Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; D 3, by Henry Neuman, based on Der Opfertod, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Text (R. Phillips, 1799) assigns no parts]. 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 taken of Rice, at the Theatre. The Theatre, since the last Season, has been newly Decorated. [Beginning with 19 June the playbill: Printed by T. Woodfall, Drury Lane; on 4 Sept.: No. 104, Drury Lane.] Morning Chronicle, 27 June 1799: This Day is published Family Distress (2s.). Gentleman's Magazine, May 1800, pp. 406-8, prints a letter from "J. B." in which strong exception is taken to Kotzebue in general, and this play in particular. "Theatrical entertainments have an extensive influence upon the manners of Society. When well regulated, and the pieces for representation well selected both as to matter and manner, they may be esteemed friendly to morality, and improvers of public taste. But what shall we say when both these ends are disregarded; when moral virtue is banished from the scene, and purity of taste is destroyed by affected language and pantomimical decorations? Improvements in almost every art and science have been within a few years, rapid and important. But that is not the case with the stage; nor can it be, while Kotzebue and his friends usurp the venerable boards of Shakespeare." The writer then, in sarcastic terms, outlines the plot of Family Distress. [Pope and Miss Chapman were both from cg.

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Arne

Event Comment: At the Desire of Tomo Chachi, Micho or King of the Indians of Yamacrow, Benauki his Wife, Tooanahowi his Nephew, and the rest of the Indians. Receipts: #230. [Apparently a benefit for Arne.]

Event Comment: Benefit Este and Wright. Mainpiece: Written by Mr Farquhar. [Tickets for Cross, Raftor, and Arne taken.]

Event Comment: By particular Desire. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. [Colin and Phebe written by Moore and composed by Arne. Constantly encored all summer at Vauxhall (Burney, History of Music IV, 668).

Event Comment: Benefit of Mr Arne (Farce much hiss'd) (Cross). Last time of performing the afterpiece. Mr Arne hopes his Friends will excuse his not waiting on them, the Notice of his Benefit being too short. Receipts: #82 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Falkner. Charges #60. Deficit to Miss Falkner #15 3s., covered by #62 10s. from tickets. Afterpiece: A musical Entertainment (Not acted these 10 years) set to music by Mr Arne. [See 5 and 25 April.] Receipts: #44 17s

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Arne. Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Being the last time of acting it this season

Event Comment: [Not performed.] Last Night ththe new English Opera of Eliza was suppressed by an Order from superior Power, by which Means many Persons of Taste were deprived of a very elegant Entertainment, as it was universally acknowledg'd that this musical Performance was very extraordinary Merit, being a sensible Composition, calculated to convey the liveliest Ideas to the Fancy, and to awaken the Passions of very feeling Heart. It is said, that instigated by this Disappointment, Mr Arne will apply to P-t for a Bill to unnaturalize him, that he may then have the Privileges of an Englishman, as well as any Foreigner of them all (Gray's Inn Journal No 37, 8 June)