Event Comment: A New Comic Opera of Two Acts written by Mr Bate--Much hissing and Crying out no more no more!--Mr Reddish was desired to give out the Play as soon as Matilda was over--but he with his usual politeness ran up and undress'd himself as fast as he could so that the play was not given out till the End of the Farce as soon as the Blackamoor was given out for the next Night they kept a great Noise and call'd for another Farce to be given out--at length they began to be more appeas'd and went away vowing Vengeance on it the next Night (Hopkins Diary). The Overture and Music of the afterpiece entirely New. Books of the Songs &c. to be had at the Theatre. New Scenes, Dresses, &c. [This is Larpent MS 400. Sir Oliver Oddfish distrusts his servants and is about to replace them with blacks, giving his nephew the chance to introduce Frederick , his daughter Julia 's lover, in disguise as a blackamoor, and to effect an elopement. Act I criticizes Londoners and concludes with the comment, "O that I should ever live to see the day when white Englishmen must give place to foreign blacks." MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid the late Mr Johnston's bill to his executors #44 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). [Afterpiece reviewed in three columns in the Westminster Magazine for Feb. Reviewer thought it had been produced well in all departments, music, scenery, costume, and acting, but concluded it a theatrical trifle giving not much credit to its author.] Receipts: #166 13s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: House (Hopkins Diary). Afterpiece: For the last time this season. [Public Advertiser, 20 April: The following Accident happened at Drury Lane on Thursday in the Entertainment of the Jubilee. As Mr Hurst and Mr Palmer were representing the characters of Posthumus and Iachimo in the Fighting Scene where they were engag'd with extreme violence, the former narrowly escaped losing his eye from a severe wound in the temple."] Paid Richard Barnard for detecting a pickpocket 10s. 3 extra trumpets #1 2s. 6d. Receipts: #121 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Master Russell. Tickets to be had of Master Russell at the Swan, Elephant stairs. Afterpiece: Written by Henry Fielding, Esq. In Act I the Triumphal Entry of Tom Thumbv, attended with Giants, Giantess's, Dwarfs, Pigmies, Drums, Trumpets, &c

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Event Comment: [Henderson's 1st appearance on the stage was as Hamlet, at Bath, 6 Oct. 1772. In I.iv "after the short ejaculation of 'Angels and ministers of grace, defend us!' he endeavoured to conquer that fear and terror into which he was naturally thrown by the first sight of the vision, and uttered the remainder of the address calmly, but respectfully, and with a firm tone of voice, as from one who had subdued his timidity and apprehension" (Davies, III, 30). "Palmer's Ghost would have been more in character had he given less into the rant of declamation and the bustle of stage action, which accord not with our ideas of a supernatural being; his crying, likewise, at the recital of his murder, was childish, and destroyed the solemnity of the scene' (Morning Post, 27 June).

Event Comment: ['The scene of the tent...was judiciously managed with regard to the lighting it withinside the tent only' (London Chronicle, 9 Aug.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 6 May 1776]. With Accompaniments to the Airs composed by Thomas? Linley Sen?.. Public Advertiser, 10 Nov.: "Jenny Diver forgot her song...and continued inflexibly silent till a Wag behind the Scenes assumed her Voice, and sung the Song for her"; ibid, 15 Nov., identifies this wag as Bannister, who sang "in a feigned voice." [Webster was from the Crow Street Theatre, Dublin.] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (167.2.0; 24.16.0; 0.8.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; t 5, by Hannah More, based partly on Gabrielle de Vergy, by Pierre Laurent Buirette de Belloy. Prologue and Epilogue by David Garrick (see text)]: With New Scenes, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 19 Dec. 1777: This Day at Noon is published Percy (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #215 (212.12.6; 2.7.6)

