Event Comment: [Miss Cleland, who was from the Edinburgh theatre, is identified in Lysons, Collectanea. Cleland was a stage name; her real name was Buttery.] Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, by James Messink]: To conclude with an exact Representation of the Procession at an Eastern Marriage [based on sketches made in India by Tilly Kettle, the portrait painter (Theatre Notebook, VIII, 6)]. The Scenery by Richards, Carver, Hodgins, Cipriani, Catton and others. The Music composed by [Michael] Arne. The Pantomime by Messink. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Public Advertiser, 12 Jan. 1782: The Openings between every Scene and all internal parts of the Theatre are now so crouded by people absolutely necessary in one character or another that were they not judiciously arranged and marshalled, they would stand in each other's way, and create inextricable confusion. All that appears before an Audience as moving with the ease, regularity and promptitude of clock-work is the result of much Contrivance and many exertions of bodily Labour. Ibid, 16 Feb. 1782: This Day is published The Choice of Harlequin (1s.). Receipts: #270 19s. (265/15; 5/4)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces The Way to Keep Him, but it "was postponed on account of the sudden indisposition of King and Miss Farren" (Public Advertiser, 7 Nov.). Its substitute is listed in the Account-Book.] Receipts: #225 8s. (195/8/0; 29/12/6; 0/5/0; ticket not come in: 0/2/6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [acted in place of The First Floor, advertised on playbill of 22 Sept.]: With Alterations and Restorations, particularly the admired Shades and Transparencies, representing the Amusements of Harlequinv and the Destruction of the Pantomimical Fleetv. The Way to Keep Him [advertised on playbill of 22 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred on account of the Indisposition of Dodd. Paid Renter's Interest [this paid daily throughout season] #30; Properties 8s. 4d.; Supernumeraries #1 8s. 6d.; Lampmen #7 8s.; Scenemen #5 4s.; Carpenters #5 10s. 9d.; Appleby, messenger, 6s. 9d. Receipts: #140 5s. (95.9; 43.4; 1.12)

Event Comment: Benefit for the Author [of mainpiece]. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Mrs Crouch, but she "had, in her way to the theatre, been overturned in a coach. Mrs Brereton read the part of Miss Harley " (London Chronicle, 14 Nov.). The playbill also lists the song, as 12 Nov., but it was not sung on this or any subsequent night. As afterpiece the playbill announces Comus, in which Mrs Crouch was to appear, but it was not acted. Its substitute is listed in the Account-Book.] The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 23 Apr. 1788]. Receipts: #124 14s. 6d. (107.12.0; 15.15.0; 1.7.6; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1781]); the music by Sarti, under the direction of Mazzinghi. "At length in the spring arrived the celebrated Marchesi, whose fame had long reached this country, and who had been extolled to such a degree that impatience and expectation were raised to the highest pitch; and on the first night of his appearance the theatre was not only crowed to the utmost in every part, but on the rising of the curtain, the stage was so full of spectators that it was some time before order and silence could be obtained, and with some difficulty that Marchesi, who was to open the opera, could make his way before the audience. Marchesi was at this time a very well-looking young man, of good figure, and graceful deportment. His acting was spirited and expressive: his vocal powers were very great, his voice of extensive compass, but a little inclined to be thick (Mount-Edgcumbe, 66-67). Receipts: #437 15s. 6d., i.e. 560 tickets delivered to Prendergrass [see 8 Dec. 1787], who sold 558; 110 to Toosey, who sold 86; 400 to Butler, who sold 285; 236 to Snelson, who sold 204. Total non-subscription tickets sold: 1133

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Wells [who imitated Mrs Siddons, Mrs Crawford, Mrs Jordan, Mrs Martyr, Mrs Kennedy (World, 19 Aug.). 1st piece in place of Seeing is Believing; 2nd of Ways and Means, both advertised on playbill of 17 Aug.]

