Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Joseph Berington, altered from the same, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. MS: Larpent MS 1041; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Herald, 30 Oct. It has hitherto been assumed that this play was altered by Benjamin Thompson, but "This Tragedy was translated from the German by the Rev. Jos. Berrington [sic]" (Kemble Mem.). Dr. Berington's authorship is also referred to in London Chronicle, 30 Oct. 1794. Thompson's translation was published by Vernor and Hood in 1800. Prologue by Richard Cumberland. Epilogue by George Colman, ynger (London Chronicle, 29 Oct.)]: The Dresses, Scenes and Decorations are entirely new. The Scenery in the four first Acts is the work of Signor Barzago and of his Brother; and in the fifth of Greenwood, by whom also a new Frontispiece is designed and executed. [Miss Miller, who had appeared the previous season as a chorus singer, is identified in European Magazine, Nov. 1794, p. 363.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 20 Apr. 1795]. Powell: Emilia Galotti rehearsed at 10. The New Frontispiece and Stage doors were exhibited for the first Time this Evening. Receipts: #317 19s. 6d. (270.8.6; 46.5.0; 1.6.0)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This play apparently was not printed. Pepys, Diary: and then with my wife by coach to the Duke's house, and there saw The German Princess acted, by the woman herself; but never was any thing so well done in earnest, worse performed in jest upon the stage; and indeed the whole play, abating the drollery of him that acts her husband, is very simple, unless here and there a witty sprinkle or two

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: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance: Lady Morley and one in the Box att the Island Princess. 10s. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, 27-29 April 1699: Her Royal Highness is this day pleased to see the Opera, call'd The Island Princess, Performed at the Theatre Royal by her own Command

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Marow to Arthur Kay, 12 March 1699@1700: I have been at a play. The Island Princess which is mighty fine (HMC, 15th Report, Appendix, Dartmouth MSS., Part I, 1896, p. 145)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Wilks. By Their Majesties' Command. Not Acted [there] these Twenty Years. [Their Majesties and the Princesses present.]

Event Comment: Egmont, Diary, II, 33: In the evening went to The Island Princess . . . where was shown [in the afterpiece] the tallest man of all that I have seen. He is seven feet ten inches and half in height, a German by birth

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Librettist not known. Music by Handel.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 May: Last Night was perform'd ... Atalanta ...in which was a new Set of Scenes painted in Honour to this Happy Union, which took up the full length of the Stage: The Fore-part of the Scene represented an Avenue to the Temple of Hymen, adorn'd with Figures of several Heathen Deities. Next was a Triumphal Arch on the Top of which were the Arms of their Royal Highnesses, over which was placed a Princely Coronet. Under the Arch was the Figure of Fame, on a Cloud, sounding the Praises of this Happy Pair. The Names Fredericus and Augusta appear'd above in transparent Characters. Thro' the Arch was seen a Pediment supported by four Columns, on which stood two Cupids embracing, and supporting the Feathers, in a Princely Coronet, the Royal Ensign of the Prince of Wales. At the farther End was a View of Hymen's Temple, and the Wings were adorn'd with the Loves and Graces bearing Hymenael Torches, and putting Fire to Incense in Urns, to be ofter'd up upon this Joyful Union. The Opera concluded with a Grand Chorus, during which several beautiful Illuminations were display'd. . . . There were present their Majesties, the Duke, and the Four Princesses

Event Comment: By Command of His Royal Highness. [Prince of Wales, Princess Amelia, and Princess Caroline present.

Event Comment: By Command of his Royal Highness. King, Queen, Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, Princess Emilia, and Princess Caroline present

Event Comment: [Text by Haym.] Admission as 30 Nov. 1725. The King and the three Princesses present

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Receipts: #141 6s. 6d. [Their Majesties, Duke, and Princesses Amelia and Caroline present.

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Text by Pietro Metastasio. Done into English by Humphreys. Music presumably by Leonardo Leo.] Pit and Boxes at half a guinea. [Their Majesties, Prince, and three eldest Princesses present.] See also Lord Hervey and his Friends, pp. 145-46. Daily Advertiser, 6 Nov.: There were present a very numerous Audience; and Signora Celeste Gismondi, who lately arriv'd here, perform'd a principal Part in it with universal Applause. We hear that this Opera was not compos'd by Mr Handell, but by some very eminent Master in Italy

Event Comment: By Command of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa. Mainpiece: Written by Sir George Etherege

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Never acted there before. With all the decorations proper to the play. By Command of their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Tickets and places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr Page, Housekeeper, at the stage door of the theatre. [This last announcement becomes a customary note on subsequent bills.

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Written by Sir George Etheridge. By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Receipts: #230

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales

Event Comment: By Command. Present The King, Prince and Princess of Wales, The Prince George, Prince Edward and Prince William, and the Lady Augusta (Account Books, Egerton 2268) Receipts: #103 18s. 6d

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Benefit for Mlle Auretti. King an Princess Emilia [attended] (Cross). Tickets and places to be had of Mlle Auretti at the second house on the left hand, the Corner Panton St., in Leicester Fields, and of Hobson at the stage door. [Pit and boxes laid together and Amphitheatre on stage, as on 10 March.] Paid salary list #203 7s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #280 (Cross); charges, #63 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: At Bridges, Cross, Burton, and Vaughan's Great Theatrical Booth on the Bowling Green, Southwark, (with a company from the theatres) during the short time of the Fair will be presented an Historical Drama (lately acted in Bartholemew Fair with universal applause) the Northern Heroes with the Loves of Count Gillensternia, a Swedish General, and the fair Ellimira a Russian Princess, containing the most remarkable events of that time; and concluding with the memorable battle of Putlowav, and Charles's retreat into the Turkish dominionsv. Interspersed with a comic interlude, The Volunteers. Also the comical humours and amours of Corporal Garbage and Serjeant Slim, with Mrs Vanspriggen the Swedish Sutler's widow, the merry pranks of her foolish son Janny, and several other diverting incidents. As the Fair will be of so short continuance, we shall begin very early each day (General Advertiser). [See 24 Aug. 1748, bf]