Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; F 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 944; not published]. 3rd piece: Not acted these 15 years. In Act II a Grand Review of Bayes's Troops, with a Sham Battle of Horse and Foot [for which see dl, 13 Dec. 1777]. 4th piece [1st time; M. INT 1, author unknown. Larpent MS 946; not published]: With a New Overture. Morning Herald, 6 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Wilson, Park-lane, Church-lane, Chelsea

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. 1st piece: Not acted these 20 years; altered from Dryden (by Joseph George Holman (Not. Dram.)]. 2nd piece [Ist time; M.INT 1, probably by John Cartwright Cross. MS: Larpent 1028; not published]. 3rd piece: In which an Engagement between an English and a French Man of War, a Shipwreck, and a Grand Military Procession as it pass'd, when the French Colours taken by the British Army were conveyed from St. James's to St. Paul's Cathedral [on 17 May 1794]. The above Procession is represented by Moving Figures, in which the Horse and Foot Guards, the Band of Music, the French Colours, &c. are seen to pass in the exact order they appeared on that memorable occasion. Morning Herald, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #293 2s. 6d. (112/17/6; 14/2/0; tickets: 166/3/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Middleton. [1st piece in place of NAPLES BAY, advertised on playbill of 27 May.] 3rd piece [1st time; MD 3, by Henry Siddons. Author of Prologue unknown]: Taken from the Sicilian Romance of the Author of the Romance of the Forest [Ann Radcliffe}. Overture and Music entirely new by Reeve. Morning Herald, 6 June 1794: This Day is published THE SICILIAN ROMANCE (1s.) [In 3rd piece the playbill lists Incledon, but "an apology was made on account of Incledon's indisposition, whose character in the After-piece was well supported by Townsend" (Thespian Magazine, July 1794, p. 281).] Morning Herald, 22 May: Tickets to be had of Middleton at Vint's, perfumer, No. 3, Tavistock-row, CoventGarden. Receipts: #203 13s. 6d. (92/14/0; 9/3/0; tickets: 101/16/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Atkins, 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]: To conclude with the Storming the City of Acre, as 7 May. Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Atkins, No. 31, Bow-street, opposite the Box Door. Receipts: #236 13s. 6d. (94.17.0; 11.17.0; tickets: 129.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jackson. Mainpiece [1st time in London; T 5, by John Jackson, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 13 Jan. 1777, as Gerilda. Larpent MS 448, which also lists the following unassigned parts: Halard, Bragances, Setoc, Bruno, Grindal, Clara. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]. [Robinson, who is identified in Morning Chronicle, 6 May, was from the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] Account-Book, 4 May: Paid Hull in lieu of a Benefit #100. Public Advertiser, 18 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jackson, Great Piazza, Covent Garden. Receipts: #188 15s. 6d. (99.19.6; tickets: 88.16.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham. Larpent MS 772; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 3 May. Prologue by George Monck Berkeley (European Magazine, June 1787, p. 411)]. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 417, Strand. Receipts: #257 3s. 6d. (160.4.6; 5.7.0; tickets: 91.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Mainpiece [1st time: C 5, by Simon. Prologue by John Henniker (Town and Country Magazine, June 1791, p. 281). Larpent MS 906; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Post, 11 May]. "Scarcely [any] performer in the piece thought it worth while to charge their memories with words, that they would wish afterwards, if they had, to forget as fast as possible...The imitations were some tolerably true, and a few excellent. Siddons and Storace were outrageous caricatures. Mrs Wells once came infinitely nearer the former. She is now deficient in tone and emphasis--all is shiver and sob. Mrs Crawford, Mrs Jordan and Mrs Abington were worthy her talents in the mimetic art" (Oracle, 11 May). Public Advertiser, 27 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 12, Weymouth-street, Portland-place. Receipts: #313 3s. (148.15; 8.7; tickets: 156.1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. Receipts: #242 4s. (237.16; 4.8)

Event Comment: A Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Rome, 1766]); the music partly by Sarti and partly [i.e. with additions] by Paisiello. 2nd ballet: With entire new scenes by Degotti and executed by himself and Marinari. "The dresses [in this ballet] are said to be after designs from David; the costume is correct, perhaps, but it may be a little softened without injury to the effect. The contrast of colours is in some of them too harsh...The scenery is in a new stile. It has been our taste to assist the perspective by contracting the stage to a point. This was but a clumsy method, as the illusion was rarely complete, and it gave the idea of littleness. In this instance the stage is thrown open on every side, and the perspective is managed as every painter is obliged to manage it, on the broad surface, but still with the mechanic aids which scenery affords. The effect was enchanting" (Morning Chronicle, 30 Nov.). The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout season]. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Subscribers are most earnestly entreated to observe that, on account of the abuses frequently practised in their names, it has become absolutely necessary to adopt the former rule for Subscribers themselves to produce their Tickets at the doors as they pass into the Theatre. The Upper Boxes to be lett by the night, at one Guinea each for four persons. The way to them through the Gallery Staircase

Event Comment: Benefit for Waldron and Mrs Greville. Farce (in 2 Acts) Never performed before, and for that night only. This Farce was written by Mr Waldron-Some Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Mr Wegg's rent half year to Lady Day last #57; Duke of Bedford ditto #164 2s. 10d.; One yrs Paving, Cleansing & Lighting to ditto #39 7s. 6d.; Mr Moody for Mr Philips #13 13s.; St Martin's Charity School, 1 year, 1774 #2 2s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine for May gives the following cast for the farce: Reuben-$Waldron; Blunt-$Moody; Sharp-$Dodd; Flimsy-$LeMash; Joseph-$Burton; Mrs Reuben-$Mrs Davies; Betty-$Miss Platt. It then bluntly tells the plot and concludes: "The whole is beneath criticism."

