Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; BALL P 1, by John Cartwright Cross. Text, i.e. synopsis of ballet, and the songs, in Cross's Circusiana (Lackington, Allen and Co., 1809), Vol. I. Bologna, Bologna Jun. and Mrs Parker were from the Royal Circus]: Invented and under the Direction of Cross. With entire new Scenes, Dresses, Music and Decorations. The Overture and Music principally new, with a Selection of some novel Irish Air, by Reeve, composer of the Music to Oscar and Malvina, &c. The Harp by Weippert. The Scenery, comprehending a Display of the most Romantic Views in Ireland, painted by Richards, Phillips, Lupino, Hollogan, and Blackmore. The Machinery by Cresswell, Sloper and Goostree. The Dresses by Dick, Mrs Egan, &c. The Following are a Part of the new Scenes, &c.: The Ancient Temple, dedicated to Bel, the God of Fire, with the Flactaga, or Sacred Fire burning; it having been enacted that, on the last Evening of October, no other Fire should be Used thro'out the Kingdom, that all might be derived from that, which being a Fire Sacrifice, would render the rest Propitious and Holy. The Dargle, where the Irish Druids consulted their Oracle. A View near Wicklow. The Salmon Leap. Entrance of a Subterraneous Pass. Maon's Cavern. Cemetery and Dungeon, appertaining to the Round Tower, Moated Castle, &c. Receipts: #264 2s. 6d. (259.19.6; 4.3.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Additions from Dryden; the Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun. Receipts: #142 7s. 6d. (79.17.6; 60.10.0; 2.0.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; MD 2, by George Colman, ynger, based on Raoul Barbe Bleue, by Michel Jean Sedaine (although, in the 1st edition of the play, this denied by Colman). Text (Cadell and Davies, 1798)]: The Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. The Musick composed and selected [from Paisiello] by Kelly. The Scenes designed and executed by Greenwood? Jun</a>, Chalmers, and others. The Machinery, Decorations, and Dresses designed and under the direction of Johnston, and executed by him, Underwood, Gay, and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Times, 8 Feb. 1798: This Day is published Blue Beard (1s. 6d.). "In the course of the representation, many blunders in working the scenery, which are unavoidable in a first representation of this nature, occurred, and the delays which took place were frequently very great...It was twelve o'-clock before the curtain dropped...The Expense of getting it up is said to be not less than #2,000" (London Chronicle, 18 Jan.). Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heels, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals; Hoards, even beyond th miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town...Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent players four pounds a week. Anthony Pasquin (pseud. for John Williams), "Innovation," in The Devil [1787], II, no. 2, 46. Receipts: #319 14s. 6d. (216.17.6; 102.2.0; 0.15.0)

Event Comment: By Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Lacy, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane. Tickets to be had of Fosbrook, at the Box Office of the Drury Lane Theatre, and Rice, at the Box Office of the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, where Places for the Boxes may be taken. [Address by John Taylor (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1798, p. 370). On this night the following appeared both at dl and at the hay: Hollingsworth, Caulfield, Bannister Jun., Suett, Miss Pope, Mrs Bland.

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. The many Ladies who have Places for the suceeding nights of the new Pantomime [The Magic Oak] are respectfully acquainted that, on account of Bologna Jun.'s accident, it cannot be performed before Easter Monday. [The Mouth of the Nile, also advertised on playbill of 5 Mar., was not acted on this night.] Doors, &c. as 21 Nov. 1798. Receipts: #364 13s. 6d. (361.13.6; 3.0.0)

