Event Comment: The School for Scandal [advertised on playbill of 22 Sept., as was No Song No Supper for 3rd piece], intended for this Evening's Representation, is deferred till Tuesday, the Stage having been so constantly occupied by the Workmen preparing and adapting the various Scenes for this Theatre that the usual course of Rehearsals has been necessarily impeded. The Public are most respectfully informed that every Endeavour is exerting to remove all cause of Complaints respecting the Entrances and Passages to the different Doors of Admission. The large Hall below Stairs will be opened at Five o'Clock, for the accomodation of the Company frequenting the Pit previous to the opening the Office Doors. Receipts: #347 4s. (303.19; 43.2; 0.3)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera; compsoed by Pietro Guglielmi; under the direction of Mazzinghi. Pit Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 precisely [see 14 Feb. 1792]. The Nobility and Gentry are intreated to give particular Orders to their Coachmen to set down and take up with their Horses' Heads towards Hyde Park. The Door in Blenheim Mews will be shut during the Performance and opened only for the Company to go in Chairs. Subscriptions are received at Messrs Ransom, Morland and Hammersly's, No. 57, Pall-mall. And the Nobility and Gentry are earnestly requested to send a complete List of the Subscribers to their respective Boxes as soon as possible, since (by express Orders) no Person, on any account, can be admitted without producing a proper Ticket

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Literary Fund. [In this performance the male parts were acted chiefly by amateurs; the female parts were acted by professionals. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Morris (Morning Herald, 17 Apr.).] The Committee for the Management of the Literary Fund respectfully inform the Public that affecting instabces of Merit in distress exceed their power of relief by the ordinary Subscription; and that they wish to have recourse to every honourable expedient to increase that power. The Admission will be by Tickets, at the Opera Prices. Boxes and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No more Company will be admitted than the House will hold with perfect convenience; and when the proper number of Tickets is issued, no means of admission can be obtained. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely. Registers: Thomas Dale, M. D.; Mr Deputy Nichols. Treasurers: Thomas Morris, Esq.; Mr E. Brooke. "In the course of the play we observed several restorations of Shakespeare's text, with some interpolations. The boldest of the latter was the introduction of Richard's son to him in the tent, the night befiredthedbefore the Battle of Bosworth field. This scene was borrowed, as we believe, from Thomas? Hull's Legendary Tale of Richard Plantagenet. It was well written, and produced a considerable degree of effect. The Ghosts were banished, and the start and stagger of Richard, heretofore the theatrical trick of the scene, necessarily omitted" (Diary, 17 Apr.)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Wells's last appearance as a regular member of the company of any London theatre.] Receipts: #290 11s. 6d

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the music by Cimarosa, under the direction of Federici. The music of both dances by Miller. With entirely new Dresses, Scenes and Decorations, both in the Theatre itself, and in the Representations. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No Money to be returned. The Subscribers are respectfully entreated to observe that they are to produce their Tickets at the doors. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout season, except on 15 May). The Ladies at the Head of the Boxes arc respectfully reminded that such Boxes as shall not be paid for at the opening of the Theatre become then vacant, and may be claimed by any of the old Subscribers. No one to be admitted behind the scenes. For the greater Safety of the Company in coming and going out of the Theatre Mr Townsend has taken charge of the Peace Officers, and will himself attend every night of Performance. [Morning Herald, 12 Jan., notes than the original gallery is now divided into two, a lower and an upper, and that the chief colors used in the repainting of the auditorium are blue, white and gold. Ibid, 13 Jan.: The scenes [in the opera], which were entirely new, have never been exceeded in splendour of general effect...One, representing the hall of an Italian villa, shews a ceiling designed like that of the theatre itself [which the same newspaper, 4 Jan., describes as being Apollo and the Muses, in a cove enriched with allegorical figures, flowers, and medals, in chiaroscuro].]

Event Comment: Benefit for Kent and Family. By Desire of Her Serene Highness, the Margravine of Anspach. Kent's most respectful Compliments waits on the Ladies and Gentlemen of Hammersmith, and its Vicinity, informs them that Mr Newman has kindly granted the Assembly Room for one or two Evenings; to accomodate Her Highness the Margravine and principal Inhabitants: Kent has spar'd neither trouble or expence to render it conveniant [sic] as possible, the Room itself being very respectable & the Entrance unexceptionable. He earnestly solicits the company of his Friends in general, assuring them that every endeavour will be exerted for their Entertainment; the Interest of every Lady & Gentleman will be ever most gratefully remember'd, as very highly contributing to Kent's extricating himself from a Situation obvious to all acquainted with the Expence he has been at, and the ill Success he has met with. To begin exactly at 6:30. Admittance 2s. Tickets to be had at the Winsor Castle, of Kent, and Miss Connard in Union Court, and of Miss Kent, at Mrs Bevias

Event Comment: [The last night of the season, but not so specified in the playbill. Further performances were planned; this playbill carries the advertisements for 10 Apr. But most of the actors in this HAY season were regular members of the DL company. They were, presumably, required for rehearsals for the opening of the new DL theatre on 21 Apr.]

