Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; INT 1 by Francis Godolphin Waldron): Altered from THE FATAL EXTRAVAGANCE of [Joseph] Mitchell and Aaron Hill. "I went on Monday evening with Mrs Darner to the Little Haymarket, to see The Children in the Wood, having heard so much of my favourite, young Bannister, in that new piece; which, by the way, is well arranged, and near being fine. He more than answered my expectation, and all I had heard of him. It was one of the most admirable performances I ever saw: his transports of despair and joy are incomparable, and his various countenances would be adequate to the pencil of Salvator Rosa. He made me shed as many tears as I suppose the original old ballad did when I was six years old. Bannister's merit was the more striking, as, before The Children in the Wood, he had been playing the sailor in No Song No Supper, with equal nature" (Walpole [4 Dec. 1793], XV, 266-67)

Event Comment: [1st and 2nd pieces in place of THE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS; 3rd piece of THE PRIZE, both advertised on playbill of 10 Dec.]

Event Comment: [Litchfield, who is identified in European Magazine, Jan. 1794, p. 50, had made his 1st appearance on the stage at Richmond, 7 Sept. 1793, billed as "A Young Gentleman" (Charles Mathews, Memoirs, 1838-39, I, 70, and Thespian Magazine, Supp. 1793, p. 401). Not. Dram. states that "A person under the name of Litchfield but as I am informed in reality a Mr Holland Nephew to Mr Holland formerly of Drury Lane appeared 1st time at the HM in Richard III." But Holland was at this time acting at Bath, and did not appear in London until 31 Oct. 1796, at Drury Lane.]

Event Comment: By Command of Their Maiesties. "A most dreadful accident happened this evening; no less than fifteen persons were crushed to death at the opening of the pit door" (Thespian Magazine, Feb. 1794, p. 87). [This accident gave rise to many speculations and suggestions as to the necessity of instituting easier and safer means of access to the various theatres. But little was ever done about it. Sec HAY, 4 Feb.]

Event Comment: [In 1st and 3rd pieces the playbill retains Wewitzer, but "Previous to the drawing up of the curtain Bannister Jun. solicited the indulgence of the audience for Benson, who had in the course of the day studied two characters for which Wewitzer (who was indisposed) was announced in the bills" (Thespian Magazine, Feb. 1794, p. 88).)