Event Comment: [Kemble's 1st appearance as Shylock was at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 3 Dec. 1781. In mainpiece the playbill assigns Antonio to Bensley, but "Clarke played Antonio in the room of Bensley, who was taken ill" (Morning Chronicle, 23 Jan.).] Receipts: #167 19s. 6d. (167/12/0; 0/5/0; ticket not come in: 0/2/6)

Event Comment: [Kemble's 1st appearance as Osman was in Dublin (Genest, VI, 295).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by James Cobb and Thomas King]: Partly formed on the Plan of the Italian Comedy, and embellished with Music and Machinery. The paintings by Greenwood. The Music compiled and composed by Linley [Sen.]. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Books of the Songs [which assign no parts], Introduction, &c. to be had at the Theatre. [Synopsis of action in Universal Magazine, Dec. 1785, p. 335.] Account-Book, 31 Jan. 1786: Paid King for Hurly-Burly #165. Receipts: #181 2s. (174/17; 6/5)

Event Comment: [Kemble's 1st appearance as King Richard was at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 26 Apr. 1782.] Receipts: #130 10s. 6d. (99/15/0; 29/5/6; 0/10/0; tickets not come in: 1/0/0)

Event Comment: [Kemble had 1st acted Othello, and Mrs Siddons Desdemona, at Manchester, 29 Jan. 1777.] Receipts: #259 14s. (243/8; 15/18; 0/8)

Event Comment: [Kemble Mem.: Haymes, from Margate.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. With Alterations and Restorations, particularly the admired Shades and Transparencies representing the Amusements of Harlequin, and the Destruction of the Pantomimical Fleet. Harlequin's Invasion will be performed only Four Times this Season, when it must necessarily give place to Preparations for other Entertainments. Receipts: #183 3s. 6d. (119.4.0; 62.2.0; 1.17.6)

Event Comment: "[Kemble] has not, and we speak charitably, any pretensions to a first or second rank in the theatre. We are sorry for this, as he seemed to labour earnestly, but in vain" (London Magazine, Oct. 1783, p. 350). Paid Music 3 nights #23 19s. Receipts: #288 12s. 6d. (287/0/0; 1/12/6)

Event Comment: The last time of the Company's performing this Season. Benefit for Portal, Stevenson, Percey, George, Bowley, Woollams, Massingham, J. Edwards, Chumbley [box-keepers]. Receipts: #54 3s. (32.2; 22.1; 0.0; tickets: none listed) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Juliet by Mrs Robinson--a genteel Figure--a very tolerable first Appearance, and may do in time. [Note added by J. P. Kemble: Mrs Mary Robinson, whose maiden name was Darby, died Dec. 26, 1800 at Englefield Green. See her Life, of which the first part, namely as far as to her Acquaintance with the Prince of Wales, was written by herself] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #170 8s. (133.15; 31.15; 4.18)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Semiramis, announced on playbill of 21 Dec.] Mrs Yates sent Word last Night that her Cold continued--she could not play in Semiramis to-night. [Note added by J. P. Kemble: I have not yet found the rest of Mr. Hopkins Diary for the Year] (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #185 17s. 6d. (160.18.0; 24.2.6; 0.17.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [Mrs Farmer is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. Her 1st two appearances had been at the hay on 29 Aug. 1787 and 9 Sept. 1788.] Receipts: #157 19s. 6d. (121.1.0; 36.12.0; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: "In the interview with Tubal [Kemble] would have proved successful in marking the rapid transitions between his joy and grief...had not his voice somewhat failed him, being exhausted by the great exertion immediately preceding" (Public Advertiser, 19 Jan.). Receipts: #156 5s. 6d. (131.1.0; 24.11.0; 0.13.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in Kemble Mem., but not on playbill]. Receipts: #133 14s. 6d. (103.10.0; 23.13.0; 6.11.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: 1st piece: 1st Time [at this theatre; see dl, 7 Nov.]. "Mr Hayley's Marcella, which was anticipated on Saturday evening at Drury Lane, and was received with considerable marks of disapprobation...was brought forward [at Covent Garden] under the auspices of the Author" (Public Advertiser, 11 Nov.). "[The performers all acted well at Covent Garden; and Kemble was the only one at Drury Lane who even knew his part" (Prompter, 11 Nov.). Receipts: #201 17s. (197.13.6; 4.3.6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Berry. Afterpiece: Written by the late Samuel Foote, Esq. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had at Mrs Richman's@Masquerade@Warehouse, Oxford-street; of Berry, at the George in the Haymarket; and of Rice at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken. No Money to be returned

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1; at its 2nd performance, 10 Aug., acted under its 2nd title, and published as such]: Written by Thomas? Bellamy. [The Address by--Codrington, of Exeter (European Magazine, Sept. 1789, p. 218).] World, 1 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 26, Villiers-street, York-Buildings. Diary, 1 Sept. 1789: This Day is published The Benevolent Planters (1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. Public Advertiser, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 22, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Tickets delivered for Friday the 14th Inst, will be admitted. Receipts: #142 13s. (63/14; tickets: 78/19) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. [In 2nd piece the playbill retains Kemble as Doricourt, and Whitfield as Villers, but "I was ill; Whitfield played my Part" (Kemble Mem.). For Phillimore as Villers see 27 May.] Gazetteer, 7 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, Great Queen-street. Receipts: #262 9s. 6d. (108.2.0; 20.11.6; 0.15.0; tickets: 133.1.0) (charge: #116 6s. 4d.)