Event Comment: Benefit for Sg Daigville & Signa Vidini. [24 April letter signed Ned Shuter dated from his Majesty's Bench of Justice, St Georges Fields: "Theatrical Memoirs giving circumstantial account of my family-Admit my father was a chairman, my mother sold oysters in winter and cucumbers in summer. I was not born in a cellar but in a two pair of stairs front room at one Mrs Merit's an eminent Chimney Sweeper, Vine Street, St Giles" (Winston MS 10). Thomas Weston's apology for the delay of his Benefit. It was owing to his distressed affairs which he had new laid open to the managers. See comment form Edinburg Evening Courant, 29 April.] Paid Renters #88 for Oratorio nights; Mr Dibdin's draft on managers #50; Master Brown 5 nights, #1 17s. 6d.; Rec'd from Messrs Smith and Stanley charges for 11 Oratorio nights at 28# per night, plus candles &c . #342 4s.; Rec'd stopages #9 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #151 4s. Charges: #65 11s. Profits to Daigville & Sga Vidini: #85 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; D 5, by Benjamin Thompson, altered from Menschenhass und Reue, by August Friedrich Ferdinand von Kotzebue. Prologue by William Linley; Epilogue by Matthew Gregory Lewis (European Magazine, Mar. 1798, p. 260)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. With Musick [by Thomas Shaw]. "Mrs Siddons was succesful in all the impassioned parts; but she cannot sustain a mixed character. She is the Muse of Tragedy herself, and when she descends from her lofty state to the level of familiar dialogue, she instantly ceases to astonish and we to admire" (Monthly Mirror, Apr. 1798, p. 234). "The dialogue must be considerably abridged, as well for the purpose of preserving the interest of the piece, as for shortening the time of representation, which is at least an hour too long, it being half past ten before the curtain dropt" [see 26 Mar.] (Morning Herald, 26 Mar.). Receipts: #420 7s. 6d. (378.11.6; 40.18.0; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece:In I A Grand Masqueradev. Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Thomas John Dibdin]: To conclude with a new Scenic Representation of Britannia Triumphantv. Interspersed With a Variety of favorite old Airs, popular Songs, Parodies, &c. The Overture and new Songs composed and the Music in general arranged by Moorehead. The Machinery invented and executed by Cresswell. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre, price Six-pence. Morning Chronicle, 16 Oct. 1799: This day is published The Naval Pillar (price not listed). The afterpiece had reference to the contemplated erection of a "Naval Pillar" on Portsdown Hill, near Portsmouth, in commemoration of the recent victbries of the English navy. A plain pillar is at the last introduced, with the names of the most celebrated admirals on a scroll, round which the sailors and their sweethearts dance with peculiar festivity. The pillar now flies open, and displays a most magnificent and appropriate spectacle--consisting of Britannia, personated by Mrs Chapman, under a rich canopy, with the figures of a sailor and a soldier for supporters, pointing to the letters G. R. over a brilliant sun, which turns on the center; shrouded in clouds above, and surrounded by angels, is a medallion of Lord Howe, and on columns on each side of the canopy are medallions of your great living naval commanders" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1799, p. 180). Receipts: #284 10s. 6d. (277.18.6; 6.12.0)

Event Comment: DDaily Journal, 31 Dec.: Whereas a Cracker was thrown with an evil Intention into the New Theatre in Goodman's-Fields on Tuesday last...This is to certify, that Peace Officers are constantly attending to prevent all kinds of Disorders, and that whoever shall discover the Offender or Offenders above-mentioned, shall receive five Guineas reward from me the Master of the said House. December 31, 1729. Thomas Odell

Event Comment: Benefit Jo. Thomas. Tickets 5s. 6:30 P.M

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With accompaniments to the Airs composed by Thomas? Linley? Sen. Receipts: #77 1s. (53.18; 22.11; 0.12)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; past 2, by Richard Tickell]: Altered from [the same, by] Allan Ramsay. [MS not in Larpent; not published.] With the original Airs, new Accompaniments, and a new Overture [by Thomas Linley, Sen.]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "The above Opera, written by Allen Ramsay, has been long and justly admired, but by those only whose knowledge of the Scottish dialect has enabled them to judge of its excellencies. That an English audience might become partakers of this entertainment seems to have been the laudable design of the Dramatist, Mr Tickel, in now divesting it of its numerous provincialities, grown almost obsolete, even in Scotland, at this distant period . . . The characters were drest with a rustic simplicity, which, tho' not exactly characteristic of the Highland manner, were perfectly Pastoral" (Universal Magazine, Nov. 1781, p. 237). Receipts: #202 9s. 6d. (167/18/0; 33/3/0; 1/8/6)

