Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Gherardi, though very ill, yet being unwilling to disappoint the Nobility, Gentry and Public who intend honouring Sga Sestini with their presence at her Benefit this Evening, has undertaken to perform in the best manner he is able, and hopes for the indulgence of the Audience. Opera: The music composed by Paisiello

Event Comment: Prudom and Sga Allegranti continuing very much indisposed, and Pacchicrotti positively refusing to perform without a First Woman, the Public are respectfully informed that there can be no Opera this Evening

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton and Harwood, prompter. King continuing so ill that it is impossible for him to perform this Evening, Waldron has kindly undertaken the Part of Sir Peter Teazle at a very short notice, and most humbly hopes for the indulgence of the Public. Receipts: #209 15s. 6d. (35/3/0; 15/10/6; 0/5/0; tickets: 158/17/0) (charge: #106 13s.)

Event Comment: Grimaldi being extremely ill, and it being uncertain when he may be able to perform, Wright has undertaken to supply his Character of the Clown, and Hamoir that of the Old Harlequin, and hope the Public will accept them with their usual kind Indulgence. In afterpiece: Repulse of the Spaniards, as 7 Jan. Receipts: #219 16s. (213/17; 5/4; tickets not come in: 0/15)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Wild. Wild respectfully informs the Public, on account of the Loss he sustained by his former Night [see 17 May], the Managers of Covent Garden and Hay-market Theatres, as well as the several Performers, have granted him their free Assistance. Receipts: none listed

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: Benefit for Sga Ferrarese. Sga Ferrarese, whose long and grievous Indispositions have been an Obstacle to the Success she ardently wished to obtain, cannot plead any Merit of her own, and only depends for Patronage on that well-known Liberality of a Public, equally disposed to allow for involuntary Deficiencies as to reward even an Attempt to captivate their Benevolence. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Sga Ferrarese, No. 19, Oxendon Street, Hay-market

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs T. Kennedy. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. Many Tickets of Mr Kennedy's having been stolen, he gives public Notice that no Tickets sold at the Doors or Avenues of the Theatre will have Admission this Evening. Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Kennedy, No. 44, Great Queen-street. Receipts: #108 4s. 6d. (41/1/6; 5/3/0; tickets: 62/0/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: The Public are most respectfully informed, that, in consequence of the sudden and violent Indisposition of Mr Parsons, the second Performance of the New Comedy, called A School for Grey-Beards, is unavoidably postponed. This Evening will be presented [as above] (printed slip attached to Kemble playbill). Receipts: #182 13s. 6d. (141.9.0; 38.7.0; 2.15.0; ticket not come in: 0.2.6)

Event Comment: This [main] Piece, written by Dr Brown, is peculiarly happy in evincing to the world "That Virtue still shall conquer tho' in ruin." Mr Sterne presents his respectful Compliments to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Newington and its Vicinity, and now begs leave to inform them that he has been at a considerable Expence in procuring several Performers, in order that every Performance may give Satisfaction to those Ladies and Gentlemen who have so generously exerted their Interest for him and his Company; and as their Stay will be but very short, he hopes that his Care by obtaining so many fresh Members may meet with the Encouragement of a candid Public. N. B. Any Lady or Gentleman who will honor the Company by bespeaking a Play, their Commands will be thankfully received and attended to by applying to Mr Sterne

Event Comment: Benefit for Macklin. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. [In afterpiece the playbill assigns Charlotte to Mrs Morton, but "On the illness of Mrs Morton Miss Ambrose, whom many must remember on the stage, was applied to--and undertook the part. Long disuse to it had made her timid [she had retired from the stage in May 1782], but she was well received by the public, and performed well" (World, 7 May). Mrs Morton is also listed as Betty Hint in mainpiece; her substitute in that part is not known.] World, 17 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Macklin, No. 6, Tavistock-row, Covent Garden. Receipts: #335 1s. 6d. (173.19.6; 2.11.0; tickets: 156.11.0)

Event Comment: The Manager of the Opera, in conjunction with Noverre, the Ballet Master, esteem it their duty to request all persons who are not immediately interested in the performance of the new ballet of L'Amour et Psiche, to keep clear from the stage during the time of its representation, lest any accident should arise from the moving of the Machinery, from the flambeaux to be used therein, and from the opening of the Trap Doors, circumstances which must necessarily take place on the Practices and Representation of that ballet, and which they therefore think it incumbent on themselves to forewarn and caution the Public. "Noverre was unanimously called for on the stage to receive the applause and acclamations due to his merit...This, though common in France, was a new mark of approbation in England" (Burney,II, 901). Receipts: #146 1s. 6d. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: The Manager of the Opera House hopes for the Indulgence of the Public, in laying before them the great Complaints which have been made to him, on account of Invoncenience in the Entertainments, arising from the enormous Caps and Bonnets which several Ladies make it a Practice to appear in, within the Pit of this Theatre, excluding thereby that Part which is presentdd from the Dancing in a great Degree. The Manager is therefore under the Necessity of soliciting the Ladies to take the same into their Consideration, and humbly presumes for their Indulgence on the Occasion. Receipts: #246 8s. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Yarico to Mrs Billington, but "The Director is extremely sorry to be under the Necessity of making such frequent Apologies for unavoidable Disappointments [see 18, 20 Feb.]; Mrs Billington being this Afternoon taken extremely ill, it is hoped Miss Chapman will be honoured this Evening with the usual Indulgence of the Public, in the Part of Yarico" (printed slip on BM playbill, cg, Vol. VI).] Receipts: #196 9s. (185.6; 11.3)

