complete, and assisted by the Trombones and Double Drums, used at Handel's Commemoration at Westminster Abbey [in 1784]. The whole under the direction of Ashley Sen. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon at the stage door. The Doors to be opened at 6:00, and the Performance to begin at 7:00 precisely [same throughout oratorio season]. Half Price will be taken at 9:00. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Books of the Performance to be had at the Theatre (6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Humane Society. A new grand Commemorative Oratorio [1st time; in two parts], as originally performed by Busby, in aid of the Fund for the Naval Pillar, including the new Music [by Busby: Song and Chorus, From where the sun; Song, To thy brave sons; Recitative and Song, Peace to the soul, Around the ever-honoured urn], introduced in the Grand National Concert, performed the 28th of May, at the Opera House. Leader of the Band-Cramer. Organ-Russell. The performance to be conducted by Busby, who will preside at the Piano Forte. Tickets, at playhouse prices, to be had at all the principal music shops...and of Busby, No. 9, China Terrace, Vauxhall Road. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00. "The words [of Part I] are taken entirely from Gray's well-known Pindaric Ode, The Progress of Poesy," with six introductory lines written by John Gretton andthe concluding stanzas by Thomas Dutton; the text of Part II by Gretton (Dramatic Censor, II, 285-86)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; P 2, by John Fawcett. Text 1st published by Duncombe and Moon, c. 1825]: With entire new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and most of the Musick composed by Dr Arnold. The Selections from eminent Masters, and the whole adapted by him to the Action of the Drama. The Scenery, comprehending a display of Views in the Island of Jamaicav, designed and painted [on playbill of 1 July: from Views taken on the Spot, and documents of undoubted authority] by S. Whitmore. The Machinery by Ronaldson, Sylvester, &c. The Dresses [on playbill of 1 July: made for the purpose by Persons acquainted with the spot where the Scene of Action lyes] by Gay, Mrs Egan, &c. A Prospectus of the Action with the Songs annexed, Price Six-pence, to be had at the Theatre [and reprinted in Dramatic Censor, III, 21-29]

Event Comment: According to Robert Withington (English Pageantry, An Historical Outline, Cambridge, Mass., 1918, I, 242n), the expense of the entertainment came to #7888 2s. 6d. (See also Pepys, Diary, and other accounts.) The Diurnal of Thomas Rugg, ed. Sachse, pp. 98-99: A lane [was] made in the Citty, made by the livery men of several companyes; and many pageants in the streets...Att Cheap sid his Majesty beheld a famous pagien, and staid there for som littl space, where were speeches made by the lady paganetts. Evelyn, Diary: I saw his Majestie go with as much pompe & splendor as any Earthly prince could do to the greate Citty feast...but the exceeding raine which fell all that day, much eclips'd its luster:...the streets adorn'd with Pageants &c: at immense cost

Event Comment: Possibly on this day, Davenant and Killigrew, with a united company, began acting at this theatre. In L. C. 5@137, p. 332 (6 Oct. 1660) is a list of His Majesty's Comedians: Burt, Hart, Mohun, Robert Shatterell, Lacy, Wintershell, Clunne, Cartwright, Edward Shatterell, Baxter, Loveday, Kynaston, Betterton. (See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 294; Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 204.) Hotson, p. 205, states that the company acted daily from 8 to 16 Oct. 1660

Event Comment: The music was composed by Matthew Lock, and the architectural elements were created by Peter Mills, Surveyor of the City. For further details, see Robert Withington, English Pageantry (1918), I, 243

Event Comment: The Vestal-Virgin; or, The Roman Ladies (by Sir Robert Howard) was probably acted by February 1664@5. It was entered in the Stationers' Register on 7 March 1664@5 and published in 1665 in Four New plays. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus p. 15) lists it by title only. The King's Company

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: By and by with Lord Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician.... This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house [Bridges St.] is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her #30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax candles, and many of them; then, not above 3 l6s. of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden: then, two to three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best: then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any....That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which he do give #200 a-year a-piece to: but badly paid, and do come in room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows, he having got the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, my eyes being so bad since last night's straining of them, that I am hardly able to see, besides the pain which I have in them. The play was a new play; and infinitely full: the King and all the Court almost there. It is The Storme, a play of Fletcher's; which is but so-so, methinks; only there is a most admirable dance at the end, of the ladies, in a military manner, which indeed did please me mightily....And there comes my wife home from the Duke of York's playhouse. Two songs, printed somewhat later in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673, may have been prepared for this revival: Hark the storm grows, set by Robert Smith; and Cheer up my mates, set by Pelham Humphrey

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: [Creed] and I to the Duke of York's playhouse; and there coming late, he and I up to the balcony-box, where we find my Lady Castlemayne and several great ladies; and there we sat with them, and I saw The Impertinents once more, now three times, and the three only days it hath been acted. And to see the folly how the house do this day cry up the play more than yesterday! and I for that reason like it, I find, the better, too: by Sir Positive At-all, I understand, is meant Sir Robert Howard. My Lady [Castlemayne] pretty well pleased with it

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: But, Lord! to see how this play of Sir Positive At-all [The Sullen Lovers], in abuse of Sir Robert Howard, do take, all the Duke's and every body's talk being of that, and telling more stories of him, of the like nature, that it is now the town and country talk, and, they say, is most exactly true. The Duke of York himself said that of his playing at trap-ball is true, and told several other stories of him

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, and there saw Philaster; where it is pretty to see how I could remember almost all along, ever since I was a boy, Arethusa, the part which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's; and it was very pleasant to me, but more to think what a ridiculous thing it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful woman

Event Comment: See 27 Feb. 1668@9. Pepys, Diary: I did meet Sir Jeremy Smith, who did tell me that Sir W. Coventry was just now sent to the Tower, about the business of his challenging the Duke of Buckingham, and so was also Harry Saville to the Gate-house....So, meeting with my Lord Bellassis, he told me the particulars of this matter; that it arises about a quarrel which Sir W. Coventry had with the Duke of Buckingham about a design between the Duke and Sir Robert Howard, to bring him into a play [The Rehearsal] at the King's house, which W. Coventry not enduring, did H. Saville send a letter to the Duke of Buckingham, that he had a desire to speak with him. Upon which, the Duke of Buckingham did bid Holmes, his champion ever since my Lord Shrewsbury's business, go to him to know the business; but H. Saville would not tell it to any but himself, and therefore did go presently to the Duke of Buckingham, and told him that his uncle Coventry was a person of honour, and was sensible of his Grace's liberty taken of abusing him, and that he had a desire of satisfaction, and would fight with him. But that here they were interrupted by my Lord Chamberlain's coming in, who was commanded to go to bid the Duke of Buckingham to come to the King, Holmes having discovered it