Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from Milton [by George Colman]. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #181 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; BO 3]: Being the Sequel to The Beggar's Opera, Written by Gay, with Alterations [by George Colman elder; the overture (a compilation of airs from The Beggar's Opera) and 6 new airs by Samuel Arnold]. Books of the Opera to be had at the Theatre. [Mrs Colles is identified on playbill of 9 July.] Public Advertiser, 20 June: This Day is published Polly (1s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 3]: Taken from [The Winter's Tale, by] Shakespeare [altered by George Colman elder]. Afterpiece: Likewise taken from [A Midsummer-Night's Dream, by] Shakespeare. Books of both pieces to be had at the Theatre. The Musick of both pieces by the most eminent Composers [i.e. Michael Arne, Dibdin, Dr Burney, Hook, Theodore Smith, Dr Arnold]. The Characters new dressed

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by George Colman elder, based on Le Barbier de Seville; ou, La Precaution Inutile, by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais; music by Samuel Arnold and, by attribution, Pierre Alexandre Monsigny. Prologue by the author (Collection...of English Prologues and Epilogues, II, 209). Epilogue by David Garrick (Garrick's Poetical Works, II, 340). Larpent MS 436; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Sept. 1777, pp. 467-69]: With New Dresses and Scenes

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 8th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season. Prologue by George Colman elder. Epilogue by David Garrick (see 30 Aug. 1777)]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; c 4, by George Colman elder. Prologue by the author (Prose on Several Occasions, III, 244). Epilogue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 351). Larpent MS 450; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 11 July Postcript; not published]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 150 years [acted 31 Jan. 1723]. Written by Beaumont and Fletcher [with alterations by George Colman elder. Prologue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 354)]. The Musick by Purcell. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 30 July 1778: This Afternoon at five is published Bonduca (1s.)

Event Comment: The Flitch of Bacon [announced on playbill of 9 June] is obliged to be deferred. [Mainpiece: Prologue by George Colman, the elder.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 4, by George Colman elder. Prologue by the author (Morning Chronicle, 13 Oct.). Scenery by Rooker (ibid. 1 Sept.). Larpent MS 490; not published; synopsis of plot in London Magazine, Sept. 1779, pp. 405-7]. "The first three acts want business, and the denouement is rather suddenly brought about...The greatness of the task of performing a character of which Mrs Abington had been announced as the intended representative seemed to inspire [Miss Farren] with additional zeal, and helped her to gain additional credit" (Morning Chronicle, 1 Sept.)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL I, by George Colman, the elder]. "The ground-work was the apologies received from the great actors, who all preferred their suburban shades to the temperature of the Haymarket...The prompter enters to apologize to the audience and return the money, but his plea is rendered nugatory by certain oratorical and mimetic personages stationed in the pit and boxes, who not at first being recognized by the house as professional people, a great confusion was produced. When Mrs Webb arose to address the audience, the joke became apparent, and a prodigious interest was excited' (Boaden, Siddons, 1,208). [In 2nd piece the playbill lists Baddeley, but "Previous to the beginning of the Play, Palmer came forward...and acquainted [the audience] that Baddeley then lay speechless [as the result of a stroke], and Hitchcock, the prompter, would, with their permission, read Baddeley's Part" (London Chronicle, 31 May). The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Public Advertiser, 6 July 1780: This Day is published The Manager in Distress (1s.)

Event Comment: "My father [George Colman elder] told me that, on the seventh of June, on which day and night desolation had attained its climax [because of the Gordon riots], and London is said to have been seen from one spot blazing in thirty-six different parts, the receipt of his playhouse exceeded twenty pounds. This sum appears somewhat of the smallest for the night's receipt of a Theatre Royal in London; but how, instead of twenty pounds-worth of spectators, twenty persons, or one person, could have calmly paid money to witness, in the midst of this general dismay, a theatrical entertainment, is astonishing' (Peake, II, 47)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P I, by George Colman, the elder. His authorship has hitherto been questioned, but for its authentication see Peake, II, 54. Larpent MS 532; not published]: An Original, Whimsical, Operatical, Pantomimical, Farcical, Electrical, Naval, Military, Temporary, Local Extravaganza.The Overture and new Musick by Dr Arnold. With new Scenes [by Canter (Public Advertiser, 5 Sept.)], Dresses and Decorations. The Views of the Temple of Health and the Camp in St. James's Park designed and executed by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece: An Original, Whimsical, Operatical, Pantomimical, Farcical, Electrical, Naval, Military, Temporary, Local Extravaganza. 12th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. The views of the Temple of Health, and the Camp in St. James's Park designed and executed by Rooker. [Prologue by George Colman elder (Colman, Prose, III, 229). Miss Lyon is identified in playbill of 11 June. Delpini was from dl.] The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre

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: Benefit for Jewell, treasurer. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by George Colman, the younger. It has also been ascribed to Sarah Gardner, but for Colman's authorship see Peake, 11, 99. Composer of music unknown. MS: Larpent 589; not published]: The Words of the Songs are inserted in the Public Papers of this Day. Public Advertiser, 12 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Jewell, in Suffolk Street

Event Comment: [Prologue by George Colman, the elder (Colman, Prose, 10,239).] Afterpiece: Written by the Author of The Son-in-Law [John O'Keeffe]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: 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]. On 24 May Colman inserted the following in Public Advertiser: The Theatre Royal in the Haymarket will open next Saturday. In order to avoid unnecessary' Repetitions during the Season, the Public are desired, once for all, to take Notice that every Performance at this Theatre will be exhibited to most brilliant, crouded and OVERFLOWING audiences; and received with loud and universal Bursts of most UNBOUNDED and UNCOMMON Applause