Event Comment: The Dr New Dress'd & in a New Manner with a Prologue by ye old Dr to introduce the New by the Author of the Hilliad. The Prologue was forbid by the Licencer, & struck out of the bills, but by Mistake was left in ye News; a great noise for it, Woodward said; as he had face to study, he had not time to do it--more Noise--I went on--& told 'em the Prologue was forbid--Noise still--Woodward went on & said it was forbid by L@or@d Chamberlain--it cool'd a little but when he came on dress'd like Dr Hill, it began again, & so ye farce ended (Cross). Benefit for Mr Woodward. Part of Pit laid into Boxes, and Stage commodiously built in form of an Amphitheatre. Boxes and Stage 5s. Ladies send servants by 3. Tickets to be had of Woodward in Great Piazza, Covent Garden; and at Stage Door. This day publish'd The Chaplet at 6d. a Musical entertainment as performed at Drury Lane. Receipts: #330 (Cross)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to Tom's Coffee house, where I met Mr Marshall, he told me of Capt. Hill being kill'd by Ld Mohun, from hence I went to Wills, where I met Dr Davenant, I staid here almost half an hour, & coming home by ye way stopt & just lookt in at ye Playhouse being about seven a clock (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@147, p. 68: The King and Queene & a Box for ye Maydes of Honor at the Opera. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350, and 1 Jan. 1684@5. The opera was certainly given on 3 June, probably on 10 June, and probably on 13 June, the day that the news of the Duke of Monmouth's landing reached London; as Downes states that it was acted six times, there were three additional performances between 3 and 13 June 1685. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 40): In Anno 1685. The Opera of Albion and Albanius was perform'd; wrote by Mr Dryden, and Compos'd by Monsieur Grabue: This being perform'd on a very Unlucky Day, being the Day the Duke of Monmouth, Landed in the West: The Nation being in a great Consternation, it was perform'd but Six times, which not Answering half the Charge they were at, Involv'd the Company very much in Debt. Roger North: The first full opera that was made and prepared for the stage, was the Albanio of Mr Grabue, in English, but of a French genius. It is printed in full score, but proved the ruin of the poor man, for the King's death supplanted all his hopes, and so it dyed (Roger North on Music, ed. John Wilson [London, 1959], p. 311). The Prologue and Epilogue, published separately, are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 244-46. The score and the libretto were published in 1687 (licensing date of 15 March 1686@7): Albion and Albanius; An Opera; Or, Representation in Musick. Set by Lewis Grabu, Esq; Master of His late Majesty's Musick

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Frasi. By Mr Handel. This is the only Opportunity the Public will have of hearing this favourite Oratorio, Mr Handel being determined not to perform it this Season. Tickets: Pit and Boxes Half Guinea. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened half an hour after four, Pit and Boxes at Five; to begin at half an hour after Six

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no person to be admitted without tickets, which will be delivered this day at the Office in the Theatre at Half a Guinea each. 1st Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at half after Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at half an hour after Six

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Pit and Boxes to be put together. Tickets delivered this day at the Office in the theatre at Half a Guinea each. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at half after Four, Pit and Boxes at Five, To begin at Half an Hour after Six

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 31 Dec. 1772.] Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No Persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. Places for Boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be open'd at half an hour past 5 o'clock. To Begin half an Hour past 6. Vivant Rex & Regina. [Customary footnote for all succeeding bills this season, not to be repeated here. Woodward seems to have spoken an Occasional Prologue on the opening of the theatre. See request for its repetition on bill for 21 Sept. This Prologue is Larpent MS 377. It suggests the policy of offerings and competitions for the season--some old plays, some new, some foreign, some pantomimes, some Shakespeare, &c.

