Event Comment: "Among other Obligations that the Town has to the new Open is that it has, for this year, delivered the Play-goer from his periodical Endurance of Rowe's Tamerlane" (Public Advertiser, 6 Nov.). The reference is to the long established custom of performing Tamerlane either on 4 Nov. (the date of William III's birth) or 5 Nov. (the date of his landing in England). In the play the virtuous Tamerlane was held to be the portrait of an upright monarch, and the vicious Bajazet [i.e. Louis xiv] as that monarch's enemy. At DL Tamerlane was acted on either or both of these nights uninterruptedly from 1716 to 1777; at LIF and CG, with the exception of five seasons, from 1721 to 1784. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 1 May 1783]. Receipts: #155 2s. 6d. (153/4/0; 1/18/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, author unknown. MS not in Larpent; synopsis of action in Public Advertiser, 8 and 9 Jan.]: With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. To conclude with a Representation of the Repulse of the Spaniards before the Rock of Gibraltar [on 13 Sept. 1782; this was included in all subsequent performances]. The Music partly new [by William Shield, with overture by Carl Friedrich Baumgarten] and partly compiled from the best Masters. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Books of the Pantomime to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 4 June: Paid the Author of Harlequin Junior a Compliment on the Success #30. Receipts: #261 5s. 6d. (257/10/0; 3/8/0; tickets not come in: 0/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Wellman. Tickets to be had of Mr and Mrs Wellman, No. 20, and of Williams, Hair-Dresser, Dorville's Row

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ferdinand to Johnstone, but "The sudden illness of Johnstone gave much dissatisfaction, though Cubitt did all in his power to supply his place" (Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1785, p. 451). William Palmer was from the Norwich theatre; Meadows from the HAY.] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] The Alterations and Improvements in the Theatre this Season are made by Richards, and executed under his Superintendance by Catton and others. [Public Advertiser, 22 Sept., notes that these improvements consisted of the enlargement of the boxes, in which "the seats are formed into recesses which communicate with the other boxes"; all the pillars, "even those of iron in the back boxes [being] capped, cased, fluted and gilt"; the front of the boxes and galleries being newly painted a "warm lilac"; the back of the boxes being wainscotted and painted crimson.] Paid Charewomen for cleaning Theatre #13 0s. 6d. Receipts: #214 2s. 6d. (210/10/0; 3/12/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With a Procession of the Inhabitants of Otaheite, New Zealand, Tanna, Marquesas, the Friendly, Sandwich, and Easter Islands, Tschutzki, Siberia, Kamtschatka, Nootka Sound, Onalashka, Prince William's Sound, and the other Countries visited by Captain Cook, exactly representing their Dresses and Weapons. Receipts: #237 19s. (231/16; 6/3)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Brunton. Mainpiece [1st time in London; T 5, by Frederick Reynolds, 1st acted at Bath, 3 Dec. 1785. In 1795 reduced to 3 acts. Prologue and Epilogue by William Meyler (Town and Country Magazine, Apr. 1786, p. 215]. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Morning Chronicle, 17 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Miss Brunton, No. 5, George-street, York-buildings. Receipts: #350 17s. 6d. (210/11/0; 3/1/6; tickets: 137/5/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. 2nd piece [1st time; F 2, by George Colman, elder, based of L'Avocat Patelin, by David Augustin de Brueys. This is usually ascribed to William Macready. But on the title-page of his copy (K-D 295 in Huntington Library) J. P. Kemble has written "This Piece was not written by Mr Macready." Public Advertiser, 29 Aug. states that "Colman...presented Edwin upon this occasion with a new Farce, taken from a celebrated French Play." World, 15 Oct. 1787 refers to Colman's dislike of L'Avocat Patelin, but adds, "When [he] came to translate it himself, he found reason to alter his opinion."]. Public Advertiser, 25 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Edwin, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (see text)]. @When first thy Tragedy I view'd@Where Sparta mourns her Lot severe;@I caught the Spartan Fortitude@And watch'd her Woes without a Tear.@ (William Parsons [not the actor], in Thraliana, II, 713.) Public Advertiser, 27 Feb. 1788: This Day is published The Fate of Sparta (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #203 15s. 6d. (171.13.0; 30.15.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by the Hon. John St.John. Prologue by William Fawkener.-Epilogue by the author (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 1 May 1789: This Day is published Mary Queen of Scots (1s. 6d.). [As afterpiece the playbill announces Who's the Dupe?, but it was not acted. Kemble Mem. lists the substitute play.] Receipts: #240 9s. (226.4.0; 13.8.6;0.16.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard (later) Sir Richard? Ford. Kemble Mem.: Altered by R. Ford from the Humourous Lieutenant. Epilogue by Henry William? Bunbury. Larpent MS 894; not published]: Altered from Beaumont and Fletcher (recte Fletcher alone). Oracle, 25 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan at her house, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #346 8s. 6d. (102.18.0; 13.5.0; 3.6.6; tickets: 226.19.0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild. 1st piece: Written originally by Shakspeare [see E. K. Chambers,@William@Shakespeare, 1930, I, 539-42], and revised by Theobald. Not acted these 26 years [acted 6 May 1767. Hoy is identified in Not. Dram.]. 2nd piece [1st time; P 1, by Mark Lonsdale; music by William Reeve. Not in Larpent MS; not published]: Being partly new, and partly selected from the much admired Pantomimes of the Rival Knights, Provocation, &c. &c. Oracle, 26 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 31, Long-Acre. Receipts: #188 15s. (47.5; 7.16; tickets: 133.14)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 5, by Thomas Morton. Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: The Scenes, principally new, designed and painted by Richards, Hodgins, Pugh, Walmsley, and assistants. With entire new Dresses and Decorations. "The management of the earthquake in which the Temple of the Sun is destroyed was a very fine piece of stage mechanism; the effect of which was considerably heightened by the improved performance of the Bold Thunder, and that also of his Electrical Harbinger. The gradations and cadences of the first were superior to anything of the kind we remember within the walls of the theatre...The scene of the rising sun was uncommonly dingy" (Public Advertiser, 3 Dec.). "Mr Morton in full for Columbus #214 10s. 6d." [MS annotation on BM playbill, 26 Dec. 1792 (cg, Vol. VIII)]. Morning Herald, 14 Dec. 1792: This day at noon will be published Columbus (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #301 8s

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by William Pearce. The Masque was produced in honor of the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, 8 April 1795]: The Overture composed expressly for the Occasion by Haydn, as is the rest of the Music by Salomon [and see 9 Apr.]. The Scenery, Machinery, Decorations and Dresses are entirely New, and Designed by Noverre, except St. George's Hall, painted by the late Signor Cipriani. The Scenery executed by Hodgins, Walmsley, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, and many Assistants. The Machinery and Decorations by Sloper. Goosetree and Martinelli. The Dresses by Lupino, Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "On the 10th [of April] I was at the Covent Garden Theatre-to see the big Spectacul [sic]-Windsor Castle, the music by Salomon quite passable. The decorations-costumes-scenery, and the enormous amount of people on the stage are exaggerated. All the Gods of Heaven and Hell, and everything that lives on the earth are in the piece" (Haydn, 299). Morning Chronicle, 7 May 1795: This Day is published Windsor Castle (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #266 8s. 6d. (250.12.6; 15.16.0)