Event Comment: The Tragedy of Tamerlane intended for this day and Saturday cannot be acted, on account of the Indisposition of a principal performer. Receipts: #157 12s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Before the performance this evening Macklin came to the audience in person with a sheaf of newsclippings in his hand and belabored his detractors, falsely accusing Reddish and Sparks from Drury Lane as leading a planned coalition against him. The play went on with applause, but affidavits sworn under oath by both Sparks and Reddish the following day, brought the dispute to such a head in the newspaper that a riot occured the night of 18 Nov., when Macklin did Shylock (since Colman would not risk Macbeth after 13 Nov.) and announcement was made by Colman that Macklin had been dismissed. See 23 Oct.] Receipts: #152 11s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Clinch. Doors opened at half past 5. Play to begin at Half an Hour after 6. [Afterpiece written by Sheridan for Clinch, traditionally in gratitude for his saving The Rivals from damnation. (See Thomas Moore's Life of Sheridan [London, 1825], I, 148). The Westminster Magazine for May adds to cast: Irish Corporal-Fox; Soldiers-$Davies, $Wewitzer, Chaplin, and reviews the piece briefly: St Patrick's day is replete with broad humor, homely jests, and extravagant caricature. The language in general shewed the author a man of honour and observation; the situations were whimsical and produced that mirth which the audience in the Prologue were invited to partake of....The jests were occasionally too low and vulgar, and his scene too extravagantly absurd. The main drift of the Prologue was to tell the Audience that a fine Spring impeded the theatrical harvest; and that at this season the benefits of Nature were the greatest enemies to the Performer's Benefits."

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed here. [Afterpiece in place of Tom Thumb, announced on playbill of 28 Nov. Address, probably written by Mrs Abington, printed in Public Advertiser, 9 Dec] Receipts: #274 19s. 6d. (271/5/0; 3/14/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Elizabeth Inchbald. Prologue and Epilogue by Geoge Colman, the elder (see text, which also gives names of the speakers)]. Morning Chronicle, 25 July 1786: This Day is published I'll Tell You What (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: The Music by Hook; the rest compiled from the most eminent Masters. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 12, Norton-street, Portland Chapel. Receipts: #313 17s. (166.16.6; 12.2.6; tickets: 134.18.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being a Collection of favorite Scenes from the following celebrated Pantomimes: Harlequin Sorcerer, Mother Shipton, Choice of Harlequin, Lord Mayor's Day, Druids, Fryar Bacon, Harlequin Freemason, Norwood Gipsies, Omai, Magic Cavern, Harlequin Rambler. The Dances [composed] by Byrne. The Original Scenery, Machinery &c. painted by Lambert, Dall, Carver, Hodgins and Richards. The Music selected by Shaw from Pepuch [sic], Dr Arne, Arnold, Fisher, M.? Arne, Vincent, Didbin, Reeve, Shield. Receipts: #193 7s. (187.15; 15.12)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 3]: The Dialogue and part of the Songs written by Richard? Wilson. The Overture, new Music and accompaniments composed by Reeve. The Songs, Duets, Glees compiled from Arnold, Rogers, Giordani, Shield, Hook, Dibdin, W. Wilson, Stevens, Broderip and David Rizzio. [Larpent MS 908; not published. Prologue probably by Richard Wilson. Epilogue by Joseph Haynes.] Public Advertiser, 14 May: Tickets to be had of Wilson. No. 10, Bow-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #354 14s. 6d. (165.17.6; 5.4.0; tickets: 183.13.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Being a Collection of favorite Scenes from the following celebrated Pantomimes: Harlequin Sorcerer, Mother Shipton, Choice of Harlequin, Lord Mayor's Day, Druids, Fryar Bacon, Harlequin Freemason, Norwood Gipsies, Omai, Magic Cavern, Harlequin Rambler. The Dances [composed] by Byrne. The Original Scenery, Machinery &c. painted by Lambert, Dall, Carver, Hodgins and Richards. The Music selected by Shaw from Pepuch [sic], Dr Arne, Arnold, Fisher, M.? Arne, Vincent, Didbin, Reeve, Shield. Receipts: #193 7s. (187.15; 15.12)

Event Comment: At Cibber's Histrionic Academy on the Bowling Green, A Public Rehearsal, gratis. With out Gain, Hire or Reward. The Rehearsal must begin punctually at 6 p.m. No Money will be taken, nor any Persons admitted without Pass Tickets, which will be given by Mr Cibber to particular Patrons, Friends and Customers. The Cephalick Snuff is to be had at the Above Academy, at the following Prices, viz., First sort 3s., second sort 2s., third sort 1s., none sold under. [Play not given. See Public Advertiser, 14 Dec. "Southwark. Some sudden Disappointments (as unexpected as unforeseen) compel me to defer opening my Histrionic Academy." Advance advertisement had also appeared in the Daily Advertiser, 6 Dec.

Event Comment: At the Little Theatre in James Street near the Haymarket. Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin exactly at 6:00. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. to the public. After several of our Lords and Masters, the Men, have with various success made wry faces for the amusement of the town; permit a woman to attempt the arduous task of laughing the men out of their follies; declaring, however, that while she attempts the ridicule of vices peculiar to the other sex, she will by no means spare the slightest foible of her own (Public Advertiser). The Theatre is fitted up in an elegant manner, and constant fires are kept to make the house agreeably warm (Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser). [This Lecture continued to 6 March.

