Event Comment: A Serious Opera; the Music by Sacchini. [This was Sga Lorenzini's 1st appearance in England.] Public Advertiser, 25 Dec.: The spirit of Vestris seems to diffuse itself throughout the whole Body of Dancers at this Theatre; even the Figurants acquit themselves in a manner that deserves the encouragement of the Public

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crawford. Mrs Crawford, imprest with the deepest Sense of Gratitude for the many Favours conferred on her by her Friends and the Public, is sincerely concerned that a violent Indisposition renders it impracticable for her to perform for her Benefit this Night. Mrs Crawford, fearing a second Disappointment would inconvenience those who have had the Goodness to interest themselves in her Support, has fixed on the Comedy of The Chances, instead of the Play advertised [Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, announced on playbill of 14 Apr.]. Tickets delivered for Isabella [the original play chosen for this night] will be taken. Public Advertiser, 4 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crawford, No. 22, Bridges-street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #168 2s. (99/3; tickets: 68/19) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: [The play is opened by Mrs Beverley and Charlotte, and when Mrs Siddons came on she was hissed because of a widespread report that she had refused to act for Brereton's benefit in Dublin. "A considerable period of time was lost; it might be forty minutes before the play began . . . We could perceive that the lady supported herself with a great degree of firmness under this very aweful trial--a trial which, in great measure, determined her future fame--perhaps her residence in this metropolis" (Town and Country Magazine, Oct. 1784, p. 510). "The Breretons have used her shockingly--Mrs B. was mean enough to sneak off the stage and leave her to stand the insults of a malicious party tho' she knew the whole disturbance was on her account and that her husband had at least been obliged to contradict the reports that concern'd him" (Betsy Sheridan, Journal, 1960, p. 32). Mrs Siddons explained to the audience that the stories circulated against her were "calumnies." She had, in fact, on 19 Aug., acted Jane Shore in Dublin for Brereton's benefit (Dublin Public Register, 19 Aug. 1784). "Though Mrs Siddons delivered this address with her usual judgment and articulation, and it was received with reiterated bursts of applause, yet she was so agitated when off the stage as to be very near fainting, and continued for some time much flurried" (Public Advertiser, 6 Oct.).] Receipts: #304 5s. (291/13; 12/11; 0/1)

Event Comment: Sga Sestini [who was to sing in La Scuola de Gelosi, announced in Public Advertiser, 6 Mar.] being suddenly ill, Mme Mara, to prevent the disappointment of the Public, has kindly offered to perform this Evening

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Brereton. [As afterpiece the playbill announces The Sultan, but "The Public are most respectfully informed, that, in consequence of Mrs Jordan's sudden Indisposition, The Lyar will be performed this Evening instead of The Sultan" (printed slip attached to BM playbill: Burney 937. C.I.). Public Advertiser, 11 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Brereton, No. 15, Catherine-street, Strand. Receipts: #231 14s. 6d. (85.3.0; 19.9.0; 1.2.6; tickets: 126.0.0) (charge: #106 4s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mrs Billington's severe Illness rendering it impossible to perform Fontainbleau [advertised on playbill of 13 Mar.], Lewis hopes the above Comedy will prove acceptable to those Ladies and Gentlemen who have Places, and to the Public in general. Public Advertiser, 11 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, Bow-street, Covent-garden. Receipts: #242 16s. 6d. (156.12.6; 5.10.0; tickets: 80.14.0)

Event Comment: On Account of the Numerous Complaints which have been made by the Frequenters of the Theatre, of the Interruption given to the Performances by the Persons insisting on having the Doors of the Boxes or the Pit opened after the House is apparently filled, and also to prevent many other Inconveniences to the Audience, the Public are requested to observe that No Money received can be returned at any of the Offices. [Throughout the season the playbills carry the notice: "No money to be returned."] Hamlet [advertised in Public Advertiser, 15 Sept.] is obliged to be deferred on Account of the Indisposition of Kemble. Receipts: #109 18s. 6d. (71.17.0; 37.3.6; 0.18.0)

Event Comment: By Command of Her Majesty. [This was the first time that members of the royal family had appeared in public since the beginning of the King's illness (his first attack of insanity) in November 1788. See also 21, 24 Apr.] The drop curtain with the King's arms on it shown when the front curtain first rose was the "original curtain exhibited on the opening of Lincoln's Inn Fields theatre [in 1714]...It has lain by in the scene-room of Covent-Garden theatre nearly seventy years, but was rescued from oblivion, retouched, and the appropriate ornaments added for the occasion" (Public Advertiser, 16 Apr.). On the Queen's entrance "the house called for God save the King, and the theatre being prepared, the song was immediately sung by Bannister, Johnstone, and Darley, the house joining in the chorus. It was encored...At the end of the play [it] was again called for, and again sung twice. At the end of the pantomime it was again called for; and the theatre not sending forward the performers, the audience cheerfully sung it for themselves; and having sung, they encored themselves; so that altogether it was sung six times in the course of the evening. Her Majesty had a bandeau of black velvet, on which were set in diamonds the words 'Long live the king.' The princesses had bandeaus of white satin, and 'Long live the king' in gold" (Universal Magazine, Apr. 1789, p. 218). Receipts: #388 16s. 6d. (385.12.0; 3.4.6)

