Event Comment: MMr Powell's first Appearance in Leonatus. very Wild & Stampt too much with his foot receiv'd much Applause (Hopkins). Mr Powell's first appearance in the character of Leonatus,--he was very wild and uncouth in great part, and stampt with his feet in such a manner, that he appeared like a madman,--but gained much applause (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #252 9s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: MMr Powell played very well (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Ld Chalkstone for 1st time by Mr Yates (very bad) (Hopkins). Benefit for Mrs Yates. Receipts: #259 8s. 6d. (MacMillan); charges: #65 9s. [Profit to Mrs Yates: #193 19s.

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but the Gentleman's Journal, April 1693 (issued in May) states that it followed D'Urfey's comedy: And since that [The Richmond Heiress] another by Mr George Powell, call'd, a very good Wife, which hath already been acted five times (p. 130). It is likely that Powell's comedy first appeared late in April or very early in May. Dedication, Edition of 1693: The unexpected Success of this Play. A Comparison between the Two Stages (p. 16): Ramble: The next? Sullen: A very good Wife. Ramble: That's almost a Solaecism: whose is't? Sullen: Oh an excellent Author's! one George Powell's, the Player. Ramble. What was it's Fate? Sullen: Damn'd, damn'd, as it deserv'd

Event Comment: MMr Powell play'd much better than first Night (Hopkins). Receipts: #233 9s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Powell, 24 Oct.: Wedding Day rehearsed at 10; Emilia Galotti at 11; Distressed Mother at 1; 25 Oct.: Emilia Galotti rehearsed at 10; Pirates at 12. Receipts: #393 14s. (294.9; 96.0; 3.5)

Event Comment: Powell: All's Well rehearsed at 10; Nobody at 12. Receipts: #157 13s. (135.15.6; 21.2.0; 0.15.6)

Event Comment: Powell: Deaf Lover rehearsed at 10; New Ballet at 11 (dismissed). Receipts: #230 (182.14.6; 42.14.6; 3.16.0; 6.1.2 tks.: 0.15.0)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of this production is not certain. The Dedication, signed by George Powell and John Verbruggen, is dated Monday, 16 Oct. 1696, but this date is in error, for the sixteenth fell on Friday in October; however, 16 Nov. 1696 fell on Monday. In addition, the Dedication implies that the two men hope to have visitors (i.e., spectators at performances) on "Wednesday, and Saturday next, the Visiting Days of, Your Friends and Servants, George Powell, John Verbruggen." It is possible that the text and the songs were printed in advance of performance and were available at the theatre, but it is still uncertain whether the opera first appeared in October or November 1696. The Single Songs, With the Dialogue, was published separately in 1696, with Daniel Purcel named as the composer. The songs to which performers' names are listed are as follows: Cease, Cynthia, cease your fruitless tears, sung by Mrs Cross. I courted and writ, the verse by Jo Hanes and sung by Church. How happy I am the fair sex can defy, the verse by Jo Hanes and sung by Leveridge. 'Tis in vain to tell me I am deceived, sung by Freeman. Great queen of Hymen's hallowed fires, sung by Mrs Willis. Why, Chloe, will you not perceive, the verse by John Robens and sung by Church. Why dost thou fly me, sung by Edwards and Mrs Cross. If mortals laugh and sing, sung by Freeman. The Songs were entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1696

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Samuel Birch, based on James Powell's unacted play, The Narcotic, 1787; incidental music by Thomas Attwood (see 28 Nov.). Larpent MS 1182; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Chronicle, 30 Oct.]. Receipts: #309 19s. 6d. (222.7.6; 86.1.0; 1.11.0)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 3-5 March 1697@8, suggests that the first performance occurred probably not later than early February 1697@8. The Preface is signed by George Powell, who refers to the author of the play as unknown. In addition, Powell mentions that his company has recently revived some of Dryden's plays: Don Sebastian, Secret Love; or, The Maiden Queen, Marriage a la Mode, King Arthur, and adds: In relation to our reviving his Almanzor...very hard crutching up what Hart and Mohun...could not prop

Event Comment: And at the Desire of several Persons of Quality, Mr Powell is prevail'd upon to Act his own Part of Sir Courtly

