Event Comment: Benefit for Middleton. [1st piece in place of NAPLES BAY, advertised on playbill of 27 May.] 3rd piece [1st time; MD 3, by Henry Siddons. Author of Prologue unknown]: Taken from the Sicilian Romance of the Author of the Romance of the Forest [Ann Radcliffe}. Overture and Music entirely new by Reeve. Morning Herald, 6 June 1794: This Day is published THE SICILIAN ROMANCE (1s.) [In 3rd piece the playbill lists Incledon, but "an apology was made on account of Incledon's indisposition, whose character in the After-piece was well supported by Townsend" (Thespian Magazine, July 1794, p. 281).] Morning Herald, 22 May: Tickets to be had of Middleton at Vint's, perfumer, No. 3, Tavistock-row, CoventGarden. Receipts: #203 13s. 6d. (92/14/0; 9/3/0; tickets: 101/16/6)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Johnstone, but "An apology was made for Johnstone's absence from the theatre, on account of indisposition, and his character was undertaken, at a short notice, by Macready" (Morning Herald, 13 Nov.).] Receipts: #159 18s. (149.1.6; 10.16.6)

Event Comment: ["Towards the begining of the second act of Marian, Miss Poole, while on the stage, was taken suddenly ill, and literally fainted away; and it was with much difficulty that Mr Thompson [on 18 Nov. 1793 he is listed as acting Oliver], who stood near her at the time, prevented her falling down. She was carried off motionless, and an apology being made to the audience by Incledon, the piece was brought to a conclusion" (Morning Herald, 17 Nov.).] Receipts: #201 19s. (194.7.6; 7.11.6)

Event Comment: [The playbill assigns Joseph Surface to Palmer, but "Palmer at a late hour sent word that he was unable to attend to his Business this Evening, in consequence of which a messenger was dispatch'd after Mr Barrymore to play Joseph Surface, but he could not be found, Mr Benson was therefore sent for, who, after having an apology made for him, play'd the Part. Banks play'd Surface's Servant " (Powell: Trip to Scarborough rehearsed at 10; Measure at 12. Receipts: #252 16s. (172.13.0; 77.9.6; 2.13.6)

Event Comment: 3rd piece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 10 July 1794]. [In 2nd piece the playbill retains Fawcett as Gregory Gubbins, but "An apology for Fawcett, whose character (Gregory Gubbins) was filled by Wathen, occasioned a general murmur" (Monthly Magazine, July 1796, p. 494). It also assigns the Corporal to Wathen (1st appearance in that character). The part was probably acted by Burton, as on 13 June.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed at this Theatre. [In afterpiece the playbill assigns Valentine to Johnstone, but "Johnstone's indisposition produced an apology:--his character was undertaken by Incledon" (Morning Herald, 22 Sept.).] Receipts: #280 10s. 6d. (254.12.6; 25.18.0)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Incledon as Paris. but "An apology was made for Incledon, and his part was sustained by Mrs Lee" (Morning Herald, 11 Nov.).] Receipts: #211 9s. 6d. (202.10.6; 8.19.0)

Event Comment: The Publick is most respectfully informed that on account of the sudden Indisposition of a Principal Performer, the new Tragedy of The Conspiracy [advertised on playbill of 11 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred. "A new tragedy, entitled The Conspiracy, written by Mr Jephson, was announced for representation on Saturday evening; but (as the apology stated) on account of the indisposition of a principal performer, The Grecian Daughter was substituted in its room. All the principal performers advertised for the new play having, however, appeared in The Grecian Daughter, it is supposed, and generally understood, that it was the interference of the Lord Chamberlain's interdiction (who, by the mighty virtues of his white wand, valiantly frustrated the meditated Conspiracy), that produced the sudden change of performance" (Morning Herald, 14 Nov.), Receipts: #256 7s. 6d. (167.6.6; 84.11.0; 4.10.0)