Event Comment: The Manager most respectfully informs the Subscribers and the Public that the Operas end this evening at this Theatre, and will open on Tuesday next the 15th at Covent-Garden Theatre, to perform the remainder of the Subscription Nights. At which Theatre the Manager has carefully arranged every Box to accomodate the Subscribers according to the plan of the present Opera season

Event Comment: The Subscribers and the Public are respectfully acquainted that, on account of the length of the performance on Thursday last, and the Dances introduced in the Opera, there will be but one Ballet this evening

Event Comment: "Pacchierotti was taken ill on Saturday and was unable to sing his songs. An apology was made for him, and he walked on and walked off without diminution of the public pleasure. Here was an unanswerable argument for the Pantheon as an Opera-House; for the silence of a singer is no injury to the entertainment" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Feb.)

Event Comment: Benefit for R. Palmer. The Public is respecfully inform'd that the Prelude of The Hop formerly advertised for Mr Palmer's Benefit is on a very particular account withdrawn from the Theatre. Oracle, 7 May: Tickets to be had of R. Palmer, No. 14, East Place, Lambeth. Receipts: #292 5s. 6d. (77.13.0; 30.15.6; 2.6.0; tickets: 181.11.0) (charge: #117 0s. 7d.)

Event Comment: The Public is respectfully informed, that the Cave of Trophonius performed with universal applause for the Benefit of Mrs Crouch [on 3 May], is now undergoing some Alterations, and will be produced in the early part of next Season [see 15 Oct.]. Receipts: #161 15s. 6d. (125.13.0; 35.2.6; 1.0.0)

Event Comment: The School for Scandal [advertised on playbill of 22 Sept., as was No Song No Supper for 3rd piece], intended for this Evening's Representation, is deferred till Tuesday, the Stage having been so constantly occupied by the Workmen preparing and adapting the various Scenes for this Theatre that the usual course of Rehearsals has been necessarily impeded. The Public are most respectfully informed that every Endeavour is exerting to remove all cause of Complaints respecting the Entrances and Passages to the different Doors of Admission. The large Hall below Stairs will be opened at Five o'Clock, for the accomodation of the Company frequenting the Pit previous to the opening the Office Doors. Receipts: #347 4s. (303.19; 43.2; 0.3)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Baker and Murray. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. The Public are respectfully apprized that every Exertion will be used to render the Evening's Entertainment worthy their Patronage and Support

Event Comment: [This is the only occasion in the 18th century when a play was acted in London on this date. "The performance at the Haymarket on the 30th of January has been noticed by his Majesty in a manner which is still a topic of conversation in the higher circles...There will be no more theatrical performances on the 30th of January" (London Chronicle, 28 Feb.). On 3 Feb. the Lord Chamberlain wrote to Sheridan as follows: "Sir--Information has been received at this Office that Theatrical Entertainments were exhibited at the Theatre, under your direction, in St. James's Haymarket on the 30th of Last Month, contrary to all precedent, and repugnant to Decency, being the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First. I do not know by what Authority such a Step was taken but, as Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household, think it my Duty to desire that you will be pleased to Cause the Practice to be discontinued in future. I am, Sir, Your Obedient, Humble Servant, Salisbury" (MS Letters to Sheridan from Various Correspondents,II, 64, in Harvard Theatre Collection). The Morning Chronicle on 31 Jan. offered another opinion: "It gave us infinite pleasure that last night we happily broke through one of the most absurd fasts in the calendar. The Managers of Drury Lane, with proper regard to the public, rescued them from the common dullness of a 30th of January." But the absurd fast remained in force until 1843.] Receipts: #339 18s. (291.4; 40.0; 8.11; ticket not come in: 0.3)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece, who is named in the Account-Book, but not on the playbill]. "A considerable tumult prevailed last night among the audience of this Theatre, on account of the unavoidable substitution of Miss Chapman and Mrs Harlowe for Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells (who are both indisposed). It was not that the audience objected to the former two, but because the names of Mrs Esten and Mrs Wells were printed in the bills usually sold about the Theatre, though not in those properly issued from the House. [Mrs Esten's name, however (but not Mrs Wells'), is listed in the "House" playbill for this night.] The audience were very violent, and the actors, after having nearly finished the first Act twice, were obliged to begin the Comedy a third time, before it was suffered quietly to proceed" (Morning Herald, 9 Feb.). "The fracas at Covent-garden Theatre on Wednesday evening was occasioned by the dexterity of certain Lottery Office keepers, who, in order to give notoriety to their shops, daily cause spurious Dramatis Personae of the theatres to be circulated; and on the reverse of these bills is conspicuously held forth the advantages of the public paying their cash into their gambling treasuries" (Morning Herald, 10 Feb.). Receipts: #191 17s. 6d. (187.2.6; 4.15.0; tickets: none listed)