Event Comment: By Command of His Highness the Duke, and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, and Louisa. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Receipts: #81 11s. (Account Book); #100 (Rylands MS.). Rylands MS.: Barbarini Sick

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Receipts: #87 9s. (Account Book); #100 (Rylands MS.)

Event Comment: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq., Poet Laureate

Event Comment: Not Acted these Eight Years [see 24 April 1741]. Benefit Cibber, Jr. Tickets and places of Hobson at the Stage door. Tickets ddliver'd out for All's Well at Covent Garden theatre will be taken to the above mentioned play this night. [Mrs Clive's Prologue recommended the cause of Liberty to the Ladies of Great Britain. Cibber had pleaded in his advance advertisement on 5 April in the General Advertiser.] As I have in justice to my creditors assigned over so much of my salary as reduces the remainder to a very small pittance, I very much depend on the encouragement and indulgence of the town at my Benefit. [On the day of the benefit he inserted in the General Advertiser a long, double column address to the Publick puffing his Benefit, and scotching a rumor industriously and invidiously spread that he came to Drury Lane only to impede Mrs Cibber in her performance there. In this he washes in public the linen of his domestic affairs at some length, professing his virtue, forbearance, and generosity, and Mrs Cibber's unfairness and ingratitude, citing her salary as about #700 per year, not a penny of which would she afford for his relief from creditors, or to bail him out of the Fleet prison where he languished six months. He alleges that she was instrumental in forming a cartel between the rival theatrical managers with precluded his employment by either house, and that she refused to act a benefit for him when he was in debtor's prison.

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but Cibber (see below) states that it was acted in January; the Dedication was signed 7 Feb. 1695@6, and the play was advertised in the London Gazette, No 3157, 10-13 Feb. 1695@6. Two songs were published separately: Go home, unhappy wench, set by Francks and sung by Mrs Cross and the Boy (in Thesaurus Musicus, The Fifth Book, 1696) and What an ungratefull devil moves you, set by Daniel Purcell (in Deliciae Musicae, The First Book of the Second Volume, 1696). A separately-printed sheet of the second song states that it was sung by "The Boy", Cibber, Apology, I, 212-14: The next Year I produc'd the Comedy of Love's last Shift; yet the Difficulty of getting it to the Stage was not easily surmounted; for, at that time, as little was expected from me, as an Author, as had been from my Pretensions to be an Actor. However, Mr Southern, the Author of Oroonoko, having had the Patience to hear me read it to him, happened to like it so well that he immediately recommended it to the Patentees, and it was accordingly acted in January 1695 [i.e., 1695@6]. In this Play I gave myself the Part of Sir Novelty, which was thought a good Portrait of the Foppery then in fashion. Here, too, Mr Southern, though he had approv'd my approv'd my Play, came into the common Diffidence of me as an Actor: For, when on the first Day of it I was standing, myself, to prompt the Prologue, he took me by the Hand and said, Young Man! I pronounce they Play a good one; I will answer for its Success, if thou dost not spoil it by thy own Action....I succeeded so well in both, that People seem'd at a loss which they should give the Preference to. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 16: Ramble: Ay, marry, that Play was the Philosopher's Stone; I think it did wonders. Sullen: It did so, and very deservedly; there being few Comedies that came up to 't for purity of Plot, Manners and Moral: It's often acted now a daies, and by the help of the Author's own good action, it pleases to this Day

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not knwon, but the Dedication is dated February 1699@1700, the play was entered in the Term Catalogues in February 1699@1700, and advertised in the Flying Post, 16 March 1699@1700. The latest likely date for the first production is January 1700, but the play may have appeared in late December as a rival to lif's production of I Henry IV early in January 1700. Cibber, Apology, I, 275: But the Master of the Revels, who then licens'd all Plays for the Stage, assisted this Reformation [of the morality of the stage] with a more zealous Severity than ever. He would strike out whole Scenes of a vicious or immoral Character, tho' it were visibly shewn to be reform'd or punish'd; a severe Instance of this kind falling upon my self may be an Excuse for my relating it: When Richard the Third (as I alter'd it from Shakespear) came from his Hands to the Stage, he expung'd the whole first Act without sparing a Line of it. This extraordinary Stroke of a Sic volo occasion'd my applying to him for the small Indulgence of a Speech or two, that the other four Acts might limp on with a little less Absurdity! no! he had no leisure to consider what might be separately inoffensive. [Cibber continues with an explanation of the censor's argument for cutting the act.] Preface to Cibber's Ximena, 1719: Richard the Third, which I alter'd from Shakespear, did not raise me Five Pounds on Third Day

Event Comment: [Afterpiece: By Colley Cibber.] Never perform'd before. Compos'd to Musick after the Italian Manner and performed all in English. The Habits being all New

Event Comment: Afterpiece: a new diverting Pastoral [by Colley Cibber]

Event Comment: Benefit a Family in Distress. For the Entertainment of Che-sazan Outsim, Hindy-Gylesangbier, Charadab-sina, Gulgulachem-Chemaunim, and Tichucbactey Ormophan, Sacheoutzim-Sinadab Caocormin, the Chineze Mandarines, lately arrived in England, on a Tour through Europe, being the only People of that Nation, who have been in England since the Reign of King James I. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Benefit James. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq. [Tickets for Thompson and Haddock taken.] Receipts: money #18 16s.; tickets #126 18s

Event Comment: Benefit Gwinn, Guise, and Warriner, Boxkeepers. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Receipts: money #9 7s. 6d.; tickets #136 19s

Event Comment: Benefit Bardin, Yates. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh, and Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet Laureat. Afterpiece: Not perform'd these Ten Years

Event Comment: Benefit Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Afterpiece: a new Dramatic Satire. [By David Garrick.] Tickets at Giffard's Lodgings [Mr Bolney's) in Great Queen Street

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Afterpiece: Written by the Author of Pasquin

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh( and Colley Cibber Esq; Poet-Laureat. At Common Prices. 6 p.m. Receipts: #62 13s. (Account Book); #80 (Rylands MS.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Benefit Leviez and Desse. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat

Event Comment: Benefit a Person under Misfortunes. At the Tennis Court, James Street. A Concert. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq. Places: 2s. 6d., 1s. 6d., 1s. 7 p.m

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Poet Laureate

Event Comment: Written by $Colley Cibber, Esq.

Event Comment: Written by Colley Cibber, Poet Laureate. Never acted there before. Characters all New Dress'd

Event Comment: Mainp1ece, a Comedy written by Colley Cibber, Poet Laureate. Not acted in 30 years [see 18 Oct. 1718. An Epilogue for Mrs Woffington in the Character of Brittania was sent this day to the Licenser.