Event Comment: Mainpiece: [a tragedy by Alexander Dow]: Never acted before. New Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. This Play was receiv'd with very great Applause Mrs Barry Play'd finely & the Scenes were applauded (Hopkins Diary). Rec'd Stopages #4 12s. 6d. Paid 4 days salary list #348 14s. 8d. Mr King's extra salary #2 (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #238 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit 1st night for Author [Alexander Dow]; Rec'd Mr Condell's 2nd payment for Fruit Office #20; Paid Mr Dorman for Coals #43 15s.; Mr Jones (worsted laceman) #15 12s. 6d.; Messrs Barrow & Co., for Oil #50 12s.; Mr Gardner (shoemaker) #30 17s. 6d.; Mr Powney (stationer) #10; Mr Bib (sword cutler) #11 7s.; Mr Hatsell (mercer) #45 11s.; Mr Dobson (pipe-maker) #5 13s.; Mr Blakes, (hatter) #8 4s. 6d.; Mr J. French on acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #187 18s. 6d. Charges #73 10s. Profit to author #114 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 7 Oct. 1768.] Mr Clinch made his first appearance in the part of Alexander tolerable figure & Voice a Little too much upon the Brogue, he is very wild & Aukward-but was receiv'd with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [Macmillan note from Kemble differs slightly.] Paid Dr Arne as per order #31 8s.; Mr Stacie for drawing leases, #3 3s. Tallow chandler's first bill #29 13s. 3d.; Mr Jefferson on note, #200 (Treasurer's Book). [Reviewer for Town and Country Magazine more favorable to Clinck's performance than is Hopkins.] Receipts: #149 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs West. Tickets to be had of West, at the Ship, near the Seven Houses, Rotherhithe. Mainpiece: In Act II the triumphal entry of Alexander into Babylonv; In Act IV the grand Banquet where Alexander kills his faithful soldier, old Clytus. [The playbill contains a lengthy synopsis of the plot of the mainpiece; it concludes by noting that "the many flowery passages with which this tragedy abounds does honour to the pen of its author, N. Lee, Esqr., and we may justly say with Mr Pope, 'Such plays alone shou'd please a British ear, as Cato's self had not disdain'd to hear.'"]

Event Comment: Read ye parts of Alexander, Clytus, and Statire before going into Pit (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mr Lacy a Proprietor of this Theatre made his first appearance upon the Stage in the part of Alexander. He is very Tall, & Thin, a good Voice but His Fright took away from it's power--he was rec'ed with Applause. Mr Garrick wrote a New Occasional Prologue to introduce him, which was Spoken by Mr King & rec'ed with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). Paid 4 days list at #91 8s. 10d. per diem #365 15s. 4d.; Mr J. French on Acct #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [The Westminster Magazine commented on Willoughby Lacy's performance (Oct. 1774): "His performance was far from answering the expectations we had been taught to form from a friend and pupil of our English Roscius. Indeed Mr Lacy is a very young man: therefore we ought not to draw the line of our expectation. His figure is at present lank, awkward, and unengaging; his voice distinctly powerful, but inharmonious; his action outre, vulgar and forced: his attitudes unnatural, affected and disgustful; and his delivery a continued rant, without proper change, a pleasing variety, or a just discrimination of the necessary difference of tone demanded by the different passions. These...capital defects...are not unsurmountable...The play was prefaced by a new Prologue, evidently the production of Mr Garrick. It had some humor and was well received. The purport of it was to beg favor for the hero of the evening, whom it compared to a young swimmer, who had tried to float in two shallow streams, and was now about to venture himself in the great deep. This image is certainly an apt one, though, it is no great compliment to the audiences of Norwich and Birmingham."] Receipts: #248 19s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter, and Mahon. Gazetteer, 26 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Wild, No. 20, Martlet-court, Bow-street, Covent-garden; of Mahon, No. 6, Paradise-street, Marybone. Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by-Richards]: The Music entirely new, composed by William? Bates. Receipts: #256 13s. 6d. (126.0.6; tickets: 130.13.0) (charge: #72 15s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bulkley. Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. [This was included in both subsequent performances.] Afterpiece [1st time; C 1, author unknown. Not in Larpent MS; not published; synopsis of plot in London Chronicle, 23 Apr.]. Public Advertiser, 9 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bulkley, No. 10, New Ormond-street. Receipts: #195 13s. 6d. [166.16.6; tickets: 28.17.0) (charge: #73 7s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylonv

