Event Comment: Mainpiece: 27th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the 1793 hay season]. The Overture, Chorusses, and the new Music by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Half-Price not being taken at this Theatre, the Prices will be as in the Summer. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout season, but see 11 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice at the Theatre. dl Account-Book, 23 Nov.: Received of Colman for 50 Nights Use of the Patent of Drury Lane Theatre at #15 a Nt. #750; 3 Dec.: for 10 nights Use of Patent #150 [Et seq. throughout season.

Event Comment: This work is advertised in The Loyal Protestant 22, 27, and 29 Aug. 1682: at Mrs Saffry's, a Dutch Woman's booth, over against the Greyhound Inne in West Smithfield. [Her first announcement calls the company "By an Approved Company"; the other two notices refer to it as "the first New-market Company." See Rosenfeld, The Theatre of the London Fairs, p. 6.] John Coysh paid #6 for a booth at the Fair (Rosenfeld, The Theatre of the London Fairs, p. 6). See also Morley, Memoirs of Bartholomew Fair, p. 222, for notice of the Indian Water Worksv. In Wit and Drollery (1682), p. 304, are verses on the Fair: @Here's the Whore of Babylon the Devil and the Pope,@The Girl is just agoing on the Rope@Here's Dives and Lazarus and the World's Creation,@Here's the Tall Dutch Woman the like's not in the Nation,@Here is the Booth where the High-Dutch Made is@Hear are the Bears that dance like any Ladies,@Tat, tat, tat, tat, tat says the little penny Trumpet@Here's Jacob Hall, that does so jump it, jump it.@Sound Trumpet Sound, for Silver Spoon and Fork,@Come here's your dainty Pit and Pork.@ [See also August 1680.

Event Comment: Benefit for Caulfield, Phillimore & Johnston. 2nd piece [1st time; M. INT 1]. 3rd piece: Not acted these 5 years. To conclude with a superb Prospect of the Infernal Regions, and a Rain of Fire. Morning Herald, 4 June: Tickets to be had of Caulfield, No. 2, William-street, Adelphi [others not listed]. Receipts: #122 17s. (55.17.0; 51.16.6; 5.9.6; tickets: none listed; odd money: 9.14.0) (charge: #211 8s. 2d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Taken from Moliere by the late Mr Betterton. Afterpiece: As 8 Nov. [HAY also announces it intends to perform a new masque, Love and Glory, in honor of the approaching Royal Nuptials, but, the time being short, the theatre will first bring on an Impromptu Revel Masque]

Event Comment: [Miss Villers is identified in MS list, in hay playbills in Harvard Theatre Collection, of new performers for 1793.

Event Comment: [The last night of the season, but not so specified in the playbill. Further performances were planned; this playbill carries the advertisements for 10 Apr. But most of the actors in this HAY season were regular members of the DL company. They were, presumably, required for rehearsals for the opening of the new DL theatre on 21 Apr.]

Event Comment: Benefit for C. Kemble. [Liston is identified in MS list, in hay playbills now at Harvard, of new performers for the 1799 season.] A Spurious Copy of Sighs having been advertized as performing at this Theatre, the Public is respectfully in formed that the True Copy is this day published by M. Stace, Princes-street, Leicester-square

Event Comment: Benefit for ye Middlesex Hospital. Part of Pit laid into Boxes. Tickets to be had at Mr John Horne's, Treasurer of the Hospital, in Market St., near Newport Market; At Tom's Coffee House, Cornhill; The White Hart Tavern, Holborn; The Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; Berkeley Square Coffee House; at the Hospital, and of Varney at the Theatre, where places may be taken. Receipts: #280 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for the London Hospital. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Stage Door of the Theatre; the Doors of which will be opened at 5:30, and the Performance to begin precisely at 6:30. No Money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up, nor will any Person be admitted behind the Scenes. [Master Braham is identified in Grove. Address by Arthur Murphy (Town and Country Magazine, July 1787, p. 324).] This was the opening night of this theatre, which had been built by and was under the management of John Palmer. Following the afterpiece he explained to the audience the objections of the proprietors of dl, cg and hay to his opening the theatre. He said that he had from the Lieutenant of the Tower of London what he considered to be sufficient permission, but that he would nevertheless close the theatre temporarily. Palmer's difficulty was that he had no really legal permission from anybody for the performance of actual plays. See 3 July, and for further details the head-note to this season. World, 18 July, prints an official accoudting for this night from the theatre's treasurer: Receipts were #273 12s.; paid for music, advertisements, servants, &c. #37 10s.; lost in bad silver #1 19s.; paid the London Hospital #234 4s.; the players acted without salary

