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: Chronicle, 18 Jan., prints the Prologue "spoken on opening the Theatre," but does not state what was acted

Event Comment: [Mrs Jordan's 1st appearance as Miss Lucy was at the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 3 Nov. 1779.] Receipts: #237 8s. 6d. (192/13/0; 42/9/0; 2/4/0; ticket not come in: 0/2/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 10 years. [Mrs Brown was from the Norwich theatre.] Receipts: #200 11s. (198/17; 1/14)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 19 Feb. 1784]. Afterpiece: Written by the late Henry Fielding, Esq. [The playbill lists Edwin as Coupee, but "Brown, in consequence of the sudden illness of Edwin . . . [undertook] the part of Coupee" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Feb.). He was from the Norwich theatre.] Receipts: #291 10s. (286/14/6; 4/15/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2]: Written by the Author of The Poor Soldier [John O'Keeffe. Text 1st published in his Dramatic Works, Vol. IV (T. Woodfall, 1798)]. With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. The Airs partly compiled, the new Music, Overture, and all the Accompaniments composed by Shield. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 6 Apr.: Paid O'Keeffe in full for Love in a Camp #105. Receipts: #189 2s. 6d. (175/1/6; 14/1/0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by A Lady [unidentified], based partly on L'Amitie A l'epreuve, by Charles Simon Favart and Claude Henri de Fusee de Voisenon]: The Overture and the new Music composed by Hook. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 30 Mar. 1786: This Day at Noon is published The Peruvian (1s. 6d.). [The music was printed under the title of The Fair Peruvian (S. A. & P. Thompson [1786]), which was the original title as given in the MS (Larpent 727).] Receipts: #246 8s. (242/16/6; 3/11/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bannister. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Leonard Macnally, based on A Mad World, My Masters, by Thomas Middleton. MS: Larpent 729; not published. Introduction by the author (Town and Country Magazine, June 1786, p. 328]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre [composer unknown]. Morning Herald, 11 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bannister, No. 29, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #273 4s. 6d. (180/6/0; 7/9/6; tickets: 85/9/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece: Never performed at this Theatre. Receipts: #265 2s. (190/18/6; 8/12/6; tickets: 65/11/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett and the Widow Butler. Morning Chronicle, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Fawcett, Craven Buildings; of Mrs Butler, next door to the theatre. Receipts: #235 1s. (21/17/0; 16/16/6; 0/6/6; tickets: 196/1/0) (charge: #108 18s. 4d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs T. Kennedy. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Many Tickets of Mr Kennedy's having been stolen, he gives public Notice that no Tickets sold at the Doors or Avenues of the Theatre will have Admission this Evening. Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Kennedy, No. 44, Great Queen-street. Receipts: #108 4s. 6d. (41/1/6; 5/3/0; tickets: 62/0/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [Home, who was from the Bristol theatre, is identified in Morning Herald, 21 June.] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Elizabeth Inchbald, based on L'Heureuse Erreur, by Joseph Patrat. Prologue by Thomas Holcroft (see text)]. Morning Chronicle, 15 Aug. 1786: This Day is published The Widow's Vow (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent 743; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 14 Aug. The following season reduced to an afterpiece of 2 acts]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Overture, new Airs and Accompaniments by Dr Arnold. The Scenes painted by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: [A detailed account of all three pieces appears in Sophie v. la Roche, Sophie in London, 1933, pp. 93-95. The theatre is described as seeming "exceptionally small, but it is very prettily painted in blue and white; the boxes, as in Paris, are open and everything is well lit." In 3rd piece "A twelve-year-old girl dressed as a poor boy who walks around with a bundle of rushes, straw and reeds to patch up old chairs, then really sits down to work on one, sang and played unusually well; indeed, was obliged to give two encores; the third time, however, announced with dignity and candour that it would not be possible, and that she feared she might be unable to take her part the next day; which would grieve her excessively, as she liked having her modest talents appreciated and applauded. Everyone clapped and praised her aloud. She is beuatiful, and deserves to be the nation's darling, and will certainly become a great actress, competent to keep her voice, gesture and features in complete control, never using her talents wrongly or producing exaggerated effects."]

