Event Comment: Afterpiece: A dramatic enterainment by William Whitehead. New Scenes, Dresses, and other Decorations. The Farce receiv'd great applause (Hopkins Diary). [An account of the staging of the afterpiece appeared in the Freeholder's Magazine, Jan., concluding: These are the outlines of the Fable of this singular production, which, excepting the episode of Tom Southerton and Dolly Flack, seemed to give great satisfaction to the audience."

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Miles Peter Andrews and William Augustus Miles; Larpent MS 485; not published; Synopsis of plot in London Magazine, July 1779, pp. 306-7]: The Airs partly selected from Dibdin, Giordani, Dr Arne, &c. The Overture and New Music composed by Dr Arnold. With New Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes painted by Rooker. Songs of the Opera to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces Isabella, with Mrs Siddons as Isabella. But she was indisposed, and "the play was changed into The Winter's Tale" (World, 4 May).] Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Charles Stuart. Prologue by the author (Public Advertiser, 17 May)]. Receipts: #137 17s. 6d. (93.2.0; 43.7.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 779; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Aug. 1787, p. 100. Prologue by the author; Epilogue by George Colman elder (European Magazine, July 1787, pp. 63-64). In 1789 altered as The School for Widows]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Joseph Richardson, based on The Coxcomb, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. Prologue by Richard Tickell. Epilogue by John Burgoyne (see text)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Morning Herald, 1 May 1792: This Day is published The Fugitive (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #315 7s. 6d. (275.0.0; 39.2.0; 1.5.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 27th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the 1793 hay season]. The Overture, Chorusses, and the new Music by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Half-Price not being taken at this Theatre, the Prices will be as in the Summer. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout season, but see 11 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre. dl Account-Book, 23 Nov.: Received of Colman for 50 Nights Use of the Patent of Drury Lane Theatre at #15 a Nt. #750; 3 Dec.: for 10 nights Use of Patent #150 [Et seq. throughout season.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, based partly on Die Indianer in England, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue, Epilogue by the author (see text)]: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis]. Receipts: #706 5s. 6d. (350.16.6; 42.4.0; odd and after-money: 7.4.6; tickets: 306.0.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: The Characters New Dressed. Play never acted before. [See Three Original Letters to a Friend in the Country on the Cause and Manner of the late Riot at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. See also two letters in The Theatrical Review; or, Annals of the Drama, 1 March 1763. This number includes (pp. 117-25) a critique on the Discovery. Critic found it a piece of much merit particularly in the perusal," but on stage frequently tedious and heavy owing to a scarcity of incident and an uncommon lengthening of the acts."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these twenty years. [Additions by Bickerstaffe.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 26 May 1762.

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (also attributed to Richard Tickell). Prologue by Richard Tickell (London Chronicle, 23 Oct.). Text 1st published probably by T. Lowndes, 1795]: To conclude with a perspective Representation of the Grand Camp at Cox-Heathv [near Maidstone, Kent, where a military encampment had been in existence for several months], from a View taken by DeLoutherbourg and executed under his direction. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] With a New Overture and other Music [by Thomas Linley Sen.]. New Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. Account-Book, 16 Oct.: Paid Supernumeraries & Soldiers for Camp #35 5s. 6d. Receipts: #266 0s. 6d. (258.16.0; 6.18.0; 0.6.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; B 3, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by the Hon. Richard Fitzpatrick (Public Advertiser, 3 Aug. 1781)]: With a Procession. [This was included in all subsequent performances. For the Sea Fight see 20 Nov.] With New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenery designed by DeLoutherbourg, and executed under his direction. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [same for rest of season, except on 1 May 1780]. "The House was so crowded that there were many disturbances, one so great that Smith when he had nearly finished 'To be or not to be' was obliged to leave the Stage, and when the noise subsided, to return and begin the soliloquy again... As The Critic took up two hours and a half in performance, it must of necessity be considerably shortened" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Nov.). "The scene of the battle with the Armadav [was] executed in the most masterly manner. The Motion of the sea, the engaging of the ships, and the destruction occasioned by the fire-ships were happily contrived and accurately represented" (London Chronicle, 1 Nov.). Account-Book, 9 Nov.: Paid R. B. Sheridan on Acct. of Critic #320. Receipts: #241 19s. 6d. (222.11.0; 19.3.6; 0.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Williames and Spencer. Gazetteer, 5 May: Tickets to be had of Williames, No. 32, St. Martin's-street, Leicester-fields [Spencer not listed]. 3rd piece: Not acted these 3 years. To conclude with a Waterfall, as it was originally performed. Receipts: #188 5s. 6d. (27/12/0; 12/6/6; 1/14/0; tickets: 146/13/0) (charge: #115 10s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Holcroft]: The Music composed by Shield. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations, and a new Overture. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 18 Aug. 1784: This Day at Noon will be published The Noble Peasant (price not listed)

Event Comment: [1st piece in place of A MOGUL TALE; 2nd piece of THE SON-IN-LAW, and THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD, all advertised on playbill of 17 July.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 1, by Robert Benson; music by Dr Arnold]: The Piece to conclude with a representation of the late Grand Naval Review [held at Portsmouth, in honor of George III's visit to that place, 28 June]. The Machinery, &c., entirely new for the occasion. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 21 Aug. 1794: This Day is published BRITAIN's GLORY (price not listed). Morning Chronicle, 18 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 24, Haymarket

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Virgin Unmask'd, advertised on playbill of 18 Sept.] Powell, 19 Sept.: Henry V rehearsed at 10; Lodoiska at 12; 20 Sept.: Heiress rehearsed at 11. Receipts: #246 5s. 6d. (155.2.6; 89.2.6; 2.0.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. 1st piece: Not acted these 7 years. 2nd piece [1st time; MF 1, by Robert Benson]: The Musick selected, with new Accompaniments and a Scottish Overture, by Dr Arnold. Morning Chronicle, 25 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 9, Haymarket,

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister Jun. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, probably based on Die Zwillingsbruder, by Friedrich Ludwig Schroder]: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis]. With Songs [composer unknown. Larpent MS 1245; not published]. Morning Chronicle, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bannister Jun., No. 65, Gower-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #599 3s. 6d. (315.3.6; 63.4.0; 0.1.0; odd money: 4.2.0; tickets: 216.13.0) (charge: #211 1s. 8d.)