Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted here these 6 years. Afterpiece: Taken from [the same, by Henry? Fielding, and prepared for the stage by the Author of Midas, &c. [Kane O'Hara; 1st time; BURL 2. Text 1st published by J. Barker [1805]]. With a new Overture, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture, Songs, Duets and Chorusses composed and compiled by J. Markordt. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre (on playbill of 10 Nov.). Account-Book, 1 Feb. 1781: Paid Mackordt [sic] for music of Tom Thumb #20. [Mrs Inchbald was from the York theatre. Master Edwin had spoken a Prologue at cg on 22 Apr. 1780.] Receipts: #152 1s. 6d. (149.2.0; 2.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Edwin. 3rd piece: First Time Here. Receipts: #200 14s. (152.2; tickets: 48.12) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Written by the Author of The Son-in-Law [John O'Keeffe]. The Overture and New Musick composed by Dr Arnold. "The same person who, in the play, performed the school-fellow of the Nabob with a great deal of nature, and original humour, here acted the part of the school-master; his name is Edwin, and he is, without doubt, one of the best actors of all that I have seen ... [He], in all his comic characters, still preserves something so inexpressibly good tempered in his countenance, that notwithstanding all his burlesques, and even grotesque buffoonery, you cannot but be pleased with him . . . Nothing could equal the tone and countenance of self-satisfaction, with which he answered one who asked him whether he was a scholar? 'Why, I was a master of scholars.' A Mrs Webb represented a cheesmonger, and played the part of a woman of the lower class, so naturally, as I have no where else ever seen equalled. Her huge, fat, and lusty carcase, and the whole of her external appearance seemed quite to be cut out for it" (Carl Philipp Moritz, Travels in England in 1782, London, 1924, pp. 73-74)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 18 Jan. 1782]. [In afterpiece the playbill retains Edwin, but "At the conclusion of the play an apology was made for Edwin's non-appearance, owing to indisposition, and Palmer and Meadows announced as his substitutes in the two songs in Omai" (Morning Post, 6 Feb.).] Receipts: #231 15s. (229/7; 2/8)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces the 5th night of The School for Arrogance (see 14 Feb.), but it was "set aside, on account of the indisposition of Johnstone, and The Provok'd Husband was the substitute, in which Holman and Mrs Esten represented the characters of Lord and Lady Townly." In afterpiece the playbill retains Johnstone as Edwin, but "Incledon warbled the airs allotted to the part of Edwin" (Diary, 14 Feb.).] Receipts: #205 1s. 6d. (195.16.6; 9.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham, with incidental music by Shield. MS not in Larpent; not published. Prologue by George Colman, the younger (European Magazine, May 1786, p. 370)]. "An old and established rule among the youth of Westminster [School will] not permit any exhibition on the stage reflecting upon their body ... In the second act Mrs Wells made her appearance in the dress of a Westminster scholar, when a general uproar [instigated by the scholars] took place, and the [rest of the] piece was prevented from being heard" (Town and Country Magazine, May 1786, p. 235). Public Advertiser, 8 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 188, Oxford-street. Receipts: #282 17s. (166/0/6; 21/19/6; tickets: 94/17/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent 608; not published. CG playbill of 16 Nov. 1795 has a detailed synopsis of the action]: Intermixed with Songs and Dialogue. With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, Machinery, and Decorations. The new Music composed by Shield. The new Scenes designed by Richards, and executed by Richards, Hodgins, and assistants. To conclude with a Representation of the Lord Mayor's Show on the Water. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. "As to the Pantomime it wanted nothing on the first Night but Abbreviations . . . [which should be] omission of the Doctors, the two Women of the Town, and the whole of Edwin's Character" (Public Advertiser, 27 Nov.). Gentleman's Magazine, Jan. 1783, pp. 29-31, contains a detailed synopsis of the procession, and adds, "The personages of this procession were all dressed in the characters of the time in which they lived, and before each of them a label, a scroll, or a pageant was carried, bearing their name, or some allusion of the poets to their occupation. The figures in transparency were all painted as large as the life, and had a most grand and beautiful effect . . . The idea of the paintings was furnished by Mr Richards and Mr Smirk [sic], and all of them executed by the latter in a style of so much taste and excellence that it is a matter of some wonder to us, where an artist of Mr Smirk's abilities has been so long concealed . . . The glee introduced with so much applause is the composition of the late Dr Rogers (who lived in 1600); the other airs in the pantomime and procession arc by Handel, Lord Kelly, Abel, Stamitz and Shield, and have very great merit. The expense of preparing this splendid spectacle must have been very great, and the cost of continuing its representation cannot be inconsiderable, since more than 200 supernumeraries are employed to walk in the procession." Receipts: #215 3s. (206/3; 9/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. [In mainpiece Squire Tally-ho is assigned to Edwin, and he is also listed as acting in the afterpiece, but "On the night of Mrs Mattocks' benefit [he] absented himself from the theatre, and at his next appearance [on 4 Apr.] was obliged to make an apology" (Town and Country Magazine, Apr. 1788, p. 188). Who substituted for him, in both pieces, has not come to light.] Receipts: #249 15s. (180.3.6; 4.7.6; tickets: 65.4.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. In consequence of Edwin's Indisposition, Bannister Jun. is obliged to undertake the character of Mrs Cole. Morning Chronicle, 19 July: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 29, Bow-street, Covent Garden. 1st piece [1st time; F I, author unknown, altered from The Walking Statue; or, The Devil in the Wine Cellar, by Aaron Hill. MS: Larpent 741; not published].3rd piece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 8 Sept. 1780]

