Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by George Colman elder (London Chronicle, 9 May). Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1780]: With New Scenes and Dresses. "No modern theatrical piece ever met with a fuller success, nor deserved it more... The performers deserve every sort of commendation for their spirited exertion in supporting the respective characters, especially Smith, King and the incomparable Mrs Abington" (Gazetteer, 9 May). "To my great astonishment there were more parts performed admirably in The School for Scandal than I almost ever saw in any play. Mrs Abington was equal to the first of her profession, Yates (the husband), Parsons, Miss Pope, and Palmer, all shone. It seemed a marvellous resurrection of the stage. Indeed, the play had as much merit as the actors. I have seen no comedy that comes near it since The Provoked Husband" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 82). Receipts: #224 10s. (215.12.0; 8.14.6; 0.3.6)

Event Comment: [This was Mrs Hitchcock's 1st appearance in London. Miss Farren was from the Manchester theatre. Miss Twist is identified in playbill of 14 July.] Because of Foote's acting scarcely anything but his own plays "a relaxation of discipline has been fallen into at the Haymarket... The audience last night, however, were not less surprized than pleased at the very regular manner in which the Comedy and the Burletta were exhibited. All the business of the stage perfect, all the little parts smoothly given, and the whole rather superior than inferior to a performance at either of the Winter Theatres" (Morning Chronicle, 10 June)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Richard Tickell, some of the songs attributed to Richard Brinsley Sheridan; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 18 Dec. Songs (no pub., 1781) omits several [i.e. all the non-singing] characters. MS not in Larpent; not published]: With entirely new Music and a new Overture [by Thomas Linley Sen.]. To conclude with a View of St. Mark's Place, and a grand Representation of the Carnival. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations, designed by De Loutherbourg, and executed under his Direction. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 19 Dec. 1781: This Day are published the Songs in The Carnival of Venice (6d.). Account-Book, 11 Jan. 1782: Received from Miss Giles for 1,550 Books of the Songs in the Carnival #31. Receipts: #225 18s. 6d. (216/4/0; 9/14/6; 0/0/0)

Event Comment: 1st piece: In 3 Scenes of Dialogue. 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Pepusch. [The playbill assigns Filch to Mrs Wilson and Mat o' th' Mint to Miss Morris, but "Miss Morris was merely a temporary substitute for Mrs Wilson who, it seems, is too far advanced in her pregnancy to dress en bomme" (Miming Chronicle, 4 June). But beginning with 7 June Mrs Wilson acted regularly until 3 Aug. Who acted Mat o' th' Mint on this present night has not come to light; the part was perhaps omitted.] 3rd piece: Ballet Tragi-comique. Composed by Signior Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. The Music by Gluck. With new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Machinist and Painter-Sg Rookereschi. Tailor-Sg Walkerino. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5 (?), author unknown. It was 1st advertised in Morning Chronicle, 15 Dec. 1783, for performance on 26 Jan. 1784, as "A new Comedy called The Artful Patriot; or, The Rage of the People." Prologue by Thomas Stewart (Morning Post, 23 Feb., which also gives names of T. Davis and Miss Hemet. Author of Epilogue unknown. MS not in Larpent; not published]. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:30

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Provok'd Husband, advertised on playbill of 12 Sept. In it the playbill assigns Millamant to Miss Farren, but "Miss Farren ill, Mrs Goodall played Millamant" (Kemble Mem.). Miss Hagley's 1st appearance was at this theatre, 28 May 1789.] Receipts: #112 16s. 6d. (70.15.0; 39.13.6; 2.8.0)

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.] Powell: Love a-la-mode rehearsed at 10 (for King); Lodoiska music at 11 (for Kelly, Storace, Crouch); Natural Son at 12 (King, Moody. Miss Farren one scene). Receipts: #347 15s. 6d. (283/0/0; 53/13/6; 7/2/0)

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by George Brewer]: The Musick by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald; 6 July 1796: This Day is published Bannian Day (1s.). 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. [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Caulfield, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Miss Leak, Miss Heard

Event Comment: Benefit for Munden. [Mrs Litchfield is identified in Thespian Dictionary, 1805; as Miss Hay she had acted at cg on 27 May 1796.] 2nd piece [1st time; MF 1, by John O'Keeffe. MS not in Larpent MS; not published]: Altered [by the author] from Sprigs of Laurel. True Briton, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Munden, No. 16, Clement's-Inn. Receipts: #418 8s. 6d. (122.8.6; 9.19.6; tickets: 286.0.6)

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Porter. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Admission as 21 May, but Gallery 1s

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Raftor. At the desire of several Persons of Quality. Afterpiece: A Farce of one Act. [By Henry Fielding. Apparently not published.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Macklin and Mrs Bennet. Tickets deliver'd out by Leigh, Carter and Miss Story will be taken. Tickets and places to be had of Bradshaw &c., and of Mrs Macklin at No. 12 in Wild Court, Wild St. Afterpiece: The Most Grave, Whimisical, Serious, Operatical Tragedy of Half and Act. Receipts: #150

Event Comment: At the Great Theatrical Booth, Bowling Green. By Permission. Benefit Laguerre and Boaman. By a Company from the Theatres-Royal, for their Diversion, a Concert...gratis, etc. Boxes 3s. 6d. First Gallery 1s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6 p.m. Daily Advertiser lists Miss Hippisley for Miss Prue in mainpiece and for Kitty in afterpiece, and Mrs Yates for Melissa. In the London Daily Post and General Advertiser bill Mrs Dunstall doubles two roles

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment in Two Interludes. The words to be sold at the theatre (General Advertiser). Some Gentlemen crowding behind ye Scenes, ye Audience resented it & ye farce was stop'd for half an hour--I drew lines with chalk, but Miss Norris applying publickly to Capt. Johnson, desiring he wou'd retire, He did & ye farce went on with great Applause. The words of this piece were by Mr Mendez, & set by Dr Boyce (Cross). Added to salary list, Mr Campioni. Paid him for cloaths #21, and for 51 days work, #42 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #140 (Cross); #142 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Costollo and Miss Minors. Tickets of Costollo at his lodgings at Mr Waiter's, Chymist, the Golden Cross, in Russel St., Covent Garden; of Miss Minors, at Mr Nichols's a Baker, in Catherine St., near Russel Court, and at the Stage Door. We are assured that Sg Giardini's Performance on the Violin, at Sga Cuzzoni's Benefit, at the New Theatre in Haymarket, on Saturday Night last, gave the highest pleasure to several of the best judges of that instrument. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: By Authority. Not acted there before. Tickets delivered out by Miss Barton will be taken. Also an additional Reinforcement of Mr Bayes's new raised Troops

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Pritchard. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Tickets of Miss Pritchard in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields and at Pritchard's Warehouse in Tavistock St. Receipts: #340 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Chapman, Mrs Dyer, Miss White, and Miss Sledge. Tickets deliver'd out by Mrs White, Mrs Leppie, Mrs Viviez, and Mrs Hitchcock will be taken

Event Comment: [C+Charlotte in the afterpiece probably by Miss Hippisley. See 11 March 1760. No receipts in the Cross Diary.

Event Comment: [The Farce A Fairy Tale in 2 acts by Dr Hawkesworth never acted before. Epilogue by Garrick. Spoken by Mrs Yates. The Fairy announced as Miss Marten in advance bills (Winston MS 9).

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hallam. Masque By Desire. No Building on Stage