Event Comment: [Murray's 1st appearance as Dr Caius was at Bristol, 11 June 1787. In adterpiece the playbill retains Incledon, but "Last night at Covent Garden an apology [was] made for the indisposition of Incledon, and a request that Bowden might sing the Hunting Song in his stead" (Morning Herald, 29 Dec.).] Receipts: #216 15s. 6d. (208.17.6; 7.18.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains King, but he "being suddenly indisposed with the gout, his part was, after an apology, undertaken by Dowton, who performed it with considerable effect" (Morning Herald, 25 Apr.).] Receipts: #283 17s. (213.16.6; 67.1.0; 2.19.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. 1st piece: In 3 Acts. [In 1st piece the playbill assigns Welford to Holman, and in 3rd piece Don Carlos to the same. But "An uncle of Holman expired suddenly on Saturday morning. An apology was made for Holman in the evening, and Macready took the Parts he was to have performed in the Play and Farce" (True Briton, 8 May). In 1st piece Cheaterly is assigned to Macready; who took his place is not stated.] True Briton, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 8, Great Russell-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #223 12s. 6d. (118.10.0; 4.2.0; tickets: 101.0.6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Fawcett, but "An apology was last night made for the absence of Fawcett, occasioned by a severe domestic affliction-the death of his wife; and his part in the Heir at Law was, in consequence, read by Wathen" (Morning Herald, 1 Aug.).

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Aickin and Miss DeCamp, but "This was a singularly disastrous evening. Mrs Gibbs read Miss DeCamp's character...Aickin was taken suddenly ill after the first act, and the remainder of his part was read by Davenport." In afterpiece "Palmer, having gone through a scene of the Guardian, made an apology to the audience, and read the remainder of Heartly" (Monthly Mirror, Sept. 1797, p. 182). Miss Stuart was from dl.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Acasto to Murray, but "An apology was made for Murray, who was prevented by illness from playing Acasto, which, at a short notice, was taken by Hull" (True Briton, 14 Oct.).] "This whole of [Mrs Spencer's] performance was marked by such unaffected simplicity that it was almost impossible to consider it as the mere fiction of the scene. This lady is really a great aquisition to the house" (True Briton, ibid). Receipts: #254 6s. 6d. (244.18.6; 9.8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for King. [This was Smith's last appearance on the stage, from which he had officially retired on 9 June 1788.] Broadside in Kemble playbills announcing this benefit: Mr King most respectfully informs the Public that his Night is fixed for Friday the 18th of May, when will be presented The School for Scandal. Mr King has the pleasure to add that Mr Smith, who was so long and so worthily applauded by the Public, and was the original performer of Charles Surface in the above, distinguished Comedy, at the particular request of Mr King, backed by a strong assurance from many admirers and encouragers of the Drama that it will not only add to Mr King's emolument but highly gratify the Town, has kindly consented to return to the Theatre for one night, and resume his favourite Character. "We had been told that Smith pourtrayed the Manners of a finished gentleman with more delicacy and characteristic propriety than any actor of his day; but this did not appear to us to be his particular excellence; he stands too wide to be graceful, and his deportment gains no advantage from a perpetual application of his hand to the lower part of the waist. These habits are far from elegant. His Charles, however, is a favourable specimen of that sort of acting which commonly falls under the denomination of the old school: light, airy, and natural; which excites applause without any anxious endeavour to produce it; which suffers the points to tell of themselves, and does not place them as so many traps to ensnare the injudicious part of the audience" (Monthly Mirror, May 1798, p. 299). "He was received with the most heart-felt gratulations by an audience who did not expect any apology for such acting, though he saw fit to deliver one at the conclusion of the play" (Monthly Visitor, May 1798, p. 72). Times, 4 May: Tickets to be had of King at his house, New Store-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #674 6s. (388.0.6; 55.17.6; 2.0.0); tickets: 228.8.0) (charge: #212 5s. 6d.)

