Event Comment: By Particular desire. This day publish'd The Theatrical Examiner, an inquiry into the merits and demerits of the principal English performers in general...with a consideration of Douglas. [Gives advice to young actors, and some remarks on productions, praises Douglas, gives a diatribe against Garrick: "All young actors start, jump, and Garrickize, which is the true reason there is none of them tolerable." (98 pp.)] Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: For the Author (Cross). Box Tickets for the Benefit of the Author of Agis...are to be had of Mr Miller, in the Strand, Dodsley in Pall Mall, and Varney at the Stage Door. This Day at Noon will be publish'd, Price 1s. 6d. Agis, by the author of Douglas. Printed for A. Miller, where may be had the tragedy of Douglas as it was acted at Covent Garden. Price 1s. 6d. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: There are two Kemble playbills for this night, one announcing Douglas, and a second, which reads: "On Account of the sudden and severe Indisposition of a Principal Performer . . . Douglas is unavoidably postponed, and This Evening will be presented . . . Macbeth. Macbeth-Holman; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Bates. The rest of the Characters, with the Vocal Parts, all as usual [see 4 Oct.]."

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by William Linley. Also attributed to Cordal Powel, librarian to the Prince of Wales (London Chronicle, 19 Jan. 1796). Larpent MS 1106; not published, except for Airs (C. Lowndes, 1796). Synopsis of action in Pocket Magazine, Jan. 1796, p. 59]. The Musick composed by W. Linley. The Scenes [for a description of which see Theatre Notebook, 1965, XIX, p. 58] entirely new, and painted by Greenwood. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston and Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston and Miss Rein. Nothing under Full Prince will be taken. Account-Book, 22 Jan.: Paid Wm. Linley for music of new pantomime #25. Receipts: #619 3s. (608.9; 10.14)

Event Comment: [As mainpiece the playbill announces The Count of Narrbonne, but "The Play was changed, on the illness of Mrs Crouch-who never slacks, but when thus, unable to perform. Douglas was the substitute" (World, 2 Apr.). Afterpiece in place of Richard Coeur de Lion, announced on playbill of 29 Mar.] Receipts: #223 1s. 6d. (193.4.0; 28.2.6; 1.15.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [Genest, VII, 51, remarks that "The bill is rightly printed as the characters were called originally," i.e., on the playbills it had become customary to call Norval Douglas, Stranger Norval or Old Norval, and Matilda Lady Randolph.] Receipts: #308 (276.17; 26.15; 3.19; tickets not come in: 0.9)

Event Comment: [For the naming of the characters in mainpiece, as they were called originally, see 23 Feb. 1792.) Powell: Douglas rehearsed at 10:30 (Mrs Siddons ill; Barrymore one scene); Lodoiska at 12 (Miss De Camp absent). Receipts: #365 1s. 6d. (298/11/0; 60/1/0; 6/9/6)

Event Comment: [For the naming of the characters in mainpiece, as they were called originally, see 23 Feb. 1792.] Powell, 3 Oct.: Siege of Belgrade rehearsed at 10; Douglas at 12 (for Bensley). Receipts: #414 18s. 6d. (325.11.6; 87.6.6; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of Douglas, announced on playbill of 22 Jan.] Receipts: #81 16s. (48.5: 31.18; 1.13)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for this Evening [Account-Book: by Appleby, Bayne, Dale Jun., Daglish, Douglas, Gardiner, Gillis, Kirk, Lyon, Standen, Pilsbury, Mrs Lewis] will be admitted. Receipts: #192 1s. (7.11.0; 2.14.6; 0.15.6; tickets: 181.0.0)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. On Thursday 10 Dec. 1663, Pepys reported that this play was to be acted the following week, but the date of the first performance is uncertain. But--except for the holidays--it was probably acted on consecutive days until 1 Jan. 1663@4, when Pepys saw it. The play is also in Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 138, as a "Revived Play." Pepys, Diary: I perceive the King and Duke and the Court was going to the Duke's playhouse to see Henry VIII. acted, which is said to be an admirable play. But, Lord! to see now near I was to have broken my oathe, or run the hazard of 20s. losse, so much my nature was hot to have gone thither; but I did not go. Downes (p.24): King Henry the 8th, This Play, by Order of Sir William Davenant, was all new Cloath'd in proper Habits: The King's was new, all the Lords, the Cardinals, the Bishops, the Doctors, Proctors, Lawyers, Tip-staves, new Scenes: The part of the King was so right and justly done by Mr Betterton, he being Instructed in it by Sir William, who had it from Old Mr Lowen, that had his Instructions from Mr Shakespear himself, that I dare and will aver, none can, or will come near him in this Age, in the performance of that part: Mr Harris's performance of Cardinal Wolsey, was little Inferior to that, he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mein, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall'd him:...Every part by the great Care of Sir William, being exactly perform'd; it being all new Scenes; it continu'd Acting 15 Days together with general Applause