Event Comment: Words from Holy Writ...Music so admirable designed by Handel as to Beggar all description (Theatrical Review). Mr Ponta is Musician to his Serene Highness the Elector of Mentz. Tickets and places for boxes to be taken of Mr Sarjeant at the Stage Door. Box 5s. Pit 4s. First Gallery 3s. Upper Gallery 2s. Books of the performance sold at the Theatre. Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin at half past Six (Account Book). [Messrs Toms and Arnold were putting on the Oratorios at Covent Garden this season.] Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece advertised on this bill as Never Performed" (playbill).] Paid John Doe, John Claridge, and John Smith each #1 12s. 6d. for performing 13 nights in the Ass and the Hog [in Mother Shipton] to the 7th inst. (Account Book). [See account of damning of mainpiece in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre No. XXXV). Halfpennies and apples thrown at chandeliers and one broken.] Receipts: #243 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: G[arrick] This Night was advertis'd for Mr Barry's Benefit but he being ill his Benefit was deferr'd (Hopkins Diary). Garrick is removed from Southampton St. to Adelphi Terrace (Winston MS 10). This day is publish'd Theatrical Biography; or, Memoirs of the principal performers of the three Theatres Royal. Drury Lane: Garrick, Barry, Reddish, Aickin, King, Moody, Dodd, Love, Vernon, Parsons, Baddeley, Mrs Barry, Mrs Abington, Miss Younger, Miss Hayward, Mrs Baddeley, Miss Pope, Mrs Egerton, Mrs W. Barry and Mrs Jefferson. Covent Garden: Ross, Smith, Savigny, Woodward, Yates, Shuter, Bensley, Dyer, Mattocks, Clark, Mrs Yates, Mrs Mattocks, Miss Macklin, Mrs Bulkley, Mrs Green, and Mrs Thompson. Haymarket: Foote, Weston, Aikin, Didier, Davies, Mrs Gardner, Mrs Jewell, and Mrs Didier. Together with critical and impartial remarks on their respective professional merits. Printed for S. Bladon. Receipts: #265 18s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Yates. Part of Pit laid into Boxes (playbill). Charges #64 5s. Profit to Yates #82 3s. 6d., plus #102 11s. from tickets: (Box 367; Pit 72). Paid half year's Poor's rate for the theatre due Ladyday last #20 8s. 4d.; and for House in Bow Passage 14s. 7d. (Account Book). Receipts: #146 8s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. [See Town and Country Magazine this month (pp. 171-72) for two columns on theatrical amusements in England: The English stage is as elegant and well conducted as any theatre in Europe, whether we consider the music, the actors, or the decorations."