Event Comment: By Command K. & Q. Ode, Mr Garrick (Cross Diary). Waited on Mr & Mrs Barry to know if it would be agreeable to them to go in the Pageant [The Jubilee] on Saturday--They both agreed they would & Mr Barry said he could be able to walk in the Pageant if he could not play. A rehearsal of As You Like It was call'd by Mrs Barry's desire at Ten. She sent word to have the Rehearsal put off for half an hour. The Performers staid for her till past Eleven, but she not coming they went away (Hopkins MS Memorandum Book)

Event Comment: This Tragedy is taken from ye French by ye Revd Mr Francis. A great Noise before ye play began, occasion'd by ye Music not playing what they lik'd, they being Palted wou'd not come into the Orchestra-a Branch knock'd down, Candles thrown &c.-Mr Garrick went on, order'd ye Music in, & all was quiet-went off with great Applause (Cross). Never acted before. Characters New Dress'd Mr Garrick is intitled to my sincerest Gratitude for his Performance as an Actor, and for his Punctuality as a Manager...his strong good Sence, with that Spirit of Theatrical Criticism, which is his peculiar natural Genius (Prefatory matter by Francis first in ed.). Receipts: 180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Part of pit laid into boxes. House charges #61 4s. [Profit to Mrs Pritchard #68 8s.] Lent to Mr Johnston, Prompter, by order #2 2s.; Paid to James Aickin on his note #40; Paid Poor's rate (1!2 year for St Martin's) #20 4s.; Salary list #294 2s. 8d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #129 12s. (Treasurer's Book). Went to see Macbeth for Mrs Pritchard's Benefit. Got a good seat in the Pit, which was not full for half an hour after I went, tho part of it was laid into the boxes. Read the Public Advertiser of Today' and part of London Chronicle before the play began...Dance of the Furies in the 4th Act, and end of the Play (Neville MS Diary)

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: James Brydges, Diary: To ye Grecian Coffee house, where meeting Mr Pits, were went together to ye playhouse in Lincoln Inn Fields (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Benefit for Woodward. Afterpiece: A New farce written by Mr Woodward-for his Benefit, The farce was a kind of dispute among ye Actors, & went off, as it was a Benefit, without Interruption, but I believe will not be play'd agen, ye Epil: was a parody upon Shakespear's Stage of Life, & was Lik'd (Cross). No Part of Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Ladies send servants by three. Tickets to be had of Woodward at Clarendon's Warehouse, and of Hobson at the stage door. Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. [Larpent MS 92, indicates the afterpiece as a criticism from the actors' view of the way they are handled by audiences, and of their own damnation of a play presented to them. All works up to the Epilogue: @'All the town's a farce-he says and swears,@And all the men and women merely players...'@ which is severe upon politicians, doctors, statesmen and connoisseurs. The characters appear under their own names, Cross, Clive, etc.] Receipts: #300 (Cross)

Event Comment: great Nreat Noise--before the Entertainm[en]t began Mr Garrick went on & said--Gent: as we find the new Scene, tho' it pleases some, offends others & as we wou'd please all, we shall omit it after this Night--but I hope when the other House is merry with us, we may be merry with them--the Song was printed & thrown down from ye Slips--great Noise--great applause--some blows in the pit--some Gents insisted upon its being given out again, wch Mr Lacy did--the Inspector very Impudent to-day (14th) about Woodward for saying I thank you to Fitzpatrick who threw an Apple at him from ye Stage Box on Fryday last--the fool against us to-day (Cross). [Cross omits receipts this night.

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: A Serious Opera, in 2 acts (never performed before [by Pietro Metastasio]); the Music entirely new by Anfossi. With new Scenes and Decorations, designed and painted by Novosielski. Public Advertiser, 10 May: The Event of Saturday night may teach the Managers, if they are not incapable of being taught, how it has happened that their House has for these six Weeks past been almost empty, and now at last was again full. For these six weeks past the Town has been disgusted with bad Music, ill sung; with that wretched Apology for a first rate singer, Rauzzini, and that barbarous dullness which he thinks Music, his Regina di Golconda. On Saturday Night there was the direct Reverse of all this wretched Infamy . . . There have been few finer Operas, and none since Farinelli's time so exquisitely sung