Event Comment: Benefit Young Boman and Young Pervil, who lately acted the Part of Gomez in The Spanish Fryar. Admission as 21 May

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [Note repeated in subsequent bills. Larpent MS 337 casts the Prelude as follows: Manager-Younger; Author-$Kniveton; Carpenter-$Davis; Mr Reinhold-$Mr Lewes; Chairmen-$Saunders, $Fox">Dyer; Prompter-$Younger; Author-$Kniveton; Carpenter-$Davis; Mr Reinhold-$Mr Lewes; Chairmen-$Saunders, $Fox; Young Lady, her first appearance; servant.] Receipts: #199 5s

Event Comment: Benefit the Young Persons that perform the Play. Written by Mr Otway

Event Comment: Benefit for Younger. Tickets deliver'd by Bryan and Branson will be taken. Tickets sold at doors will not be admitted. Charges #65 15s. Balance to Younger #58 10s. plus income from tickets. Younger 70 129 159 #52 15s. Bryan 4 49 61 #14 9s. Branson 26 102 134 #35 4s.@Total ticket value #102 8s. (Account Book).@ Rec'd #20 a year improv'd rent of the houses in Bow St. and part of the effects of the late John Rich...#250. Receipts: #124 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Younger. Tickets deliver'd for Macbeth , by Branson and Miss Helme, will be taken. Mr Younger being oblig'd by Mr Powell's illness, to change his play of Macbeth to the above tragedy, humbly hopes for the Indulgence of his Friends and the Public in general. Charges #67 9s. Balance to Younger #18 3s. 6d. plus #48 9s. from tickets (Box 97; Pit 110; Gallery 77). [Branson and Miss Helme seem to have borne none of the charges and to have received full value for their tickets]: Branson #33 (Box 29; Pit 99; Gallery 109); Miss Helme #16 14s. (Box 1; Pit 63; Gallery 70). Receipts: #85 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mr Lacy a Proprietor of this Theatre made his first appearance upon the Stage in the part of Alexander. He is very Tall, & Thin, a good Voice but His Fright took away from it's power--he was rec'ed with Applause. Mr Garrick wrote a New Occasional Prologue to introduce him, which was Spoken by Mr King & rec'ed with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid 4 days list at #91 8s. 10d. per diem #365 15s. 4d.; Mr J. French on Acct #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine commented on Willoughby Lacy's performance (Oct. 1774): "His performance was far from answering the expectations we had been taught to form from a friend and pupil of our English Roscius. Indeed Mr Lacy is a very young man: therefore we ought not to draw the line of our expectation. His figure is at present lank, awkward, and unengaging; his voice distinctly powerful, but inharmonious; his action outre, vulgar and forced: his attitudes unnatural, affected and disgustful; and his delivery a continued rant, without proper change, a pleasing variety, or a just discrimination of the necessary difference of tone demanded by the different passions. These...capital defects...are not unsurmountable...The play was prefaced by a new Prologue, evidently the production of Mr Garrick. It had some humor and was well received. The purport of it was to beg favor for the hero of the evening, whom it compared to a young swimmer, who had tried to float in two shallow streams, and was now about to venture himself in the great deep. This image is certainly an apt one, though, it is no great compliment to the audiences of Norwich and Birmingham."] Receipts: #248 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Lampe and Miss Young. Mainpiece: At the Particular desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: By Desire. [Margery; or, A Worse Plague than the Dragon, by H. Carey, a sequel to Dragon of Wantley.] Tickets at stage door and at Mrs Lampe's and Miss Young's Lodgings, at the Golden Ball, in Brownlow St. Tickets deliver'd out for She Wou'd and She wou'd not will be taken for this play

Event Comment: Benefit for Marten and Miss Young. Charges #60. Deficit to each #14 3s. 9d., covered by income from tickets: Marten #62 17s.; Miss Young #57 2s. Advanced to Servandoni #5 5s. N.B. The Opera Rosamond cannot be performed on account of Miss Falkner's Indisposition. Receipts: #31 12s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Miles, Mrs Baker, Miss Young. Tickets delivered out by Miss Ferguson will be taken. Receipts: #7 15s. 4d. covered by income from tickets. @Tickets Miles Box 15@Pit 178@Gallery 62@Value #36 13s.@Tickets Mrs Baker Box 86@Pit 124@Gallery 67@Value #46 16s.@Tickets Miss Young Box 18@Pit 75@Gallery 80@Value #23 15s.@Tickets Miss Ferguson Box 9@Pit 57@Gallery 39@Value #14 14s.@Total Box 128@Pit 434@Gallery 248@Value #121 12s.@ Paid Rich on account #21. Paid Meares 3s. [The house is now running a deficit of #371.

Event Comment: Benefit for Collins, and Younger, Prompter. Receipts: #38 8s. plus income from tickets: Collins, #51 6s. (box 26; Pit 258; Gallery 161); Younger, #55 14s. (Box 50; Pit 152; Gallery 104) (Account Book). Charges: #63 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock. A Comic Opera, Never Perform'd [by Isaac Bickerstaffe]. The Scenes, Dresses and Dances entirely new (playbill). [The playbill does not assign parts. Assignment from Genest and Winston who both identify the Young Gentlewoman as Miss Brickler. The Music compiled from Favourite airs of the most celebrated composers." See note for 27 May relative to dances in this opera.] Receipts: #245 14s. (Account Book)