Event Comment: MMrs Bellamy thinks it her duty to inform the Public, that, as her name is in the Bills, (Though the Managers have sent her word she was not to play) she should think herself wanting of that Gratitude she owes the Public, if she did not let them know, she is ready to perform Cordelia. [Pasted in playbills of dl 1766-67 at 19 Jan. See Mrs Bellamy's Apology (1785) IV, 145-47, where she notes that although Miss Wilford made her entrance the audience forced her to withdraw and Mrs Bellamy acted the entire part.] Receipts: #221 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Dunstall the Balance due of the Benefit for Theatrical Fund, the 20th Inst. #101 17s. 6d. (Account Book). Receipts: #198 17s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid one year's Assurance on #5000 in the Royal Exchange Assurance Office to 31 March 1773, #12 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #116 5s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Smith, Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. [The change in benefit piece from Cymbeline and the Wish remains unexplained. (See 22 and 27 April.) Larpent MS 387 is the Wish, scene a Sultan's Gardenv. Parts: Ammath; Nourjahad; Mandana; Zelia and Sanbeg. It seems never to have been performed.] Paid licenses for Bob Ton & Inflexible Captive, & Book #4 5s. 6d. Receipts: #119 1s. Charges: #67 12s. Profits to Mrs Smith: #51 9s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid half a years rent to Duke of Bedford to Mich. Last #164 2s. 10d.; Ditto to Mr Wegg to ditto #57; Mrs Scott (laceman) #99 7s.; Mrs Chitty for coals #92 10s.; Mrs Sutton for women's cloathes #12; Tabor and Pipe 7 nights #3 13s. 6d.; Two additional flutes #3. Receipts: #272 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). At the Play Mr Garrick acted and the house was so full you could not have thrust your little finger in, not withstanding the plague sweeps us away by dozens (Cumberland's Letters; Hampden, Journal)

Event Comment: By Command. [No mention of the King and Queen in Treasurer's Book.] Paid Mr Grist on act by order #10. Receipts: #280 1s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Yates imperfect in Violante . House (Hopkins Diary). Paid half yrs. poor's rate #2 13s. 4d. Receipts: #260 7s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Scenery designed by De Loutherbourg, and executed under his direction. Paid Properties #6 1s. 5d. Receipts: #177 11s. 6d. (133/14/0; 43/17/6; 0/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Lessingham. Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Country. Afterpiece [1st time; C 2, ascribed to Charles Stuart. Author of Address unknown]. Public Advertiser, 24 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Lessingham at her House, the corner of Percy-street, Rathbone Place. Receipts: #224 1s. 6d. (151.19.6; tickets: 72.2.0) (charge: #65 13s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Oratorio composed by Handel. Tickets to be had and places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. The Doors to be opened at Five o'Clock. To Begin at Half past Six. N.B. Those ladies who had Side Boxes last year, are humbly requested if they intend to continue them the ensuing season, to give immediate notice to Mr Johnston to have them secured. [The Westminster Magazine (March) commented: "One of those whims by which the public are continually influenced, has made it the ton to resort to this theatre to hear and see Miss Linley, the syren of Bath. This young lady who is greatly indebted to nature for the eclat with which she is followed, and not a little to the fortuitous concurrence of remarkable incidents in her life has drawn crowded houses incessantly; and this success has been insured by the constant attendance of his Majesty and the Royal family at this theatre."

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris? Jun. Opera: In 2 acts; the music by Piccinni, and conducted by Bianchi. With new Scenes painted by Novosielski. New Dresses and Decorations both for the Opera and Dances. Mme Simonet will this Evening reassume her station at the Opera House; but as she is not perfectly recovered from the consequences of her late Accidnet, she hopes for the indulgence of the Public, from whom she has already received so many flattering proofs of Approbation. Tickets, 10s. 6d., to be had of Vestris, No. 5, Leicester-street, Leicester-fields. "Last Thursday was the benefit of Vestris and son; the house could not receive and contain the multitudes that presented themselves. Their oblations amounted to fourteen hundred pounds" (Walpole [26 Feb. 1781], XI, 406)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with the Repulse of the Spaniards before the Rock of Gibraltar [on 13 Sept. 1782; this was included in all subsequent performances]. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood. [Public Advertiser, 20 Dec, adds: The Overture by Baumgarten. The New Music and Accompaniments to the adapted Airs by Shield. Words of the Songs to be had at the Theatre.] Receipts: #164 2s. (106/13; 57/8; 0/1)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Tamerlane, announced on playbill of 23 Dec] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Ralph Wewitzer and Frederick Pilon. MS not in Larpent; not published. Synopsis of action in Town and Country Magazine, Supp. 1784, p. 717]: With new Scenery, Music, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes chiefly designed by Richards, and executed by him, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. The Overture, Songs, Chorusses and the whole Music of the Pantomime new, and composed by Shield. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. The Words of the Songs, &c to be had at the Theatre. "The performance was such as the first performance of pantomimes generally--machinery and scenery not so perfectly executed as when practice has rendered the movements more familiar to those to whom they belong, which, as the beauty of a pantomime depends on the celerity and adroitness of the scene-men, it seldom is discovered on the first night" (Public Advertiser, 28 Dec)

Event Comment: Paid 2 additional flutes 10s. Receipts: #279 6s. (Treasurer's Book)