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 32nd Night [i.e. in continuation, erroneously, of the reckoning for the preceding season, when it was acted 28 times]. With new Music, Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music (with a few Exceptions) composed entirely new by Shield. And new Scenery designed and chiefly executed by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "Covent-garden is the National Theatre. I was there on 10th Dec. and saw an opera called The Woodman. It was the very day on which the life story of Madam Billington, both from the good as well as from the bad sides was announced [i.e. Memoirs of Mrs Billington, and An Answer to the Memoirs of Mrs Billington, both anonymous, both predated 1792]...She sang rather timidly this evening, but very well all the same. The first tenor [Incledon] has a good voice and quite a good style, but he uses the falsetto to excess. He sang a trill on high C and ran up to G. The 2nd tenor [Johnstone] tries to imitate him, but could not make the change from the falsetto to the natural voice, and apart from that is most unmusical...But the cast is entirely used to him. The leader is Herr Baumgartner [sic], a German who, however, has almost forgotten his mother-tongue. The Theatre is very dark and dirty, and is almost as large as the Vienna Court Theatre. The common people in the galleries of all the theatres are very impertinent; they set the fashion with all their unrestrained impetuosity, and whether something is repeated or not is determined by their yells. The parterre and all the boxes sometimes have to applaud a great deal to have something good repeated. That was just what happened this evening, with the Duet in the 3rd Act, which was very beautiful; and the pro's and contra's went on for nearly a quarter of an hour, till finally the parterre and the boxes won, and they repeated the Duet. Both the performers stood on the stage quite terrified, first retiring, then again coming forward. The orchestra is sleepy" (Haydn, 273-74). Receipts: #194 11s. (191.8; 3.3)

Event Comment: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door of the Theatre. [Only sagnificant changes from this regular notice will be recorded hereafter.] Paid Mrs Margaret Lamb 6 months interest on #315 due 8 Sept. #7 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #155 15s. (Account Book). Estimate of a Constant@N.B. The Ground Rent and Taxes is calculated to be Paid in 150 Days.@Per Annum Per Day@To 50 Old Shares at 2s. --- #5@To 50 New Ditto at 2s. --- #5@T 50 New Ditto at 2s. --- #5@To Ground Rent for the Theatre #100@To Ditto for Buildings in Harte St. #30@To Ditto for Mr Thurmond's House in Bow Street Passage #25@ #155 #1 0s. 8d.@ #11 0s. 8d.@Taxes (Viz)@To Land and Window Taxes for Theatre #98 2s.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage #5 15s 6d.@To Poor's Rate for the Theatre #20@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage #1 10s.@To Watch rate for the Theatre #8 6s. 8d@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 10s. 6d.@To Rector's rate for the Theatre #6 13s. 4d.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 8s. 4d.@To Scavenger's Rate for the Theatre #6 17s. 4d.@To Do for a House in Bow St. Passage 6s. 4d.@To Water for the Theatre #4@ #152 10s.@ #1 4d.@To Renters, Ground Rent & Taxes #12 1s.@To Gawrds [sic] per Day 14s.@To Barbers Do 5s. 4d.@To Scenemen Do #2 10s.@To Music as Per List #4 9s 2d.@For 150 Days To Candles #3 3s.@Do To Coales 10s 10s.@Passages, Stage Etc. To Lamps #1 12s.@To Bills #1 7s.@To Advertisements 5s.@To Billsetters 4s. 6d.@#16 6s. Sallery [sic] #14 6s. Estimate To Wardrobe bill about #1 11s.@#2 Sallery #5 Estimate To Property Bill Do 7s.@To Chorus Singers Do 10s.@To Mr J. Rich #5 5s.@To Mr C. Rich #1@ #36 1s.@Nightly Charge@Musick List@Messrs Wood 5s.@Gillier 5s.@Miller 5s.@Chapman@ 3s. 4d.@Goodman 3s. 4d.@Woodson 5s.@Ward 6s. 8d.@Rolland 5s.@Rawlings 3s. 4d.@Vincent 6s. 8d.@Wrexell 5s.@Beale 5s.@Jones 4s. 2d.@Biche 3s. 4d.@Heron 4s. 2d.@Stockdon 3s. 4d.@Scovell 3s. 4d.@Lampe 3s. 4d.@Smart 3s. 4d.@Assistant Writer 10d.@Harpsicord 5s.@#4 9s. 2d.@Men Dressers Charg'd in the Wardrobe Bills@Messrs Mearns 2s. 6d.@Cason 2s.@Esbury 1s.@Fenwick 1s.@Winterton 1s.@Besford 1s.@Francis 1s.@Cawder 1s.@Hays 1s.@Hollingsworth 1s.@Cabell 1s.@Nicholls 1s.@Norris 1s.@Cole 1s.@16s. 6d.@Billstickers as per List@Messrs Abbott 2s.@Mislebrook 2s.@Dymuck 2s@Tidd 2s.@Gale 2s.@Cole 1s. 6d.@11s. 6d.

