Event Comment: "Being possessed of an excellent understanding, and under the general impression of elegant manners, there appears to be no study [in Mrs Abington], no imitation--all is the result of the moment--natural, well-bred, and easy" (Public Advertiser, 25 Nov. 1784). Mainpiece: Altered from Cibber's Non-Jour, and the Tartuffe of Moliere. Not acted these 12 years [acted 12 Oct. 1773]

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. Mainpiece: several new Additions never performed but once, particularly a Scene of Comical Magickv

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam, Rob. William, and Miss Tynte. Written by Shakespear. Th. Cibber (Lives and Characters, pp. 49-49): I remember, some Years ago, on Mr Giffard's coming from Ireland (then a young Actor) Mr Booth performed the Character of Hotspur one Night, when Mr Giffard played the Part of the Prince of Wales ; Mr Booth knowing Mr Giffard must be naturally prejudiced in favour of Mr Thomas Elrington, to whose Performance in Hotspur he had many times attended with no small Admiration-Mr Booth, piqued on this Occasion, exerted himself in a particular Manner, and played the whole Part with such Fire, and Engergy of Spirit, as rouzed his Auditors to an Extravagance of Applause, and made Mr Giffard confess (as he has often done in my Hearing) that, notwithstanding his Prepossession in favour of Mr Elrington,-Mr Booth, in Power, Spirit, and Judgment, went far beyond him in this Part; as he afterwards, with Admiration confessed,-he did in every other

Event Comment: Benefit $Cibber Sr.

Event Comment: At Cibber-Griffin-Bullock-Hallam Booth. [The Fair to run to Friday, 7 Sept.] Second piece: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction, and eminent Merchants and Citizens. Taken from the Works of the Immortal Shakespear

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh and C. Cibber Esq; Poet-Laureat. The Advance Money to be return'd to those who go out before the Overture of the Entertainment begins

Event Comment: Benefit Carey. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Carey. Being the last of that kind he intends ever to compose. At Common Prices. 6:30 P.M. No one admitted into the Boxes but by Silver Tickets or printed Tickets from the Office. [Preface points out that DL had the copy nine months, promising to perform it and returning it at the end of the season. Then Cibber Jr requested it for his summer company; it was rehearsed and then the company forced to close.] The Airs by Porpora

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Sir George Etheridge. Afterpiece: Taken from the French of Moliere

Event Comment: RRylands MS: Old Cibber play'd Brute. [The preceding day's notice started this performance was By Command of his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, although no such notice appears in the day's Bill. But the following note is included on the day's bill in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser.] By His Majesty's Command, no persons to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money to be return'd after the curtain is drawn up. [Fleetwood made an earnest attempt this year to clear the stage for action. All notices up to this day contain the prohibition of members of the audience behind scenes as stated on the bill of 15 Oct. Hereafter the prohibition is enforced by His Majesty's Command.] Receipts: #182

Event Comment: Benefit Mills. Tickets and places of Bradshaw, &c, and at Mills' House in Nassau St., near Soho Square. Servants may keep places on stage, which will (for the better accommodation of the Ladies) will be enclosed to form an amphitheatre. Rylands MS.: Cibber elop'd. Receipts: #188

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber Jun. Tickets and places to be had of Hobson at the stage door. Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Moore, and tickets deliver'd out for the Distress'd Wife dated 16 March will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: At the Particular Desire of some Persons of Quality. [The song, apparently by Cibber, upon the victory off Cape Finisterre displeased Cross the night before, but met with sufficient popular appeal to have a run.] Receipts: #82 (Cross); #88 14s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for Cibber. Tickets of Page at the Stage Door. [The entertainments and mixed afterpieces formed the most elaborate night's performance this season.

Event Comment: Benefit for T.? Cibber

Event Comment: [Seymour is identified in European Magazine, Oct. 1787, p. 315. Address by Edward Hickey Seymour (London Chronicle, 4 Oct.).] "The clock striking two -instead of the usual folly of a small table bell, when Macbeth's drink was ready -forms an alteration of much good sense and propriety" (World, 2 Oct.). "Of the Lady Macbeths [since the time of Garrick] Mrs Siddons has exhibited the most happy effect of her skill -has shown a portrait of Lady Macbeth which before existed but in imagination. Mrs Yates claims the second place of eminence; her deportment and manner were equal to Mrs Siddons, but very inferior to her in pathos and energy. Mrs Pope's performance lays claim to praise, particularly in the sleeping scene, but there is a certain delicacy and tenderness associated with the powers of that lady which prevents her giving a glowing picture of that female fiend. Mrs Bates's performance was sufficiently marking and bold in some passages, but the whole wanted uniformity and finishing" (Public Advertiser, 4 Oct.). Receipts: #225 (224.5; 0.15)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Cross and Mrs Vincent. Receipts: money #30 14s.; tickets #100 10s

Event Comment: Benefit Kelly, Gwinn, Mrs Harrison. Receipts: money #18 3s. 6d.; tickets #171 19s

Event Comment: Benefit Hild. Bullock and Mrs Wall. Receipts: money #27 15s. 6d.; tickets #67 9s

Event Comment: Benefit Moreau, Mrs Moreau, Papillion. Receipts: money #36 5s.; tickets #59 1s

Event Comment: Benefit DuPre and Mrs Pelling. By Command of his Royal Highness. Receipts: money #43 6s. 6d.; tickets #93 9s

Event Comment: Benefit a Gentlewoman [Mrs Steed] and her Daughter. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Receipts: money #20 16s.; tickets #104 8s

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Horton. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; tc 5]: Altered from [The Picture, by Philip] Massinger [by Henry Bate; incidental music by William Shield. Prologue by William Pearce (see text)]. With New Dresses, Scenery, &c. Afterpiece: Written by O'Keeffe. London Chronicle, 10 Nov., prints the words of the Chorus, and also of a song sung by Quick, Poor Hillario, once so jolly, and of one sung by Mrs Martyr, Would you view the loveliest rose. Receipts: #209 16s. (205/3; 4/13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Siddons. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. To prevent confusion Ladies are desired to send their Servants by half past Four o'clock. Mainpiece: Not acted these 4 years [acted 15 May 1782]. Afterpiece: Not acted these 5 years [not acted since 25 Mar. 1775]. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Banquo to Bensley, but "Poor Bensley's illness last night took him off; but on another night he will give and take in the triumph" {Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). In afterpiece he is assigned to The Guardian. On the Kemble playbill in both cases his name is deleted and MS annotations substitute Hull's.] "Macbeth at Drury-lane will. . . gag the drivellers who, on the failure of Constance [in King John], ventured a sweeping prophecy of condemnation that 'the Siddons never could play Shakespeare.' Would it not have been better to have borrowed Farren, rather than Hull, for Banquo?" (Public Advertiser, 4 Feb.). "'Why,'say some of the critics, 'should Mrs Siddons wear a white dress in her last scene of Lady Macbeth? She is supposed to be asleep, not mad.' What reason except custom can be given for a mad heroine appearing in white we know not [and see DL, 20 Dec. 1782]. Yet there is an obvious reason why a person walking in their sleep should wear a white dress of the loose kind worn by Mrs Siddons ... It [is] the nearest resemblance which theatrical effect will admit, to the common sort of night-dresses" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #346 16s. (198/10/0; 7/2/6; 0/8/6; tickets: 140/15/0) (charge: free)