Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; D 3, by Henry Neuman, based on Der Opfertod, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Text (R. Phillips, 1799) assigns no parts]. 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 taken of Rice, at the Theatre. The Theatre, since the last Season, has been newly Decorated. [Beginning with 19 June the playbill: Printed by T. Woodfall, Drury Lane; on 4 Sept.: No. 104, Drury Lane.] Morning Chronicle, 27 June 1799: This Day is published Family Distress (2s.). Gentleman's Magazine, May 1800, pp. 406-8, prints a letter from "J. B." in which strong exception is taken to Kotzebue in general, and this play in particular. "Theatrical entertainments have an extensive influence upon the manners of Society. When well regulated, and the pieces for representation well selected both as to matter and manner, they may be esteemed friendly to morality, and improvers of public taste. But what shall we say when both these ends are disregarded; when moral virtue is banished from the scene, and purity of taste is destroyed by affected language and pantomimical decorations? Improvements in almost every art and science have been within a few years, rapid and important. But that is not the case with the stage; nor can it be, while Kotzebue and his friends usurp the venerable boards of Shakespeare." The writer then, in sarcastic terms, outlines the plot of Family Distress. [Pope and Miss Chapman were both from cg.

Event Comment: [The Afterpiece had been advertised on two previous days to be the Royal Chace; or, Merlin's Cave.

Event Comment: [W+Winston MS 8 lists Harlequin Skeleton; or, The Royal Chace.] Receipts: #42 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Their Majesties' Command. [Their Majesties and the rest of the Royal Family present.]

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by John Rose. Larpent MS 1167; not published]: A Mask, in honour of the approaching Royal Nuptials [the Marriage of Charlotte Augusta, Princess Royal of Great@Britain to Frederick William, Prince of Wurttemberg, on 18 May]. The Musick entirely new by Attwood. The Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. Books of the Interlude to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #254 15s. (166.15.0; 84.6.6; 3.13.6)

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of Summer Amusement, advertised on playbill of 10 July.] 3rd piece [1st time; F 2, ascribed by Town and Country Magazine, July 1789, p. 327, to George Colman ynger. Prologue by the author (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 19 Aug. 1789: This Day is published The Family Party (1s.)

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: Edition of 1660: The Royal Oake, with Other various and delightfull Scenes presented on the Water and the Land, Celebrated in Honour of the deservedly Honoured Sir Richard Brown, Bar. Lord Mayor of the City of London, The 29th day of October...and performed at the Costs and Charges of the Right Worshipfull Company of Merchant-Taylors. [Tatham refers to Dyamond, a Lightfoot, Paynter; Thomas Whitein, Joyner; and Richard Cleere, Carver.] Pepys, Diary: And I...at the Key in Cheapside; where there was a company of fine ladies, and we were very civilly treated, and had a very good place to see the pageants, which were many, and I believe good, for such kind of things, but in themselves but poor and absurd. Evelyn, Diary: My Lord Majors shew stop'd me in cheape-side: one of the Pageants represented a greate Wood, with the royal Oake, & historie of his Majesties miraculous escape at Bosco-bell &c

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This play is on the L. C. lists at Harvard. See VanLennep, "Plays on the English Stage", p. 14. A song in this play, Thus all our Lives, with music by John Banister, is in Choice Songs and Ayres, 1673. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 31): [Concerning several plays] All which Expir'd the third Day, save the Royal Shepherdess, which liv'd Six. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke of York's house, and there before one, but the house infinite full, where, by and by, the King and Court come, it being a new play, or an old one new vamped, by Shadwell, called The Royal Shepherdesse!; but the silliest for words and design, and evepything, that ever I saw in my whole life, there being nothing in the world pleasing in it, but a good martial dance of pikemen, where Harris and another do handle their pikes in a dance to admiration; but never less satisfied with a play in my life