Event Comment: "The shrillness of [Mrs Hopkins's] voice, and the squabbishness of her figure are admirable accompaniments to the peevish expression of her features, and thus as far as natural requisites go, she is perfectly suited to old maids and crabbed aunts" (Monthly Mirror, Aug. 1796, p. 240). [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Palmer, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Wathen, Suett, Miss DeCamp.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Andrew Franklin]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations entirely new. The Overture and Musick composed by Florio. The Scenes, designed by Greenwood, and painted by him, Banks, and assistants. The Machinery, Dresses and Decorations designed by Johnston, and executed by him, Gay, and Underwood. The Female Dresses designed and made under the direction of Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "With thy exception of Pizarro, this is one of the most magnificent spectacles the stage has for some time produced. The dresses...are attended with particular accuracy to the costume of the country...and the scenery is locally correct" (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1800, p. 173). "As a singer [Mme Mara's] powers are indisputable; but as a performer she exhibits herself in a light which alternately provokes our ridicule and pity. Her delivery is an absolute libel on the profession. To the defects of a foreign pronunciation she joins a natural impediment of speech, which partakes too strongly of a lisp to warrant her bearing part in the prose dialogue of a play. What could possibly induce her to appear before the public under such disadvantages, unless she did it in compliment to the composer, we are at a loss to conjecture; nor less are we puzzled to account for the supineness of an audience which can patiently tolerate such puny efforts" (Dramatic Censor, I, 347-48). Morning Chronicle, 14 June 1800: This day is published The Egyptian Festival (2s.). Receipts: #320 18s. 6d. (277.6.6; 42.8.0; 1.4.0)

Event Comment: Powell: Wonder rehearsed at 10 (Miss DeCamp one scene); Prize at 12. Receipts: #289 16s. [191.3.0; 96.3.6; 2.9.6)

Event Comment: [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Palmer, Miss DeCamp, Miss Heard.

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: 3rd piece: Taken from the French of Patrat; Performed but once [at cg on 24 Apr. 1798]. [On this night the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Aickin, Caulfield, Wathen, Trueman, Bannister, Miss DeCamp, Miss Heard.] On playbill of 13 June: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre. Printed by T. Woodfall, No. 104, Drury-Lane

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss DeCamp. Morning Chronicle, 10 May: Tickets to be had of Miss DeCamp, No. 14, Tottenham-court-road. Receipts: #431 9s. (143.8.6; 82.12.0; 2.5.0; tickets: 203.3.6) (charge: #217 8s. 2d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Bland as Madelon, but "Mrs Bland has just presented her husband with two fair daughters...In consequence Miss DeCamp, last night, assumed the part of Madelon" (Morning Herald, 15 Aug.).

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by William Linley. Larpent MS 1246; not published]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Overture and Musick entirely new, composed by William? Linley. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Notice on playbill of 20 Nov.: The Author of The Pavilion, submitting with deference to the decision of the Public, has withdrawn it for the present to make such alterations as he hopes may render it an Entertainment better entitled to their approbation. (On 21 Jan. 1800, altered, it was acted as The Ring.)] "Miss DeCamp need never wish to have a better foil to her exquisite style of acting, than the puny efforts of Kelly and Mrs Crouch. They may be singers, but never should attempt to perform" (Dramatic Censor, I, 9). Receipts: #291 4s. 6d. (157.3.0; 131.8.6; 2.13.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 1050; published (pirated) 1795]: The Musick, principally new, composed by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Mozart, Bianchi, Ditters and Sarti. The Scenes and Decorations are all designed and painted by Greenwood, except the View of the New Settlement, which is by Capon. The Dresses, &c. are executed by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Powell: Cherokee rehearsed at 9:30. Receipts: #340 5s. 6d. (284.5.0; 54.13.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; MD 3, by Prince Hoare. Larpent MS 1126; not published; synopsis of plot in Monthly Magazine, May 1796, p. 320]: With new Scenes, Dresses, Decorations, &c. The Musick principally composed by the late Mr Storace [who had died on 19 Mar.], with a few Selections from Paisiello, Haydn and Sarti. [Grove, under Storace, states that the music was completed and prepared for the stage by Kelly and Sga Storace.] The Scenes designed and executed by Marinari and assistants. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. "It was exceedingly tedious the first night, not being over till eleven o'clock. Since, it has been prudently cut down, and yet has lost nothing. A prologue, written on the very morning of representation, deploring the loss of the composer, was spoken (perfectly) by the last unfortunate Benson [for whom see 9 June. It was written by Hoare (Universal Magazine, May 1796, p. 362), and Was perhaps spoken only on the 1st night; it is not listed on any playbill]" (Monthly Magazine, May 1796, p. 320). "In short, possessing all the science of Harrison, the melody of Incledon, and the pleasing articulation of the late Mrs Kennedy, we have no hesitation in pronouncing [Braham] the first public singer of the present day. He was three times encored. His action is indifferent, and his dialogue scarcely audible" (Morning Herald, 2 May). Receipts: #297 14s. (258.10.6; 38.19.6; 0.4.0)