Event Comment: Garrick put the finish hand to the sale of half the patent &c. to Dr Ford, Linley, Ewart, and Sheridan for #35,000 to be delivered over in June next. Garrick it was said rais'd #12,000 last year by subscription to pay New Ornamentation, which cost #3000, so that the remaining #4500 and #35,000 was no bad interest for the #5,000 he gave in 1747. New property valuation giving him a...(Winston MS 11, from Burney News Cuttings). Paid Mr Palmer, spermacetti candle Bill #186 13s.; Mr Machin, Chorus, 19 times #4 15s. Rec'd Mr Percy's rent 1 year to Mich Last, #10; Stopages #14 5s. Receipts: #167 2s. (Treasurer's Book). From the Morning Chronicle, 19 Jan.: "David Garrick, Esq., has signed and sealed for the sale of his share in the patent and Property of Drury Lane Theatre. The purchasers are Dr Ford, Mr Ewart, Mr Linley, and Mr Richard Sheridan. The purchase money is #35,000. The public may now therefore depend upon it that this will be the last season of Mr Garrick's performing. The new proprietors as an act of their own, have stipulated that Mr Garrick shall continue to keep that box which has of late years been set apart for the accomodation of his family. Mr Garrick intimated last night to the audience his having sold his share in Drury Lane Theatre, by answering in the part of Abel Drugger , on being asked if he had any interest at the theatre, 'I had some, I don't know what I may have.'

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; DR. POEM 5, by William Mason, 1st acted at Crow Street Theatre, Dublin, 30 Mar. 1764]: Written on the Model of the ancient Greek Tragedy. The Overture and all the Music composed New by Dr Arne. With a New Scene designed and executed by Dahl [recte Dall]. The Dresses, Decorations, &c. all entirely New. Books of the Lyrical Part of the Drama to be had at the Theatre. 'But I had rather talk of Caractacus; I agree that he will not suffer by not being sputtered by Barry, who has lost all his teeth. Covent Garden is rather above Drury Lane in actors, but both sets are exceedingly bad, so bad-that I almost wish Caractacus was not to appear. Very seldom do I go to the play, for there is no bearing such strollers" (Walpole [to the author, 8 Oct. 1776], IX, 419-20). "I attended Caractacus last winter, and was greatly interested, both from my friendship for Mr Mason and from the excellence of the poetry. I was out of all patience; for though a young Lewis played a subordinate part very well, and Mrs Hartley looked her part charmingly, the Druids were so massacred, and Caractacus so much worse, that I never saw a more barbarous exhibition" (Walpole [13 July 1777], X, 81-82). Public Advertiser, 7 Dec. 1776: This Day is published the Lyrical Part of Caractacus (6d.). [The publisher, J. Wilkie, states that he also has the "whole Drama, as altered by the Author, 18d." Ibid., 9 Dec., contains an advertisement from Mason stating that this version is unauthorized.] Ibid., 12 Dec.: This Day is published [by A. Ward of York] a new Edition of Caractacus, now altered for Representation at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #163 10s. (163.6; 0.4)

Event Comment: At the New Wells, Shepherd's Market. During the time of May Fair. The Unnatural Parents; or, The Fair Maid of the West: Also the Comical Humours and Adventures of Trusty, her Father's Man, and the Three Witches. By Yeates's Company. To begin each day at 2, 5, and 7, and conclude at 9. A good band of music is provided...Scenes and Clothes entirely New; N.B. The Droll the same that was performed by Mrs Lee fifteen years ago with great Applause

Event Comment: A New Serious Opera. The Music by several eminent composers under the direction of Giordani. Dances under the direction of Lany. New Scenes by Colomba, with magnificent Dresses and Decorations for the Opera and Dances. Tickets Pit and Boxes put together at Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. By Command of their Majesties no person whatsoever to be admitted behind the scenes or into the Orchestra. Doors to be opened at 6, to begin at 7:00 p.m. Vivant Rex et Regina. In order to prevent inconveniencies to the ladies in getting to and from their carriages, they are requested to order their coachmen to set down with their horses heads towards Pall Mall, and to take up with their heads towards Picadilly. The door in Market Lane and the King's door for Chairs only

