Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by John O'Keeffe]: A new Overture by Tommaso? Giordani, the rest of the Music composed and selected from Paisiello, Storace and Morelli] by Shield. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 27 Nov.: Paid O'Keeffe in full for the Farce & Copyright of The Farmer #150. Receipts: #130 11s. 6d. (124.0.0; 6.11.6)

Event Comment: "The leaving Percy untaken up [by Falstaff, in V.iv of mainpiece] was an improvement. The best acting was that of Mrs Pitt" (World, 6 Nov.). Afterpiece: With new Music, Scenes, Machinepy, Dresses, and Decorations. A few of the Airs compiled from Purcell, Travers, Sacchini, &c. The rest of the Music composed by Shield. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and many assistants. To conclude with the Representation of the inside of a Nabob's Palacev. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #199 0s. 6d. (193.16.0; 5.4.6)

Event Comment: [Farren's 1st appearance as Shore was at this theatre, 20 Dec. 1785.] Receipts: #182 7s. 6d. (174.16.0; 7.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece]. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Crouch, but she "had, in her way to the theatre, been overturned in a coach. Mrs Brereton read the part of Miss Harley " (London Chronicle, 14 Nov.). The playbill also lists the song, as 12 Nov., but it was not sung on this or any subsequent night. As afterpiece the playbill announces Comus, in which Mrs Crouch was to appear, but it was not acted. Its substitute is listed in the Account-Book.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 23 Apr. 1788]. Receipts: #124 14s. 6d. (107.12.0; 15.15.0; 1.7.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. To conclude with a Splendid Representation of the Fairy's Palacev. The Paintings by Greenwood. The Music compiled and composed by Linley? Sen. Books of the Songs, Introduction, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #121 9s. (92.0.0; 27.18.6; 1.10.6)

Event Comment: [The playbill announces The Tender Husband, and Three Weeks after Marriage, but the former "was last night obliged to be deferred on account of the real or feigned Indisposition of Mrs Abington, of which was sent to the Theatre at Two o'clock. The Merry Wives of Windsor was substituted...Mrs Wells, to whom the part of Mrs Page belongs, could not or would not play...Mrs Bernard read the part. Bernard also supplied the place of Cubitt in Slender. The Farmer was substituted for Three Weeks after Marriage" (Public Advertiser, 27 Nov.).] Receipts: #158 18s. (151.8.6; 7.9.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Sir Richard Steele's Comedy. Never acted at this theatre [acted 17 Mar. 1760, and advertised for performance on 10 Apr. 1764]. Receipts: #229 8s. 6d. (213.19.6; 15.9.0)

Event Comment: [Hollingsworth was from the Liverpool theatre.] Receipts: #89 19s. 6d. (57.13.0; 31.7.0; 0.2.0; tickets not come in. 0.17.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted at this Theatre. By Beaumont and Fletcher, with Alterations [by Thomas Harris (Boaden, Kemble, I, 378)]. Public Advertiser, 15 Jan.: The alterations consisted of many curtailments, the last scene of Act IV being entirely omitted. [Prologue by Henry Sampson Woodfall Jun. (European Magazine, Dec. 1787, p. 503; Feb. 1788, p. 105).] Receipts: #150 2s. (146.18; 3.4)

Event Comment: Smith's last Benefit. The Pit and Boxes will be laid together. Servants, who keep Places, are desired to be at the Theatre by Half past Four o'Clock; and those Ladies and Gentlemen who have Seats in the Pit are humbly requested to come early, to prevent Confusion. [Author of Epilogue unknown.] Receipts: #363 19s. 6d. (162.4.0; 0.0.0; 5.0.6; tickets: 196.15.0) (charge: #72 13s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. Mainpiece: By Permission of George Colman, Esq. [the holder of the copyright]. Public Advertiser, 24 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Edwin, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-garden. Receipts: #386 7s., as follows: money taken at the doors was #256.0.6, on which he paid charge of #100.11.6, leaving a balance due him of #155.9.0, which he was paid on 7 Apr.; after money, #4.8.6, was retained by the theatre; he sold 411 box tickets, 83 pit tickets, 107 gallery tickets for #125.18.0, free of charge; his total profit therefore was #281.7.0

