Event Comment: Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. The intended Prelude [The Election of the Managers (see 2 June)] is obliged to be postponed. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s.]

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 21 Aug. 1779]

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: [The play is opened by Mrs Beverley and Charlotte, and when Mrs Siddons came on she was hissed because of a widespread report that she had refused to act for Brereton's benefit in Dublin. "A considerable period of time was lost; it might be forty minutes before the play began . . . We could perceive that the lady supported herself with a great degree of firmness under this very aweful trial--a trial which, in great measure, determined her future fame--perhaps her residence in this metropolis" (Town and Country Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 510). "The Breretons have used her shockingly--Mrs B. was mean enough to sneak off the stage and leave her to stand the insults of a malicious party tho' she knew the whole disturbance was on her account and that her husband had at least been obliged to contradict the reports that concern'd him" (Betsy Sheridan, Journal, 1960, p. 32). Mrs Siddons explained to the audience that the stories circulated against her were "calumnies." She had, in fact, on 19 Aug., acted Jane Shore in Dublin for Brereton's benefit (Dublin Public Register, 19 Aug. 1784). "Though Mrs Siddons delivered this address with her usual judgment and articulation, and it was received with reiterated bursts of applause, yet she was so agitated when off the stage as to be very near fainting, and continued for some time much flurried" (Public Advertiser, 6 Oct.).] Receipts: #304 5s. (291/13; 12/11; 0/1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Receipts: #240 9s. 6d. (215/18/0; 24/5/0; 0/6/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [Prologue by George Colman, the elder.] Receipts: #129 10s. (99/2; 30/4; 0/4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, author unknown; frequently attributed to Thomas Vaughan, but his authorship denied in a letter written by him to editor of the Oracle, 13 Feb. 1796. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by Edward Topham (European Magazine, Nov. 1784, p. 393). MS: Larpent 670; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Nov. 1784, p. 389]. Receipts: #161 2s. 6d. (142/9/0; 18/0/6; 0/13/0)

Event Comment: The Wonder [announced on playbill on 1 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the sudden Indisposition of a principal Performer. Receipts: #86 4s. (62/19/0; 23/0/6; 0/4/6)

Event Comment: Zara [announced on playbill of 15 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Smith. Receipts: #270 18s. (242/18/0; 27/7/6; 0/12/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by Edward Topham (see text). In 1794 this was altered by the author, and reduced to 4 acts]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 25 Jan. 1785: This Day is published The Natural Son (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #175 19s. 6d. (154/12/0; 21/0/0; 0/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Baddeley. Public Advertiser, 2 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Baddeley, No. 2, Little Russel-street, Covent-garden. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ogle to King, but on the Kemble playbill a MS annotation substitutes Barrymore.] 2nd piece [1st time: INT I, probably by Robert Baddeley. MS: Larpent 692; not published]. Receipts: #226 3s. 6d. (105/18/0; 30/11/6; 0/16/0; tickets: 88/18/0) (charge: #111 17s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wells. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Wells, No. 417, Strand. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Edward Topham, with incidental music by James Hook. Prologue-Epilogue by Edward Topham {Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.)]. Morning Herald, 25 Apr. 1786: This Day is published The Fool (1s.)-Receipts: #174 15s. 6d. (45/3/0; 20/14/6; 0/2/0; tickets: 108/16/0) (charge: #108 13s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bellamy. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. "Mrs Bellamy was too much frightened to speak the address [written by Charles Stuart (European Magazine, May 1785, p. 354)], and Miss Farren spoke it--Mrs Bellamy herself added some few words in prose" (Genest, VI, 342). But Stuart's address was abandoned, and in its place Miss Farren spoke one written by Alexander Bicknell (Gentleman's Magazine, June 1785, pp. 449-50). This occurred at the end of the play; following the address the curtain rose, and Mrs Bellamy "succeeded in muttering a few words, expressive of her gratitude" (Reynolds, I, 282-83). [This was Mrs Yates's last appearance in London. In July of this year she was acting in Birmingham (Morning Chronicle, 18 July). Mrs Bellamy's last appearance on the stage was at CG, 1 June 1780.] Receipts: #306 4s. (188/1/0; 13/3/6; 0/14/6; tickets: 104/5/0) (charge: #113 8s. 10d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Several of the Airs and the Overture composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s