Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the music entirely by Paisiello [performed at the Pantheon, 14 May 1791, as La Molinarella]. Bianchi and Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler] are both engaged as composers to this Theatre, and will each preside at the harpsichord the three first nights of every new Opera of their composition. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [see 30 Apr. 1795]. The Nobility are intreated to give directions to their servants to set down and take up at the Theatre, with horses' heads towards Pall Mall. On account of abuses practised in the names of the Subscribers it is become necessary to require the production of the Subscription Tickets both at the doors and the Boxes, At the Chair-door in Market-lane Subscribers only will be admitted. "The Pantomime is too much in the gaudy stile of Italy, and even in this respect the ballet-master is not well seconded by the machinist; the decorations were unfinished, and the scenes clumsily shifted...We were sorry to find that the new and superb room, which the proprietor was encouraged to build, and Which was opened in its unfinished state last year, is now entirely shut up, through the cabal of some few of the subscribers who refuse a miserable guinea for its illumination. The inconvenience of getting away from the Theatre will consequently be severely felt by the Beau Monde" (Morning Chronicle, 8 Dec.)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Force of Ridicule; afterpiece of Richard Coeur de Lion, both advertised on playbill of 28 Nov.] "The new Comedy last night was deferred upon the pretext of Miss Farren's illness...The Manager sent after Mrs Siddons, who was found at Covent-Garden Theatre, seeing Abroad and at Home. Brandon, however, ordered her a chair, and she kindly performed Isabella. Wroughton read the Father" (Oracle, 30 Nov.). "For near an hour the audience waited patiently...At half past seven Palmer addressed the audience" He said that Miss Farren was ill, that to those who preferred to leave the theatre their money would be returned, and that instead of the new play Mrs Siddons would act Isabella, "as soon as the dresses could be prepared for that purpose. This address was by no means favourably received, and hundreds of persons immediately left the house. A few minutes after eight, the Curtain drew up to the tragedy, which was well performed, and much applauded by the few who remained to witness it" (Morning Herald, 30 Nov.). "November 30. Miss Farren last night refused to appear in a new Play at Drury Lane which made much confusion in the House. The cause assigned was indisposition but that was not believed by the audience; and the fact Lysons says is, that as she cannot obtain payment from the Theatre, she resolutely told them she wd. not appear unless her demands were paid...Such is the unprincipled conduct of Sheridan" (Diary of Joseph Farington, 1922, I, 174). [On 1 Dec. Morning Herald prints a letter from Miss Farren, from Green-street, Grosvenor-square. saying that she really was ill. The editor of the paper adds a note in which he affirms his positive knowledge that rumours about a dispute as to Miss Farren's unpaid salary were without foundation.] Receipts: #134 2s. (82.2; 50.18; 1.2)

Event Comment: Thomas Brown to George Moult, 12 Sept. 1699: But tho' Bartholomew-Fair is dead and buried for a twelvemonth, yet it is some consolation to us, that it revives in both the play-houses. Poetry is so little regarded there, and the audience is so taken up with show and sight, that an author will not much trouble himself about his thoughts and language, so he is but in fee with the dancing-masters, and has a few luscious songs to lard his dry composition. One would almost swear, that Smithfield had removed into Drury-lane and Lincolns-Inn-Fields, since they set so small a value on good sense, and so great a one on trifles that have no relation to the play. By the by, I am to tell you, that some of their late bills are so very monstrous, that neither we, nor our forefathers, ever knew anything like them: They are as long as the title-pages to some of Mr Prynn's works; nay, you may much sooner dispatch the Gazette, even when it is most crowded with advertisements. And as their bills are so prodigious, so are the entertainments they present us with: For, not to mention the Bohemian women, that first taught us how to dance and swim together; not the famous Mr Clinch of Barnet, with his kit and organ; nor the worthy gentlemen that condescended to dance a Cheshirerounds, at the instance of several persons of quality; nor t'other gentleman that sung like a turky-cock; nor, lastly, that prodigy of a man that mimick'd the harmony of the Essex lions; not to mention these and a hundred other notable curiosities, we have been so unmercifully over-run with an inundation of Monsieurs from Paris, that one would be almost tempted to wish that the war had still continued, if it were for no other reason but because it would have prevented the coming over of these light-heel'd gentlemen, who have been a greater plague to our theatres, than their privateers were to our merchantmen. Shortly, I suppose, we shall be entertain'd here with all sorts of sights and shows, as, jumping thro' a hoop; (for why should not that be as proper as Mr Sympson's vaulting upon the wooden-horses?) dancing upon the high ropes, leaping over eight men's heads, wrestling, boxing, cudgelling, fighting at back-sword, quarter-staff, bear-baiting, and all the other noble exercises that divert the good folk at Hockley; for when once such an infection as this has gain'd ground upon us, who can tell where it will stop? What a wretched pass is this wicked age come to, when Ben. Johnson and Shakespear won't relish without these bagatelles to recommend them, and nothing but farce and grimace will go down? For my part, I wonder they have not incorporated parson Burgess into their society; for after the auditors are stupify'd with a dull scene or so, he would make a shift to relieve them. In short, Mr Collier may save himself the trouble of writing against the theatre; for, if these lewd practices are not laid aside, and sense and wit don't come into play again, a man may easily foretell, without pretending to the gift of prophecy, that the stage will be shortliv'd, and the strong Kentish man will take possession of the two play-houses, as he has already done of that in Dorset-Garden (The Works of Thomas Brown, 4th ed. [London, 1715], I, 216-18)