Event Comment: Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage-door. No Money to be taken at the Stage-door, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The Doors will be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 4 Nov.]. [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.] Monologue [1st time, probably by Thomas King. MS: Larpent 602; synopsis in London Magazine, Sept. 1782, 437]. Receipts: #200 4s. (170/14/0; 29/7/6; 0/2/6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Mainpiece: Written by Beaumont and Fletcher. [Authors and speakers of Prologues and Epilogue unknown; they are printed in Public Advertiser, 30 Nov. Ryder was not Thomas Ryder, who at this time was acting at the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.] The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, author unknown; frequently attributed to Thomas Vaughan, but his authorship denied in a letter written by him to editor of the Oracle, 13 Feb. 1796. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by Edward Topham (European Magazine, Nov. 1784, p. 393). MS: Larpent 670; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Nov. 1784, p. 389]. Receipts: #161 2s. 6d. (142/9/0; 18/0/6; 0/13/0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music by Purcel and Dr Arne, with the additional Airs and Chorusses by the late [Thomas] Linley Jun. Receipts: #183 8s. 6d. (161/9/0; 20/7/0; 1/12/6)

Event Comment: 1st piece: Acted but Once [on 5 May 1790]. With new Scenes and Dresses. A Procession, representing the Ceremonies attending the Sacrifice of an Indian Woman on the Funeral Pile of her deceased Husband. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] The Music by Stevens. [Prologue by William Thomas Fitzgerald. Epilogue by Richard John Hughes Starke.] Receipts: #231 14s. 6d. (230.6.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; F 1, by Thomas John Dibdin; incidental music by John Moorehead]: Altered from [Die Witwe und das Reitpferd, This Day is published The Horse and the Widow (1s.). 3rd piece: Altered into Two acts. Receipts: #187 17s. 6d. (180.6.6; 7.11.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [altered by John Philip Kemble]: With new Scenes, Dresses, Decorations, and Machinery. In Act I, at the opening will be introduced, for the First Time a Battle between the Macedonians and the Persians. In Act IV, the Royal Banquet. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The Scenes designed and painted by Marinari. The Dresses and Decorations by Johnston and Miss Rein. The Machinery by Cabanel. "[In the last scene] the expiring tone with which [Kemble] pronounces 'Cover me'; his shivering, when wrapt round in the imperial robes; his wan and wasted countenance; the manner of his labouriously drawing his legs together, and their aguish knocking when they meet, surpass all description" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1796, p. 180). Receipts: #375 2s. 6d. (306.14.6; 67.3.0; 1.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Sherry and Miss Wright. Tickets delivered by Daglish will be taken. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Public Advertiser, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Miss Sherry, No. 2, Little Russel Street, Covent Garden; of Miss Wright, No. 54, Drury-lane. Receipts: #257 15s. (48.9.0; 10.8.6; 0.11.6; tickets: 198.6.0) (charge: #89 5s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit Ray, F. Shepard, Rogers, Green, Master Brooks, Miss Morrison. Tickets for the Misses Scott also taken

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for this Evening [Account-Book: by Brady, Dale, the D'Egvilles, Jones, Lyons, Powell, Sherratt, Smith, Whittow, Mrs Heard, Mrs Haskey, Mrs Mills, Miss Palmer, Mrs Shaw] will be admitted. [Miss Davies's 1st appearance, billed as "A Young Lady," was at the hay, 28 July 1786.] Receipts: #279 12s. 6d. (16.1.0; 10.8.6; 0.6.0; tickets: 252.17.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Hilliard. Tickets of Miss Hilliard at Mr Pervil's, Auctioneer, upper end of Bow St., Covent Garden; and of Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre, where places for Boxes may be taken. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Receipts: #24 2s. 6d. in cash. Charges #64 5s. Deficit to Miss Hilliard #40 0s. 6d., coverd by income from tickets #79 17s. (Boxes 101; Pit 278; Gallery 129). Paid for 7 doz. wax candles at 24s. per dozen #8 8s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. Tickets delivered by the young D'Egvilles, Jones, Newbold, Shaw, Dale, Purser Sen., Smith, Aberdein, Mills, Miss Tidswell, Mrs Heard, Miss Dancer, Miss Bradshaw, Mrs Haskey, will be admitted. Receipts: #241 8s. 6d. (23.4.0; 15.3.6; 0.15.0; tickets: 202.6.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. [This was the version, altered probably by Joseph George Holman, in which he appeared in Dublin on 29 July 1794, on which occasion the playbill reads, "Dressed in the Habits of the Times, and with other Alterations, adopted in its Representations 19 [recte 11] Nights last Winter, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden." It further states that the part of Ophelia would be performed "without the Airs, and with a considerable Restoration of the Text." No record of what these alterations consisted of has come to light. In III.iv Hamlet's father was represented by a life-sized portrait that hung over the chimney, and the Queen wore a large miniature of Claudius on her arm as a bracelet (London Chronicle, 10 Oct.). The words of the Dirge are printed in European Magazine, Nov. 1793, p. 393; they are stanza X of Shakespeare's Passionate Pilgrim. Miss Poole had appeared as a singer at king's and at Vauxhall in 1787 and at the cg oratories in 1791.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years [and in place of The Prisoner at Large, advertised on playbill of 8 Oct.]. Receipts: #332 4s. (330.3; 2.1)

Event Comment: Benefit the Two Sisters, Miss Robinson the Dancer, and Miss Robinson, Captain of the Lilliputians. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality