Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Lillo, Author of George Barnwell. [Prologue, which is by George Colman, the elder, is the Prologue introductory to the play, not the Prologue spoken on 31 May, &c] Afterpiece: The Music by Dr Arnold. The Scenes by Rooker. Books of the Tragedy and of the Songs in the Pantomime to be had in the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss George

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Mrs Cuyler. [Kean is identified on HAY playbill of 26 Aug. 1784.] 1st and 2nd pieces: Both written by George Colman, Esq. 3rd piece: Written by the late David Garrick. Not acted these 12 years. Tickets to be had of Mrs Cuyler, No. 7, St. Alban's-street; at the bar of George's Coffee-house; and of Rice, at the Theatre, where places for the boxes may be taken. Tickets delivered for the 15th will be admitted

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Lillo, Author of George Barnwell. [Prologue by George Colman, the elder (Colman, Prose, in, 233). Mrs Bates was from CG.]

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. Morning Herald, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Siddons, Gower-street, Bedford-square. "In the apparent assumption of madness [and] the express'd weakness and melancholy of the character Kemble is not equalled by any of his predecessors . . . Till [Mrs Siddons] there never was, in sensible discrimination, as there ought to be, the real madness of Ophelia from the feigned distraction of Hamlet. Till then the dignity, the love, even the pathos of the part [were] but poorly, if at all administered" (Public Advertiser, 17 May). Receipts: #326 14s. 6d. (137/3/0; 7/3/6; 0/4/0; tickets: 182/4/0)(charge: #109 16s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr and Mrs Iliff. Afterpiece: Not acted these 10 years [not acted since 30 July 1778]. Diary, 28 July: Tickets to be had of Iliff, No. 20, Charles-street, Westminster

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Storace. Mainpiece: By Permission of the Proprietors of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Prince Hoare, based partly on LE TABLEAU PARLANT, by Louis Anseaume]: The Music by Storace. "The songs are written with taste, and set to very lively and agreeable tunes by Storace's brother...[They are] calculated to afford her a complete opportunity of displaying that mixture of laughable levity, friskiness and merriment which on the stage give her so much attraction" (Public Advertiser, 18 Dec.). Tickets to be had of Sga Storace, No. 36, Howland Street, and of Rice at the Theatre, where Places for the Boxes may be taken

Event Comment: 2nd piece [1st time; MF 3, by Prince Hoare, Author of Prologue-unknown]: With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. The Overture and Musick composed by Storace. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Prince Hoare, based partly on Le Comte D'Albert et sa Suite, by Michael Jean Sedaine. Larpent MS 1153; not published; synopsis of plot in Monthly Visitor, Feb. 1797, p. 164]: The Musick partly new and partly selected [by Michael Kelly; overture by Stanislas Champein (BUC 567)]. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #321 14s. (184.18.6; 134.14.6; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Prince Hoare. Larpent MS 1159; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, May 1797, p. 364]: Overture and rest of Music composed and selected by Shield. Harp by Weippert. The new Scenery by Richards. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #172 10s. 6d. (169.6.6; 3.4.0)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Widows and Orphans of those brave Men who perished, and those who were wounded, in the Glorious Action of the 14th February last [see king's, 18 May.] Patrons: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness Duke of York, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. Stewards: Duke of Leeds, Duke of Bedford, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl Spencer, Lord Kinnaird, Charles Grey Esq., Thomas Tyrwhitt Esq., Wm. Lushington Esq., Wm. Manning Esq., John Thomson Esq., John Julius Angerstein Esq. Boxes to be taken, and Tickets had at the Office of the Theatre, and at the Bar of Lloyd's Coffee-House. Receipts: none listed