Event Comment: [A detailed account of all three pieces appears in Sophie v. la Roche, Sophie in London, 1933, pp. 93-95. The theatre is described as seeming "exceptionally small, but it is very prettily painted in blue and white; the boxes, as in Paris, are open and everything is well lit." In 3rd piece "A twelve-year-old girl dressed as a poor boy who walks around with a bundle of rushes, straw and reeds to patch up old chairs, then really sits down to work on one, sang and played unusually well; indeed, was obliged to give two encores; the third time, however, announced with dignity and candour that it would not be possible, and that she feared she might be unable to take her part the next day; which would grieve her excessively, as she liked having her modest talents appreciated and applauded. Everyone clapped and praised her aloud. She is beuatiful, and deserves to be the nation's darling, and will certainly become a great actress, competent to keep her voice, gesture and features in complete control, never using her talents wrongly or producing exaggerated effects."]

Event Comment: "[Mrs Siddons's] dress was a French grey satin gown, trimmed with dark sage coloured ribbon, edged with steel, white satin petticoat covered With tiffany, and trimmed With the same as the gown, a girdle of the same colour, a dark sage coloured cane hat ornamented with feathers and edges with gold, with a band of gauze and large bows, the ends fastened to the waist" (Daily Universal Register, 4 Oct.). Receipts: #302 2s. (281.18.0; 19.6.6; 0.17.6)

Event Comment: Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s. Upper Gallery 6d. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00. Tickets to be had at the Eagle, Ram, White Horse, Antelope and King's Head. Geoghegan, printer, No. 3, Kent-Street, Borough, Southwark

Event Comment: Benefit for Jones. Tickets to be had of Jones at the White Horse, Parson's Green; at the King's Arms, Fulham; Ship, Fulham; and the George, Walham Green. Afterpiece: It is hoped that the greatest Attention will be paid, as it is impossible for the Company to cogitate throughtout the Cogibundity of Cogitations, unless the most profound Profundity of Thought is observed. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. Good Fires in the Pit

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Foundling, advertised on playbill of 12 Feb.] Powell: Alexander 's car was completed, and drawn by two elephants, and accompanied by Darius ' car, drawn by three white horses, and another car laden with trophies, drawn by soldiers all of which [were] totally covered with burnished gold and silver...The Procession was still but indifferently conducted. New Ballet rehearsed at 12. Morning Chronicle, 18 Oct. 1794: Two hundred soldiers are to be employed in the spectacle; each of their dresses is estimated at #5. Account-Book: Paid Miller in full for music in Alexander the Great #30. Receipts: #263 11s. (173.16.6; 86.13.0; 3.1.6)

Event Comment: Oracle, 2 Feb.: Mrs Siddons wore a dress "wholly composed of white muslin, with a zone of jewels." Account-Book:Paid Barratt, Sperm Oil and Candles to 25th Inst. #125 5s. Receipts: #302 19s. 6d. (296.9.6; 6.10.0)

Event Comment: The Publick is most respectfully informed that on account of the sudden Indisposition of a Principal Performer, the new Tragedy of The Conspiracy [advertised on playbill of 11 Nov.] is obliged to be deferred. "A new tragedy, entitled The Conspiracy, written by Mr Jephson, was announced for representation on Saturday evening; but (as the apology stated) on account of the indisposition of a principal performer, The Grecian Daughter was substituted in its room. All the principal performers advertised for the new play having, however, appeared in The Grecian Daughter, it is supposed, and generally understood, that it was the interference of the Lord Chamberlain's interdiction (who, by the mighty virtues of his white wand, valiantly frustrated the meditated Conspiracy), that produced the sudden change of performance" (Morning Herald, 14 Nov.), Receipts: #256 7s. 6d. (167.6.6; 84.11.0; 4.10.0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 15 Nov. 1681: This being ye Q.s birthday ye K.s players acted Alexdr ye great after wch was a ball & entertainment given to ye Ct. (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80). Luttrell, 15 Nov. 1681: The 15th, being the birth day of her majestie, was kept with ringing of bells, bonefires, &c.; and at night there was a play acted at Whitehall before the king and queen, where the court appeared in great splendor (A Brief Relation, I, 144). The Earl of Arran to Ormond, 15 Nov. 1681: I am going to a play at court (HMC, Ormonde MSS., New Series, VI, 230). L. C. 5@144, p. 246, 22 Nov. 1681: Whereas Jeoffrey Ayleworth, Thomas ffarmer, Thomas ffinall & Richard Tomlinson foure of his Mates Musitians have neglected their dury in attending at ye play acted before his Mate at Whitehall on Tuesday night last for which I have suspended them (L. C. to the Treasurer of the Chamber, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 100)

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 369. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352. In L. C. 5@150, p. 156, is an order to prepare the stage for the play, and, in L. C. 5@150, p. 164, is another order for new equipment. Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 125: The 4th, being his majesties birth day...and at night was a consort of musick, and a play afterwards. Matthew Prior wrote A Pindarique Ode which was sung before Their Majesties at court on this day. See The Literary Works of Matthew Prior, ed. H. B. Wright and M. K. Spears (Oxford, 1959), I, 96-98; II, 858. Cibber, Apology, I, 128: The agreeable was so natural to [Mountfort], that even in that dissolute Character of the Rover he seem'd to wash off the Guilt from Vice, and gave it Charms and Merit. For tho' it may be a Reproach to the Poet to draw such Characters not only unpunish'd but rewarded, the Actor may still be allow'd his due Praise in his excellent Performance. And this is a Distinction which, when this Comedy was acted at Whitehall, King William's Queen Mary was pleas'd to make in favour of Monfort, notwithstanding her Disapprobation of the Play