Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Wells, but she "was so ill last night that she could not perform the part of Jane Shore. It was undertaken by Mrs T. Kennedy" (Public Advertiser, 21 Dec.).] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by John O'Keeffe]: The Pantomime, and the whole of the Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. designed and invented by Loutherbourg, and executed under his superintendance and direction by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Catton Jun., Turner, assisted by two other celebrated artists [all subsequent playbills have "a celebrated artist"; he was the Rev. Matthew William Peters (Public Advertiser, 16 Dec.)]. The Music entirely new, composed by Shield. Books containing a short account of the Pantomime, as well as the Recitatives, Airs, Duets, Trios and Chorusses, and a Description of the Procession, to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. [This was the last theatrical piece for which De Loutherbourg designed the scenery. For a detailed account of it see "De Loutherbourg and Captain Cook", by Ralph G. Allen, Theatre Research, IV, 195-211.] Account-Book, 17 Oct.: Paid De Loutherbourg on acct. #120; 20 Dec.: Paid Goodwin for copying Music #10 14s.; 14 Feb. 1786: Paid O'Keeffe in full for Omai #40. Receipts: #309 19s. (302/7; 7/12)

Event Comment: 2nd piece: Never [previously] acted in this Kingdom [by Robert Jephson, altered by the author from his The Hotel; or, The Servant with Two Masters, which was based on Il Servitore di due Padroni, by Carlo Goldoni, and on Arlequin Valet de deux Maitres, by Jean Pierre de Ours de Mandajors, and 1st acted at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 8 May 1783]. Oracle, 18 Mar. 1791: This Day is published Two Strings to Your Bow (1s). Receipts: #210 3s. 6d. (205.17.0; 4.6.6)

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@149, p. 368: The Queene a Box, and a Box for the Maids Honor at Don Sebastian King of Portugal. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. There is no certainly that this is the first performance. The play was entered in the Stationers' Register, 15 Dec. 1689. See also Charles E. Ward, The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, N. C., 1961), pp. 242-46. Preface, Edition of 1690: I am...to acknowledge, with all manner of gratitude, their civility; who were pleas'd to endure it with so much patience....Above twelve hundred lines have been cut off from this tragedy since it was first deliver'd to the actors. They were indeed so judiciously lopt by Mr Betterton, to whose care and excellent action I am equall y oblig'd, that the connexion of the story was not lost. Does a cryptic remark by Huygens, 3 Dec. 1689 OS, refer to this play: Dat dat geklap met de handen in comedie, onlanxgebeurt, als er gesproken wierd van een Coning, die wederom quam in sign rijck, van seer quade consequentie was. Dat voorseker de Con. too mercifull was, en dat er mosten exempelen gestatueert werden (Journal van Constantijn Huygens, Dutch Historical Society Transactions, New Series, XXIII [Utrecht, 18-212)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 3, by John Rose, based on Raoul Sire De Crequi, by Jaques Marie Boutet de Monvel]: With new Scenes [by Greenwood (Public Advertiser, 19 Oct.)], Dresses and Decorations. The Music composed principally by Attwood; the rest selected from Mozart and Sarti. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 20 Dec. 1792: This Day is published The Prisoner (1s.). Receipts: #217 10s. (128.12; 86.10; 2.8)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of THE LONDON HERMIT, advertised on playbill of 11 Aug.]