Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Text (which assigns no parts) 1st published in his Posthumus Dramatic Works, I, 1813. Epilogue by the author (Public Advertiser, 24 Apr. 1782). Prologue probably by same; speakers unknown]: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. Receipts: #171 14s. (166/6; 5/8)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilson. 1st piece [1st time; prel I (?)]: A Tragical Tragedy, altered [probably by Richard Wilson] from Fielding's Pasquin. In the Tragedy will be introduced the Triumphal Entry of the Queen of Ignorance. 2nd piece: In 3 acts. [This play is by Thomas Baker; it is not TUNBRIDGE Wells; or, A Day's Courtship, by Thomas Rawlins, the younger.] 3rd piece [1st time; M. INT I, author unknown. Words printed complete in Public Advertiser 19 Aug. 1782]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; c 3, altered from the same, probably by the author, Richard Bentley]: Written in the manner of the Italian Comedy. With new Scenes and Dresses. [Author of Prologue unknown.] "It was originally produced at Drury Lane in the summer of 1761 [27 July] . . . and has now been new dished up, and seasoned to the day" (European Magazine, ibid). J. P. Collier states that "it is not a revival of the former piece" (MacMillan, Larpent Catalogue, p. 98). It was not, strictly speaking, a "revival", but, rather, a revision, as a collation of Larpent MS 586 (the present version, which is unpublished) with MS 199 (Bentley's 1761 version) makes clear. In 1761 Bentley introduced "the speaking Harlequin after the manner of the Italians . . . Mr Harris some years after gave it a second chance on the stage" (Cumberland, Memoirs, I, 212-14). Receipts: #215 19s. (213/5/6; 2/13/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by the author (Public Advertiser, 30 Jan. In 1796 this was acted at CG altered by the author in 4 acts]: With new Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 10 Feb. 1783: This Day at Noon will be published The Mysterious Husband (18d.). [Afterpiece in place of Barnaby Brittle, announced on playbill of 27 Jan.] Receipts: #275 9s. (269/14/6; 5/14/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Jewell, treasurer. 3rd piece [1st time; F 1, by Richard Paul Jodrell. Text 1st published (with cast for later season) by W. Lowndes and J. Barker, 1786]

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from Allen Ramsay [by Richard Tickell]. Receipts: #179 8s. 6d. (122/16/0; 55/13/0; 0/19/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 14 Dec. 1784: This Day is published The Carmelite (1s. 6d.). "We never saw [Kemble] wandering to the audience; he never turned his eye around for applause when he had closed an animated period, nor ever entertained his intervals of silence with glances at the side-boxes, like some of his contemporaries, not to mention the great Palmer, nor Davies, &c." This behavior "he has so happily caught from Mrs Siddons" (Public Advertiser, 22 Dec.). Receipts: #233 17s. (216/15/0; 16/10/6; 0/11/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the author. Epilogue by Edward Topham (see text). In 1794 this was altered by the author, and reduced to 4 acts]: With new Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 25 Jan. 1785: This Day is published The Natural Son (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #175 19s. 6d. (154/12/0; 21/0/0; 0/7/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Henderson. Part of the Pit will be laid into the Boxes. Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Richard Cumberland. Text, which assigns no parts, 1st published in his Posthumous Dramatic Works, Vol. II (1813), under the title of Alcanor]. Public Advertiser, 5 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Henderson at his house in Buckingham-street, York-buildings

