Event Comment: A Sacred Oratorio composed and conducted by Dr Arnold at the Society of Artists Exhibition-Room in the Strand. A Benefit for repairing a Chapel Crispin St, Spittalfields. At 12:00 noon. First seats 7s. 6d. Second seats 5s. Back seats 3s. 6d. The Performers are so obligingly generous as to give their Services to promote the Charity. And Mr Leoni having obtained Leave to sing, the Public may be assured of his performing his Part in this Oratorio. A Stove is already fixed in the Great Room, and will be continued to prevent any Inconveniencies from the Coldness of the Season. Mr Fischer being ill, Mr Barthelemon will perform in his Room

Event Comment: Oratorio (composed by Dr Arnold) never performed there

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. [Mrs Armstead is identified in Morning Chronicle, 16 May. Prologue by George Colman elder (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 207).] Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years. With a new Overture, the Original Prologue [by David Garrick], and a New Scene, in which will be introduced an air. With a Grand Jubilee-Pageant, in Honour of Gulliver. The Music, Dresses, Scenes, Trophies and Decorations entirely new. The Music composed by Dr Arnold. ["Lilliput was altered by Garrick (its author), and a procession of cards introduced in it, Gulliver walking as the Knave of Clubs" (Gilliland, I, 121-22). London Chronicle, 16 May, gives a synopsis of this pageant.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Theatre. After this Evening the Entertainments of this Theatre will be discontinued till further Notice, on account of the Performers employed at Drury Lane Theatre [see 28 May]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 3]: Taken from [The Winter's Tale, by] Shakespeare [altered by George Colman elder]. Afterpiece: Likewise taken from [A Midsummer-Night's Dream, by] Shakespeare. Books of both pieces to be had at the Theatre. The Musick of both pieces by the most eminent Composers [i.e. Michael Arne, Dibdin, Dr Burney, Hook, Theodore Smith, Dr Arnold]. The Characters new dressed

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on The Loves of Mars and Venus, by Peter Anthony Motteux]: With New Scenes and Dresses. The Music chiefly composed by Dibdin. [Dr Arne and Dr Arnold each wrote one air.] Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 5 Feb. 1778: This Day at Noon is published Poor Vulcan! (1s.). [The playbill lists Reinhold in place of Mahon, but on the Kemble playbill his name is deleted and a MS annotation substitutes Mahon's.] Receipts: #232 5s. 6d. (230.2.6; 2.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Miles Peter Andrews and William Augustus Miles; Larpent MS 485; not published; Synopsis of plot in London Magazine, July 1779, pp. 306-7]: The Airs partly selected from Dibdin, Giordani, Dr Arne, &c. The Overture and New Music composed by Dr Arnold. With New Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes painted by Rooker. Songs of the Opera to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Miles Peter Andrews]: The Overture from the celebrated Fire and Water Music of Handel. The new Airs and Chorusses by Dr Arnold. With new scenes by Rooker. Books of the Songs may be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 8 July 1780: This Day is published the Songs in Fire And Water! (6d.). Ibid, 22 July 1780: This Day is published Fire And Water! (price not listed)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Miles Peter Andrews. Prologue by Frederick Pilon. Epilogue by Edward Topham (see text)]: With Music High and Low Dutch [ascribed to Dr Arnold]. New Dresses and Decorations. The new Scenes painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 30 July 1781: This Day is published The Baron....(price not listed)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Elizabeth, Baroness Craven, later Margravine of Anspach. Larpent MS 564; not published. Author of Prologue unknown]: After the Prologue, a Naval Overture. The Airs from the most eminent Composers [with new music by Dr Arnold, Lady Craven, and Tommaso Giordani]. The Scenes new painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 July 1781: This Day is published the Songs in The Silver Tankard (6d.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Dramatic Proverb with Songs [1st time; mf 2, by Charles Dibdin, based on the unpublished L'Aveugle Pretendu, by Louis Francois Archambault, dit Dorvigny. MS: Larpent 594; not published; synopsis of plot in European Magazine, July 1782, p. 67]. The Music by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Paid Dr Arnold in full for composing Music #92 8s. Receipts: #274 9s. (269/14; 4/15)

Event Comment: Tickets to be had and Places [for the boxes] to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Stage Door of the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance to be had at the Theatre. New Lady's Magazine, Mar 1786, p. 110: performance under the direction of Dr Arnold, who conducted from the organ. I know that my redeemer liveth sung by Miss George; He was despised and rejected by Master Pring; How beautiful are the feet by Mrs Forster

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Overture and Music composed by Dr Arnold. The Scenes painted by Rooker. [Grimaldi was from DL.]

Event Comment: A Serious Opera in 2 acts; the music entirely by Handel, and selected from the various Operas set by that admirable composer, under the direction of [i.e. arranged and added to by] Dr Arnold. Benefit for Carnevale, deputy manager. No receipts listed. "In order to induce the king to visit the theatre called his own [see 17 Mar.], but which he seldom frequented, the Giulio Cesare of Handel was revived, or rather a medley from his Italian works, for little of the original music was retained, and many of his most favorite songs from other operas were introduced, Verdi prati [from Alcina], Dove sei [from Rodelinda], Rendi sereno il ciglio [from Sosarme], and others. This ancient music was particularly suited to Rubinelli, and was familiar to Mara, both of whom sung it incomparably well" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 61)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT I, by George Colman elder. Prologue by the author (see text, T. Cadell, 1789)]: Founded on Hogarth. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Music by Dr Arnold. The Scenes painted by Rooker. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. "A burlesque, taken from Hogarth's celebrated print of 'The Enraged Musician,' in which the poet has given a very entertaining personification of the ideas of the painter" (Universal Magazine, May 1789, p. 268). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00, and begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]

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: 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: Benefit for Wilson. Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 3]: The Dialogue and part of the Songs written by Richard? Wilson. The Overture, new Music and accompaniments composed by Reeve. The Songs, Duets, Glees compiled from Arnold, Rogers, Giordani, Shield, Hook, Dibdin, W. Wilson, Stevens, Broderip and David Rizzio. [Larpent MS 908; not published. Prologue probably by Richard Wilson. Epilogue by Joseph Haynes.] Public Advertiser, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Wilson. No. 10, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #354 14s. 6d. (165.17.6; 5.4.0; tickets: 183.13.0)