Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I The Cardinal's Banquet. In Act II The Court for the Trial of Queen Katharine. In Act V a Grand Procession to the Christening of Princess Elizabeth. Paid Charles Smith on Acct. of Upholders Work at Drury Lane Theatre #400. Powell: Henry VIII rehearsed at 10 (for Packer, lame, and Mrs Siddons); Siege of Belgrade music at 12 (for Storace, Bannister Jun., Crouch, Davis, Danby). The Iron Curtain being finish'd was this Evening exhibited for the first Time with the Epilogue [and see 21 Apr.]. "On the 24th February, 1809, this theatre was burnt down . . . Every care had been taken to guard against such a calamity. Two large reservoirs for water, on the top of the house, happened, unfortunately, at this crisis to be empty; and an iron curtain, intended to separate the auditory from the stage, for the purpose of saving a part of the edifice in case of conflagration, was, with its machinery, so much out of order as to be useless; it was, in fact, utterly immoveable" (Brayley, p. 8). Receipts: #451 8s. 6d. (389/4/0; 56/5/0; 4/6/6; tickets not come in: 1/13/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bernard. 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1]: With the Storming of the Fort, and a View of the Fleet and Harbour. In which will be introduced the Grand Ceremony of the Enemy's Surrendering the Colours, and Marching out before the British Troops. The whole (including Dances) got up entirely under the direction of Byrn. Morning Herald, 13 May: Tickets to be had of Bernard at his house, No. 12, Kirby-street, Hatton Garden. Receipts: #249 8s. 6d. (83/9/6; 7/19/6; tickets: 157/19/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. 1st piece: Not acted these 20 years; altered from Dryden (by Joseph George Holman (Not. Dram.)]. 2nd piece [Ist time; M.INT 1, probably by John Cartwright Cross. MS: Larpent 1028; not published]. 3rd piece: In which an Engagement between an English and a French Man of War, a Shipwreck, and a Grand Military Procession as it pass'd, when the French Colours taken by the British Army were conveyed from St. James's to St. Paul's Cathedral [on 17 May 1794]. The above Procession is represented by Moving Figures, in which the Horse and Foot Guards, the Band of Music, the French Colours, &c. are seen to pass in the exact order they appeared on that memorable occasion. Morning Herald, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 46, Drury-lane. Receipts: #293 2s. 6d. (112/17/6; 14/2/0; tickets: 166/3/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by James Roberts]: End of Act I A Grand View of the British Fleet and the French Prizes entering Portsmouth, and an appropriate Procession. The Piece to conclude with a representation of the Town, &c. of Portsmouth, as illuminated on the glorious occasion. With a Transparency of Earl Howe. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The selected Musick by Mornington, Handel, Dr Arne, Boyce, Pleyel, &c. A Naval Overture, and the new Musick, by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct. 1794: This Day is published RULE BRITANNIA! (1s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Kemble. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 1, by Robert Benson; music by Dr Arnold]: The Piece to conclude with a representation of the late Grand Naval Review [held at Portsmouth, in honor of George III's visit to that place, 28 June]. The Machinery, &c., entirely new for the occasion. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Morning Herald, 21 Aug. 1794: This Day is published BRITAIN's GLORY (price not listed). Morning Chronicle, 18 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Kemble, No. 24, Haymarket

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. 1st piece: with Grand Naval Review, as 20 Aug. Morning Chronicle, 28 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Palmer, No. 59, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields

Event Comment: Afterpiece: End of Act I an exact Representation of the Engagement between the British and French Fleets on the First of June [1794]. The whole to conclude with a Grand Fire-Work, in honour of Earl Howe. Ladies and Gentlemen are respectfully requested to give peremptory orders to their servants to set down with their Horses Heads towards Drury-Lane, and to take up with the Horses Heads towards Covent-Garden. No Carriage can be permitted to stop the way after proper Notice given to the Company. Powell: Glorious First of June rehearsed at 11. Miss DeCamp came 10 minutes beyond the Time, Dignum 15 minutes, Miss Leak 20 minutes. Receipts: #328 13s. 6d. (271.11.6; 56.2.6; 0.19.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I The Cardinal's Banquetv. In Act II The Court for the Trial of Queen Katharinev. In Act V a Grand Processionv to the Christening of Princess Elizabeth. Afterpiece: Representation of the Engagementv, as 14 Oct. [In mainpiece the playbill omits Lord Sands, but "Sands Hollingsworth, Baddeley ill" (Powell).] Powell, 17 Oct.: Chaplet rehearsed at 10 [see under 16 Oct.]; Drummer at 11; Roman Actor at 12 (order to be dismissed by Mr Kemble); 18 Oct.: Haunted Tower rehearsed at 10; Wedding Day at 12. Receipts: #307 6s. (227.18; 77.6; 2.2)

Event Comment: Under the license of the Lord Chamberlain. Leader of the band-Mountain. Grand Piano Forte-Reeve. Among the other Instrumental Performers are W. Ware, Haigh, Leffler Sen., Leffler Jun., Nicks, Alexander, Price, Francis, Cornish, English, Eley, Forster, &c. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. [For names of speakers and singers see Morning Post, 5 Mar.; Oracle, 12 Mar.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece: In Act II the admired Procession from the Grand Spectacle of Hercules and Omphale, with the entire Decorations, Music, Dance, Dresses, &c. adapted and introduced in the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Never acted at this theatre. Morning Chronicle, 26 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, No. 6, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #392 6s. 6d. (273.4.0; 13.4.0 ; tickets: 105.18.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Morning Chronicle, 16 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Bensley, No. 21, Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury. Receipts: #490 16s. (217.9.0; 92.4.6; 6.4.6; tickets: 174.18.0) (charge: #231 6s. 2d.). Account-Book breaks down Bensley's charge as follows: house #200, Mrs Siddons #20, Mrs Jordan #10 10s. Properties 5s. 8d., supernumeraries 10s. 6d., for a total of #231 6s. 2d . At the doors of the theatre #315 18s. was received. The charge subtracted from this amount leaves #84 11s. 10d., which was paid to Bensley. The Proprietors made him a gift of the #20 he paid Mrs Siddons. His own profit was therefore #104 11s. 10d., which, in addition to his tickets, gave him a grand total of #279 9s. 10d

