Event Comment: [Mrs H. Johnston's 1st appearance as Ophelia was at the hay, 3 Sept. 1798.] Afterpiece: 5th Time i.e. in continuation of the reckoning for the previous season]. Boxes 6s. Second Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. Second Price 2s. Gallery 2s. Second Price 1s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Brandon(only) at the Office in Hart-Street. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 19 Nov.]. No Money to be returned. Receipts: #242 5s. 6d. (240.17.6; 1.8.0)

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Mainpiece: Mr Colman's Last New Comedy. [He was the author of the Epilogue, which was spoken by the Dramatis Personae. In afterpiece the playbill retains Mrs H. Johnston as Malvina, but she "being indisposed, her part was performed with great effect by Madame [sic] St.Amand" (London Chronicle, 15 Mar.).] Receipts: #379 16s. (378.3; 1.13)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fawcett. 3rd piece [DO 2. Larpent MS 1251; not published]: Never acted at a Public Theatre [1st acted privately at Brandenburgh House, Hammersmith, 28 Feb. 1798]; Written by her Serene Highness the Margravine of Anspach. The Music partly by the Margravine, and partly by Sarti, Guglielmi, Paisiello, and Saphio. Grand Overture, La Chasse, by Reeve. The Scenery painted by Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, &c. The Machinery by Sloper. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Morning Chronicle, 17 Apr.: Her Serene Highness the Margravine of Anspach having, with unprecedented Kindness and Liberality, lent Mr Fawcett the Manuscript of the above magnificent and interesting Opera, he begs leave to state that nothing shall be wanted on his Part to render it as acceptable to the Public as it was to the Nobility who had the pleasure of seeing it at the Brandenburgh house Theatre. Ibid, 4 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Fawcett, No. 41, Frith-street, Soho. Receipts: #532 6s. 6d. (239.1.6; 2.9.0; tickets: 290.16.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for H. Johnston. Mainpiece: 1st time at this Theatre; by Permission of Mr Colman. Morning Chronicle, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of H. Johnston, No. 47, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Receipts: #334 3s. 6d. (174.7.6; 1.14.0; tickets: 158.2.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Johnstone. 1st piece: By permission of G. Colman, Esq.; never performed here. [Bannister Jun.'s 1st appearance at this theatre was on 2 Feb. 1779.] 3rd piece: Not performed here these 3 years. [No play of this title had been hitherto acted anywhere. But it appears to be the same as The Sailor's Prize, for which see cg, 1 May 1795.] Morning Chronicle, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Johnstone, No. 19, Piazza, Covent Garden. Receipts: #478 (208.6.6; 13.17.6; tickets: 255.16.0)

Event Comment: "[In Pizarro] the effeminacy of Alonzo's dress, better adopted for a ball-room than for scenes of warfare; the magnificence of the Spanish dungeon, in a country where the Spanish invaders were fain to put up with tents for their own accomodation; the vile manner in which the scene is bungled together, where Cora leaves her infant child to the fury of the pitiless storm, whilst a hut stands most invitingly in sight; the absurd introduction of Cora's song to the accompaniment of thunder and lightning--but, above all, the disgraceful additions made by Mr Sheridan himself, with the farcical termination of this sublime tragedy, by an Irish howl over the dead body of Rolla;--all these glaring defects, sufficient to damn any writer of less notoriety than Sheridan, still continue to outrage good-sense, and the feelings of every spectator of taste and discernment...We are firmly of opinion that the crowded houses this play still continues to draw are principally to be attributed to the masterly acting of the elder Kemble" (Dramatic Censor, I, 23-24). Receipts: #429 9s. (388.1; 40.1; 1.7)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Trevor [who had 1st appeared at this theatre, as a chorus singer, on 16 Jan. 1800]. "A settled, preconcerted plan was evidently laid to injure the lady who came forward in double capacity, not merely as a candidate for public favour, but in the responsible situation of a performer taking a benefit...The moment the lady made her appearance on the boards, before she even opened her mouth, before a single note furnished an opportunished an opportunity of appreciating her abilities, opposition began to manifest itself in all the various forms which malice on such occcsions is wont to resort to. The Hisses grew louder and louder,...the theatre absolutely assumed the appearance of a riot, rather than that of a civilized company, assembled for the purpose of amusement" (Dramatic Censor, II, 212-13). Morning Chronicle, 19 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Trevor, sister to Mr Kelly of Drury-lane Theatre, No. 31, Bedford-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #268 12s. (124.13; 4.8; tickets: 139.11)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by the younger George Colman]: To conclude with a View of the Camp near Windsorv. A Military Overture, and the New Musick composed by Dr Arnold. The Scenery painted by S. Whitmore. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [For Colman's borrowing of the character of Caleb Quotem, see 6 July 1798.