SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "the young DEgvilles"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "the young DEgvilles")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 3160 matches on Performance Comments, 751 matches on Author, 732 matches on Performance Title, 567 matches on Event Comments, and 9 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 29 Dec. 1769.] With the Restoration of a Captial Scene from the Original. Charges #68 19s. Profit to Shuter #130 3s., plus #68 from tickets (Box 185; Pit 145). Receipts: #199 2s. (Account Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Iv, Part I, With The Humours Of Sir John Falstaff

Performance Comment: Hotspur-Smith; King-Clarke; Prince of Wales-Lewis, first time; Prince John-Harris; Douglas-Owenson; Westmorland-Thompson; Blunt-R. Smith; Vernon-Hull; Worcester-Gardner; Bardolph-Davis; Poins-Lewes; Francis-Cushing; Carriers-Dunstall, Quick; Hostess-Mrs Pitt; Lady Percy-Mrs Hartley; Falstaff-Shuter (playbill). [The Public Advertiser assigns King-$Young.]
Related Works
Related Work: The Humours of Sir John Falstaff, Justice Shallow, and Ancient Pistol Author(s): Theophilus Cibber

Afterpiece Title: Midas

Performance Comment: As17731221, but To conclude with The Cries of London-Shuter.
Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. The Tragedy of All for Love, which was to have been performed this evening, is oblig'd to be changed, on account of the indisposition of Mrs Barry and Miss Younge; therefore Mr Aickin humbly hopes that his friends will accept of the Tempest in its stead. Tickets deliver'd for All for Love will be taken. Paid extra flute and hautboy 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Aickin did not act (Winston MS 10). [This month published The Sentimental Spouter; or, Young Actor's Companion. The whole comprising the essence of theatrical delivery, and the beauties of dramatic poetry. Price 1s. 6d. Printed for Wheble (Gentleman's Magazine Register).] Receipts: #123 14s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profit to F. Aickin: #49 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Performance Comment: Prospero-Palmer; Ferdinand (With songs)-Vernon; Stephano-King; Trincalo-Baddeley; Caliban-Ackman; Ceres-Mrs Wrighten; Ariel (With songs)-Mrs Scott; Miranda (With song)-Mrs Smith; Hymen-Fawcett; Gonzalo-J. Aickin; Alonzo-Bransby; Sebastian-Keen; Francisco-Griffith; Boatswain-Wright; Master of Ship-Wrighten; With a Grand Dance of Fantastic Spirits-; The Other Dances-Giorgi, Mrs Sutton.

Afterpiece Title: The Elopement

Event Comment: By Permission. For this Night only. Benefit for Jacobs and Owenson. To begin at 7:00 p.m. [The Public Advertiser, 20 Sept., omits Hamilton] and Walker but adds Jacobs, Everard, and a Young Gentleman 1st time on that Stage.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Duellist

Afterpiece Title: The Apprentice

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The West Indian

Performance Comment: Belcour-the Gentleman who perform'd Mcheath [Young]; Stockwell-Booth, first time; Capt. Dudley-Hull; Charles Dudley-Wroughton; O'Flaherty-Shuter; Fulmer-Dunstall; Varland-Quick; Lady Rusport-Mrs Pitt; Louisa-Miss Brown; Mrs Fulmer-Mrs Hull; Charlotte-Mrs Mattocks[, first time., first time.

Afterpiece Title: The Sylphs

Cast
Role: Other characters Actor:

Dance: II: The Vintage Festival, as17741007

Event Comment: [Advertised as performed but once, but see 18 Jan. Sheridan in Preface to Edition of 1775 (2nd) refers to withdrawing the piece to remove those imperfections in the first representation which were too obvious to escape reprehension, and too numerous to admit of hasty correction." He blames his inexperience and want of judgment in theatrical effects, the extreme length of the play act by act, and haste in writing. From the Westminster Magazine Feb., which outlined the plot in five columns: The present state of the Rivals is widely different from that in which we found it on the first night's representation. Sir Lucius O'Trigger being re-touched, has now the appearance of a character; and his assigning Beverley's reflection on his country as the grounds for his desire to quarrel with him, is a reasonable pretence, and wipes off the former stigma undeservedly thrown on the sister Kingdom. An alteration of a principal incident gave a very favorable turn to the fable and the whole piece: that where young Acres now delivers his challenge to his friend Absolute, begging him to carry it to his Rival Beverly, not knowing the two characters composed but one man; its being at first given to Sir Lucius, the person who indited it, was highly inconsistent...we should be induced from many evident traits of literary genius to pronounce the Rivals a good comedy."