Event Comment: "In the scene with Salanio and Solarino after the discovery of Jessica's flight, Elliston was more noisy than impressive; and the speech "hath not a Jew eyes?" &c. was delivered with such a dreadful rant as to destroy all the beauty of the poet, as well as the effect which this part always produces when judiciously delivered...Miss DeCamp's Portia was beyond what we could possibly have expected from a person of her line of acting. It was frequently above, but never below mediocrity" (Monthly Visitor, Sept. 1797, p. 257)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Hook Jun. Larpent MS 1065; not published; synopsis of plot in Pocket Magazine, May 1795, p. 334]: The Musick composed by Hook? Sen. The Scenes, Dresses, Decorations and Machinery are entirely new. The Scenery of the Opera designed and painted by Greenwood and Capon. The Masque and Decorations by Marinari. The Machinery by Cabanel and Jacobs.The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. [Afterpiece in place of The Adopted Child, advertised on playbill of 5 May.] Receipts: #269 8s. (213.0.6; 53.16.0; 2.11.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Caulfield, Miss DeCamp, Miss Tidswell & Miss Heard. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Mr Worthy to Benson but "an apology was made for the absence of Benson...His part of Worthy was read by Whitfield" (Thespian Magazine, July 1793, p. 50).] Tickets delivered for the 8th of June will be admitted. Morning Herald, 24 May: Tickets to be had of Caulfield, No. 8, Dartmouth-street, Westminster; of Miss DeCamp, No. 70, Tottenham-Court-Road; of Miss Tidswell, No. 3, Little Charles-street, St. James's-square; of Miss Heard, No. 13, Panton-street, Hay-market. Receipts: #182 3s. (28.17; 3.5; tickets: 150.1) (charge: #86 8s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. Afterpiece: With a Sea Fightv. True Briton, 28 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, No. 63, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Receipts: #386 8s. 6d. (125.17.6; 76.1.6; 7.16.6; tickets: 176.13.0) (charge: #224 9s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Benson, Burton, Caulfield, Phillimore & Miss Tidswell. 2nd piece: Not acted these 30 years [acted 19 Dec. 1774]. Morning Chronicle, 2 June: Tickets to be had of Benson, No. 7, Brydges-street, Covent-Garden; of Caulfield; No. 2, William-street, Adelphi [no others listed]. Receipts: #430 2s. (64.14.6; 31.11.0; 16.8.6; tickets: 317.8.0) (charge: #211 13s. 2d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years (notice on playbill of 8 Nov.). Afterpiece: The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenery by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston, Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 3 Apr. 1797]. Receipts: #318 4s. 6d. (237.14.6; 76.5.6; 4.4.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Burton, Miss Heard, Miss Tidswell, & Mrs Bramwell. [2nd piece: With alterations by John Philip Kemble.] 3rd piece: Not acted these 6 years. "Of [Wroughton's] comedy something favourably must be said. His personations are usually natural, easy, and spirited; he is perhaps too locomotive: he cannot bear to stand still...To this peculiar bustle of his motion may be attributed much of his success in Sir John Restless [in All in the Wrong]...For the same reason, no man can play Ford with half the effect Wroughton does" (Monthly Mirror, Mar. 1796, p. 304). Morning Herald, 30 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Heard, No. 43, Haymarket [others not listed]. Receipts: #337 6s. 6d. (30.13.0; 40.16.6; 3.4.6; tickets: 260.10.0; odd money: 2.2.6) (charge: #202 11s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pope. Mainpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 15 Apr. 1777]. Morning Chronicle, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Pope, No. 62, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #318 (89.7.6; 50.1.6; 0.16.6; odd money: 0.18.6; tickets: 176.16.6) (charge: #234 7s. 6d.)

Event Comment: [Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Wathen and Miss Arne will be admitted.] Receipts: #326 19s. 6d. (128.17.6; 55.0.6; 2.13.6; tickets: 139.17.0, of which Wathen sold 84.6.0, and Miss Arne 55.11.0; odd money: 0.11.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer and Caulfield. [In 3rd piece the playbill retains Miss DeCamp as Fanny, but "Miss DeCamp being reported ill during the representation of [1st piece], the part of Fanny, in the Entertainment, was undertaken, at a moment's notice, by Miss Heard, [who]...studying the character, scene by scene, acted the part to general satisfaction, which was announced merely to be read" (Dramatic Censor, II, 232).] Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Caulfield, No. 6, Southampton-place, Tottenham-court-road [Palmer not listed]. Receipts: #194 1s. 6d. (120.10.0; 66.10.6; 7.1.0; tickets: none listed) (charge: #212 4s. 7d.)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Agnes to Mrs Bland, but she "being prevented by sudden indisposition from playing Agnes, the part was undertaken, at a short notice, by Miss Wentworth, who acquitted herself to general satisfaction" (Dramatic Censor, II, 260).] Receipts: #136 (82.1.6; 51.12.6; 2.6.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: To conclude with a Grand Procession of the Hundred Knights of Chivalry, and the Representation of an Ancient Tournament, under the direction of Dubois. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] With a new Overture and new Additional Musick, by Storace, Shaw, and other Eminent Masters. And new Dresses, Decorations and Machinery. [Miss Redhead is identified in Kemble Mem.] Account-Book, 20 Dec. 1792: Paid Kemble to purchase horses for Cymon #180 14s. 6d. (223.11.6; 55.4.0; 3.19.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece "Evans Lady Sneerwell's Servant for Maddocks"; in afterpiece the playbill retains Mrs Bramwell as Nelly, but "Mrs Bramwell being Ill Miss Tidswell play'd the part of Nelly, and Miss DeCamp sang the Trio" (Powell).] Powell: New Ballet rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #139 1s. 6d. (93.1.0; 40.2.0; 5.18.6)