Event Comment: We cannot quit this aritcle without remarking to the credit of the managers at this theatre, that there probably never was an evening Performance of this nature before exhibited, consisting of so great a variety. However, the great applause the whole received evinced that the audience were sensible of an attentive effort to please, and, as such signified their approbation (Theatrical Review, p. 223). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Macklin. Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 27 Jan. 1770.] Afterpiece: For this night only this season (playbill). Charges #64 5s. Profit to Miss Macklin #19 4s., plus #43 from 172 Box tickets. Paid Whitefield one fourth year's salary due Lady Day last #25. Paid Mr Barber for a suit of regimentals embroider'd with gold, #12 12s. Paid Lowe and Lucas (linnen drapers) #13 19s.; Paid Evans for Spermecita candles as per bill #12. Paid Barrett (wax chandler) #3 4s. (Account Book). [Miss Macklin considered this a poor benefit, and on 6 May 1772 wrote to her father about the troubles she met in getting it underway. Woodward would not play in the farce since it did not belong to the theatre and since he had not be asked before she put his name in the bills. Kniveton labored hard and did quite well as Sir Archy. Ann Pitt so ill she could not do Lady Wrangle, but Mrs Hull sat up two nights, learned the part and acted it creditably (Harvard, Memoirs of Charles Macklin, Vol. II, pt. 2, after p. 55).] Receipts: #83 9s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Egerton. Afterpiece: Not acted in 3 years. [See 3 April 1769.] [Genest in Volume of News Clippings (Harvard Library) quotes Edinburg Evening Courant of 29 April: Last night between the play and the farce at Drury Lane Theatre, a disturbance arose which continued for a full hour. Mr Weston it appeared was in debt to the managers a considerable sum of money, on which account they had impounded all the cash received on his benefit night. This the comedian did not like, and therefore yesterday evening sent word that he could not play, that he was arrested and detained in a springing house, but desired that no apology should be made of his being 'suddenly ill' (the usual stage plea) as it would be an egregious falsehood. After the play Mr Vernon came forward and inform'd the audience that Mr Weston 'was suddenly taken ill' and could not perform. Weston instantly started up in the front of the upper Gallery, and inform'd the house that he was not ill, but in the custody of an officer, and if the audience would have patience he'd inform them of the whole affair. A long altercation ensued. The Managers sent on Mr Vernon repeatedly; and after much pro and con Weston came down and played his part of Sneak." The article must have referred to the 24th of April, when Weston play'd Sneak in The Mayor of Garratt. The Managers promis'd the Town a publication of the whole affair."] Paid Mr Brathwait for men's cloaths #33s. Receipts: #200 8s. Charges: #70 12s. Profit to Mrs Egerton: #129 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woodman. Charges #64 15s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Woodman #17 8s. plus #42 1s. from tickets (Box 77; Pit 110; Gallery 63). Paid half year's paving &c. for the theatre due Lady Day last #18 5s. (Account Book). Receipts: #82 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Gardner and R. Smith. Mrs Gardner's Indisposition preventing her from performing this evening, she hopes she shall be excused by her friends. [She was to have played Catherine in Afterpiece according to advance notice of 4 May.] Charges #64 10s. Deficit to each benefiticiary #15 6s. 6d., cover'd by income from tickets: Gardner, #61 1s. (Box 118; Pit 101; Gallery 164); Smith, #64 19s. (Box 35; Pit 264; Gallery 166). Paid half year's Land Tax for the Theatre due Lady day last, #61 5s.; paid ditto for window lights, #6 10s. 6d.; Paid ditto for House in Bow Passage #2 3s. 9d. and for its window lights 15s. Receipts: #33 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The last night of the Subscription of this Season. N.B. By particular desire many of the Nobility and Gentry who are engag'd to Drury Lane Theatre on Tuesday next for the benefit of decay'd actors, the last serious opera of Demetrio (Music entirely new, Composed by Guglielmi) is deferred till Wednesday next when Mlle Heinel is to dance for the last time of her engagement in England

Event Comment: Two Young Lady's made their first Appearance in the Characters of Polly & Lucy Pupils of Dr Arne--Miss Wellers figure is very well for Polly but she wants Spirit & is apt to Sing out of Tune. Mrs Bradley is Tall & a good figure for Lucy and acquitted herself very well in that character they both met with Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly: Two young Gentlewomen appeared in the characters of Polly and Lucy,--brought out by Dr Arne,--Miss Weller and Mrs Bradley.--Miss Weller's figure was very well for Polly; but she is a piece of still life, sings out of tune and will never make an actress.--Mrs Bradley,--very tall, and appears to have blackguard requisites enough for Lucy, but will not do for anything else--Hopkins Diary No 7. Mrs Bradley is since married to Mr Prior the Builder.--J. P. Kemble."] Paid Renters #8 [this payment occurs each playing night of the season, 188 times in all, and will not be further noted]; Mr Carver, six days, #6 [a weekly payment outside the pay list throughout the season. Presumably to scene painter. No further noted]; Mr S. French, 6 days, #1 10s. Renters total for season #1592. Carver total for season #088 (Treasurer's Book). [see account of Miss Weller and Miss Bradley in Town and Country Magazine (Theatre XXXVIII): The first performed the part of Polly, and the latter that of Lucy. Their figures are both genteel, and their countenances expressive. Miss weller was much confused upon her first entrance; but from the melody of her voice, tho she did not raise it sufficiently in many parts, there is reason to believe, when she was got the better of her terrors of facing an audience, that she will be an acquisition to the stage, at least as a vocal performer. Miss Bradley's performance of Lucy with great spirit, vivacity and Propriety' and her singing being so well suited to the character, she so much eclipsed Polly, that the audience formed a more indifferent opinion of her abilities than she deserved."] Receipts: #220 11s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The Characters [of the mainpiece] New Dressed according to the habits of the times. [At foot of the bill first appears the customary notice: Places for the Boxes to be taken only of Mr Sarjant at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at 5 o'clock. To begin at 6 o'clock. Vivant Rex & Regina."] Paid Church & Militia tax for theatre #8 15s. and for House in Bow Passage 6s. 3d. (Account Book). Receipts: #232 14s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid half year's Poor's Rate for Theatre due Mich. Last #21 17s. 6d., and for House in Bow Passage 15s. 8d. (Account Book). Receipts: #219 4s