Event Comment: No Money to be returned. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 14 Nov.]. The Avenues to the Boxes, Pit and Gallery are all at the Front of the Theatre in the Hay-Market, and the Door in Market-Lane is for Chairs only. "The short time since it had been determined to occupy this theatre had not been sufficient to enable the workmen to perfect what was intended so soon as was expected; nor could they be got out in time for opening the doors in the afternoon: this delay, and the difficulty of finding the way to different parts of the house [see 24 and 27 Sept.], caused some disgust" (Universal Magazine, Sept. 1791, p. 220). 1st piece [1st time; M. PREL 1, James Cobb; music by Storace (Kemble Mem.). Larpent MS 918; not published]. Receipts: #472 8s. 6d. (451.7.6; 20.6.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: [The playbill announces King Henry the Fifth and The Cave of Trophonius, but "The performances at this Theatre were changed last night on account of the indisposition of Kemble. Henry the Fifth gave way to The Siege of Belgrade, and The Cave of Trophonius was also superseded, as it was impossible for the vocal performers to sustain the whole effort of the night" (Morning Post, 18 Oct.). A MS annotation on Kemble playbill gives the name of the substitute afterpiece.] Receipts: #234 8s. (183.1; 49.18; 1.9)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Way to Keep Him, advertised on playbill of 17 Dec.] Receipts: #176 5s. 6d. (134.3.6; 41.12.0; 0.10.0)

Event Comment: Account-Book: Paid Lewis in full for management #100. Tickets delivered by Savery, Iredale, Robson, Way, Finley, Dosel, Kelm, Goodwin, Lamp, Wilkins, Varley, Jealous, Longley, Powell, Plank, Atkins, Pilbro will be admitted. The Last Night of the Company's performing this Season. Receipts: #421 16s. (48.18; 2.10; tickets: 370.8)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by George Colman, ynger. Larpent MS 951; synopsis of plot in Diary, 16 June. This piece is stated to have been published in 1792]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Rice, at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout season]. In 1st piece "Parsons was highly entertaining in affecting to speak in an under tone scarcely audible, that the feebleness of his voice might correspond with the smallness of the House, compared with the enormous [new] Theatre over the way; and his broken, unintelligible mode of announcing the Performance to the Audience as a specimen, was truly whimsical" (Morning Herald, 16 June)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The Way to Keep Him; afterpiece of Hartford Bridge, both advertised on playbill of 14 Oct.] Receipts: #198 3s. (190.10; 7.13)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; INT 1 by Francis Godolphin Waldron): Altered from THE FATAL EXTRAVAGANCE of [Joseph] Mitchell and Aaron Hill. "I went on Monday evening with Mrs Darner to the Little Haymarket, to see The Children in the Wood, having heard so much of my favourite, young Bannister, in that new piece; which, by the way, is well arranged, and near being fine. He more than answered my expectation, and all I had heard of him. It was one of the most admirable performances I ever saw: his transports of despair and joy are incomparable, and his various countenances would be adequate to the pencil of Salvator Rosa. He made me shed as many tears as I suppose the original old ballad did when I was six years old. Bannister's merit was the more striking, as, before The Children in the Wood, he had been playing the sailor in No Song No Supper, with equal nature" (Walpole [4 Dec. 1793], XV, 266-67)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of THE WAY TO KEEP HIM, advertised on playbill of 24 Jan.] Receipts: #230 7s. (219/1; 11/6)

Event Comment: Separate printed notice accompanying this playbill: The Publick is most respectfully informed that the Accident which happened last night in the Pit-Passage of the Theatre arose entirely from the eagerness of the croud; and not from any defect in the customary mode of admission. It has been erroneously stated in some of the Morning Prints that the Staircase gave way; it is evident that this statement is groundless, from the circumstance of opening the Theatre this Evening, which would have been impracticable: as there could not possibly be time to repair or build a staircase. The Theatre is in the most perfect state of security; and however the accident of last night is to be deplored, it cannot, in the slightest degree, be imputed to any cause, but the irregularity and pressure of the persons assembled at the doors. To prevent, however, all possibility of such an event occurring again; a Bar will be fixed at the head of the Stairs, and a servant appointed to attend, that persons may not press down them in crouds, but be regularly and gradually admitted, with safety and convenience

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of WAYS AND MEANS and THE QUAKER; afterpiece of THE PURSE, all advertised on playbill of 4 Feb.]