Event Comment: [First two pieces in place of The Regent, advertised on playbill of 18 Feb.] The Publick are most repectfully informed that on account of Mrs Siddons's illness The Regent cannot be acted this evening, and that the Performances will be [as above]. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 1111; not published]: Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #398 8s. 6d. (275.5.6; 115.14.6; 7.8.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 3, by George Colman, ynger]: The Scenery and Dresses are entirely new. The Musick composed by Storace.The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood and Capon [the Gothic library was painted by Capon (Oracle, 21 Mar. 1796)]. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [When Colman published his play he prefaced it with an acrimonious attack on Kemble, in which he accused him of deliberately trying to make the play a failure. But almost without exception the contemporary reviews excused Kemble's performance on the grounds of his obvious indisposition, and agreed that the play itself was unsatisfactory. "The play failed, and we are sorry to say did not merit to succeed...Kemble, who was tormented With an incessant cough, said he could not but be sensible that much of the displeasure of the house proceeded from his deficiency in a principal character...The whole audience with one voice cried out, 'No, no, Kemble-it is not your fault'" (Oracle, 14 Mar.). "The dialogue is extremely heavy, and there is little or no incident to relieve the tedium of more than four hours representation...Sir Edward Mortimer is a being distracted, with no adequate cause; a prey to remorse, which he of all men was the last to feel from the principles that make up his being. This therefore is the radical moral defect of the piece. But there is another which, though not equally strong, is equally fatal: there is no progression of interest, there is no involution of plot, there is no development of character" (Star, 14 Mar.). Other notices of the opening night were much in the same vein. Subsequently Colman revised the play, and it held the stage for many years. "The curtailments which have been made shorten the representation near an hour and a half, and the alterations are many and judicious" (Morning Herald, 21 Mar. 1796). Morning Herald, 23 July 1796: This Day is published The Iron Chest (2s.). Receipts: #471 9s. (468.13; 2.16)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, author unknown]: The Pantomime partly new and partly compiled. The principal parts of the Compilation from The Choice of Harlequin, The Magic Cavern, The Enchanted Castle, The Sylphs, and The Sorcerer. The Music compiled from, and composed by, Michael Arne, Shield, J. C.? Bach, Spofforth, &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations are partly new, and the rest completely repaired by Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Dances composed by Byrn. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #274 14s. 6d. (254.13.0; 20.1.6)

Event Comment: A New Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Florence, 1793, as La Confusione nata dalla Somiglianza; ossiano, I Due Gobbi]); the music by Portogallo. [Viganoni had 1st appeared at the former king's Theatre throughout the seasons of 1781-82 and 1782-83.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. 1st piece [1st time: C 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered by him from his The Toy]. [2nd piece in place of The Irish Mimick, advertised on playbill of 17 Mar.] Oracle, 15 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, No. 6, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #384 18s. (272.4; 12.8; tickets: 100.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe. Altered by the author the following season as The Wicklow Mountains. Dross not listed in Airs, but it is the only other character in Larpent MS 1117]: With new Scenery, Music, and Dresses. The Music partly compiled, and the Overture, new Music, and the Accompanyments to the National Airs, composed by Shield.The Union Pipes and the Harp to be played by Topham and Weippert. The Scenes painted by Richards, Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore and assistants. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #215 (210.18; 4.2)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Martyr. 3rd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, by John Cartwright Cross. Larpent MS 1124; not published]: Founded on the recent and glorious Achievement, at the above French Fort, of Sir Sydney Smith. [On 17 Mar. 1796 a force under Sir William Sydney Smith had destroyed six French vessels in the Bay of Herqui.] To conclude with the British striking the French Colours on the Fort, burning their Corvettes in the Harbour. The new Music by Shield. Oracle, 29 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Martyr at her house, No. 16, Martlett-court, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #384 11s. 6d. (192.14.0; 10.1.0; tickets: 181.16.6)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera; 1st Time [in London; 1st performed at Naples, 1787]. The Music by Paisiello

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Sophia Lee. Prologue and Epilogue by Harriet Lee (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. Receipts: #252 8s. (182.5; 68.8; 1.15)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by John O'Keeffe. Author of Prologue unknown]. Receipts: #168 16s. (158.5.6; 10.10.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Mainpiece: In Act II a Masquerade Scene. [Author of Epilogue unknown.] Oracle, II Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #658 19s. 6d. (319.0.0; 46.8.0; 1.17.0; tickets: 284.4.0; odd money: 7.10.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett 1st piece: By permission of G. Colman, Esq. Never performed at that Theatre. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, with universal Applause. With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. Written by the Author of The Way to Get Married [Thomas Morton]. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. Oracle, 8 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Fawcett at his house, No. 9, Tottenham-Court-Road, opposite Howland-street. Receipts: #507 9s. 6d. (185.7.6; 10.0.0; tickets: 312.2.0)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; by Lorenzo DaPonte]; the music entirely new, composed here by Bianchi. With Chorusses and new Scenery, Decorations and Dresses

Event Comment: Benefit for Caulfield, Phillimore & Johnston. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. 3rd piece: Not acted these 5 years. To conclude with a superb Prospect of the Infernal Regions, and a Rain of Fire. Morning Herald, 4 June: Tickets to be had of Caulfield, No. 2, William-street, Adelphi [others not listed]. Receipts: #122 17s. (55.17.0; 51.16.6; 5.9.6; tickets: none listed; odd money: 9.14.0) (charge: #211 8s. 2d.)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Fund, established for the Relief of those Performers who, through Infirmity, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. The Theatrical Fund was established in 1765, under the auspices of the late Mr Beard and Mrs Rich; and received the sanction of Parliament in 1776. There are now, and have been for more than 20 years, several Annuitants supported by it, chiefly families and widows. Yet notwithstanding it has been so long set on foot, the interest arising from the Funded Capital has never been equal to defraying one half of the annual disbursements. The deficiencies have been continually supplied by progressive weekly contributions from the performers. When this is considered, it is respectfully presumed the generosity of a British Public will be exerted this night in favour of so liberal and beneficial an institution. Thomas Hull, Treasurer. Tickets to be had of Hull, Treasurer to the Institution, No. 7, Duke's-Court, near Dean's Yard, Westminster. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by George Brewer]: The Musick by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald; 6 July 1796: This Day is published Bannian Day (1s.). 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 evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Caulfield, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Miss Leak, Miss Heard

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera [1st time; COM 2, by Lorenzo Da Ponte]; the music entirely new by Mazzinghi

Event Comment: [Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Appleby, Bennett, Calkin, Chumbley, Caton, Cawston, Dale Jun.; Fosbrook (door-keeper), Gray, Faux, Humphries, Hough, Massingham Sen., Massingham Jun., Pilsbury, Perry, Powell, Ross, Thompson, Tice, Waterer will be admitted.] The Last Time of the Company's Performing this Season. Receipts: #106 16s. (59.1.0; 28.6.6; 11.18.6; tickets: none listed; odd money: 7.10.0)

Event Comment: "Though not equal to Macklin [Palmer, whose 1st appearance as Shylock was at Liverpool, 2 July 1773] was respectable. He differed from the usual readings in some parts, particularly in the following: 'Many a time-and oft On the Rialto-you have rated me, &c.' This is certainly better...by uniting the oft with the Rialto, which is the most public place in Venice, it gives the observation additional force" (Monthly Magazine, June 1796, p. 408)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; D 3, by John O'Keeffe. Prologue by John Taylor Poems, I, 61]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c