Event Comment: [The playbill states that Elliston was appearing "by Permission of the Manager of the Theatre Royal Bath, and for the Last Time." But see 12 Oct.] Receipts: #207 18s. 6d. (197.11.6; 10.7.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I a Grand Masquerade. [For Miss Allingham see 13, 18 Oct.] Receipts: #172 7s. (170.10; 1.17)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time: CO 3, by Joseph George Holman. Text: George Cawthorn, 1796]: The new Music composed by Shield. The Selections from Gretry, Giornovichi, Jackson, and Mahon. The new Scenery painted by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Oracle, 7 Dec. 1796: Tomorrow will be published Abroad and at Home (2s.). Receipts: #220 9s. (219.2; 1.7)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [1st piece in place of A Cure for the Heart Ache, advertised on playbill of 18 Feb.] Receipts: #484 19s. (478.13; 6.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Holman. 1st piece [1st time; C 5, by Benjamin Hoadly, based partly on L'Ecole des Femmes, by Moliere. Larpent MS 1160; not published. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by Edward Jerningham (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 342)]: Mr Holman having been favored by the Family of Doctor Hoadly, Author of the Suspicious Husband, with a Manuscript Comedy in Five Acts, the production of that celebrated Writer, he most respectfully informs the Public that it will be presented under the Title of The Tatlers. True Briton, 1 May: The Play was given to Holman by Dr Hoadly Ashe, Hoadly's nephew. Ibid, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Holman, No. 14, John-street, Adelphi. Account-Book: Paid Insurance and Duty on #10,000 for one year from 16th Inst. at the Royal Exchange Fire Office #136 17s; ditto on #10,000 for one year from Lady Day at the Phoenix Fire Office #112 10s. Receipts: #290 11s. 6d. (143.16.0; 10.11.6; tickets: 136.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. 1st piece: Never acted in this Theatre. [Prologue by George Colman, elder. Monologue by Hester Lynch Piozzi (European Magazine, May 1797, p. 343).] True Briton, 12 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 49, Great Marlborough-street. "The scenery destroyed much of the effect of the tragedy; for the characters are supposed to be 'steeped in poverty to the very lips;' and yet their apartments would have become a family in the meridian of wealth and prosperity. Mrs Siddons was also too well dressed for Mrs Wilmot" (Monthly Mirror, May 1797, p. 308). "In the scene in which [Mrs Siddons's] son having put into her hands a casket to keep, and she having touched a spring it opens and she sees jewels, her husband (Kemble) enters, and in despair exclaims, 'Where shall we get bread?' With her eyes fixed on the jewels, she runs to him, knocks the casket against her breast and exclaims, 'Here! Here!' In Mrs Siddons's tone and in her look there was an anticipation of the murder which was to take place" (Robinson, I, 39). Receipts: #618 2s. (386.8.6; 43.19.0; 2.4.0; tickets: 185.10.6) (charge: #211 1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Leak. 3rd piece [1st time: BO 2, author unknown. Larpent MS 1170; not published]: The Overture and Musick entirely new, by Dr Arnold, Composer to His Majesty. True Briton, 20 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Leak, Upper Mews-Gate, Castle-street, Leicester-Fields. Receipts: #364 6s. 6d. (65.9.0; 59.13.0; 2.6.0; tickets: 236.18.6; (charge: #213 10s. 2d.)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time: C 5, by George Colman ynger. Prologue by the Hon Francis North (see text, which also gives the names of the speakers of both Prologue and Epilogue). Epilogue by the author (London Chronicle, 18 July)]. "The force and feeling which [Aickin] gave to the amiable character of Stedfast-a character, indeed, strongly resembling his own for many bearing, probity and truth-must, we are persuaded, [make] a strong, indelible impression on the minds of all as have had an opportunity of witnessing his performance of that part" (+Dramatic Censor, III, 3)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Abington's 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her former Beatrice was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating performance; but her Beatrice of this night was, for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I incidental to the Tragedy, a Grand Masquerade. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] Afterpiece: With the Fantoccini, as 30 Oct. ["In the late performance of this play at Covent Garden theatre, we perceive that this objection [i.e. Romeo and Juliet in III. v standing on the stage] is removed; the principal part of the scene is spoken from a balcony...The grand funeral dirge is introduced with magnificence and ostentation. A long procession of monks, friars, &c., accompanied with music, is made to passover the stage. But what end is all this farce and shew to answer?...We must rather laugh at so much pomp and expence bestowed on Juliet. If there is any distress stirring, the candle-snuffers and scene-shifters, who assist as chief mourners, have it all to themselves" (Monthly Mirror, Nov. 1797, p. 293). Receipts: #197 3s. 6d. (193.5.6; 3.18.0)