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ferdinand to Johnstone, but "The sudden illness of Johnstone gave much dissatisfaction, though Cubitt did all in his power to supply his place" (Town and Country Magazine, Sept. 1785, p. 451). William Palmer was from the Norwich theatre; Meadows from the HAY.] The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon, at the Stage-Door. [No playbill this season lists the various prices of admission; they were probably, as usual: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.] The Alterations and Improvements in the Theatre this Season are made by Richards, and executed under his Superintendance by Catton and others. [Public Advertiser, 22 Sept., notes that these improvements consisted of the enlargement of the boxes, in which "the seats are formed into recesses which communicate with the other boxes"; all the pillars, "even those of iron in the back boxes [being] capped, cased, fluted and gilt"; the front of the boxes and galleries being newly painted a "warm lilac"; the back of the boxes being wainscotted and painted crimson.] Paid Charewomen for cleaning Theatre #13 0s. 6d. Receipts: #214 2s. 6d. (210/10/0; 3/12/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: With new Scenery, Machinery, Music, Dresses, and Decorations. The Scenes chiefly designed by Richards, and executed by him, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. The Overture, Songs, Chorusses, and the Music of the Pantomime composed by Shield. Receipts: #206 4s. 6d. (204/2/0; 2/2/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 779; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Aug. 1787, p. 100. Prologue by the author; Epilogue by George Colman elder (European Magazine, July 1787, pp. 63-64). In 1789 altered as The School for Widows]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Richard Bentley. Beginning with 4 Feb. 1789 reduced to an afterpiece of 2 acts. Not in Larpent MS; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 15 Dec.]: With entire new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. The Music partly selected from the works of Haydn, Purcell, Pleyel, Anfossi, Cimarosa, Gretry, Giordani, Sacchini [the score (Longman and Broderip [1788]) adds: Irwich]; and partly composed by Shield. With a Grand Overture by Salieri. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #245 3s. 6d. (238.6.6; 6.17.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland, based on The Beaux Stratagem, by George Farquhar. Prologue by the author (World, 27 Jan.). Epilogue by the same (Knapp, 150)]. Public Advertiser, 14 Feb. 1789: This Day is published The Impostors (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #254 (235.16; 17.9; 0.15)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: by Sir Richard Steele. Receipts: #230 2s. (213.7; 16.15)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mattocks. Tickets delivered for the 24th of April will be taken. Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.: Tickets [for 24 Apr.] to be had of Mrs Mattocks, No. 7, King-street, Covent Garden. Mainpiece: Written by Richard Steele. 3rd piece [1st time; ENT I, author unknown. Larpent MS 830; not published]. Receipts: #253 17s. 6d. (159.12.0; 8.9.6; tickets: 85.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Whitfield and Mrs Ward. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by-Fernside, for whose authorship see Kemble Mem., based partly on Love's Cure; or, The Martial Maid, probably by Philip Massinger. Incidental music by Richard Suett]. Public Advertiser, 15 May: Tickets to be had of Whitfield, under the Great Piazza; of Mrs Ward; No. 6, York-street, Covent-Garden. Morning Herald, 12 June 1793: This day is published The Female Duellist (1s.). Receipts: #469 13s. 6d. (51.4.0; 33.9.0; 8.4.0; tickets: 376.16.6) (charge: #158 17s. 2d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue by the Hon. Francis North. Epilogue by George Colman, the younger (see text)]. Morning Chronicle, 20 Mar. 1794: This Day is published THE BOX-LOBBY CHALLENGE (1s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown] . Account-Book, 25 Sept. 1794: Paid Cumberland for The Jew #300. Morning Chronicle, 4 Oct. 1794: This Day is published THE JEW (1s. 6d.). Powell: The Quaker rehearsed at 10; The Jew at 11. Receipts: #401 17s. (344/3; 45/19; 11/15)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Revised and Altered [reduced from 5 acts to 4] by the Author [Richard Cumberland; MS of this version: Larpent 1026]. [In afterpiece the playbill retains Bannister Jun. as Robin, but he "being ill, Benson play'd Robin" (Powell).] Powell: Natural Son rehearsed at 11 (Miss Farren absent, Miss Tidswell one scene). Receipts: #149 9s. 6d. (106/6/6; 34/13/0; 8/10/ 0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Pocket Magazine, Mar. 1795, pp. 190, 191)]: With new Scenes, &c. Powell, 27 Feb.: Wheel of Fortune rehearsed at 11; 28 Feb.: Wheel of Fortune rehearsed at 10. "The character of Penruddock is [Kemble's] greatest performance, and I believe it to be a perfect one. It is admirable...because the very defect which hurts his general style of acting, that studious and important preciseness, which is affectation in all his other characters, contributes to the strength, to the nature of Penruddock" (Leigh Hunt, Critical Essays on the Performers of the London Theatres, 1807, p. 8). Receipts: #255 19s. (195.10; 57.15; 2.14)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (Knapp, 269, 221)]: With new Dresses, &c. Morning Chronicle, 12 Oct. 1795: This Day is published First Love (2s.). Receipts: #266 7s. 6d. (205.4.0; 52.2.0; 9.1.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Richard Cumberland. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown. MS: Larpent MS 1096; not published]. Receipts: #358 12s. 6d. (280.6.6; 76.10.6; 1.15.6)

Event Comment: 2nd piece: Not acted these 12 years. Compressed into 4 acts by the Author [Richard Cumberland]. "This play has been compressed into unintelligibility. We defy the most ingenious analyser to connect the incidents in any way so as to be understood" (Monthly Mirror, Jan. 1796, p. 188). Receipts: #146 5s. 6d. (141.13.6; 4.12.0)

Event Comment: 1st piece: In one Act [i.e. reduced from the original two]. 2nd piece [1st time; MD 3, by Richard Cumberland. Author of Prologue unknown]. Receipts: #235 13s. 6d. (232.9.6; 3.4.0)