Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. N.B. Half Price will be taken to the latter account

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Charles Dibdin and James Messink; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 30 Dec.]: To conclude with a Procession of the principal Grand Masters, from the Creation to the present Century, dressed in the Habits of their respective Ages and Countries. With new Music [by Charles Dibdin], Scenes, Dresses, Pageants, and Decorations. The paintings executed by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. Books of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Pageants, to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under full Price will be taken. "To give magnificence a meaning, and unite antiquarian knowledge with polite entertainment, was a task hitherto unattempted by the contrivers of our Pantomime exhibitions. Such praise, however, the acting manager of Covent Garden theatre may justly claim, on the score of Harlequin Free-Mason, which is now representing before greater crowds than perhaps were ever attracted by Perseus and Andromeda [in 1730], the Rape of Proserpine [in 1727], or the celebrated Sorcerer [i.e. The Magician, in 1721]. The beauty of the first scene, in which a setting sun is admirably contrived, the Dutch winter piece, with numberless skate[r]s moving in the most natural attitudes, and, above all, the imperfect building, finished in a moment at the command of Harlequin, can be exceeded only by the pomp of the historic procession which closes the whole, and offers the richest and most intelligent spectacle that ever yet appeared on an English stage" (Gentleman's Magazine, Feb. 1781, pp. 58-59, which also prints a detailed description of the pageant). Account-Book, 1 Feb.: Paid Dibdin for music of Harlequin Free-Mason #70. Receipts: #236 2s. (230.3; 5.19)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into Boxes. To prevent Confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by Half past Four o'clock. Public Advertiser, 10 Dec: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, No. 149 in the Strand. [The most famous "point" in this play was the parting of Belvidera and Jaffier in Act III, and her words, "Remember twelve!" Boaden, Siddons, 1, 354, refers to Mrs Siddons's "querulous melancholy of tone, partaking of doubt, though still hoping for the best," in uttering these words.] Receipts: #335 5s. (157/15/0; 4/0/6; 0/12/6; tickets: 172/17/0) (charge: free). [Thus, officially, the Account-Book, but Mrs Siddons's total profit, from presents and from additional sums being added by her admirers to the usual price of her tickets, was, according to Public Advertiser, 25 Dec, over #800. This figure is almost certainly an accurate reckoning.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Altered from [The Scornful Lady, by] Beaumont and Fletcher [1st time; c 5, by William Cooke; incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by the alterer. Epilogue by George Colman, the elder (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 27 Jan. 1783: Wednesday Morning [29 Jan.] will be published The Capricious Lady (price not listed). "The costume of James's reign was strictly attended to in the dresses of the characters; and I remember the enjoyment of Mrs Abington, in a high ruff and a rich silver silk edged with black velvet" (Boaden, Siddom, I, 371). Receipts: #228 4s. 6d. (218/10/6; 9/14/0)

Event Comment: Creditors of Mr Taylor are requested to meet the Trustees this Day, at One o'clock, at the Bedford Arms, Covent Garden. The Proprietor having, upon a certain Ground, granted the use of the House for the Benefit of the Performers, during the Remainder of the Season, there will be an Opera on Thursday next. [It was cancelled.] Several Persons of Fashion having generously raised a new Subscription for the Relief of the Performers, they take this opportunity of returning them their most cordial thanks. The Price of the new Subscription is Five Guineas each Subscriber, for 12 Benefit Nights, the Money to be paid into the hands of Mr Drummond, Banker, at Charing-Cross. [On 27 May a concert was held at the Pantheon for the benefit of the singers and dancers who had lately belonged to the King's Theatre, in which they all participated.]

Event Comment: Books of the Ballets may be had at the Theatre, price 6d. Public Advertiser, 8 Dec.: As to the Dances, such exquisite perfection was never seen in England before, because there certainly never was before seen such a band of transcendent Dancers simultaneously subsisting on the same Stage . . . They were almost equally admirable. Thus, if Vestris and Theodore were most surprising, Lepicq and Rossi were more touching, Slingsby more exhibiting

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Oratorio: Composed by the late Dr Arne. At Playhouse Prices [see 10 Mar.]. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30. Tickets for the Boxes to be had at Messrs Longman and Broderip's, in Cheapside and the Haymarket; and at the Stage Door of the Theatre, in Suffolk-street, where Places may be taken

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ferdinand to Johnstone, but "The sudden illness of Johnstone gave much dissatisfaction, though Cubitt did all in his power to supply his place" (Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1785, p. 451). William Palmer was from the Norwich theatre; Meadows from the HAY.] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] The Alterations and Improvements in the Theatre this Season are made by Richards, and executed under his Superintendance by Catton and others. [Public Advertiser, 22 Sept., notes that these improvements consisted of the enlargement of the boxes, in which "the seats are formed into recesses which communicate with the other boxes"; all the pillars, "even those of iron in the back boxes [being] capped, cased, fluted and gilt"; the front of the boxes and galleries being newly painted a "warm lilac"; the back of the boxes being wainscotted and painted crimson.] Paid Charewomen for cleaning Theatre #13 0s. 6d. Receipts: #214 2s. 6d. (210/10/0; 3/12/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Holcroft]: The Overture and the rest of the music entirely new, by Shield. With new Dresses, &c. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1785: This Day is published The Choleric Fathers (price not listed). Receipts: #240 4s. (238/3; 2/1)

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: Benefit for Price and Watts. [The above is an advance notice on playbill of 19 July.]

