Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Joseph Berington, altered from the same, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. MS: Larpent MS 1041; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald, 30 Oct. It has hitherto been assumed that this play was altered by Benjamin Thompson, but "This Tragedy was translated from the German by the Rev. Jos. Berrington [sic]" (Kemble Mem.). Dr. Berington's authorship is also referred to in London Chronicle, 30 Oct. 1794. Thompson's translation was published by Vernor and Hood in 1800. Prologue by Richard Cumberland. Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 29 Oct.)]: The Dresses, Scenes and Decorations are entirely new. The Scenery in the four first Acts is the work of Signor Barzago and of his Brother; and in the fifth of Greenwood, by whom also a new Frontispiece is designed and executed. [Miss Miller, who had appeared the previous season as a chorus singer, is identified in European Magazine, Nov. 1794, p. 363.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 20 Apr. 1795]. Powell: Emilia Galotti rehearsed at 10. The New Frontispiece and Stage doors were exhibited for the first Time this Evening. Receipts: #317 19s. 6d. (270.8.6; 46.5.0; 1.6.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; D 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the author; Epilogue by George Colman ynger (London Chronicle, 27 July). Larpent MS 1138; 1st published in Cumberland's Posthumous Dramatic Works, 1813, Vol. II, with unassigned casts listing Citizens.

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 1st piece: Not acted some years [acted 30 Oct. 1790]. 2nd piece [1st time: ENT 1]. 3rd piece: By Permission of George Colman, Esq., and for that Night only. Tickets and Places to be had of Fawcett at his house, No. 10, Golden Square, and of Brandon, at the Theatre. "To the Public, May 16, 1797. In consequence of repeated Forgeries of Tickets on Benefit Nights, particularly those of Miss Wallis, Mr Incledon, Mr Holman, and Mrs Mattocks, it has been found necessary to offer a large Reward for the Discovery of the Person or Persons concerned in this unjust and cruel Practice. Mr Fawcett, therefore, thinks it his Duty to warn his Friends and the Public from purchasing Tickets for his Night of Strangers, especially those Persons who sell them in the Avenues of the Theatre, as all such will be stopt at the Doors, and if forged the Persons offering them for Admittance will be drawn into a disagreeable dilemma" (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #462 5s. (189.12; 8.13; tickets: 264.0)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Abington's 1st appearance on the stage since 12 Feb. 1790, except for 14 June 1797, when she spoke an epilogue at a charity benefit.] "Her former Beatrice was a chaste, animated, unaffected and captivating performance; but her Beatrice of this night was, for the greater part, languid and unattractive. Her deportment, however, is easy and graceful; but her person is too big and heavy to give any effect to the more gay and sprightly scenes. We conceive it to be the height of folly and imprudence in her to come forward in the present advanced period of her existence; and that too, with a person so ill calculated for the department, and attempt characters which demand all the vigour and activity of youth" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1797, p. 352). [Address by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 7 Oct.).] Receipts: #348 2s. (336.18; 11.14)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MD 3, by James Boaden; some of the songs written by George Colman, ynger]: With new Musick, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The new Musick by Dr Arnold. With an appropriate Overture, accompanied by two Pedal Harps and the Union Pipes, by Weippert, C. Jones, and Murphy. The Scenery by Marinari. The Dresses and Decorations designed by A. Johnston, and executed by him and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Any exertion of impartial criticism to check the prevalent taste for the marvellous and the horrific which so wantonly conjures up the spirit (it was once thought had been for ever laid) of gross superstition and Gothic barbarism must, we fear, prove at present unavailing" (Times, 23 July). Morning Chronicle, 30 July 1798: This Day is published Cambro-Britons (2s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Edward Morris. Prologue by Charles Morris; Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (see text)]: With new Dresses and Decorations. Morning Chronicle, 14 Mar. 1799: This Day is published The Secret (2s.). Receipts: #371 18s. 6d. (319.17.0; 49.14.6; 2.7.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds. Prologue by John Taylor; Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (see text)]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Morning Chronicle, 7 Dec. 1799: This day is published Management (2s.). Afterpiece: In 3 acts. Receipts: #259 18s. (254.3.6; 5.14.6)

Event Comment: [G$Genest, IV, 288, reports this performance "in or before January 1749," finding the account in the London Magazine. In the Prologue George said of himself, "In England born, in England bred." Quin possibly superintended the royal rehearsals. See note, dl 2 Jan.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years [not acted since 3 Aug. 1784]. Public Advertiser, 4 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Miss George, No. 23, King-street, Soho

Event Comment: Benefit Ray, Green, Barclay, Mrs George. Afterpiece: By Desire. Not acted these 7 years [see 14 May 1739]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years [not acted since 18 Sept. 1778. Mrs Brooks is identified in Reed, p. 145]. "Miss George spins around every fifteen seconds like a top, and then runs to the back of the stage. She too is very apt to stay at the back of the stage. She knows when it is her turn to speak, joins the party, speaks, spins, and away again! Pray, Miss George, sometimes do your friends the favour to stay amongst them, and attend to what is going forward" (Morning Chronicle, 24 July)

Event Comment: At the New Theatre. Benefit George. 2s., 1s. 6d., 1s

Event Comment: For one night only. Never acted before. By particular desire. An Historical Play, taken from Holinshead's Chronicles, and written by the late Mr Lillo, Author of George Barnwell. Tickets for Boxes and Pit to be had of Mr Cross, at his House in Crown Court, Russel St., Covent Garden; and of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. 7 P.M

Event Comment: A New Comedy of three Acts [by Foote]. By Authority. Open'd by Mr Foote. Most of the performers entirely new. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at five. Curtain drawn up at seven. [Notice repeated in subsequent bills. Genest, IV, 599, lists Smith as Sir George.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Ward. Mrs Ward is extremely sorry she is oblig'd to change the Night's Entertainment advertised for her Benefit, but the severe illness of Mrs Mattocks and Mrs Baker, makes it impossible to perform the Opera of Love in a Village, as does Mr Woodward's indisposition the Farce of the Citizen. The Managers have therefore kindly granted her the above tragedy and pantomime. Charges #65 15s. Balance to Mrs Ward #55 5s. plus #53 2s. from tickets (Box 58; Pit 158; Gallery 149). Receipts: #121 (Account Book)

Event Comment: TTamerlane oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer. Receipts: #246 8s