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains Powel as Mr Pickle, but "Last night, after the performance of Lover's Vows, an apology was made by Murray for Powel who, notwithstanding he performed in the play in apparent good health and spirits, was of a sudden taken so ill that his life is despaired of by his physicians. His part in The Spoiled Child was in consequence...undertaken by Dibdin Jun., which he performed with much humour and discrimination" (Morning Herald, 20 Oct.). Powel died the following morning.] Receipts: #367 4s. (360.7; 6.17)

Event Comment: The Epilogue was called for, and "after a short apology [Munden] proceeded with the Epilogue...[which] was not advertised for the night, and had been omitted on the last performance of the play [on 22 Nov.]" (Times, 26 Nov.). Receipts: #313 17s.(299.15; 14.2)

Event Comment: "Much of the superfluous matter [in mainpiece] is cut out. The Epilogue...was not delivered on Saturday night; an apology was made for it on account of an accident" (Morning Chronicle, 27 May). Receipts: #301 3s. (264.6; 36.4; 0.13)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Pope, but "An apology was made for Pope, who it seems is prevented by indisposition from attending to his professional duties. Claremont appeared as his substitute in Albert. The part in itself is so trifling and despicable that it is of little signification who performs it" (Dramatic Censor, I, Claremont's original part was probably omitted; see 21 Jan.] Receipts: #272 8s. 6d. (268.4.6; 4.4.0)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Lady Perrott and her Orphan Family. Lady Perrott trusts that this will be her last appeal to public commiseration, hoping to obtain justice from her claims in Jamaica. When it is considered that these agonizing efforts to preserve five helpless children are made by a woman born to all the delicate indulgences attending on rank and fashion, every species of apology would be deemed an insult to be had of Lady Perrott, No. 28, Spring-street, Portman-square

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Bland, but "An apology was made on behalf of Mrs Bland, who was prevented from appearing in public this evening by a recent loss in her family. We understand one of her children was unfortunately burnt to death, by its clothes taking fire...Mrs Roffey undertook her plaintive air in the Fourth Act, and was favourably received" (Dramatic Censor, I, 311).] Receipts: #244 18s. 6d. (181.13.0; 62.3.6; 1.2.0)

Event Comment: "Mrs Siddons fatigued herself so much with her exertions...that she was unable to speak the Epilogue. An apology was accordingly made for its omission, and very favourably received by a drowsy audience, who were happy to find the Tragedy had reached its conclusion" (Dramatic Censor, II, 134). Receipts: #212 1s. (159.17.6; 51.2.6; 1.1.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Trueman. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Walcot as Mrs Heidelberg, but "An apology was made on behalf of Mrs Walcot, in whose stead the papt of Mrs Heidelberg was ably sustained by Mrs Sparks" (Dramatic Censor, II, 243. As afterpiece the playbill announces Three Weeks after Marriage, but "Mrs Jordan happening, like other great performers, to be taken ill (it is wonderful how much great actors and actresses are subject to sudden indisposition!) Trueman was under the necessity of subsituting The Prize for the afterpiece" (ibid, p. 244).] Morning Chronicle, 30 May: Tickets to be had of Trueman, No. 38, Norfolk-street, Strand. Receipts: #127 8s. (70.6; 55.6; 1.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #201 2s. 2d.)

Event Comment: [The playbill announces phe 1st night of What a Blunder!, but "In consequence of a severe accident C. Kemble met with yesterday evening by a fall in the last scene of Obi, the new opera of What a Blunder! cannot be acted. This evening will be presented The London Hermit" (MS annotation on hay playbill now at Harvard). "In making his leap from the precipice, the needful precautions to break his fall were not employed With sufficient promptitude. The consequence was that Kemble received several violent contusions, and sprained his back in a dangerous manner...The New Opera, in which that actor was to have performed a principal part, was necessarily postponed, and the above Entertainments substituted in its place. A proper apology was made to the audience, as well on account of the unavoidable disappointment, as the incorrectness which might naturally be expected to occur, from the suddenness of the change, and the absence of some of the regular performers" (Dramatic Censor, III, 83).