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: Benefit for Sedgwick. Mainpiece: With additions from Dryden. The Musick by Purcell and Arne, and the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Linley Jun. Morning Chronicle, 2 May: Tickets to be had of Sedgwick, No. 18, Clement's-inn. Receipts: #390 8s. 6d. (97.13.6; 56.4.6; odd and after-money: 2.13;0; tickets: 233.17.6) (charge: #217 2s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the Author of The Castle-Spectre [Matthew Gregory Lewis, also the author of Prologue and Epilogue (see text)]. "The Epilogue was spoken by Bannister Jun. in the character of Queen Elizabeth, who ascends from a trap in the middle of the stage, and who is supposed to have obtained the permission of Pluto to revisit her kingdom, in order to witness the representation of the East Indianv" (Monthly Mirror, Dec. 1799, p. 367). Receipts: #200 13s. 6d. (131.11.0; 67.9.6; 1.13.0)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first production is not certain, but tradition states that Dryden died on the third day (1 May 1700); if this report is correct, the first performance occurred on 29 April 1700. In A Collection of New Songs...Compos'd by Mr Daniel Purcel, Perform'd in the Revis'd Comedy call'd the Pilgrim (1700) is a song, Chronos, Chronos, mend thy pace, with Janus sung by Freeman, Momus by Pate, Diana by Mrs Erwin. Gottfried Finger apparently composed the passage sung by Venus, Calms appear when storms are past. William Egerton, Faithful Memoirs of...Mrs Anne Oldfield (1731): The Pilgrim was indeed reviv'd for the Benefit of Mr Dryden, Ann. 1700, but he dying on third Night of its Representation, his Son attended the Run of it, and the Advantages accrued to his Family. Cibber, Apology, I, 269-70: This Epilogue, and the Prologue the same Play [The Pilgrim], written by Dryden, I spoke myself, which not being usually done by the same Person, I have a mind, while I think of it, to let you know on what Occasion they both fell to my Share....Sir John Vanbrugh, who had given some light touches of his Pen to the Pilgrim to assist the Benefit Day of Dryden, had the Disposal of the Parts, and I being then as an Actor in some Favour with him, he read the Play first with me alone, and was pleased to offer me my Choice of what I might like best for myself in it. But as the chief Characters were not (according to my Taste) the most shining, it was no great Self-denial in me that I desir'd he would first take care of those who were more difficult to be pleased; I therefore only chose for myself two short incidental Parts, that of the stuttering Cook and the mad Englishman....Sir John, upon my being contented with so little a Share in the Entertainment, gave me the Epilogue to make up my Mess; which being written so much above the Strain of common Authors, I confess I was not a little pleased with. And Dryden, upon his hearing me repeat it to him, made a farther Compliment of trusting me with the Prologue. Cibber, Apology, I, 305-6: In theYear 1699, Mrs Oldfield was first taken into the House, where she remain'd about a Twelve-month almost a Mute and unheeded, 'till Sir John Vanbrugh, who first recommended her, gave her the Part of Alinda in the Pilgrim revis'd. This gentle Character happily became that want of Confidence which is inseparable from young Beginners, who, without it, seldom arrive to any Excellence: Notwithstanding, I own I was then so far deceiv'd in my Opinion of her, that I thought she had little more than her Person that appear'd necessary to the forming a good Actress; for she set out with so extraordinary a Diffidence, that it kept her too despondingly down to a formal, plain (not to say) flat manner of speaking. Nor could the silver Tone of her Voice 'till after some time incline my Ear to any Hope in he favour. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 27: [After Drury Lane and Lincoln's Inn Fields had revived Shakespeare and Johnson] Nay then, says the whole party at D. Lane, faith we'll e'en put the Pilgrim upon him--ay faith, so we will, says Dryden, and if youll let my Son have the Profits of the Third Night, I'll give you a Secular Mask: Done, says the House, and so the Bargain was struck

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Taken from Racine by Mr Philips. [Tickets at Cibber's House in Great Queen Street.]

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Cibber and her sister, daughters of Mr Cibber by the late Mrs Jane Cibber. Mainpiece: At the Particular desire of several Persons of Quality. Tickets to be had of Bradshaw, &c., and of Miss Cibber and her Sister, at Mrs Brett's (their Aunt)in Berwick St., near Soho. Tickets deliver'd out by Mrs Boultby will be taken. Receipts: #78

Event Comment: Benefit for Cibber. By desire of several Persons of Distinction. Doors open'd exactly at Five. The curtain will rise punctually at Quarter after Six. To prevent mistakes Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to send their servants to keep places a little before five

Event Comment: Benefit for Sparks. Miss Radley became Mrs Fitzgerald (Winston MS 10). Ld. Townly, Mr Sparks Jun</a>: first Appearance (Cross Diary). Mr Sparks Junr Son of Mr Isaac Sparks made his first Appearance on any Stage in Ld. Townly a fine figure and met with Applause (Hopkins Diary)

Event Comment: Benefit for Vestris Jun. Tickets to be had of Vestris, No. 2, Haymarket

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Additions (by John Philip Kemble] from Dryden. The Musick by Purcell and Dr Arne, with the new Airs and Chorusses by the late Mr Linley Jun

Event Comment: Christopher Rich's Company. The date of the resumption of playing is not certain, for Cibber (see below) beclouds the issue by referring to Easter-Monday in April, whereas the first Monday following Easter fell on 25 March 1694@5. Nevertheless, Monday 1 April 1695 seems the likely date of the resumption of playing, with Rich's Company ready to perform before the seceding company under Thomas Betterton was fully organized. A new song for Abdelazar, Lucinda is bewitching fair, the music by Henry Purcell and sung by "the Boy" (Jemmy? Bowen), is in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fourth Book, 1695. Cibber, Apology, I, 195: [The Patentees] were not able to take the Field till the Easter-Monday in April following. Their first Attempt was a reviv'd Play call'd Abdelazar, or the Moor's Revenge, poorly written, by Mrs Behn. The House was very full, but whether it was the Play or the Actors that were not approved, the next Day's Audience sunk to nothing. However, we assured that let the Audiences be never so low, our Masters would make good all Deficiencies, and so indeed they did, till towards the End of the Season, when Dues to Ballance came too think upon 'em. [See I, 195-96, for Cibber's account of his Prologue.] A Comparison Between the Two Stages, 1702, p. 7: But in my Opinion, 'twas strange that the general defection of the old Actors which left Drury-lane, and the fondness which the better sort shew'd for 'em at the opening of their Newhouse, and indeed the Novelty it self, had not quite destroy'd those few young ones that remain'd behind. The disproportion was so great at parting, that 'twas almost impossible, in Drury-lane, to muster up a sufficient number to take in all the Parts of any Play; and of them so few were tolerable, that a Play must of necessity be damn'd that had not extraordinary favour from the Audience: No fewer than Sixteen (most of the old standing) went away; and with them the very beauty and vigour of the Stage; they who were left behind being for the most part Learners, Boys and Girls, a very unequal match for them who revolted. According to a statement made in litigation, the company in Drury Lane acted 84 times between 25 March 1694@5 and 7 July 1695; and the Young Actors played 68 times from 6 July 1695 to 10 Oct. 1695 to 10 Oct. 1695. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 308

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. By particular Desire. [Tickets at Cibber's House in Wild-Court, lif.