Event Comment: ["The Play to-night was to have been The Confederacy, by Desire of the Duchess of Leinster, with The Spoiled Child (both advertised on playbill of 7 May), for Mrs Jordan's benefit...but she suspecting the House would be thin, pretended to be ill, would not act" (Kemble Mem.). "Love for Love (announced in playbill of this present night) and The Spoiled Child were deferred on account of the indisposition of Mrs Jordan, and The West Indian and The Island of St. Marguerite substituted...Aickin and Packer...could not be met with, and no other means of presenting The West Indian remained than Messrs Williames and Maddocks being permitted to read the parts of Stockwell and Capt. Dudley. This the audience refused to comply with, and insisted on having their money returned, which was at last done. The pit was cleared, not even one person remaining; but during the second act, four people came in...About thirty stayed in the boxes, and not a sufficient number to fill the front rows in the galleries...The West Indian, with two parts in it read, and a house thus uncomfortably thin, dragged dismally through the three first acts. The half-price produced considerable amendment in the appearance of the house" (London Chronicle, 10 May).] Receipts: #45 0s. 6d. (11.13.0; 32.5.0; 1.2.6)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. "The crowd and the tumult at the doors of the Theatre last Wednesday [raised the question] why the Box and Pit passages, which were the same last year, are now separated. The answer is because at the Opera, the Boxes and the Pit are for the same price and company; at the Playhouse they are different in both respects. Repeated notices were sent by Kemble both to those on foot and in carriages that the house was full; and the doors were actually closed before the house was really filled in the hope of dispersing the crowd--but they were a second time forced open" (Morning Chronicle, 7 Jan.). Receipts: #582 8s. 6d. (552.15.6; 26.14.0; 2.19.0, being the largest amount received at this theatre during its occupancy by the dl company)

Event Comment: From the Small Portico are Entrances to the Pit and One Shilling Gallery only [and see 19 Sept.]. In the Old Passage from the Piazza are new Entrances to the Boxes, Pit and Two Shilling Gallery. The only Entrance to the Two Shilling Gallery is in the Passage from the Piazza. [Beginning with 5 Oct. the playbills have: Upper Gallery 1s. 2nd Price 6d.] Receipts: #336 4s

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild. 2nd piece [1st time; F 1, by Robert Woodbridge]. Morning Herald, 4 June 1793: This day is published The Pad (price not listed). 3rd piece [1st time; BALL. P 2 (?), by James Byrn, altered from his The Provocation!]: The Incidents partly new, and partly selected from the much admired Pantomime called Provocation. In the course of the Pantomime a representation of an Engagement between an English and French Man of War; A Ship-wreck; The original Allegoric Scene from Provocation: A View of an English Camp; A Naval and Military Procession. Morning Herald, 9 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #335 1s. 6d

Event Comment: The Public are respectfully informed that, a sufficient Profit being allowed to the Persons who sell Plays and Books of Songs in the Theatre, those Persons are forbidden to demand for such Plays or Books of Songs more than the Price marked thereon, upon pain of dismission from their employ. [Afterpiece in place of The Pannel, advertized on playbill of 27 Dec.] Powell: Messrs Danby & Fisher absent from this Evening's Performance, Ill. Measure for Measure rehearsed at 10; New Ballet at 12. Receipts: #208 8s. (167.4.6; 39.13.6; 1.10.0)

Event Comment: Under the license of the Lord Chamberlain. Leader of the band-Mountain. Grand Piano Forte-Reeve. Among the other Instrumental Performers are W. Ware, Haigh, Leffler Sen., Leffler Jun., Nicks, Alexander, Price, Francis, Cornish, English, Eley, Forster, &c. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [For names of speakers and singers see Morning Post, 5 Mar.; Oracle, 12 Mar.

Event Comment: The Rivals [advertised on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the indisposition of a principal performer. "There seems to be a perverse and impolitic system introduced of late years in the management of this theatre, in virtue of which certain plays are suffered to remain in a state of slovenly representation, to serve as a kind of stage lumber, on which the manager can immediately lay his hand (confident of a good half-price, from the popularity of his after-piece); he wants something, no matter what, to fill up the intermediate space of time. This is a system, however, which in the event cannot fail to prove equally injurious to the interest of the proprietors, and the gratification of that part of the audience who pay the full amount of admission" (Dramatic Censor, I, 45). Receipts: #188 5s. (102.16; 83.17; 1.12)