Event Comment: Paid Oratorio Company #1,106 17s. Receipts: #415 15s. 6d. (411/11/0; tickets: 3/12/0; 0/12/6)

Event Comment: [A broadside bound with Kemble playbills, dated 10 May, repeats the statement found under 12 Mar. beginning "The Box Office, for the present," and adds: "Proper persons will announce to the Company in the Upper Saloons, and from thence to the Lobbies and Boxes, the Carriages and Chairs drawn up before the Colonnades."] Receipts: #376 4s. 6d. (315/8/6; 50/19/0; 8/1/0; tickets not come in: 1/16/0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: End of Act I an exact Representation of the Engagement between the British and French Fleets on the First of June [1794]. The whole to conclude with a Grand Fire-Work, in honour of Earl Howe. Ladies and Gentlemen are respectfully requested to give peremptory orders to their servants to set down with their Horses Heads towards Drury-Lane, and to take up with the Horses Heads towards Covent-Garden. No Carriage can be permitted to stop the way after proper Notice given to the Company. Powell: Glorious First of June rehearsed at 11. Miss DeCamp came 10 minutes beyond the Time, Dignum 15 minutes, Miss Leak 20 minutes. Receipts: #328 13s. 6d. (271.11.6; 56.2.6; 0.19.6)

Event Comment: king's "On 28th March 1795, I saw the Opera Aci & Galathea by Bianchi. The music is very rich in parts for the wind instruments, and I rather think one would hear the principal melody better if it were not so richly scored. The Opera is too long, especially since Banti has to keep everything going all by herself; for Brida is a good youngster with a beautiful voice but very little musical feeling; and Rovedino, and the good old Braghetti, and the wretched Seconda Donna-they all deserved, and received, not the least applause. The orchestra is larger this year, but just as mechanical and badly placed as it was before, and indiscreet in its accompaniments; in short, it was the 3rd time that this Opera was performed, and everyone was dissatisfied. It happened that, when the 2nd Ballet began, the whole public suddenly became dissatisfied and yelled 'off-off-off,' because they wanted to see the new Ballet which Madam Hilligsberg had given at her Benefice 2 days earlier. Everyone was embarrassed-there was an interval lasting half an hour-until at last a dancer came forward and said, very submissively: 'Ladies and Gentlemen: since the performer [sic, instead of proprietor] Mr Taylor cannot be found, the whole Ballet Company promises to perform the desired ballet next week, for which, however, the Impresario must pay Madam Hilligsberg #300.'That satisfied them, and they then yelled, 'go on-go on;' and thus the old Ballet was performed' (Haydn, 293)

Event Comment: A New Heroic Opera [1st performed at Fontainbleau, 1773], in 3 acts, with Chorusses under the direction of Kelly. The Subscribers and the Public are respectfully entreated to observe that, at the pressing desire of the Subscribers, this Theatre will now be opened, without waiting for the arrival of the Performers expected from abroad; consequently the Entertainments cannot be expected to be so complete as otherwise they would have been if the opening had been delayed until the arrival of all the Company. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. The Upper Boxes to be taken by the season or by the night. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin exactly at 7:30 [see 7 June 1796]

Event Comment: Opera: With Chorusses under the Direction of Kelly. The Company resorting to the Gallery of this Theatre are respectfully informed that, in future, on Opera Nights, a Coffee-Room, immediately under, will be open for the purpose of accomodating them with refreshment

Event Comment: The Company will be apprised at the doors as soon as the audience part of the Theatre is full. "When the curtain drew up for the new ballet, ladies [were] at the wings sitting...[and] several hundred gentlemen occupied the back of the stage, so that the beautiful scenery which had been prepared for the ballet lost all its effect" (Oracle, 22 Feb., which also states that the part of Roxalana was danced by Mme Hilligsberg). [Didelot and 1st appeared at the former king's theatre on 8 Dec. 1787.