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rivals

Related Works
Related Work: The Rival Modes Author(s): James Moore Smythe

Afterpiece Title: Thomasand Sally

Dance: End Epilogue: The Frolick, as17741214

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [From the Westminster Magazine for March: "On Friday the third instant the Entertainments peculiar to this season commenced. Messrs Bach and Abel were first, and have been at each successive Oratorio since (one night excepted when the King and Queen favored Mr Stanley, with bringing the only good House he has hitherto had), honoured with the presence of their Majesties, who have been accused, we think justly, of partiality to these foreigners, in overlooking Mr Stanley's past services and great personal merits. Justice, however, requires us to observe, that both in point of vocal and instrumental performers, the former have displayed a striking superiority over the latter. The singers at Messrs Bach and Abel's are, Parry, Corse, Mrs Weichsel, Miss Brown and Sga Corri. At Drury Lane, Norris, Reinhold, Mrs Mattocks, Mrs Barthelemon, and a young Lady from the Founding Hospital."

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Judas Maccabaeus

Music: End Part I: Hautboy Concerto-Vincent; Part II: Violin Concerto-Barthelemon

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Busy Body

Afterpiece Title: The Two Misers

Dance: II: A New Dance call'd The Nosegay-Rudd (2nd appearance), Miss Matthews [See dl 27 April 1767]; IV: Minuets, Allemandes, Cotillions-Dumay, Hussey, King, Merrifield, Miss Matthews, Miss Brown, Miss Ross, Mas. Holland, Miss Armstrong, a young Lady[, scholar to Dumay [See17740518]; End: The Enchantress, as17750201

Performance Comment: Holland, Miss Armstrong, a young Lady[, scholar to Dumay [See17740518]; End: The Enchantress, as17750201.
Related Works
Related Work: The Tragedy of King Richard II Author(s): Lewis Theobald
Event Comment: [The Westminster Magazine for October gave a paragraph to a general discussion of the new performers whom Garrick introduced this month. Firske (actually Grist) the young man who played Othello on the seventeenth, Mrs King, Bensley, Yates, and the dancer Sga Paccini.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 5 years. [See 25 May 1772.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cato

Afterpiece Title: The Weathercock

Performance Comment: As17751017, but Young_; Mrs Masters_.
Related Works
Related Work: The Weathercock Author(s): Theodosius Forrest
Event Comment: At the Foundling Hospital. To begin at 12:00 noon. Tickets half a Guinea. No collection. The Chapel will be matted, and every attention paid the same shall be warm

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Messiah

Performance Comment: Vocal Parts-Miss Cecilia Davies (Inglesina), the Young Person who sang last year at Stanley's Oratorio's, Norris, Reinhold.

Music: First Violin, Concerto-Hay; Organ-Stanley

Event Comment: Mrs Oakly first time Miss Young-So, so (Hopkins Diary). Paid salary list #624 6s. 6d. Receipts: #115 11s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Jealous Wife

Performance Comment: Oakly-Smith; Major Oakly-Yates; Charles-Brereton; first time; Lord Trinket-Dodd; Sir Harry Beagle-Palmer; Paris-Baddeley; Capt. O'Cutter-Moody; Russet-Bransby; Tom-Carpenter; William-Griffiths; John-Everard; Harriet-Miss P. Hopkins, first time; Mrs Oakly-Miss Younge, first time; Lady Freelove-Mrs Hopkins; Toilet-Mrs Millidge.
Cast
Role: Mrs Oakly Actor: Miss Younge, first time
Related Works
Related Work: The Jealous Wife Author(s): George Colman, the elder

Afterpiece Title: The Jubilee

Related Works
Related Work: London's Great Jubilee Author(s): Matthew Taubman
Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Younge. Miss Young Kitty first time very la! la! (Hopkins Diary). Receipts: #141 10s. Charges: #69 6s. 6d. Profits to Miss Younge: #72 3s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: All For Love

