Event Comment: The Clandestine Marriage [announced on playbill of 4 Feb.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer. Receipts: #116 9s. 6d. (72/0/0; 43/9/0; 1/0/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Norris, Chaplin, Walker & Mrs Booth. Tickets delivered for The West Indian will be taken. Receipts: #246 2s. (46/6/0; 16/7/6; 0/12/6; tickets: 182/16/0) (charge: #115 10s.)

Event Comment: Venice Preserv'd [announced on playbill of 17 Dec.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Crawford. Receipts: #129 8s. (125/6; 4/2)

Event Comment: Mrs Crawford continuing hoarse, The Grecian Daughter [announced on playbill of 7 Feb.] is unavoidably postponed. Receipts: #156 11s. (153/10; 3/1)

Event Comment: [Mrs Gordon is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. Her 1st appearance on the stage was at the HAY, 30 May 1781, as Miss Lyon.]

Event Comment: "Holman had not the weight, the slow action nor the dignity of Macbeth. He was too light and rapid both in his attitudes and delivery, by which he failed in conveying the impression of an elevated mind struggling with the most turbulent passions" (Gazetteer, 13 Nov.)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 13 Nov.]

Event Comment: There are two Kemble playbills for this night, one announcing Douglas, and a second, which reads: "On Account of the sudden and severe Indisposition of a Principal Performer . . . Douglas is unavoidably postponed, and This Evening will be presented . . . Macbeth. Macbeth-Holman; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Bates. The rest of the Characters, with the Vocal Parts, all as usual [see 4 Oct.]."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Receipts: #283 11s. 6d. (272/14/0; 10/8/6; 0/9/0)

Event Comment: [As afterpiece the playbill announces High Life below Stairs, but it was not acted. Its substitute is listed in the Account-Book.] Receipts: #273 9s. 6d. (254/6/0; 19/1/0; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: "What a 'monstrous marring' ... is made amongst the wierd sisters! Mrs Wrighten laughing and talking the whole time, [and Miss] George who cannot help joining in a laugh . . . Mrs Siddons's sleeping scene [is] we think the greatest act that has in our memory adorned the stage" (Public Advertiser, 24 Feb.). Receipts: #279 6s. 6d. (250/0/0; 28/9/0; 0/10/0; tickets not come in: 0/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Smith. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Receipts: #287 17s. 6d. (131/4/0; 13/19/6; 0/4/0; tickets: 142/10/0) (charge: #71 8s. 4d.)