Event Comment: The Manager of the Opera House hopes for the Indulgence of the Public, in laying before them the great Complaints which have been made to him, on account of Invoncenience in the Entertainments, arising from the enormous Caps and Bonnets which several Ladies make it a Practice to appear in, within the Pit of this Theatre, excluding thereby that Part which is presentdd from the Dancing in a great Degree. The Manager is therefore under the Necessity of soliciting the Ladies to take the same into their Consideration, and humbly presumes for their Indulgence on the Occasion. Receipts: #246 8s. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [In mainpiece Squire Tally-ho is assigned to Edwin, and he is also listed as acting in the afterpiece, but "On the night of Mrs Mattocks' benefit [he] absented himself from the theatre, and at his next appearance [on 4 Apr.] was obliged to make an apology" (Town and Country Magazine, Apr. 1788, p. 188). Who substituted for him, in both pieces, has not come to light.] Receipts: #249 15s. (180.3.6; 4.7.6; tickets: 65.4.0)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1781]); the music by Sarti, under the direction of Mazzinghi. "At length in the spring arrived the celebrated Marchesi, whose fame had long reached this country, and who had been extolled to such a degree that impatience and expectation were raised to the highest pitch; and on the first night of his appearance the theatre was not only crowed to the utmost in every part, but on the rising of the curtain, the stage was so full of spectators that it was some time before order and silence could be obtained, and with some difficulty that Marchesi, who was to open the opera, could make his way before the audience. Marchesi was at this time a very well-looking young man, of good figure, and graceful deportment. His acting was spirited and expressive: his vocal powers were very great, his voice of extensive compass, but a little inclined to be thick (Mount-Edgcumbe, 66-67). Receipts: #437 15s. 6d., i.e. 560 tickets delivered to Prendergrass [see 8 Dec. 1787], who sold 558; 110 to Toosey, who sold 86; 400 to Butler, who sold 285; 236 to Snelson, who sold 204. Total non-subscription tickets sold: 1133

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; MF 2]: Written by the Author of Rosina [Frances Brooke]. The Music compiled and composed by Shield. With entire New Scenes painted by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Text 1st published by T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1800.] Receipts: #165 9s. 6d. (162.18.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: 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 had of Rice at the Theatre. [On this night Burton and Phillimore acted in the mainpiece at dl and in the afterpiece at the hay.

Event Comment: [Adams was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin; Mrs Henry's 1st appearance on the stage was at cg, 25 Jan. 1788.

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; P 2(?), by Ralph Wewitzer and --Invill]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenery designed and painted by Rooker. The Music by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs (T. Cadell [1788]) to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, ascribed variously to John O'Keeffe and to James Foord; adapted from La Gageure Imprevue, by Michel Jean Sedaine. Text prints a Prologue "Supposed to be written by G. Colman, Esq., and intended to be spoken by Bannister Jun.," but "it arrived, by accident, too late at the theatre to be studied and recited" (London Chronicle, 25 Aug.)]. "A new afterpiece was...attempted to be represented, [but] it was not heard out" (Public Advertiser, 19 Aug.). Public Advertiser, 8 Oct. 1788: This Day is published A Key to the Lock (1s.)

Event Comment: [Mrs Farmer, whose 1st appearance on the stage was at this theatre on 29 Aug. 1787, and Mrs Westray are both identified in European Magazine, Sept. 1788, p. 218.

Event Comment: Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5.30. To begin at 6:30 [see 3 Nov.]. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] Afterpiece: To conclude with a Grand Representation of Regattav. Kemble Mem.: No Manager [i.e. King had resigned as acting manager; but see 23 Sept.]. Ivory Tickets introduced. [These tickets, also called "bones," were for the use of actors and other members of the company in gaining admission for themselves or their friends to the front of the house. They replaced paper orders (World, 18 Oct. 1788).] Receipts: #112 3s. 6d. (75.6.0; 35.10.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 3 Nov.]. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] No Money to be returned. Receipts: #294 0s. 6d. (292.12.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: On Account of the Numerous Complaints which have been made by the Frequenters of the Theatre, of the Interruption given to the Performances by the Persons insisting on having the Doors of the Boxes or the Pit opened after the House is apparently filled, and also to prevent many other Inconveniences to the Audience, the Public are requested to observe that No Money received can be returned at any of the Offices. [Throughout the season the playbills carry the notice: "No money to be returned."] Hamlet [advertised in Public Advertiser, 15 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of the Indisposition of Kemble. Receipts: #109 18s. 6d. (71.17.0; 37.3.6; 0.18.0)

Event Comment: On Account of the numerous Complaints [etc., exactly as on dl playbill, 16 Sept.] [Mr and Mrs Duncan were from the Chester theatre.] Receipts: #193 10s. 6d. (190.11.6; 2.19.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I a Masquerade Scene incident to the Play. [This was included in all subsequent performances. Middleton was from the Bath theatre.] Paid Music 19th Inst. #8 6s. 6d.; Properties 6s. 10d.; Kettle Drum 5s.; Wardrobe 19s. 6d.; Supernumeraries #1 15s.; Chorus Singers #1 10s.; Cox for Sceneman #32 7s. 5d.; Hodgins [scene painter] #4 4s. Receipts: #304 13s. (302.18; 1.15)