Event Comment: The Public is most respectfully informed that in consequence of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Jordan the New Comedy is unavoidably deferred. [The original playbill and Public Advertiser both announce the 6th night of Better Late than Never (see 29 Dec.). The above is from a second playbill for this night in BM (Burney 937.c.7). "Mrs Jordan's Illness defers...Better Late than Never" (Kemble Mem., which lists the substitutes play).] Receipts: #123 5s. (83.19.0; 33.4.6; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: The Public is most respectfully informed that in consequence of the sudden Indisposition of Mrs Jordan the New Comedy is unavoidably deferred. [The original playbill and Public Advertiser both announce the 6th night of Better Late than Never (see 29 Dec.). The above is from a second playbill for this night in BM (Burney 937.c.7). "Mrs Jordan's Illness defers...Better Late than Never" (Kemble Mem., which lists the substitutes play).] Receipts: #123 5s. (83.19.0; 33.4.6; 6.1.6)

Event Comment: The United Company. Newdigate newsletters, 28 Nov. 1682: This day was Acted a new play called the Duke of Guise by Mr Dryden it was formerly forbidd as reflecting upon the D of Monmouth but by ye supplication of ye Author its now allowed to be acted (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 81). The Prologue and Epilogue, separately printed, bear Luttrell's date of acquisition (Huntington Library) as 4 Dec. 1682, but above this date Luttrell has written: "30 Nov." The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 149-52. Dedication, Edition of 1683: In the Representation itself, it was persecuted with so notorious Malice by one side, that it secur'd us the Partiality of the other. In a report from the Abbe Rouchi, in London, 14 Dec. 1682, it is stated that the Duke of Guise was acted three times (Campana de Cavelli, Les Derniers Stuarts [Paris and London, 1871], I, 398). One song, Tell me Thyrsis all your anguish, with music by Captain Pack, is in the edition of 1683 and also in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not certain, but the Preface refers to the Long Vacation and a thin house, suggesting a late summer production. As the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 16-18 Nov. 1697, a first performance in October 1697 is probably the latest date for this play, and September seems more likely. Among the songs are several for whom the composer and singer are named: Happy we who free from love, and How calm Eliza are these groves, the music set by Morgan and both sung by Mrs Lindsey. She comes my goddess comes, set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cibber. Sleep shepherd sleep, the music set by Morgan and sung by Mrs Cross. All four are in A Collection of New Songs, 1697. Preface, Edition of 1698: To serve the wants of a thin Playhouse, and Long Vacation...This hasty Brat...had the Honor of keeping the Stage for five Days Reign. Animadversions on Mr Congreve's late Answer to Mr Collier (1698), pp. 34-35: The mighty Man of Wit [Congreve]...at the Representation of this Play...was seen very gravely with his Hat over his Eyes among his chief Actors, and Actresses, together with the two She Things, call'd Poetesses, which Write for his House, as 'tis nobly call'd; thus seated in State among those and some other of his Ingenious critical Friends, they fell all together upon a full cry of Damnation, but when they found the malicious Hiss would not take, this very generous, obliging Mr Congreve was heard to say, We'll find out a New way for this Spark, take my word there is a way of clapping of a Play down

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman. The Boxes and Pit 2s. 6d., the Boxes being laid open to the Pit. Note, No Subscribers' Tickets to pass this Day. To begin exactly at 5 of the Clock, by reason that the Gentlemen and Ladies that come from London may have time to return home before Night. Note, The Tide happens very luckily for Mr Penkethman's Friends in London: It Ebbs to Greenwich from 10 in the Morning till 6 at Night, flows from 6 in the Evening till 11, it being Moon-light

Event Comment: This is a farce of Macklin's Writing, it went off very greatly-he play'd Shylock too (Cross). Receipts: #190 (Cross). [Garrick and Lacy had contracted with Macklin for this Farce two weeks before this performance, according to the following document (BM Add. MS 27925): Memorandum of an Agreement relating to Mr Macklin's Farce and his Playing & performing in the said Farce, with such plays as shall be performed on which the said Farce shall be acted as aforesaid as follows: Imprimis: The said Farce to be publicly performed before Christmas, otherwise not this season on account of the Managers other engagements. Item: Mr Macklin to have for his performing in the said plays and Farce a Fifth part of the profits of the first five nights after deducting sixty-three pounds for the charges of each night during the said five nights-and the sixth night to be for the Benefit of Mr Macklin, he paying the usual charges of sixty-three pounds. Item: The Managers to have it in their power to stop the performances of the said Farce at the end of Six nights on account of their other engagements,-and in case the Receipt of any one night of the said nights on which the said Farce shall be performed as aforesaid shall fall short of One Hundred pounds. Then the Managers to have it in their power to stop the performance of said Farce as the Receipt does not amount to One Hundred pounds. Item: The said Six nights for the said Farce & plays in which Mr Macklin shall perform as aforesaid not to be played immediately succeeding one another, but alternately with such plays as the Managers shall think Convenient. Lastly: That if the said Farce shall meet with the disapprobation of the Publick, that then it shall be in the Power of Discretion of the Managers to stop the performance thereof. Dated this 28th day of November, 1759. S@ James Lacy, D. Garrick. Witness: R. Cross, Geo. Garrick.

Event Comment: See Daily Advertiser, 19 April, for a letter on Handel. Deutsch, Handel, pp. 481-83, reprints it but states that it appeared in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser

Event Comment: [Note in the Public Advertiser to the effect that Crawford never advertises in any Papers but this and the Daily Advertiser.