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Duke, and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, and Louisa. Rylands MS.: Garrick Play'd, Duke Attended. Died 31 July, aged 77, Ben Johnson (Winston MS. from Burney's Actors MSS). [See benefit for his daughter 15 Dec.] Receipts: #171

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Desire. Mr Ross Castalio --well. Barry & Mrs Cibber, play'd Romeo & Juliet this Night a C. Garden (Cross). [Inspector No 187 appeared with comments on Ross and further ones on Mossop as actors (Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette).] Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: "The new Mungo, like all country bred actors, did too much for the part, and was infinitely too redundant in his action" (Morning Chronicle, 13 Oct.). Receipts: #189 6s.(155.19; 33.4; 0.3)

Event Comment: [Henderson had 1st acted Macbeth in London at dl, 31 Mar. 1778.] "We have often remonstrated against the incongruous stile of dressing plays at each theatre...Last night the modern custom of making the principal actor fine was followed without any regard to propriety, or any care about the other personages of the drama" (Morning Chronicle, 19 Oct.). Receipts: #249 10s. 6d. (248.6.0; 1.4.6)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. It is not certain that this play was given at this time, but Vanbrugh, writing on 25 Dec. 1699, states that Thomas Dogget, who had been acting in Norwich, was in London "last Week," and acted six times, presumably on 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Dec. 1699. The Amorous Widow is a likely play for this week, as Barnaby Brittle was one of Dogget's best roles. In addition, the Inner Temple, which usually requested popular plays, selected it for its revels on 3 Feb. 1699@1700. Nearly all the individuals in the cast in the 1710 edition acted in London during this season, with two exceptions: Fieldhouse and Mrs Hunt. Their roles may have been played by them or by other performers if they were not in the company at this time. I owe the suggestion that this was the play in which Dogget appeared to Professor Lucyle Hook

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 30 March 1761.] Part of Pit will be laid into Boxes. Ladies desired to send servants to keep places by 3 o'clock. That there may be no interruption in the Performance, Mrs Cibber begs leave to assure those Ladies and Gentlemen who shall please to honour her with their company, that there will be no Building upon the Stage, nor any admittance behind the scenes

Event Comment: MMiss Cheney Rose for the 1st time (Hopkins). Mainpiece: Not Acted these 4 Years. [See 21 May 1760.] Receipts: #217 7s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 22 May 1766.] [Neville was present at 4:15 in the pit. Liked the performance of all parts, save that King's figure not as suited to the part of Bobadill as Woodward's, "of whom I think I ceuld perceive an imitation."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not performed these 2 years. [see 21 May 1767.] Paid Younger for a license for Tom Jones #2 2s. (Account Book). Receipts: #132 16s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 26 May 1773.

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild. 2nd piece: In 3 Acts. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by Leonard Macnally. Larpent MS 778; not published; composer of music unknown]. Morning Herald, 22 May: "[The Cantabs] was not heard out by the audience, nor can we differ from the verdict, as it possessed little to entertain, and less to interest." Receipts: #222 16s. 6d. (113.8.0; 7.6.6; tickets: 102.2.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [acted 21 Jan. 1789. Mrs Esten has 1st acted Belvidera at Bath in the season of 1786-87]. Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT 2, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 883; not published. Prologue by John Taylor (his Taylor, Poems, I, 43). Rees' 1st appearance at this theatre was on 14 May 1788]: The Overture and the whole of the Music by Dibdin. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Most of these songs had originally appeared in Dibdin's "table entertainment," The Oddities, 1st performed at the Lyceum, 7 Dec. 1789.] Receipts: #244 18s. 6d. (234.8.0; 10.10.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [acted 21 Jan. 1789. Mrs Esten has 1st acted Belvidera at Bath in the season of 1786-87]. Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT 2, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 883; not published. Prologue by John Taylor (his Taylor, Poems, I, 43). Rees' 1st appearance at this theatre was on 14 May 1788]: The Overture and the whole of the Music by Dibdin. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [Most of these songs had originally appeared in Dibdin's "table entertainment," The Oddities, 1st performed at the Lyceum, 7 Dec. 1789.] Receipts: #244 18s. 6d. (234.8.0; 10.10.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. 1st printed as above. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]. Receipts: #159 17s. (151.10; 8.7)

Event Comment: PPhillips and Yeates' Booth, opposite Hospital Gate, West Smithfield, during the time of bf. Boxes, 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. There is an extraordinary Band of Music promis'd. [Notice repeated 26 Aug.