Event Comment: During this month was publish'd The Dramatic Congress, a short state of the stage under present management, by W. R. Chetwynd. The older actors and dramatists sit in Elysium and discuss the fate of the theatre under Fleetwood and Rich. Much on cartels and the decay of the stage, and the chicanery indulged in to starve the Macklin-Garrick revolters. Probably about this time was also publish'd Tyranny Triumphant...Or Historical and critical remarks on the famous Cartel lately agreed on by the masters of the two theatres, by Patrick Fitz-Crambo. Discusses the rumor that Rich shut up Lincoln's Inn Fields for six months and for #600 gave the key to the Manager of Drury Lane, leaving the actors to starve, and the town to be satisfied with whatever nonsense Drury Lane chose to put on

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Never acted there Before. Amphitheatre on stage [see 12 March]. Mainpiece: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Tickets and places of Mrs Clive at her house in Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; or of Page at the stage door of the theatre. Last Night their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales were at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden to see the Merchant of Venice; when the Song of Britons strike home was commanded to be sung, which was accordingly done, with the Chorus's, accompanied by Trumpets, Kettle-Drums, etc. and met with the Greatest Applause.--General Advertiser, 14 March. [The notice about Miss Edwards' first attempt means in an acting role; she was a singer.

Event Comment: With proper Decorations. Afterpiece, Containing His Surprizing Victory over Glumdalca, Queen of the Giants; His Magnificent reception in King Arthur's Courtv; His Marriage with the Princess Huncamunca; With the fatal Jealousy of Queen Dollalolla, and many other Historical Passages. [This notice accompanies subsequent announcements of Tom Thumb this season and will not be further recorded.] General Advertiser: Yesterday it was falsely and injuriously inserted in the Daily Papers, that a great quantity of arms was secreted in Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, which seem'd calculated only to Prejudice the Proprietor of that House, having no other foundation than his having the said Theatre as a Guard Room for the Service of the Government

Event Comment: Benefit for the Unhappy Sufferers by the late Dreadful Fire that happened in King Street, Covent Garden. Places for boxes to be taken, and tickets to be had of Mr Sarjant, at the Stage Door of the Theatre; where, if any persons are so charitably disposed as to send more than the price of the ticket, a receipt will be given him to the person who brings it. And the profits arising from such Benefit Play, will be paid into the hands of the Church Wardens of St Paul's, cg, and St Martins in the Fields, to be distributed by them for the purposes intended. And as there has been no interest made for this benefit, more than arose from the Advertisements in the public Play-Bills, it is hop'd the Inhabitants of the above parishes will favour this charity with their personal appearances at the said Theatre this Night. Receipts: #128 13s. in cash plus #42 5s. (169 Box tickets). Total Income #170 18s. Charges #64

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Massey. Afterpiece: Never performed in London, written by the author of The Son-In-Law [John O'Keeffe; 1st acted at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 14 Jan. 1767. See also cg, 16 Mar. 1782, when it was acted as The Positive Man]. To begin at 7:00. Tickets delivered for the 4th instant will be taken. Tickets and places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre, and of Massey, No.4, St. Martin's-street, Leicester-Fields

Event Comment: Benefit for Morelli. A new Comic Opera [1st time; COM 2, by Giovanni Bertati, adapted by Girolamo Tonioli]; the music composed on purpose for this Theatre by Paisiello. With new Scenes and Decorations painted by Moench; the dresses invented and executed by Lupino [from playbill of 28 June]. Under the direction of Mazzinghi. Tickets to be had of Morelli, No. 12, Poland-street. Morelli is happy in having succeeded to bring forward on his Benefit Night (though at a considerable expense) such an excellent new Opera for the entertainment of those who shall honor him with their presence; soliciting the kind patronage of the Nobility, Gentry and Public accordingly on the occasion. Morning Post, 4 June: The Subscribers and the Public are respectfully informed that the new Comic Opera of La Locanda, written expressly for this Theatre, and the only Opera ever composed by this great Master for an English audience, is some time since arrived, and will be brought out shortly

Event Comment: Robert Jennens to Thomas Coke, 19 Nov. 1696: There has been for four or five days together at the play house in Lincolns Inn Fields acted a new farce translated out of the French by Mr Monteux called the Shame Sham? Doctor or the Anatomist, with a great concert of music, representing the loves of Venus and Mars, well enough done and pleases the town extremely. The other house has no company at all, and unless a new play comes out on Saturday revives their reputation, they must break (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Part II, Cowper MSS., II, 367)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702) (pp. 21-23) implies that this work preceded Rinaldo and Armida (performed at lif probably in November 1698). The Island Princess was not published until 1699 (the Masque being advertised in the Post Boy, 7-9 Feb. 1698@9, and the Opera in the Flying Post, 7-9 March 1698@9). A Comparison between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 21-22: Sullen: The old House have a Bawble offer'd 'em, made out of Fletcher's Island Princess, sometime after alter'd by Mr Tate, and now erected into an Opera by Motteux: The Actors labour at this like so many Galley Slaves at an Oar, they call in the Fiddle, the Voice, the Painter, and the Carpenter to help 'em; and what neither the Poet nor the Player cou'd do, the Mechanick must do for him:...but as I was saying-the Opera now possesses the Stage, and after a hard struggle, at length it prevail'd, and something more than Charges came in every Night: The Quality, who are always Lovers of good Musick, flock hither, and by almost a total revolt from the other House, give this new Life, and set it in some eminency above the New; this was a sad mortification to the old Stagers in Lincolns-Inn-fields. For a poem, The Confederates; or the first Happy Day of the Island Princess, see Poem on Affairs of State, 1703, II, 248-50

Event Comment: Benefit for Phillips and Mrs Walter. Tickets to be had at Phillips, Lodgings in Little Wild St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; of Mrs Walter, at the Three Queens, a Hosier, in New St., Covent Garden; and at Bradshaws. Afterpiece: a New Pantomimic Entertainment. Receipts: #170