Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Afterpiece: The Overture and new Music composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Wild. Wild respectfully informs the Public, on account of the Loss he sustained by his former Night [see 17 May], the Managers of Covent Garden and Hay-market Theatres, as well as the several Performers, have granted him their free Assistance. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: [Extra night] Benefit for Bonnor. Afterpiece [1st time; INT 1]: Translated [by Charles Bonnor] from a new Production of Dorvigny, entitled La Fete de Campagne; ou, L'Intendant Comedien malgre Lui, now acting in Paris with uncommon Applause [MS: Larpent 664; not published; in later season occasionally acted under the title of Transformation]. Tickets to be had of Bonnor, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Bonnor begs leave to inform his Friends and the Public that on account of his Absence at the time his Night was to have been appointed he was induced to decline a Benefit in the course of the Season, but the Manager having obligingly made him an Offer of the Theatre, free of all Expense, and the several Performers kindly engaging to assist him, he has fixed on this Day. Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; co 3, by George Colman, the younger. Prologue by George Colman, the elder (Colman, Prose, III, 252)]: The new Airs, and a New Overture by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [One of the songs, beginning "Adzooks, old Crusty," sung by Edwin, is set to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and in the musical score (Harrison, 1784) it is so entitled. This is believed to be the first time this song, as it is now sung, appeared in print.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Holcroft]: The Music composed by Shield. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations, and a new Overture. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 18 Aug. 1784: This Day at Noon will be published The Noble Peasant (price not listed)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time in London; T 3, by William Hayley, 1st acted at Chichester, late in May 1784. Text in his Plays . . . for a Private Theatre (T. Cadell, 1784). Prologue by George Colman, the elder (European Magazine, Aug. 1784, p. 165). Contrary to the usual custom on the 1st night of a new play, the parts on this occasion are assigned]. "Palmer had done with Lord Russel as he did with many other characters, that is, totally neglected to study the words of the part . . . Whenever he felt himself at a loss he dexterously introduced some passages from The Earl of Essex, which he contrived to fit into the cues received by Lord Russel." His brother, R. Palmer, who told this anecdote to Boaden, said that the audience suspected nothing amiss (Boaden, Kemble, I, 193)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bannister. [Kean's 1st appearance was at this theatre, 22 Mar.] 2nd piece: The Music compiled by Dr Pepusch. 4th piece: A Ballet Tragi-Comique, composed by Signor Novestris [i.e. George Colman, the elder]. Gazetteer, 23 Aug.: Tickets to be had of Bannister, No. 7, Suffolk-street, Charing-cross

Event Comment: [By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain.] Benefit for the Author. The 4th and Last Night. Account-Book, 7 Aug.: Received from Dr Stratford use of the Theatre 4 Nights at #28 a night, #112

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer. Mainpiece [1st time; C 3, by William Hayley. Text in his Plays . . . for a Private Theatre (T. Cadell, 1784). Prologue by George Colman, the elder. Epilogue by Edward Topham (Gazetteer, 13 Sept., which also gives the names of the speakers). The parts are assigned (see 18 Aug.)]: A new Comedy, in Rhyme

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Fulmer to Baddeley, but in the Kemble playbill his name is deleted; the substitute name has been cut by the binder.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Theatre. The Doors will be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 8 Nov.]. Receipts: #131 10s. 6d. (91/18/0; 39/12/6; 0/0/0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: To conclude with the Repulse of the Spaniards before the Rock of Gibraltar [on 13 Sept. 1782; this was included in all subsequent performances]. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood. [Public Advertiser, 20 Dec, adds: The Overture by Baumgarten. The New Music and Accompaniments to the adapted Airs by Shield. Words of the Songs to be had at the Theatre.] Receipts: #164 2s. (106/13; 57/8; 0/1)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Widow and Children of the unfortunate Mr Linton, late of this Theatre. [Linton, a musician belonging to the CG band, had been attacked and killed by footpads on 8 July.] "The band were all dressed in mourning, suited to the occasion, and are entitled to their share of applause" (Public Advertiser, 30 Sept.). Afterpiece: Not acted these 4 years

Event Comment: Mainpiece: 14th Night [i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. With new Music [consisting of 6 new songs (Gazetteer, 2 Oct.)], Scenes and Dresses. The new Music and Accompaniments to the adapted Airs by Shield. The Overture by Baumgarten. The Words of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [It was "represented in an altered state . . . The second act is almost newly written, and the language of the whole opera amended and pointed with great neatness" {London Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 315).] "At the end of the first act [of mainpiece], Davies came forward and informed the audience that Mrs Kennedy was of a sudden taken dangerously ill, and hoped that Cubitt might be permitted to read the remainder of her part; a request that was immediately complied with" (London Chronicle, 13 Oct.). [Afterpiece in place of The Positive Man, announced on playbill of 11 Oct.]

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Mark Londsale. Prologue by the author {London Chronicle, 10 Nov.)]: The Overture, new Airs and Accompaniments composed by [Thomas] Linley [Sen.]. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 18 Nov. 1784: This Day is published The Spanish Rivals (1s.). Receipts: #160 2s. 6d. (104/12/0; 54/18/0; 0/12/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: The Pantomime will end with a Representation of the Lord Mayor's Show on the Water. After which will be an Historical Procession of the Several Companies, with their respective Pageants, and the Chief Magistrates belonging to the City of London, from its Foundation. Books of the Songs, with an Explanation of the Procession, to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Tamerlane, announced on playbill of 23 Dec] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Ralph Wewitzer and Frederick Pilon. MS not in Larpent; not published. Synopsis of action in Town and Country Magazine, Supp. 1784, p. 717]: With new Scenery, Music, Dresses and Decorations. The Scenes chiefly designed by Richards, and executed by him, Carver, Hodgins, and assistants. The Overture, Songs, Chorusses and the whole Music of the Pantomime new, and composed by Shield. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. The Words of the Songs, &c to be had at the Theatre. "The performance was such as the first performance of pantomimes generally--machinery and scenery not so perfectly executed as when practice has rendered the movements more familiar to those to whom they belong, which, as the beauty of a pantomime depends on the celerity and adroitness of the scene-men, it seldom is discovered on the first night" (Public Advertiser, 28 Dec)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Under the Direction of Delpini. Subscription tickets [for 5 nights] to be had of Weltje, confectioner, St. James's-street, and of Rice at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Charles Dibdin. Text (G. Kearsley, 1785) lists cast as above, but omits La Fleur (see 10 Feb.)]: The Music entirely new, composed by Dibdin. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #154 5s. 6d. (105/19/0; 47/14/6; 0/4/6; tickets not come in: 0/7/6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, author unknown. MS: Larpent 651; not published]. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Rice at the Theatre; and Tickets to be had of Mrs Williams, the Artificial Flower Warehouse, Store-street, Bedford-square. [Mrs Williams is identified in Morning Post, 11 Feb.]