Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. [Mainpiece in place of The Grecian Daughter, advertised on playbill of 29 Jan.] "In the pantomime Miss? Leak supplied the place of Welsh" (Oracle, 2 Feb.). Receipts: #692 1s. (691.12.6; 0.8.6)

Event Comment: [There are two Kemble playbills for this night. The first announces No Song No Supper and The Child of Nature (with Mrs Jordan as Amanthis) and The Spoil'd Child (with Mrs Jordan as Little Pickle). The second carries the notice: The Publick are most respectfully informed that, on account of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Jordan, Miss Mellon will undertake the character of Amanthis, and humbly solicits their indulgence. The Entertainments this Evening will be [as above].] Receipts: #265 2s. (173.0.6; 81.6.0; 10.15.6)

Event Comment: [There are two BM playbills (Harris, Vol. V) for this night. The first announces First Love, in place of The Iron Chest, advertised on playbill of 15 Mar. The second carries the notice: The Publick are most respectfully informed that, on account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer, First Love cannot be performed. This evening will be presented [as above]. "The second performance of The Iron Chest was to have taken place on Thursady; but not being quite raady, the intended substitute was First Love. The absence, however, of some performers occasioned another change, and the substitute was A Trip to Scarborough. The return being non est inventus with respect to Barrymore, the character of Colonel Townly was wholly omitted, but not missed" (True Briton, 19 Mar).] Receipts: #249 18s. (232.6.6; 16.19.6; tickets not come in: 0.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. [In mainpiece the playbill retains King as Sir Peter Teazle, but "Murray, on account of the indisposition of King, was the Sir Peter to Mrs Jordan's Lady Teazle" (Monthly Mirror, May 1797, p. 311).] Tickets delivered for the 15th [for which day the benefit was first announced] will be admitted. "On the whole, Mrs Jordan's Lady Teazle, if not excellent, was respectable; and at a time when it was thought that it would be impossible to personify her Ladyship [i.e. after the retirement of Miss Farren], Mrs Jordan is commendable in having endeavoured it...[Sir Peter] was a part well suited to Murray, who excels in the still and the pathetic...In the screen scene his mirth in revealing to Charles the story of the French milliner, and his amazement the moment after when Charles, throwing down the screen, presented that milliner in the shape of Lady Teazle, must confirm the reputation of Murray. 'Lady Teazle!' (exclaimed he, turning from her towards the door, and in an accent alarmingly impressive), 'Lady Teazle, by all that is damnable!" (Monthly Visitor, June 1797, pp. 531-32). True Briton, 6 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #550 3s. (232.4.0; 72.2.0; 7.10.6; tickets: 238.6.6) (charge: free)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Goodall, but she "was taken suddenly ill yesterday, in consequence of which the part of the Countess was performed by Miss Biggs, at a very short notice, who acquitted herself with considerable ability" (Morning Herald, 9 May).] Receipts: #202 14s. 6d. (162.19.0; 38.15.6; 1.0.0)