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Banti. A Grand Serious Opera (1st time in this country [1st performed at Vienna, 1767]), accompanied with Chorusses and Dances. The music entirely by Gluck. With entirely new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. Books of the Opera now to be had at the Office of the Theatre, and at Beckett, Bookseller, Pall Mall. Morning Chronicle, 28 Apr.: To be performed exactly in the same manner as it was represented at Paris, under the direction of Gluck himself. Tickets to be had of Mme Banti, No. 3, Hay-market. Bartolozzi having presented Mme Banti, for her night, with a Ticket designed on purpose and engraved by himself, she proposes to give one of the engravings along with each Box and Pit Tickets, separately from the Ticket which will be admitted at the door. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:15 [see 20 June]

Event Comment: Benefit for J. D'Egville. Ballet: As composed by Dauberval, and performed at the king's Theatre in the Hay-Market. To conclude with a Grand Display of the Manual Exercise. Morning Chronicle, 8 May: Tickets to be had of J. D'Egville, No. 29, Litchfield-street, Soho. Receipts: #376 9s. (151.16; 45.10; 6.14; tickets: 172.9) (charge: #247 12s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bernard. 3rd piece [1st time; MF 2, by John Bernard. Larpent MS 1084; not published]: To conclude with a View of the Town of Portsmouthv on a Rejoicing Night, embellished with Grand Illuminations. [This was included in all subsequent performances.] The Music by Attwood. Morning Chronicle, 27 May: Tickets to be had of Bernard at his house, No. 12, Kirby-street, Hatton-Garden. Receipts: #253 6s. 6d. (70.8.0; 12.4.6; tickets: 170.14.0)

Event Comment: Mainpece: In Act I the Cardinal's Banquet. In Act II the Court for the Trial of Queen Katharine. In Act V a Grand Procession to the Christening of Princess Elizabeth. Receipts: #211 1s. 6d. (150.5.0; 58.4.6; 2.12.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, author unknown]: The Pantomime partly new and partly compiled. The principal parts of the Compilation from The Choice of Harlequin, The Magic Cavern, The Enchanted Castle, The Sylphs, and The Sorcerer. The Music compiled from, and composed by, Michael Arne, Shield, J. C.? Bach, Spofforth, &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations are partly new, and the rest completely repaired by Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Dances composed by Byrn. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #274 14s. 6d. (254.13.0; 20.1.6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Banti. A Grand Serious Opera (1st time in this Country [1st performed at Paris, 1779]); the Music by Gluck. Accompanied With Chorusses under the Direction of Kelly. With entirely new Scenes designed by Marinari, and executed under his direction, Dresses and Decorations. Tickets to be had of Mme Banti, No. 7, Hay Market. The Company are respectfully entreated not to come upon the Stage this Night, as the Iphigenia is accompanied with a degree of Spectacle on which the effect of the Performance chiefly depends; besides, the Machinery used in this Opera will make it dangerous for the Company to be upon the Stage during the time of the representation. "We never saw a House more splendid, more crowded, nor more gratified...In spite of the request not to crowd upon the stage, it was quite thronged; and it was impossible to move the complicated and superb scenery with effect. We lament that no means can be devised to save the stage from this perpetual intrusion" (Morning Chronicle, 8 Apr.). "Banti had a crowded house for her benefit, and is said to have netted 1500 guineas" (Monthly Magazine, May 1796 p. 321)

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for the Fund, established for the Relief of those Performers who, through Infirmity, shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. The Theatrical Fund was established in 1765, under the auspices of the late Mr Beard and Mrs Rich; and received the sanction of Parliament in 1776. There are now, and have been for more than 20 years, several Annuitants supported by it, chiefly families and widows. Yet notwithstanding it has been so long set on foot, the interest arising from the Funded Capital has never been equal to defraying one half of the annual disbursements. The deficiencies have been continually supplied by progressive weekly contributions from the performers. When this is considered, it is respectfully presumed the generosity of a British Public will be exerted this night in favour of so liberal and beneficial an institution. Thomas Hull, Treasurer. Tickets to be had of Hull, Treasurer to the Institution, No. 7, Duke's-Court, near Dean's Yard, Westminster. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In I a Grand Masquerade. Receipts: #230 14s. (226.12; 4.2)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: In Act I a Grand Masquerade. [For Miss Allingham see 13, 18 Oct.] Receipts: #172 7s. (170.10; 1.17)

Event Comment: Benefit for Middleton. 1st piece: In IV a Grand Masquerade. True Briton, 7 June: Tickets to be had of Middleton, No. 16, Buckingham-street, York Building. Receipts: #229 11s. (105.18.6; 8.13.0; tickets: 114.19.6)

Event Comment: A New, Grand, Serious Opera, with Chorusses [1st time; SER 2, by Lorenzo DaPonte]. The Music by Bianchi

Event Comment: [The playbill announces Nina, but "Last night the grand tragic opera of Semiramide was revived, in which Mme Banti and Viganoni received all their usual applause. [In the new dance] there is a charming pas de deux by Didelot and Rose" (Morning Chronicle, 3 Jan.).

Event Comment: A new grand Serious Opera, with Chorusses [1st time; SER 2, by Lorenzo DaPonte]; the Music composed here by Bianchi