Performance Comment: Anthony-Smith; Dolabella-Brereton; Ventidius-Palmer; Alexas-Whitfield; Serapion-Bransby; Myris-Wrighten; Romans-Griffith, Norris; Cleopatra-Miss Younge; Octavia-Mrs Yates, first time; Iras-Miss Platt; Charmion-Mrs Johnston.
Cast
Role: Cleopatra Actor: Miss Younge
Related Works
Related Work: The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub Author(s): Sir George Etherege

Afterpiece Title: High Life below Stairs

Performance Comment: Lovel-Lamash; Sir Harry's Servt-Dodd; Philip-Baddeley; Freeman-Fawcett; Robert-Griffiths; Tom-Kear; Lord Duke-Palmer; Lady Charlotte-Mrs Davies; Lady Bab-Mrs Johnston; Kitty (By Particular Desire) with the song-Miss Younge (first time); in II, a Mock Minuet-Palmer, Miss Younge.

Dance: End: The Grand Garland Dance, as17760311

Event Comment: The People flock'd about the doors by Two o'clock. there never was a greater Overflow-Mr G. was never happier in Lear -the Applause was beyond description 3 or 4 loud Claps Succeeding one another at all his exits and many Cry'd out Garrick for Ever &c., &c. House (Hopkins Diary). [Kemble's note differs slightly.] Paid Mr Short, Chorus Singer #1 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Hannah More wrote to Mrs Gwatkin: The eagerness of the people to see Garrick is beyond anything you can have an idea of. You will see half a dozen duchesses and countesses a night in the upper boxes: for the fear of not seeing him at all, has humbled those who used to go, not for the purpose of seeing but being seen; and they now courtsy to the ground for the worst places in the house" (Hampden, Journal). [Letter to David Garrick, Esq on his appearance in Lear last night 13 May: The correspondent who signs himself Stock Fish and who claims to have been one of the survivors of the Black Hole of Calcutta, and who took a young lady from the country to see Garrick's last performance, blames him for endangering the lives of his majesties subjects for not providing proper bars, lanes, and queue lines to handle the crowds: "I went with intention to get into the Pit as the most eligible Part of the House (for your Boxes are always engag'd) and we got to the Door in Vinegaryard about five o'clock. Here the Passage to the first Door was too full for me to entertain any Hopes of getting in that Way, we therefore made for Catharine-street but the Multitudes of People waiting for the Opening of the Gallery-doors, rendered it impossible for us to get along through the Court; we therefore made a Circuit, and at length arrived opposite the Door in Catharine-street, where it was with Difficulty we could keep our Stands on a Foot Pavement....You will be absolutely inexcusable, if after this Warning you neglect to adopt some Method for the Security of the Lives of his Majesties Subjects on similar Occasions.--What think you of the following Scheme, viz. To keep the outer Doors next the Street shut, till the inner ones are opened ; and then, by a Proper bar, to prevent more than one at a Time entering, who shall there pay Entrance-money, and receive the Tickets of Admission through the inner Doors' (Public Advertiser 18 May).] Receipts: #308 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Lear

Performance Comment: Lear-Garrick; Edgar-Reddish; Bastard-Palmer; Kent-Bransby; Gloster-J. Aickin; Albany-Packer; Burgundy-Norris; Captain of Guards-Whitfield; Gentleman Usher-Burton; Cornwall-Hurst; Curan-Fawcett; Goneril-Miss Sherry; Regan-Mrs Hopkins; Arante-Miss Platt; Cordelia-Miss Younge.
Cast
Role: Cordelia Actor: Miss Younge.

Afterpiece Title: The Spleen

Related Works
Related Work: The Spleen; or, Islington Spa Author(s): George Colman, the elder
Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Afterpiece: A Comedy of two Acts never performed. Dr Thomas Francklin. [According to the Biographia Dramatica, "This is a poor performance, founded on Destouches' L'Amour Use, and met with no success; being nearly condemned, nothwithstanding the King and Royal family were present. Foote told his friends, that, when he lighted the King, to his chair, his Majesty asked who the piece was written by: 'It was written (says the wicked Wit) by one of your Majesty's Chaplains; but it is dull enough to have been written by a Bishop.)'"]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Commissary

Cast
Role: Young Loveit Actor: R. Palmer

Afterpiece Title: The Contract

Performance Comment: Parts by: Parsons; Bannister; Whitefield; R. Palmer; Miss Platt; A young Lady, first appearance; Mrs Gardner. Col. Lovemore-Parsons; Commodore Capstern-Bannister; Capt. Spritely-R. Palmer; Martin-Whitefield; Miss Eleanor-Mrs Gardner; Maria-Miss Essex; Betty-Miss Platt (Genest, V, 528).

