Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1150; not published]: With new Dresses and Decorations. The Overture and Musick new by W. Linley. Receipts: #245 13s. 6d. (196.9.6; 45.19.0; 3.5.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 15th [recte 14th] Time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. With new Dresses, Scenes, Machinery and Decorations. The Music partly from Cimarosa, Gluck, Martin y Soler?, Reeve, Dr Arne. The rest by Shield. The Chorusses selected from Handel, to be sung by the Performers from the Concert of Ancient Music. [Miss Williams was from the Exeter theatre.] Receipts: #137 1s. 6d. (133.7.0; 3.14.6)

Event Comment: As alter'd by Mr Dryden and Sir William Davenant from Shakespeare

Event Comment: [By John Williams] At Mr Penkethman's Theatre. Benefit Author. At 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones. Tickets deliver'd for The Maid of the Mill will be taken. The vocal performers continuing too ill to appear in the Maid of the Mill, the Managers have kindly indulged Mr Legg, Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones with the above tragedy. Charges #70. Deficit to Legg #7 8s. 6d.; to Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones #7 6d., covered by income from tickets: Legg #58 (Box 73; Pit 161; Gallery 156); Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones #47 15s. (Box 72; Pit 117; GAllery 122) (Account Book). Receipts: #55 3s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Legg, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones, Miss Besford. Charges #66 1s. Deficit apportioned as follows: Legg #2 15s.; Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #1 7s. 6d.; Miss Besford #1 7s. 6d. It was cover'd by income from tickets (Account Book). @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value@Legg 107 171 163 #68 11s.@Mrs Lampe & Mrs Jones 89 110 #49 17s.@Miss Besford 29 57 85 #24 6s.@ Receipts: #60 11s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lampe, Mrs Jones, Redman, and Harris. Doors open at half past 5. To Begin at half past 6. Charges #65 3s. Deficit Mrs Lampe & Mrs Jones at 1 1!2, #8 16s. 7 1!2d.; to Redman at 1, #5 17s. 9d., to Harris at 1 1!2, #8 16s. 7 1!2d., cover'd by income from tickets: Mrs Lampe and Mrs Jones combined #66 3s. (Box 144; Pit 135; Gallery 99); Redman #24 9s. (Box 27; Pit 68; Gallery 75); To Harris, #50 10s. (Box 141; Pit 71; Gallery 46). Receipts: #41 12s. (Account Book)