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. Mainpiece: With the triumphal entry of Alexander into Babylonv. 2nd piece [1st time; M.INT I; compiler unknown]. Public Advertiser, 8 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Aickin, Bow Street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #300 12s. 6d. (235.10.6; tickets: 65.2.0) (charge: #73 14s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. Mainpiece: With a Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Public Advertiser, 10 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Aickin, No. 6, York Street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #187 ior. (144/5; tickets: 43/5) (charge: #74 10s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Receipts: #186 3s. 6d. (182/14/0; 3/9/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Farren. Gazetteer, 6 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Farren, No. 35, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Mainpiece: With the Grand Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Receipts: #308 17s. (85/16/0; 18/8/6; 0/5/6; tickets: 204/7/0) (charge: #81 18s.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bates. 1st piece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Not acted these 15 years [acted 18 Dec. 1771]

Event Comment: Benefit for Booth. 1st piece: In Act II the Grand Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Never performed there. Morning Chronicle, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Booth, No. 18, Broad Court, Long Acre. Receipts: #105 12s. 6d. (99/8/6; 6/4/0; tickets: none listed) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Aickin. [Meredith is identified in European Magazine, May 1789, p. 410, which also states address was written by a Mr Vardill.] Mainpiece: End of Act II the Grand Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Aickin at his house, No. 5, Gower-street, Bedford-square. Receipts: #228 4s. 6d. (155.17.6; 8.2.0; tickets 64.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Lewis. Mainpiece: In Act II the admired Procession from the Grand Spectacle of Hercules and Omphale, with the entire Decorations, Music, Dance, Dresses, &c. adapted and introduced in the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. 3rd piece: Never acted at this theatre. Morning Chronicle, 26 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Lewis, No. 6, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #392 6s. 6d. (273.4.0; 13.4.0 ; tickets: 105.18.6)

Event Comment: This tragedy was wrote by Mr Dow,--went off but So, so.--some hisses thro' the play, and at the end also when given out.--The scenery and dresses was very fine, was well adapted, and had applause.--Miss Younge played very bad, and much disliked--Mr Holland and Mr Aickin played well (Hopkins Diary). New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [The Prologue is Larpent MS 289. It follows in content the suggestions of the Prologue to the Orphan of China ten seasons earlier:@"Too much the Greek and Roman chiefs engage@The Muse's care--they languish on our stage;@The modern bard struck with the vast applause@Of ancient masters, like the painter draws@From models only.--Can such copies charm@The Heart, or like the glow of Nature warm?@To fill the scene, tonight our author brings@Originals at least, --Warriours and Kings,@Heroes who like their Gems, unpolish'd shine,@The mighty fathers of the Tartar line,@Greater than those whom classic pages boast,@If those are greatest who have conquored most."@ An account of the plot of the mainpiece is in Lloyd's Evening Post, 16-19 Dec. Concludes: The play is said to have been written by Mr Dow, who lately favored the public with an accurate History of the Hindoos. The decorations and dresses were very magnificent. The performers who were the most distinguished by the audience were Mr Holland, Miss Younge, Mr Aickin, and Mr Jefferson. Mr Holland spoke the Prologue and Mrs Abington the Epilogue the latter of which furnished infinite entertainment, from the spirit and humour of that admirable actress. A Two column resume of the play appears in the Public Advertiser, 19 Dec.