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from Milton [by George Colman]. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #181 4s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 20 Dec. 1769.] Paid half year's Land Tax for theatre due Mich. last #35; ditto for Widow Lights #6 10s. 6d.; ditto for House in Bow Passage #1 5s., and for its window lights 15s. (Account Book). [The reviewer for The Town and Country Magazine the following month was disappointed with Miss Barsanti as Estifania.] Receipts: #134 7s. 6d

Event Comment: On Tuesday last died at Ealing in Middlesex at a very advanced age and much regretted by all who had the Pleasure of his Acquaintance, Henry Giffard, the Celebrated Manager of Goodman's Fields Theatre. This Gentleman was of a Genteel Family in the West of England (Public Advertiser). [Though him Garrick had come to the stage.

Event Comment: A serious opera composed by Vento and other celebrated composers. Prices: Pit and Boxes, 10s. 6d. First Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. 6:30 p.m. By their Majesties Command, no persons can be admitted behind the Scenes or into the Orchestra. Vivant Rex et Regina. [Manager's plea for subscribers to pay up to Bankers Drummond and Co. or to Mr Crawford (treasurer) at his dwelling adjacent to the Theatre. Repeated.

Event Comment: Parsons of dl and Mr Buckley of cg purchas'd Bristol Theatre formerly the property of Mr Bransby (Winston MS 10). Receipts: #199 17s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Paid Simpson for New Music for the theatre for seasons 1772 and 1773 #10 10s. Paid Whitefield for Cloaths bought #31 7s. (Account Book). Receipts: #114 6s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 11 April 1771.] Paid Mrs Rich the balance of the Benefit for the Dispensary #36 11s. 6d., and paid Garton the balance due the Theatrical Fund #143 3s. (Account Book). [The Westminster Magazine this month comments upon the revival of the pantomime and the new scene of the Pantheonv: "This thought evidently was borrowed from the ludicrous situations of the Macaroni in the pantomime of the Pigmy Revels at the other theatre; but no one in the world borrows with less ceremony than Mr Colman, especially from Mr Garrick."] Receipts: #126 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Rec'd from Condell on Acct for Fruit Rent #20. Rec'd by an Overcharge in Mrs Lynn's Bill 7 Jan. last 12s., and by ditto in Messrs Benn and Pugh's Bill of 5 June last #2 14s. 6d. [Neither of these bills is recorded in the Account Books available.] Paid half year's water rate for the Theatre due Xmas, #3 (Account Book). Receipts: #218 15s. 6d

Event Comment: Paid Patrick (tinman) #51 19s. (Account Book). As the tragedy of Elfrida, written (after the Greek manner) by that most excellent poet Mr Mason, has met with such singular applause at Covent Garden Theatre, I cannot help lamenting that our English Roscius has never had a play of Sophocles (translated into English blank verse) represented at Drury Lane. The plays in general, are the finest ever written; and the Oedipus Tyrannus is, in my opinion, the properest to be represented at present, both for the grandeur of the chorusses and the magnificence of the scenery. I mention this because I think this new species of drama would be better received, by an English audience, than all the Golden Pippins, or Nonpareils, that have lately appeared on the stage. (signed) Cantab (Gentleman's Magazine , XLIII, 74). Receipts: #183 16s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New English Burletta, never performed, by the Author of Midas [Kane O'Hara], in three parts. Books of the Burletta to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #229 14s. [The mainpiece had been censored by Licenser 5 April 1772 (Larpent MS 330) but had been passed later. The MS indicates stage directions "Curtain rising discovers a splendid Pavilion in the Clouds, Juno, Pallas and Venus at card table." Reviewed in the Westminster Magazine. Rev. Charles Jenner wrote the following "Ode to Miss Catley in the character of Juno." (Harvard Library original MSS No. 65 [1930].)] @Hail vulgar Goddess of the foul mouth'd race!@If modest Bard may hail without offence)@In whose majestic, blush-disdaining face@The steady hand of Fate wrote Impudence;@Hail to thy dauntless front, and aspect bold;@Thrice hail, magnificent, immortal scold!@ @Thee, Goddess, from the upper gallery's height@With heedful look the jealous fish-wife eyes,@Tho early train'd to urge the mouthing flight,@She hears thy bellowing powers with surprize.@Returns instructed to the realms that bore her,@Adopts thy tones and carries all before her.@ @Proceed then, Catley, in thy great career@And nightly let our maidens hear and see@The sweetest voice disgust the listning ear@The fairest face assume deformity!@So shalt thou arm them with their best defense,@And teach them Modesty by Impudence.