Event Comment: Benefit for one Monett master of ye French Comedians (Cross). [174th and positively the last night.] Receipts: #120 (Cross). Account of Disbursements made by Mr Monnet for his Stage, as well in Ready Money as in Notes of Hand. @Names of Actors and Actresses Their Contracts with Mr Monnet Paid in Money Paid in Notes Whole sum of the Expence, as well in Money as in Notes@Desormes #227 7s. 6d. #65 17s. 9d. #131 5s. #197 2s. 9d.@Mauly & Hamond #301 8s. 9d. #175 #63 #238@Bureau #257 8s. 7d. #122 11s. 3d. #52 10s. #175 1s. 3d.@Toscano #289 7s. 10d. #123 16s. 7d. #66 1s. 3d. #189 7s. 10d.@Durancy and Wife #361 17s. 1d. #147 7s. #210 #357 7s.@Parant #218 15s. #108 10s. 10d. .... #108 10s. 10d.@Terodat #52 10s. #39 2s. .... #39 2s.@Kelly #30 18s. #30 18s. .... #30 18s.@Villiers #32 15s. #32 15s. .... #32 15s.@Chateauneuf #43 15s. #15 17s. .... #15 17s.@Dujoncel #36 15s. #24 13s. 6d. #12 1s. 6d. #36 15s.@Champville #87 10s. #52 10s. .... #52 10s.@StAmand #78 15s. #26 5s. #17 10s. #43 15s.@Totals #1,919 2s. 9d. #965 4s. 3d. #552 7s. 9d.@ @Other Expences@For the Play-House's Rent #110@For the Stage's Taylor #35 14s.@For the Expences of Four Representations acted #65 12s. 6d.@For the traveling Expences of Mr Monnet, and his Residence of twenty Months at London or Paris and the Expences for the Custom-House, Law, Prison #328 12s. 8d.@Whole Sum of the Expence #2,157 1s.@ @RECEIPTS@For Fifty-six Subscriptions, at Five Guineas each #294@Received from Four Representations acted at the Little Theatre in the Hay-Market #188 18s. 4d.@From a Subscription, by Mr Arthur, Master of White's Chocolate-House #367 10s.@Whole Sum of the Receipts #850 8s. 4d. @ Therefore the Expence exceeds the Money received by #1,306 12s. 8d. which Mr Monnet is entirely out of Pocket, besides two Years and a half of his Time spent for it. N.B. The Contracts are all made for Livres Turnois, and this Account is made upon a Calculation of 3 Livres Tournois for 31 1!2d. Sterling.--And the Contracts and Receipts are ready to be produced. [This account is by courtesy of Miss Sybil Rosenfeld from a photostat of the original (which is printed in both French and English) in the Bibliotheque National. See also British Magazine, August 1750, p. 322.

Event Comment: Three Brothers of ye Delavals play'd ye Eldest Othello, ye next Iago, ye next Cassio--+Brabantio & Lodovico Mr Pine Roderigo-Cap. Stevens and Wife Emelia $Mrs Quan did Desdemona, the performance was very decent & met with great applause the Audience from ye Boxes to the upper Gallery were fill'd with people of ye first rank & make a most brilliant appearance. & ye greatest Crowd at ye Doors I ever saw. their Agreement for ye House was a receipt of one of the Alfred Houses upon an Averidge. they had all new cloaths, & very nicely ornamented with Diamonds (Cross). [See eulogy and criticism in some detail concerning the acting, by John Hill, Inspector No 3.] All Gentlemen and Ladies who intend going in coaches this evening to Drury Lane Theatre, are desired to order their coachmen to drive thro' Covent Garden, and stop at Bridges St. Door, and as soon as they have set down the company to drive off directly towards the Strand.--Those who go in chairs, are requested to order the men to the New Door in Russel St., and to prevent the avenues being stopt up no person will be admitted to either passage without first showing their tickets at the outward door (General Advertiser). Tickets Lost. If any person has found three tickets (numbers forgot) for the private play this night at Drury Lane, and will be so kind as to bring them to the Bar of the Rainbow Coffee House, Ironmonger Lane, shall receive 15s. for the whole, or in proportion for one or two of them (General Advertiser). Tomorrow Morning at 8 o'clock will be published' (price 6d.) by Thomas Carnan, at Mr Newberry's, at the Bible and Sun in St Paul's Churchyard; An Occasional Prologue and Epilogue to Othello, as it will this night be acted at the theatre-Royal in Drury Lane, by Persons of distinction, for their diversion. Written by Christopher Smart, A.M., Fellow of Pembroke Hall in the University of Cambridge. To be had at the place above mentioned, and at the pamphlet shops at the Royal Exchange and Charing Cross. This Prologue and Epilogue will be entered in the Hall Book of the Company of Stationers, and whoever presumes to pyrate them, or any part of them, will be persecuted as the Law directs (General Advertiser). [Both pieces by Christopher Smart, according to the Daily Advertiser. See two exceedingly favorable critical comments and one derogatory reprinted in the Gentleman's Magazine, March 1751 (pp. 119-22): "The greatest part of the play was much better performed than it ever was on any stage before. In the whole, there was a face of nature that no theatrical piece, acted by common players ever came up to." Macklin was Delaval's dramatic coach, according to one of these articles.