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 14 Nov.]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. In drinking health to the King at the supper table in the farce, Baddeley introduced very appositely an allusion to his Majesty's late fortunate escape [on 2 Aug., when Margaret Nicholson attempted to assassinate him], which was received with three plaudits" (London Chronicle, 19 Sept.). Receipts: #260 13s. (224.2; 36.6; 0.5)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 31 Dec. 1783. Pope had acted Beverley in Edinburgh in the summer of 1786 (Morning Post, 26 Sept.). The playbill assigns Stukeley to Aickin, but he "having had the misfortune to lose his wife, Stukeley was played by Inchbald" (Morning Chronicle, 26 Sept.), from the York theatre, 1st appearance on this stage (see 4 Oct.)]. Afterpiece: Never acted there. Paid Properties the 22nd Instant 6s. 8d.; Wardrobe #6 2s. 6d.; Guard [master carpenter] for Scenemen #10 18s. 6d.; Supernumeraries #4 7s. 6d. Receipts: #194 16s. (193.0.6; 1.15.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Leonard Macnally, adapted from the same, by Michel Jean Sedaine. Not in Larpent MS; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Chronicle, 17 Oct. For text of abridged version see 21 Oct.]: Taken from the celebrated French Opera of that Name. With the original Overture, Airs, Duetts, Trios, Chorusses and Finale, by the celebrated Gretry. To which are added Compositions by the following Masters; Anfossi, Bertoni, Duni, David, Rizzio, Carolan, Tenducci, and Shield. With new Dresses, Scenery and other Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [The printed score (Longman & Broderip, c. 1786) indicates that the music was adapted by Shield; it does not refer to Duni, Rizzio or Tenducci, but includes Philip Hayes and John Wilson. After the 1st 4 performances the mainpiece was reduced to an afterpiece of 3 short acts; see 21 Oct.] Account-Book, 28 Nov.: Paid Macnally in full for Coeur de Lion #121 18s. 6d. "Inchbald we thought [was] rather hardly dealt with. His voice happened to fail him in a particular turn of the tune he was singing, and some of the audience were ungenerous enough to disconcert him so far that he made a modest bow and retired [leaving his part unfinished. In consequence of this] a duet that was to have been sung by the King from the battlements of the castle, and Blondel without the walls, on which the turn of the fable hinged, was omitted; a circumstance that could not but materially affect the intrinterest, as it destroyed the connexion of the fable" (Morning Chronicle, 17 Oct.). [The following day Inchbald withdrew from his engagement at cg.] Receipts: #249 12s. 6d. (247.11.6; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by John Burgoyne]: From the French of Michel Jean? Sedaine. With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. The Music by the celebrated Gretry [adapted by Linley Sen.]; and the Paintings by Greenwood. Books of the Dialogue & also of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 25 Oct 1786: This Day is published Richard Coeur de Lion (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #226 (191.3; 32.14; 2.3)

Event Comment: [Ryder was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] "He has the merit of being very articulate-a merit valuable from its rarity" (Gazetteer, 26 Oct.). Receipts: #246 10. (243.15.6; 2.14.6)

Event Comment: The Lord Chamberlain sent an order, between four and five in the evening, to the two theatres to cease representing any plays, till after the funeral of the late Princess Amelia [daughter of George II; she died on 31 Oct.] (Morning Chronicle, 2 Nov.)

Event Comment: [Mrs Belfille was from the Norwich theatre.] Account-Book, 6 Dec.: Paid Mrs Belfille for a Stage Dress #21 10s. 6d. Afterpiece: Not acted these 15 years [acted 15 Jan. 1776]. The Doors will be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 30 Apr. 1787]. Receipts: #243 5s. 6d. (238.1.0; 5.4.6)

Event Comment: [This was Hooke's 1st appearance on the stage; King was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #252 7s. 6d. (251.13.0; 0.14.6)

Event Comment: Paid Danby [for] Chorus #9; Printer [of playbills] #14 6s. 6d. [Mrs McGeorge was from the Tunbridge Wells theatre.] Afterpiece: To conclude with a Grand Representation of a Regattav . "When [Mrs Siddons] begins a dialogue of scorn, at the top of her voice (as she did last night in the fifth act), the climax must inevitably be sacrificed" (Morning Chronicle, 7 Dec.). Receipts: #227 6s. (204.6.0; 22.4.6; 0.15.6)