Dance: A Tambourine Dance-

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With a New Scene and New Dresses. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Charles Dibdin and Edward Thompson. Thompson's name does not appear on the title-page of the text; it has been added by J. P. Kemble on the half-title of his copy now in the Huntington Library]: The Music chiefly composed by Dibdin [Public Advertiser, 15 Nov.: Three of the airs and the finale were composed by Samuel Arnold; one air by John Abraham Fisher]. With New Scenes [ibid: by Dall, Richards, and Carver], Dresses and Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Account-Book, 7 Feb. 1777: Paid Dibdin in full for copyright of the Seraglio #20; ibid, 2 June 1777: Received of Cooper for Songs & Books sold of The Seraglio #19 10s. 9d. [Mrs Ward was from the Birmingham theatre]. Receipts: #221 11s. 6d. (219.7.0; 2.4.6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Ethelinda; Or, The Royal Convert

Performance Comment: Hengist-Wroughton; Seofrid-Hull; Offa-Whitefield; Oswald-Robson; Priest-L'Estrange; Officers-Fearon, Booth, Davis, Thompson; Aribert-Lewis; Rodogune-Mrs Ward (1st appearance on this stage); Ethelinda-Mrs Hartley.
Cast
Role: Ethelinda Actor: Mrs Hartley.

Afterpiece Title: The Seraglio

Performance Comment: Principal Characters by Mattocks, Reinhold, Quick, Dunstall, Leoni, Miss Dayes, Mrs Green, A Young Lady (who never appeared on any stage) (Miss Wewitzer), Miss Brown. Cast from text (T. Evans, 1776): Abdallah-Mattocks; Reef-Reinhold; Venture-Quick; Goodwill-Dunstall; Frederick-Leoni; Hassan-Baker; Gunnel-Bates; Williams-Thompson; Polly-Miss Dayes; Curtis-Mrs Green; Elmira-Miss Wewitzer; Lydia-Miss Brown.

Music: V: the Original Music for the Sacrifice by Purcell-

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Caractacus

Performance Comment: Characters by Clarke, Lewis, Wroughton, Ward, Whitefield, Mrs Hartley. Druids and Bards-Aickin, Hull, L'Estrange, Fearon, others; Principal Vocal Parts-Leoni, Reinhold, Mrs Farrell; [Cast from text (York: A. Ward, 1777 [i.e. 1776]): Caractacus-Clarke; Arviragus-Lewis; Elidurus-Wroughton; Vellinus-Ward; Aulus Didius-Whitefield; Evelina-Mrs Hartley; Modred-Aickin; Mador-Hull.

Afterpiece Title: Polly Honeycombe

Related Works
Related Work: Polly Honeycomb Author(s): George Colman, the elder
Event Comment: Benefit for Mattocks. Mainpiece: Written by Thomson. Not acted these 7 years. Receipts: #224 0s. 6d. (163.16.6; tickets: 60.4.0) (charge: #66 6s.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Tancred And Sigismunda

Afterpiece Title: True-Blue

Afterpiece Title: The Country Mad-Cap

Performance Comment: Ballad-Mattocks; Cantileno (with imitations)-Reinhold; Zorobabel-Quick; Lord Bawble-Lee Lewes; Goodwill-Fearon; Thomas-Whitefield [Public Advertiser: Young]; Mrs Midnight-Mrs Pitt; Jenny-Mrs Poussin; The Country Mad@Cap-Mrs Mattocks.

Dance: As17761223

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Nabob

Performance Comment: Principal Parts-Foote, Parsons, Fearon, Massey, R. Palmer, Griffiths, Jackson, Bransby, Egan, T. Davis, Stevens, Peirce, Palmer, Mrs Hunter, Miss Hale, Mrs W. Palmer, Mrs Gardner. [Morning Chronicle, 3 June: Sir Matthew Mite-Foote; Mr Mayor-Palmer. Edition of 1778 (T. Cadell), which assigns the cast for season of 1772, lists the other parts: Sir John Oldham, Mr ThomasOldham, Young Oldham, Touchit, Antiquarians, Secretary, Rapine, Nathan, Moses, James and Putty, Conserve, Waiter, Lady Oldham, Sophy, Mrs Match'em, Crocus.] Prologue as17770515. Prologue as17770515.
Cast
Role: Sir Matthew Mite Actor: Foote
Role: Amelia Actor: Mrs Armstead. Edition of 1767 lists the other parts: +Sir William Douglas, Owen, La France, Officer, Servants.