Event Comment: This comedy was wrote by Mr Moor, & except ye part of Faddle meet with Universal Applause (ye Author's first play) (Cross). New Scenes and Cloaths (General Advertiser). This C. was written by Moore--it is a good play--it was acted 11 times successively--Garrick's peculiar qualifications and happy use of them, added amazing spirit to the piece, and gave more consequence to Young Belmont than can well be imagined--Macklin, who never had in voice, figure or features much capacity for the fop cast, yet struck out some things in Faddle, that have not been since equalled, particularly in marking the obsequious knave throughout--Barry in the fourth act supported his character with emphatic dignity and in the last with melting tenderness--the part of Rosetta was undoubtedly conceived for Mrs Woffington, and she did it particular justice--the elegance, the notions of love, and the vanity of admiration, which are united in Rosetta, were natural to Mrs Woffington, so that she had the advantage of looking and speaking in her own character--the softness and pathos, which distinguished Fidelia sat with much ease on Mrs Cibber (Dramatic Censor, II, 206). [For contemporary account of plot and discussion of the play, see Gentleman's Magazine Feb. 1748, pp. 51-54; March 1748, pp. 114-17; May 1748, pp. 207-9; June 1748, pp. 257-59. See also G. Stayley, An Answer to an unjust criticism on the Foundling, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, May 1748, p. 240; A Criticism of the Foundling, in a letter to the author, listed in Register of Books, Gentleman's Magazine, March 1748, p. 144. The Larpent MS indicates many revisions. The substitution of Rake for Whoremaster, &c. Some Suggestive passages marked for excision. "The Disapprobation, which the Character of Faddle met with the first Night, made it necessary for me to shorten it in almost every Scene" (Dedication to 1st Edition).] Receipts: #200 (Cross); #200 5s. (Powel)

Event Comment: Acted there but once. By Authority. Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Barton which could not get in on Thursday last, will be admitted this Night. [An Epistle from Mr Theophilus Cibber, to David Garrick, Esq. London: 1755, dated Nov. 20, 1755: When Th. Cibber returned from Guilford last July, he found a discharge from Covent Garden (p.5) He got a license from the Duke of Grafton to open Little Haymarket (p. 6). He began and acted ten nights in three weeks, with some success, but when Drury Lane opened, Th. Cibber was ordered to stop (p. 7). He then petitioned the Duke of Grafton to have The Haymarket for two or three times weekly for the rest of the season. He hoped that the Little Haymarket might be a nursery for young performers, as well as for new pieces (p. 24). See dl 24 Nov.

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Cibber. Tickets delivered for The Orphan will be taken. No building on stage. [Goldsmith, in his Bee (Vol. 1759, p. 56), commenting on Mad Clairon s' excellent preservation of character on stage, glances at Mrs Cibber, perhaps in this night's performance: 'I can never pardon a lady on the stage who, when she draws the admriation of the whole audience, turns about to make them a low courtesy for their applause. Such a figure no longer continues Belvidera , but at once drops into Mrs Cibber." See comment upon her deportment as Ophelia , 29 April 1763.

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. London in 1710 (p. 96): It was a fine piece, and on that account had a large audience

Event Comment: [By Sir Richard Steele.] With new Scenes, and all the Characters new drest. Daily Journal, 8 Nov.: Where a greater Concourse of People was never known to be assembled. [See also Cibber, Apology, II, 206; Dennis, Remarks on a Play call'd The Conscious Lovers; and British Journal, 10 Nov. and 8 Dec.

Event Comment: [By Theophilus Cibber.] Alter'd from Shakespear. Containing the Marriages of King Edward the Fourth , and young Prince Edward , with Lady Gray , and Lady Anne . The Distresses of Queen Margaret . The Deposing King Henry the Sixth . The Battles Fought at St. Albans, Wakefield, Mortimer's-Cross, and Tewkesbury. The Deaths of Lord Clifford of Cumberland , and his Son, the Duke of York , his Steward. And many other True Historical Passages

Event Comment: Mainpiece: [By Mrs Eliza Haywood.] By Reason of the Indisposition of an Actress, the Part of the Wife is to be perform'd by Mrs Haywood, the Author. Afterpiece (Daily Post, 10 Aug.): A new Dramatic Entertainment...design'd by Mr Theo. Cibber, with new Music compos'd and adapt'd by Mr Jones, which proper Judges allow to be the best of the kind now extant