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 Pope. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years [acted 22 Jan. 1784. Epilogue by John Wolcot (European Magazine, May 1786, p. 369)]. Afterpiece: With Additional Songs, &c., as 28 Apr. Morning Herald, 18 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Pope at his house, Half-Moon Street, Piccadilly. "There is a mellow richness in [Pope's] voice superior to any other performer on the stage" (Candid Strictures, p. 47). Receipts: #255 16s. 6d. (156/13/0; 2/14/6; tickets: 96/9/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by Miles Peter Andrews. Larpent MS 752, as The Castle of Wonders; not published; synopsis of action in Morning Post, 27 Dec.]: With new Music, Scenes, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations. A few of the Airs compiled from Purcell, Travers, Sacchini, &c. The Rest of the Music composed by Shield. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and many Assistants. To conclude with a Representation of the Inside of a Nabob's Palacev. Books of the Songs [which assign only Colombine ] to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 6 Mar. 1787: Paid Shield in full for Compositions #100. Receipts: #242 4s. (239.8; 2.16)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 779; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Aug. 1787, p. 100. Prologue by the author; Epilogue by George Colman elder (European Magazine, July 1787, pp. 63-64). In 1789 altered as The School for Widows]

Event Comment: "The leaving Percy untaken up [by Falstaff, in V.iv of mainpiece] was an improvement. The best acting was that of Mrs Pitt" (World, 6 Nov.). Afterpiece: With new Music, Scenes, Machinepy, Dresses, and Decorations. A few of the Airs compiled from Purcell, Travers, Sacchini, &c. The rest of the Music composed by Shield. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Richards and Carver, and executed by them, Hodgins, and many assistants. To conclude with the Representation of the inside of a Nabob's Palacev. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #199 0s. 6d. (193.16.0; 5.4.6)