Afterpiece Title: Lilliput

Event Comment: [Author of Prologue unknown. In afterpiece the playbill assigns Leander to Mahon, but "after the play Hull made a genteel apology for the non-attendance of Mahon...who, by some unaccountable accident, was not arrived in town, at the same time begging their acceptance of a young Gentleman' (Morning Post, 23 Sept.). For Bowles as Leander see 10 Oct.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Sarjant (only) at the Stage-Door. No Persons admitted behind the Scenes, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 13 Oct.]. Receipts: #187 13s. (186.4; 1.9)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Performance Comment: Capt. Plume-Lewis; Justice Balance-Hull; Worthy-Whitefield [beginning with 15 Oct. the name is spelled "Whitfield"]; Scale-Thompson; Scruple-Cushing; Serjeant Kite-Fearon; Bullock-Dunstall; Recruits-Quick, Jones; Capt. Brazen-Lee Lewes; Melinda-Miss Ambrose; Rose-Miss Dayes; Lucy-Mrs Pitt; Sylvia-Mrs Lessingham; New Occasional Prologue[, not listed on playbill-Lewis (see17770924).

Afterpiece Title: The Padlock

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the Music by Paisiello [and "other eminent Composers" (libretto)]; under the Direction of Giordani. With magnificent new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations, both for the Opera and Dances. Tickets will be delivered at the Office, Union Court, Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. By Their Majesties' Command no Person can be admitted behind the Scenes. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin exactly at 7:00 [same throughout season]. The Coffee Room will be open with Tea, Coffee, Lemonade, Orgeat, Ice, Creams, &c. which will be furished by Weltje, of St. James's Street. To prevent Inconvenience to the Nobility and Gentry in getting to their Carriages, they are respectfully intreated to give positive Orders to their Servants to set down and take up with their Horses Heads towards Pall-mall. The Door in Market Lane for Chairs only. [Public Advertiser, 13 Feb. 1778, prints a letter outlining a scheme-never realized-of having occasional plays at king's on non-opera nights acted by performers from both dl and cg, and by "the young Nobility of both Sexes."

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Le Due Contesse

Dance: WithNew Dances composed by Simonet-; End I: new ballet, demi-caractere Le Devin du Village-Mons and Mlle Banti, Sg and Sga Zuchelli Colin-Banti; +Colette-Mlle Banti; End II: +New BalletSerious and Demi-caractere-; in which a Pas de Quatre-Mons and Mme Simonet, Mons and Mlle Banti; to conclude with the Chaconne of Froquett-; End Opera: new serious ballet La Polonaise Favourite-Mons Simonet, Mme Simonet, Mlle Baccelli, Sg Zuchelli, Sga Zuchelli, Vallouy@le@cadet

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by William Kenrick, based on The Country Lasses, by Charles Johnson. Not published; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 23 Dec. Prologue by the author (ibid)]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Afterpiece Title: The Spendthrift; or, A ChristmasGambol

Performance Comment: Principal Characters-Quick, Whitfield, Dunstall, Wewitzer, Brunsdon, Booth, Robson, Fearon, Jones, Cushing, Mrs Willems, Mrs White, Mrs Morton; Larpent MS 463 lists the parts: Sir Clement Courtly, Young Courtly, Save Charges, Plunder, Hazard, Bumper, Bondage, Bobbin, Trusty, Bottlerack, Marrowbone, Trip, Servants, Miss Worthy, Dorothy, Margery. New Prologue-Lee Lewes.
Related Works
Related Work: The Spendthrift Author(s): Matthew Draper
Event Comment: Public Advertiser, 22 Mar.: At the particular Desire of the Nobility and Gentry, the Subscribers to this Theatre, on account of the young Prince's Christening there will be no Opera to-morrow. This delay will prove very convenient for compleating the great Preparations which in every respect are necessary to present [the new] Opera [see 25 Mar.] in all the Magnificence it requires. [Prince Octavius, 8th son of George III, was christened on 23 Mar.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: None