Event Comment: Benefit Powell. Admission as 7 Aug. At 5:00 p.m

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Beaumont and Fletcher, reviv'd. Afterpiece: Not acted these three years. [See 8 Aug. 1761.] Mr Powell made his first appearance this Night in Philaster. His Reception was very great, he play'd the part amazingly well, & Seems to have Requisites to make a very Capital Performer. N.B. Covent Garden Theater begun to play every Night (Hopkins). Philaster by Mr Powell. Prodigious applause (Cross Diary). This play [Philaster] was wrote by Beaumont and Fletcher, and is now altered by Mr Colman. Mr Powell, a young gentleman clerk to Sir Robert Ladbrook, made his first appearance in the character of Philaster.--A greater reception was never shown to anybody,--he was so very much frightened, he could not speak for some time, and, when he did, the tears ran fast down his cheeks,--but he soon recovered himself, and went through the part with a great deal of nature and feeling,--Continued claps and huzza of bravo! &c. &c. Upon the whole I think him possessed of every requisite necessary to make him an ornament to the stage.--N.B. Mr D. Garrick instructed him in this part--when I see him in another shall be able to judge better of his capabilities.--Miss Pope appeared this Night in the character of Maria in the Citizen,--by endeavoring to be very fine she overdid it,--and it was plain to see she wanted her master. N.B.--Covent Garden began to play of our nights--the first time they ever begin first since Mr Garrick was manager (Hopkins Diary--MacMillan). Receipts: #258 11s. 6d. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: Benefit for Powell. Ladies send Servants by 3 o'clock (playbill). Othello (for first time) Mr Powell. This Night there was the greatest over flow ever known. the Crowd was so great it prevented the Ladies from coming into the Boxes till near Seven o clock at half past Six begun the play. As the Ladies were not come into the Boxes, being prevented by passage being Stopt up by the Crowd the Gentlemen Cry'd out. off off &c. Mr King & Mr Havard remaind on the Stage some time but the Noise increasing. Mr King address'd the Audience & told them it would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, upon which there was a great Clap & the Curtain was drop'd & a quarter before Seven begun the play again. N.B. The Farce was hiss'd all thro'(Hopkins). This night one of the greatest overflows that ever was known. The crowd was so great it preventdd the ladies from coming to their places in the boxes till near seven o'clock-At half past six the play began, and in the first scene they cried Off, off.' Mr King and Mr Havard remained on the Stage some time; but the noise increasing, Mr King went forward and said, It would be equally agreeable to the performers to stay half an hour longer, before they began-upon which there was a great clap, and the curtain was dropped; and in about a Quarter of an hour began the play again (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Receipts: #268 11s. (MacMillan). charges. #64 9s. [Profit to Powell: #204 2s.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Powell. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Send servants by 3 o'clock. House charges #74 10s. [Profit to Powell #207 5s.] Paid Johnston, under prompter #7; Five extra trumpets #1 5s.; 2 Flutes 10s.; Chorus singers #2 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #281 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Half past 4 walked to Drury Lane House. With every great difficulty got into the 2s. Gallery before; saw the Death of Alexander with his Triumphal Entrance into Babylonv and the Dance of the Vintage, for the benefit of Powell who played Alexander. Some reported that Garrick says he makes mistakes in the character exceedingly in the banquet scene, in which no one ever surpassed him. I cannot judge of the truth of this observation (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: At 5 went into the Pit at Covent Garden to see Mrs Yates do Lady Townly. Yates is an excellent Sir Francis, but Powell does not shine in Lord Townly....The Entertainment was the new comedy in two acts called the Oxonian in Town, with a prologue by Woodward in the character of a student....It being suspected that a number of sharpers whose characters and practices are laid open in this piece, would attempt to damn it tonight (the 3rd of its being Performed) under pretence of its casting odium on the Irish, bills were dispersed in the House during the play vindicating it from any such intention. Woodward was allowed to speak the prologue, but as soon as the curtain drew up catcalls began. When the performers retired, Powell spoke several times, but was not heard. I was told that the author (Mr Colman) desires to know whom he has offended. The Pros were a very great majority, and at last after a contest of better than 1!2 an hour, the victory was over and the piece was performed. I think it contains many good sentiments, and excellent instruction to young men and is not unworthy of Mr Colman. If vice must not be exposed to hatred and contempt, the usefulness of our theatres is at an end. Only I think the Covent Garden pleasures are represented in too favourable a light. When all was over Powell came on the stage and thanked the audience for their generous protection (Neville MS Diary). Receipts: #212 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Permssion of the Manager of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. The Overture and Music by Dr Arnold. Powell: Children in the Wood rehearsed at 10 (Bannister, Dignum, Mrs Powell, Mrs Bland absent); No Song No Supper at 11 (for Starace, Kelly, Leak, Dignum, Sedgwick); Distressed Mother at 12. Receipts: #385 7s. (310/1/6; 64/10/6; 10/15/0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations [by John Philip Kemble. In his version, as published in 1793, Lewis is assigned to Barrymore, Helena to Mrs Siddons, the Countess to Mrs Ward, Diana to Mrs Powell. Genest lists the present cast; it appears to be reliable. He omits Phillimore, who is assigned in the text, and Miss Tidswell]. A new Edition of All's Well that Ends Well to be had in the Theatre. Afterpiece: With a Sea Fightv. Powell: Drummer rehearsed at 10; Critic at 11:30; Cherokee at 1. Receipts: #282 1s. (178.19; 99.16; 3.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Powell. "If we make allowances for embarrassment and imperfect study, the performance of Mrs Powell was by no means indifferent" (Monthly Mirror, May 1796, p. 50). Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years. Morning Herald, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Powell, No. 22, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #466 11s. 6d. (189.3.6; 53.1.6; 4.14.6; tickets: 216.15.0) (charge: #212)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Powell. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1, author unknown. MS not in Larpent MS; not published]: Founded on a recent fortunate Event [the escape of Sir William Sidney Smith from The Temple, Paris, on 24 Apr. 1798 (European Magazine, June 1798, p. 395)]. With appropriate Scenery, and Machinery. [3rd piece in place of The Children in the Wood, advertised on playbill of 19 May.] Times, 15 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Powell, No. 43, Craven-street, Strand. Receipts: #548 17s. (233.4.6; 61.4.6; 0.17.0; tickets: 253.11.0) (charge: #214 12s. 1d.)