Event Comment: A Serious Opera [1st time; ser 3, by Giovanni de Gamerra; a pasticcio, with music by Anfossi, Gluck, Alessandri, Martini, Sarti, Giordani]; the Music under the Direction of Anfossi. With new Scenes, painted by Novosielski, new Dresses and Decorations, both for the Opera and Dances. By their Majesties Command, no Person can be admitted behind the Scenes. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin exactly at 7:00 [same throughout season]. The Subscribers' Tickets are ready to be delivered at the Office in Unionstreet. To prevent Inconvenience to the Nobility and Gentry in getting to their Carriages, they are most respectfully intreated to give positive orders to their servants to set down and take up with their Horses Heads towards Pall-Mall. The Door in Market-lane for Chairs only

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Alterations in the Dialogue and New Music [i.e. 6 new songs by John O'Keeffe with music by Michael Arne: 3 sung by Fairfield, and 1 each by Theodosia, Farmer Giles and Fanny. They are printed in London Chronicle, 26 Sept. and in Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1782,p. 452]. The Words of the New Songs will be given at the Boxes. Afterpiece: 6th time [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. [Brett was from the HAY.] Receipts: #271 10s. 6d. (269/4/6; 2/6/0)

Event Comment: At the Old Theatre. Advertisement for the Publick Good: Whereas a pack of Strolling Players, who by the Laws now in force are liable to be punished by His Majesty's Justices/of/the/Peace as vagrants and vagabonds, lately infested the villages of Clapham, Stackwell and Borough of Southwark and other places in the County of Surrey and have made several riots and have contracted several debts with His Majesty's liege subjects and have given out printed handbills and Tickets for several of their benefits, particularly that the play called the Recruiting Officer and the Entertainment called Flora, or Hob in the Well would be performed on Monday Night Last at Yeates Old Theatre in the Bowling Green in Southwark and Several Gentlemen and Ladies were prevailed on and paid for majy tickets and went in coaches expecting to see and hear the proposed entertainments but the said strollers neither performed nor returned the money advanced for such tickets though demanded, this Advertisement is therefore hembly recommended to the serious consideration of the justices of the peace for the said county of Surrey and also to give a friendly caution to unwary people not to be imposed upon by such persons in the future.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Nov. [See 27 Nov. at hay] On Tuesday last the Court Leets for the Town and Borough of Southwark...Likewise directed the Constables to use their utmost Endeavours toward suppressing the Acting of Plays...and avoiding all unlawful Games and Plays....By the Statue, no Plays to be acted but in Westminster, or Place of his Majesty's Residence, on forfeit of #50.--London Courant, 6 Nov

Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by George Brewer]: The Musick by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald; 6 July 1796: This Day is published Bannian Day (1s.). 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]. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre. [On this evening the following performers appeared both at dl and at the hay: Suett, Caulfield, Trueman, R. Palmer, Burton, Miss Leak, Miss Heard

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: 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: By the Company of Comedians of his Majesty's Revels. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Congreve. All the Characters entirely new drest. With new Scenes and Decorations. [This is the opening of HAY by the dissenting actors under Theophilus Cibber. For a Prologue intended to be spoken on this night, see The Honeysuckle (1734), pp. 113-15.] At Common Prices. 6 P.M

Event Comment: The hay advertised for 30 May and later two plays which never got staged: Macheath turn'd Pyrate; or, Polly in India. An Opera. Very much taken, if not improv'd from the famous Sequel of the late celebrated Mr Gay. With a New Prologue, proper to the Occasion. And after the Run of that, the Town will be entertain'd with a new Farce of two Acts, call'd The King and Titi; or, The Medlars. Taken from the History of Prince Titi, Originally written in French, and lately translated into English

Event Comment: [The playbill announces phe 1st night of What a Blunder!, but "In consequence of a severe accident C. Kemble met with yesterday evening by a fall in the last scene of Obi, the new opera of What a Blunder! cannot be acted. This evening will be presented The London Hermit" (MS annotation on hay playbill now at Harvard). "In making his leap from the precipice, the needful precautions to break his fall were not employed With sufficient promptitude. The consequence was that Kemble received several violent contusions, and sprained his back in a dangerous manner...The New Opera, in which that actor was to have performed a principal part, was necessarily postponed, and the above Entertainments substituted in its place. A proper apology was made to the audience, as well on account of the unavoidable disappointment, as the incorrectness which might naturally be expected to occur, from the suddenness of the change, and the absence of some of the regular performers" (Dramatic Censor, III, 83).

Event Comment: May Fair. At Miller's Loyal Association Booth at the upper end of the market near Hyde Park Corner. [See Rosenfeld, The Theatre of the London Fairs, p. 108.