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties."The croud was so great at Drury-lane playhouse, to see the young prince William in his naval uniform, that it was found necessary to throw a kind of bridge from the stage to the pit to liberate several people, who otherwise must have perished in the throng" (Gentleman's Magazine, Mar. 1780, P. 151). Receipts: #271 14s. (259.13; 9.6; 2.15)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Afterpiece Title: The Quaker

Dance: I: Dance of Spirits, as17791103; III: a Dance of Fantastic Spirits, as17791103; IV: Grand New Dance, as17800228, but Sga _Crespi

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time at a public theatre; C 3, by Elizabeth Craven, Baroness Craven, afterwards Margravine of Anspach, 1st acted privately at the Town-Hall, Newbury, 6 Apr. 1780. Text (G. Riley, 1781) assigns no parts. Prologue by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Epilogue by Joseph Jekyll (see text)]: With new Dresses, &c. "The Prologue [the first 30 lines and the concluding couplet of which were used by Sheridan as the Prologue to Pizarro (see dl, 24 May 1799)] was so much admired that at the request of the Duchess of Devonshire and several other of the nobility it was respoken after the piece; but as King was absent from the theatre, it was delivered by Palmer" (Town and Country Magazine, May 1780, p. 23 ). "The chief singularity was that [Lady Craven] went to it herself the second night, in form; sat in the middle of the front row of the stage-box, much dressed, with a profusion of white bugles and plumes, to receive the public homage due to her sex and loveliness. The Duchess of Richmond, Lady Harcourt,...Mrs Damer, Lord Craven,...and I were with her. It was amazing to see so young a woman entirely possess herself-but there is such an integrity and frankness in her consciousness of her own beauty and talents, that she speaks of them with a naivete as if she had no property in them, but only wore them as gifts of the gods. Lord Craven on the contrary was quite agitated by his fondness for her and with impatience at the bad performance of the actors, which was wretched indeed, yet the address of the plot, which is the chief merit of the piece, and some lively pencilling carried it off very well, though Parsons murdered the Scotch lord, and Mrs Robinson (who is supposed to be the favourite of the Prince of Wales) thought on nothing but her own charms, or him. There is a very good though endless prologue written by Sheridan and spoken in perfection by King, which was encored (an entire novelty) the first night: and an epilogue that I liked still better and which was full as well delivered by Mrs Abington, written by Mr. Jekyl. The audience, though very civil, missed a fair opportunity of being gallant, for in one of those ----logues, I forget which, the noble authoress was mentioned, and they did not applaud as they ought to have done, especially when she condescended to avow her pretty child and was there looking so very pretty...Yet Lady Craven's tranquillity had nothing displeasing;...and it was tempered by her infinite good nature, which made her make excuses for the actors instead of being provoked at them" (Walpole [28 May 1780], XI, 178-80). Public Advertiser, 14 July 1781: This Day at Noon will be published The Miniature Picture (price not listed). Receipts: #144 9s. (94.9; 48.3; 1.17)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Winter's Tale

Afterpiece Title: The Miniature Picture

Dance: II: New Dance, as17791126; End II afterpiece: The Coopers, as17800224

Event Comment: [This was Vestris Jun.'s 1st appearance in England.] "Young Vestris astonished John Bull more by his agility than his grace, and some have been known to count the number of times he turned round like a tee-totum. This may be called les tours des jambes-not dancing' (Angelo, II, 320). "The theatre was brimful in expectation of Vestris. At the end of the second act he appeared; but with so much grace, agility, and strength, that the whole audience fell into convulsions of applause: the men thundered; the ladies, forgetting their delicacy and weakness, clapped with such vehemence, that seventeen broke their arms, sixty-nine sprained their wrists, and three cried bravo! bravissimo! so rashly, that they have not been able to utter so much as 'no' since, any more than both Houses of Parliament' (Walpole [17 Dec. 1780], XI, 340-41)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Ricimero

Dance: End I: The Fortunate Escape, as17801125, but Mme _Simonet, Henry; End II: +Grand Serious Ballet (composed by Simonet)-Sg and Sga Zuchelli, Henry, Sga Crespi, Mlle Baccelli; to conclude with: Grand Chaconne-Vestris? Jun.; End III new ballet, Les Amans Surpris (composed by Simonet)-Sg and Sga Zuchelli, Henry, Mlle Baccelli, Vestris? Jun