Event Comment: [This was the last performance ever held in this theatre. On 27 June the Morning Chronicle published the playbill for that same evening: Love in a Village and Comical Courtship, but on 29 June the same newspaper reported that on "Friday [26 June] (soon after the performances of the evening were finished at China Hall, Rotherhithe) the theatre was discovered to be on fire. The flames increased so rapidly that in a short time the whole building, with all the scenes, stage, cloaths, &c. were consumed...There is no doubt but the theatre was wilfully set on fire." During the course of the summer it was rebuilt, but "Yesterday morning the play-house at China-hall, Rotherhithe, was blown down by the violence of the wind. The said play-house was burnt down last summer, but it being insured was rebuilt by contract, and the tiling of it completely finished last week" (Gazetteer, 26 Nov. 1778). And see 30 July.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years acted 6 Nov. 1775. Prologue by Nicholas Rowe. Afterpiece [ 1st time; f 2, by Frederick Pilon. Prologue by the author (Public Advertiser, 5 Nov.). In speaking a line in the Prologue that won applause Whitfield waved his hat so vehemently tha he "dislocated a Bone in his Arm. He went to the side of the stage, and one of the Scene-men taking him by the Wrist, and giving four or five pretty severe jerks, the Bone recovered its place" (ibid). In all subsequent performances the Prologue was spoken by Lee Lewes.]. Public Advertiser, 18 Nov. 1778: This Day at Noon is published The Invasion (1s.)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Merope, announced on playbill of 4 Jan. "We played last night Much Ado about Nothing, and had an apology to make for the change of three principal parts. About twelve o'clock Mr Henderson sent word he was not able to play. We got Mr Lewis from Covent Garden, who supplied the part of Benedick. Soon after Mr Parsons sent word he could not play. Mr Moody supplied the part of Dogberry; and about four in the afternoon Mr Vernon sent word he could not play. Mr Mattocks supplied his part of Balthazar...In the middle of the first act, a message was brought me that Mr Lamash (who was to play the part of Borachio) was not come to the House. I had nobody there that could go on for it, so I was obliged to cut his scenes in the first and second acts entirely out, and got Mr Wrighten to go on for the remainder of the part. At length we got the play over without the audience finding it out. We had a very bad house. Mr Parsons is not able to play in The School for Scandal to-morrow night; do not yet know how we shall be able to settle that" (Garrick, Private Correspondence, II, 328-29: Hopkins, prompter,in letter to Garrick, 6 Jan. 1779. He does not state who took Wrighten's place as the Sexton.).] On account of the sudden Illness of a Principal Performer, the new Pantomime [The Wonders of Derbyshire, announced on playbill of 4 Jan.] is obliged to be deferred till Friday. Receipts: #74 11s. (48.19; 25.10; 0.2)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 7 years. Receipts: #201 (196.19; 4.1)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Fatal Falshood, announced on playbill of 24 Apr.,] Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Frederick Pilon]: The new Songs and Overture composed by Shield. The new Scenes by Richards and Carver. With a view of the English and Spanish Fleets entering the Bay. [This notice is included in all subsequent playbills.] Public Advertiser, 25 Apr. 1780: This afternon is published the Songs in The Siege Of Gibraltar (6d.). Ibid, 3 May 1780: This morning is published The Siege Of Gibraltar (1s.). Receipts: #168 5s. (166.4; 2.1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never acted here. Afterpiece: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Masque to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Frances Brooke, based on the anonymous libretto of Sarti's opera Mitridate a Sinope. Prologue by the Rev. William? Collier (see text). Epilogue by Arthur Murphy (Murphy, Works, 1786, VII, 54)]: With New Scenes, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 8 Feb. 1781: This Day at Noon will be published The Siege of Sinope. (1s. 6d.). Receipts:#231 5s. (228.10; 2.15)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris? Jun. Opera: In 2 acts; the music by Piccinni, and conducted by Bianchi. With new Scenes painted by Novosielski. New Dresses and Decorations both for the Opera and Dances. Mme Simonet will this Evening reassume her station at the Opera House; but as she is not perfectly recovered from the consequences of her late Accidnet, she hopes for the indulgence of the Public, from whom she has already received so many flattering proofs of Approbation. Tickets, 10s. 6d., to be had of Vestris, No. 5, Leicester-street, Leicester-fields. "Last Thursday was the benefit of Vestris and son; the house could not receive and contain the multitudes that presented themselves. Their oblations amounted to fourteen hundred pounds" (Walpole [26 Feb. 1781], XI, 406)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris Sen. Opera: In 2 acts; the music by Rauzzini. With new scenes painted by Novosielski. New Dresses and Decorations for both the Opera and Dances. Tickets to be had of Vestris, No. 5, Leicester Street, Leicester Fields. Public Advertiser, 7 Apr.: By desire of the Frequenters of the Opera House books of the ballet of Medee et Jason are sold at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece: 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 by Richards, Carver, Hodgins. The Pantomime by Messink. Books of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Pageants, to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #224 0s. 6d. (223/5/6; 0/15/0)

Event Comment: By Desire of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Benefit for Gardel. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Gardel, No. 26, Margaret-street, Cavendish-square. 1st ballet: With entirely new Music, and a new Overture by Carter (Morning Herald, 25 May)

Event Comment: "The Ring, to talk of [Mrs Siddons in] this Scene, would be Actum agere--almost every Body has seen it, and every one who has seen it must have felt, to their Heart's Core. As much ought to be said of some other Parts of the Play, viz. the Look at the Child, when she gives her Hand to Villeroy!, Her expressive Deportment at the Banquet!, Her Fainting!, Her Death! To all and each of these we desire the Printer not to omit, what they so potently demand, the Note of Admiration!!!" (Public Advertiser, 15 Nov.). Receipts: #249 2s. 6d. (228/7/0; 19/17/0; 0/18/6)

Event Comment: In afterpiece, added, following Lord Mayor's Show: A New Historical Procession of the Several Companies, with their respective Pageants, and the Chief Magistrates belonging to the City of London, from its Foundation. The Scenes, Machinery and Decorations, both of the Pantomime and Procession, invented and designed by Richards, and executed by Him, Smirk, Hodgins, Catton, and others. Book of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Procession [reprinted in Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.], to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 21 Jan.: The glee is the composition of the late [Benjamin] Rogers (who lived in 1600); the other airs are by Handel, [the Earl of] Kelly, Abel, Stamitz, and Shield . . . More than 200 supernumeraries are employed to walk in the Procession. Receipts: #236 4s. 6d. (231/4/0; 5/0/6)

Event Comment: A Comic Opera in 2 acts, not acted these 3 years [acted 15 Mar. 1781]. The Music by Gretry. With Dances incident to the Play, new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations