Event Comment: Paid for 2 extra Flutes & Guitars (29 ultimo incl.) #2 5s. (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published Bell's edition of Shakespeare's acting plays, 'as performed at the Theatres Royal in London, requlated from the Prompt Books of each House, by permission of the managers, with notes critical and illustrative by the author of the Dramatic Censors, 5 vols. 12 mo. Price 15s."] Receipts: #246 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Tickets to be had and places to be taken for boxes, of Mr Johnston, at the Stage Door of the Theatre, at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. Gallery 3s. 6d. Upper Gallery 2s. The doors to be open'd at Five o'clock. To Begin at Half Past Six. N.B. Those Ladies who had boxes last year, and intend to continue them the ensuing season, are humbly requested to give immediate notice to Mr Johnston that they may be secured to them

Event Comment: [Oratorios were not given at Covent Garden this season. No record of any occurrence in the Account Book for this day. Full Epilogue to the Man of Business publish'd in Public Advertiser, with note that many lines were omitted, because of its length, in the theatre.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: By Particular Desire. Books of the Burletta to be had at the theatre. Author's third night. Charges #64 5s. Profit to author #37 12s. Receipts: #101 17s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these years. [See 17 March 1772. Gentlewoman identified by Hopkins Manuscript Notes and by Winston MS 10. The Westminster Magazine for March (p. 111) gives out that "she was very lately a boarder with the celebrated Charlotte Hayes; a circumstance which will inform our readers that her figure is pleasing and also that she is young and hadsome. It is but justice, however, to add that she possesses the internal as well as external requisites of a good actress; for she discovers great feeling and sensibility; and indeed promises to be an ornament to the theatre."] Receipts: #192 6s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hartley. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire, with New Music, Dresses and Decorations. Interlude taken from Prior's celebrated poem, The Nut Brown Maid. Books of the Interlude to be had at the Theatre. Adapted by Henry Bate. Charges: #72 9s. 6d. Profit to Mrs Hartley #54 15s., plus #61 18s. from tickets (Box 202; Pit 76). Paid Whitfield for making cloaths #33 17s. 4d.; Paid Mr Walker for trimmings &c. #13 4s. Receipts: #127 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weston. Tickets delivered for 7 April taken. It is agreed this day between Mrs Abington and Mr Garrick that the former shall be engag'd to him and Mr Lacy, Patentees of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, for three years from this date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a week, with a Benefit, and sixty pounds for cloaths--the above agreement to be put into Articles according to the usual form. s@ Frances Abington, D. Garrick for himself and Mr Lacy (Folger Library, Garrickiana 962 MS [Cage, p. 154).] Receipts: #205 14s. 6d. Charges: #66 5s. Profits to Weston: #139 9s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Pitt and Stoppelaer. Charges #67 15s. Deficit to each #4 6s. 9d., cover'd by income from tickets: Mrs Pitt #53 7s. (Box 48; Pit 185; Gallery 136); Stopplear, #86 5s. (Box 112; Pit 271; Gallery 176). Paid Bates for performing 4 nights in the Sorcerer to 11 Oct. last 10s., 5 nights in Henry VIII to 14 Feb. last #1 5s., and 5 nights in the Fair to 13 Nov. last 5s. Paid half year's Poor's rate for the theatre due Lady day last, #24 15s. 10d., and ditto for House in Bow Passage 17s. 9d. Receipts: #59 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

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: Mainpiece: By Desire. Theatre open at half past five. Play to begin half past six. Paid Supernumeraries & Kettle Drum 2 nights #1 7s. (Treasurer's Book). [This payment averaged #2 10s. per night throughout the season, or #470 total for the season. No further notation will be made of the item.] Receipts: #152 6s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Smith from Covent Garden Theatre made his first appearance upon this Stage in K. Richd the 3d & was receiv'd with great Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording. Kemble also refers to borrowing Smith from cg 29 May 1759, which was actually his first appearance at dl.] Paid a Tow Bill 10s. (Treasurer's Book). [This is the customary monthly charge for tow for wicks. It came to #4 10s. for the whole season. No further itemizing of it will be made.] Receipts: #239 8s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Music by Fisher. The whole to conclude with a Capital Scene by Servandoni. Books of the Songs, Chorusses &c. [of the afterpiece] to be had at the Theatre. [Customary note on all succeeding bills advertising the Sylphs this season. Mrs Williams was probably Mrs Willems.

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: New Overture and Pieces of Music Between the Acts. Music by Barthelemon. New Scenes, Habits and Decorations. The Scenes designed by DeLoutherberg, and painted by Messrs French, Royer, and Greenwood. Books of the songs and Chorusses to be had at the Theatre. This piece is got up in a most Superb manner. The Scenery is beyond description fine -& the whole Performance tho' the most complicated upon the stage went off with uncommon Applause. Mrs Abington played finely--Mr Slingsby & Sga Hidou danc'd for the first time & were Amazingly well Rec'ed. The Ballets are very Grand (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Rec'd stopages #17 18s.; Paid salary list #567 16s.; J. French on Acct #5 5s. (Treasurer's Book). Mainpiece: Never performed before, by John Burgoyne. [The review in the Westminster Magazine, Nov. 1774, tells the plot, and concludes: "After some superb exhibitions of transparent scenery, several characteristic airs, and elegant dances, Mr Oldworth...proclaims Maria his only daughter and gives her to Sir Harry. After a dance of Cupids, Hymen, &c....offering them eternal wreaths, the Druid of the Oaks, freed by the present powers of Beauty from that sequestered habitation to which by mystic spells he had long been doomed, appears to ratify their union, and astonishes the spectators by his magic influence, in a glorious vision of that felicity the virtues of the happy pair had so justly insured. An admirable vaudeville, and a grand dance, conclude the dramatic entertainment....Had it not appeared obvious that the whole was intended as a mere vehicle for the splendid spectacle, we do not suppose, in spite of the managers Orders and Puffs, that the author's labors would have been tolerated. The very excellent scenery, however, of the ingenious Mr Loutherbourg preserved this piece from that damnation, which as a dramatic production, it justly merited."] Receipts: #263 14s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Miss Robins made her first appearance upon the Stage in the part of the Country Girl an agreeable figure as a Woman & also in Breeches-she has a particular Cuddenish wa with her wch is not amiss in this Character, but I am afraid it will be a disadvantage to her in any other. Mr G. took great pains with her, & a long time in Training her before he brought her out he wrote & introduc'd a Song in the part and a New Prologue to introduce her & alter'd the Epilogue. all which & the Lady were very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] The Songs introduced in the Comedy [mainpiece] will be printed, and given at the doors of the Theatre. [The Westminster Magazine for December remarked of Miss Robbins' performance and reception, "The first was spirited and characteristic; the latter very favorable, and in our opinion deservedly so. She is no beauty but has strong expression. Her voice is pleasing, and her articulation was extremely distinct and proper."] Receipts: #149 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit towards the establishment of a Fund for the relief of Performers and others retiring from the Theatre

Event Comment: New Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. will be sold in the theatre. [Mainpiece seems definitely to be the Henry Jones version. This cast is that printed in that Bell Edition 1776, of the Jones play.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Musical Entertainment, by the Author of Midas and The Golden Pippin [Kane O'Hara]. With New Dresses and Scenery. Books of the Entertainment to be had at the Theatre

Event Comment: Book of the Opera may be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #230 13s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain, for one night only. A Scots Musical-Pastoral Comedy. Not acted this season. Benefit Walker and Stewart. [The Hartrys from Theatre Royal, Edingburgh.

Event Comment: Tickets to be had and places for Boxes to be taken of Mr Johnston at the Stage Door of the Theatre at Half a Guinea each. Pit 5s. First Gallery 3s. 6d. Second Gallery 2s. Doors to be opened at Five o'clock. To begin at Half past Six

Event Comment: The Two Misers is unavoidably oblig'd to be deferr'd. Books of the Entertainment [The Two Misers?] to be had at the theatre. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No persons admitted behind the scenes, nor any money returned after the curtain is up. Places for the Boxes to be taken, of Mr Sarjant (only) at the Stage Door. The Doors to be opened at Half after Five o'clock. To Begin exactly at Half after Six. Vivant Rex and Regina. (Customary footnote for succeeding Playbills. It will not be repeated here. The Westminster Magazine, September, p. 459, indicates a Prelude was also given this opening night, consisting of several of the actors comparing notes on their various successes, casts of parts, droll accidents, which they had experienced during their different summer excursions. Mattocks, Dunstall, Lee Lewes, Miss Barsanti, and Hull participated. The reviewer reported the content of their reminiscences, but disliked the jumbled nature of the Prelude. Another account in the Morning Post</i>, 21 September.] Note: For performance at hay 20 September, see Season of 1774-1775, p. 1905