Event Comment: [In afterpiece the playbill retains J. D'Egville as Alexander the Aumer as Hephestion , but "D'Egville being suddenly taken ill, Aumer play'd Alexander and C. Kemble Hephestion" (Powell).] Powell: King John rehearsed at 10; Edwy and Elgiva at 12 (dismissed). Receipts: #484 17s. (439.18.6; 41.17.6; 3.1.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Peile. Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylonv. Public Advertiser, 22 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Peile, North-street, Westminster

Event Comment: Benefit for Harris, ballet-master and Principal Dancer, and Trew. Mainpiece: With the Triumphal Entry of Alexander into Babylon. Receipts: #286 18s. 6d. (97/15/6; tickets: 189/3/0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 3 (except for 1st two performances, which were 2), by James Harvey D'Egville. Synopsis of action (C. Lowndes [1795])]: A Representation calculated to shew the extent and powers of the New Stage, and which has been in preparation during the whole of the Season (notice on playbill of 10 Feb.). The Musick composed by Krazinsky Miller. The Scenes, Machinery, Dresses and Decorations are entirely new. The Scenery designed and executed by Marinari, and his Assistants. The Machinery designed by Cabanel, and executed by him and Jacobs. The Dresses and Decorations by Johnston and Miss Rein. Powell: [The pantomime] was astonishingly well received, except the chorus of 'Happy Pair' at the end, which was so shamefully managed that the performers met with, what they much deserved, great disapprobation. The acting of the piece was in general well conducted, but the Processionv [The Piece will conclude with the Entry of Alexander into Babylonv, and his Marriage with Statirav (playbill)], for want of room to arrange behind, was unavoidably sent on in a very confused manner...Alexander's car could not be sent on this evening, not being yet complete. [These difficulties are somewhat surprising, in view of the fact that the pantomime had had 54 rehearsals. And see 13 Feb.] 11 Feb.: Chorusses to New Ballet rehearsed at 10; Natural Son at 11; New Ballet at 11; New Ballet (full rehearsal) at 6; 12 Feb.: New Ballet rehearsed at 12. Receipts: #504 3s. 6d. (417.2.0; 83.16.6; 3.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. This play was got up with a very Grand Procession-Alexander by Mr Powell (ranted too much) (Hopkins). Part of Pit laid into Boxes. No Building on Stage. [No Building for any Bt. this season.] Mr Powell very wild in Alexander, and took his voice too high (Hopkins Diary-MacMillan). Not acted in 20 Years. [See 26 Dec. 1743.] Charges: #76 4s

Event Comment: [See note for 9 Jan. 1770 of a mild riot this night during best scene of The Orphan.] Afterpiece: A New Opera [by George Alexander Stevens] the Music composed by Mr Fisher. Books of the entertainment to be had at the theatre. Gave Duke of Glocester's Footmen #2 2s. (Account Book). [Afterpiece a roaring burlesque of Lee's Rival Queens. Larpent MS 302 includes Semi Chorus, Grand Chorus, and Perdiccas, not listed in the Playbill. The Court awakes with total hangover. Alexander orders a pot of coffee to clear his head. Thais begs him to leave the gout giving juice-Retire with me @ In my Chinese pavilion, drink some Tea." Afterpiece reviewed inthe Freeholder's Magazine for Jan.] Mr Shuter and Mrs Mattocks gave great satisfaction in their different characters; the words of the songs were written by Mr George Alexander Stephens, author of the celebrated Lecture upon Heads, and several other whimsical productions; and the airs which had Uncommon merit, were composed by Mr Fisher, a young genius, who has hitherto been but little known in the musical world. Receipts: #215 8s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Afterpiece: By Desire. Benefit for Powell. Part of Pit laid into boxes. Send servants by 3 o'clock. House charges #74 10s. [Profit to Powell #207 5s.] Paid Johnston, under prompter #7; Five extra trumpets #1 5s.; 2 Flutes 10s.; Chorus singers #2 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #281 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Half past 4 walked to Drury Lane House. With every great difficulty got into the 2s. Gallery before; saw the Death of Alexander with his Triumphal Entrance into Babylonv and the Dance of the Vintage, for the benefit of Powell who played Alexander. Some reported that Garrick says he makes mistakes in the character exceedingly in the banquet scene, in which no one ever surpassed him. I cannot judge of the truth of this observation (Neville MS Diary)