Event Comment: Notice on playbill of 13 May: Mrs Siddons having consented, at the desire of many Ladies and Gentlemen who were disappointed of Places for the New Tragedy, to delay her departure from Town [see 2 May] His Majesties' Company will perform Almeyda on Monday next. Being positively the Last Night of Mrs Siddons's Appearance this Season. Receipts: #448 16s. 6d. (377.14.0; 68.19.0; 2.0.6; ticket not come in: 0.3.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Never [previously] performed at this Theatre [1st acted by the dl Company at king's, 18 Oct. 1792]. The new Scenes by Greenwood. The Musick composed principally by Attwood; rest from Mozart and Sarti. Receipts: #363 9s. (262.10; 99.2; 1.17)

Event Comment: Gentlemen are particularly entreated to observe that in consequence of the displeasure expressed by the Subscribers, as well as the Public, at the frequent interruption of the business of the Representation, by the pressure of people on the Stage, the Company will hereafter be admitted behind the Scenes, before and after the Opera, and during the intervals between the Opera and Ballets only; but while the Curtain is up, Gentlemen are earnestly entreated to withdraw from the Stage; otherwise the request of the Nobility and Gentry, in conformity also to the public opinion, of shutting entirely the doors between the audience part of the Theatre and the Stage, must at last be compiled with. Those persons entitled to Admissions previous to the year 1789, who may not have an opportunity of sending their Securities to be registered before the opening of the Theatre, are requested to produce them at the Door, as they pass. The Public are entreated to observe that Ladies dressed in Bonnets, and Gentlemen in Boots, cannot be admitted into the Pit of the Opera. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout opera season]. The Nobility are entreated to give direction to their Servants to set down and take up at the Theatre with the Horse's head toward Pall Mall. On account of the abuses practised in the names of the Subscribers, it is become necessary to require the production of the Subscription Ticket at the Doors and the Boxes. At the Chair-door in Market-Lane, Subscribers only will be admitted. "Braham sustained his part so well that we trust he will give us an example that shall induce us to chace from an English stage the degrading and distusting form of a Castrato" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Nov.). [The playbill omits Rovedino, but his performance is reviewed in True Briton, 28 Nov. The only other male part in the opera is that of Sandro. And see 14 Feb. 1797.

Event Comment: Opera: The Music by Paisiello. L'Amour et Psiche [advertised in True Briton, 6 Jan.] is unavoidably postponed on account of the indisposition of Mme Hilligsberg. The Frequenters of the Gallery are respectfully informed that the Coffee-Room underneath, having since last year been very considerably enlarged, and entirely new ornamented by Mr Liparotti, will be opened for the present Season on this Evening, and the Company will please to observe that at the end of it, next to Market-lane, an additional Staircase has been erected for their greater accomodation in going to and coming from that side of the Gallery

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. [Mrs Brown is sister to Miss Biggs of Drury Lane, and...has played frequently in her father's company in the country [i.e. Barnstaple, &c.]" (Monthly Mirror, Sept. 1798, p. 179). Morning Herald, 22 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent-Garden

Event Comment: Account-Book: Received of Green, lent to pay the Company, #400. Receipts: #264 2s. 6d. (184.12.6; 79.5.6; 0.4.6)

Event Comment: [Miss Brown is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. "Notwithstanding the bills...[she acted] the summer before last, on the boards of the Richmond theatre" (Monthly Mirror, Nov. 1798, p. 308). In afterpiece the playbill retains Mrs Roffey as Nelly, but she "who usually performed the part of the Servant Maid, [was] suddenly taken ill; her substitute [was] Miss Tidswell" (Morning Herald, 12 Nov.).] Account-Book: Received of Hammersley & Co., lent to pay the Company #500; paid Lowndes, printer, #10; Chorus #6; Rablus, tallow candles, #10. Receipts: #203 12s. (126.3.6; 76.7.6; 1.1.0)

Event Comment: "Mr T. has performed in the Norwich Company. [He] did not appear to us to possess a single requisite for the profession of an actor...We observed that the characters of Lenox and Rosse were doubled [i.e. combined]-a resource, at all times, disreputable to the theatre and to the manager" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, pp. 369-70). Receipts: #299 15s. 6d. (293.8.6; 6.7.0)

Event Comment: The Subscribers are most respectfully intreated to observe that in consequence of the frequent abuses practised in their names, it has become absolutely requisite to recur to the original custom of requiring the Subscribers themselves to produce their Tickets at the Doors, and the Public are intreated to observe that in future particular Ladies resorting to the Pit of the Opera will be required to give their names and places of residence at the Doors, as they go in, in order to ascertain and finally exclude improper Company from that part of the Theatre

Event Comment: On account of the length of the new Ballet the Opera will begin at seven o'clock precisely [see 2 Apr.], and the Company are most earnestly entreated not to remain upon the Stage during the representation of the Ballet, on account of the dangers attending the changes in the Machinery and Scenery

Event Comment: Benefit for Knight. 2nd piece [1st time; F 1, by Thomas John Dibdin. Larpent MS 1252; not published]. 3rd piec : Not acted these 9 years. [Miss A. DeCamp had appeared as a dancer with the dl Company at king's in the season of 1792-93.] Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Knight, No. 38, King-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #392 3s. (185.12.6; 3.18.0; tickets: 202.12.6)