Event Comment: MMr Barbaut's Second Subscription Oratorio, taken from the First Book of Milton's Paradise Regained and set to music by Mr Charles Barbant in two parts with a solo upon the Violin by Signor Marella; a solo upon the German Flute by Mr Tacet; a Concerto on the Lute by Mr Servi?; a Hautboy concert by Mr Barbant; and an organ concerto ditto; and a Great Concerto with Clarinets, French Horns and Kettle-Drums, composed by Mr Barbant. Boxes and Pit put together at Half a Guinea each, Gallery 3s. Tickets to be had at Mr Barbant's, at Mr White's in Marshall St., Carnaby-Market; and at Mr Browne's Stationer [sic], facing the Opera House, Haymarket. To begin at half an Hour after six. N.B. the Books of the Oratorios stitched in Blue Paper at 1s. each are sold at Mrs Browne's [sic] in the Haymarket, and at the House on the night of the performance

Event Comment: A New Opera. Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. To begin half an hour after Six. With new Decorations. No Persons to be admitted without Tickets. By His Majesty's Command, No Person whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes. [These notices repeated in subsequent bills.] Attendance will be given at the said Office every Morning to deliver the Subscribers Silver Tickets, and to receive Subscriptions for this Season

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Arne. In the Manner of an Oratorio. The Music composed by Arne. Boxes Half a Guinea. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. To begin exactly at half an hour after Six. Tickets to be had and places to be taken of Varney at the Stage Door; and of Arne, next door to the Passage, in Charles St., Covent Garden. The Book is sold at R. Francklin's in Covent Garden, and at the Theatre the night of the performance. Price 1s. [Cross lists no receipts.

Event Comment: Benefit for General Lying-In Hospital. Pit and Boxes to be laid together at half a guinea. First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 2s. 6d. To begin at half an hour after Six. Tickets deliver'd out for the 27th will be taken

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Edition of 1759: Music by several composers directed by Gioacchino Cocchi. Simphony by Jomelli.] With new Decorations, Cloaths, and Dances. Pit and Boxes together, and no persons admitted without tickets, which will be delivered this Day at half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, no Person to be admitted behind the Scenes. To begin at half an hour after Six precisely. [This notice repeated in the bills.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. My oath & Mrs Simson's appear'd in ye G: Advertiser, & Mr Fitzpatrick now swore (in ye Inspector) to what before he had given his Honour to--when Woodward appear'd in ye Pant: great Noise, he said gentlemen, if you think the two affidavids to-day not sufficient I will corroberate 'em on Monday with six or Seven more. quiet on Sunday Mr Fitz: waited on Lord Chamberlain, to complain of Woodward's Insolence, my Lord sent for Garrick who told ye whole Story; & upon Mr Fitz owing he threw an apple at him, my Lord said, that act put upon a Footing with ye lowest, & judg'd him the Agressor,--upon wch Fitz; desir'd all affidavids &c shoul'd cease & he wou'd drop his resentment. which was done (Cross). Receipts: #100 (Cross). [In the General Advertiser appeared (1) Letter to the Public from Woodward disclaiming any note of insolence, and accusing Fitzpatrick of having a bad memory; (2) an Affidavit from Cross that he was present and heard Woodward say distincly "Sir I thank you," without any air of menace. He heard this from his prompter's seat "next adjoining the Stage box call'd the Prince of Wale's box"; (3) an Affidavit from Mrs Elizabeth Simson, who was standing in the "First entrance next the stage door, on the Prompter's side," that she heard what Cross Heard and no more, and understood no air of Menace to be present. In the General Advertiser also appeared a letter from one T. C. explaining the approach of Birnam Wood to Dunsinane in Macbeth on the basis of a story told him by a Scots Laird of a nearby castle, to the effect that the Clans used to distinguish themselves in battle by sprays from different trees attached to their bonnets. From this T. C. developed a theory that Macbeth's experience was one of historical face rather tahn a figment of Shakespeare's imagination.