Event Comment: Receipts: #31 9s. 6d. In Daily Courant and Daily Journal The Jew of Venice had been advertised for this day

Event Comment: TThe Merchant of Venice, announced for this day, was deferr'd Receipts: #65

Event Comment: By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and the Princesses Amelia, Caroline, and Louisa. Rylands MS.: Duke &c attended. [Winston MS. lists Merchant of Venice, which had been advertised on the previous day's bill, but which was supplanted by this command performance.] Receipts: #80

Event Comment: Benefit Sig Checo Torinese. Mainpiece: By Particular desire. Tickets deliver'd out for Venice Preserv'd will be taken. Tickets and places to be had of Hobson at the stage door

Event Comment: In a short time will be perform'd at the Theatre in the Hay-Market, a Concert of Music; and the Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice. The character of Othello will be new dress'd agreeable to the Manner and Custom of his own Country. As both these entertainments will be perform'd by a set of Gentlemen for their own Diversion, no Money will be taken, nor any person admitted but by printed Tickets; which (by order of the Gentlemen) will be deliver'd gratis by Mr Machlin, at his House in Bow-Street, Covent Garden; where Ladies, by sending their Servants, may take Places for the Boxes.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: The Play of Venice Preserved is deferr'd on account of the Indisposition of a principal performer

Event Comment: Last Night was acted (for the third time) at the New Theatre in the Hay-Market, the Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice. The Gentleman who perform'd the character of Othello, receiv'd Universal Applause.--Daily Advertiser, 21 Feb

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Mr Davis will be taken. [Bransby doubled in Oxford and Tyrrel. The General Advertiser quoted a long Epilogue on the Birthday of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland Written by the Farmer (who had taken over the role of Swift's Drapier) and spoken by Garrick in Dublin. It also quoted the following long puff for Ray's Benefit to come]: Sir, As long acquaintance best entitles us to friendly good natured offices, and as no more proper time can be found to confer them than when the person is in the Decline of life, give me leave to recommend (thro' your means) Mr Ray of Drury Lane Theatre, the oldest actor now belonging to that House, to the Favour of the Town, at his ensuing Benefit next Saturday. A person who once agreeably entertained the Public, should always feel the warmth of their Indulgence, tho' the Infirmities of Old age may have render'd him less pleasing than formerly. This Application is therefore meant to those friends of his, whom Distance of time, and change of Situation may have made it impossible any other way to acquaint them, that The Merchant of Venice is to be acted for his Benefit on Saturday next; therefore 'tis hoped they will be so kind as to send for his Tickets to Mr Hobson, in the Playhouse Passage, or to Mr Ray's lodgings, the second Door in Queen's Court, Great Queen St., Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the Favour will ever be greatly acknowledged by him

Event Comment: [T+The Merchant of Venice had been announced for today in the General Advertiser of 5 Nov., but the house was dark.

Event Comment: On Friday next, for the Benefit of Sga Padouana, The Merchant of Venice. Tickets at her lodgings at Mr Anderson's, a Watchmaker in Little Wild St., and of Hobson at the stage door. Sga Padouana being utterly unacquainted with the English Language, and without any personal Friendships here to recommend and encourage her, as she has always endeavor'd to please the Town to the utmost of her Power, intirely depends on the known Candour, and Benevolence of this Nation, and humbly hopes for the Indulgence of the Publick on her Benefit night

Event Comment: Mr Quin begs leave to inform the Publick that the Tragedy of Venice Preserved, intended to be performed on Monday next for his benefit, will be put off to a further day (of which the notice will be given) on account of Mr Garrick's Indisposition. Receipts: #131 11s. 6d

Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out by Miss Copin for the Merchant of Venice will be taken to the Conscious Lovers (General Advertiser). This day is publish'd, Price 1s., A Letter of Complaint to the Ingenious author of a Treatise on the Passions, so far as they regard the stage; with a critical Enquiry into the theatrical merit of Mr G-k, Mr Q-n, and Mr B-y, &c. With some further remarks on Mr M-n. And a few hints on our modern Actresses, particularly Mrs C-r and Mrs P-d. Magna est Veritas, & pravalebit. Printed for C. Corbett, over against St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet St. (General Advertiser). [Illuminating discussion of actors' abilities]: The Stage is much indebted to Mr M- for his incessant successful endeavours; he not only grac'd it with his own personal merits, but rais'd up several Branches who tho' they have not yet quite eclips'd Mr Giffard's Nursery from Goodman's Fields, will certainly in time prove stars of the first magnitude.--(p. 28). Touch Messrs. Giffard and Ryan and give them better voices; there is nothing else wanting. Help Mr Delane to a new manner and judgment to display the best pipe that ever was heard. Polish a little the rough Beauties of Mr L. Sparkes, give the sensible Mr Havard a few more spirits; and mend the Humour of Hippisley, Chapman, Barrington, and Blakes if you can. Poor Yates wants nothing but a front of brass, a necessary self-sufficient Manner of pushing himself upon a Publick.--(p. 31). If Mrs Giffard's Manner was equal to her understanding, she wou'd compell everybody to acknowledge her a surprising Performer. In Lady Macbeth she is excellent; and Hermione was very near eclipsing a much more popular actress; in short in every Part she performs, the severest of her enemies cannot but own she is more than decent.--(pp. 32-33). [Gives two pages each to discussion of Mrs Clive, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Cibber, and Mrs Pritchard.

Event Comment: [Notice of Ryan's Benefit for Monday, 30 March, with the Fair Penitent, instead of Venice Preserved]: Mr Garrick's Illness having rendered him incapable of taking any Part that requires energy, obliges me to change the Play, but not the farce of Miss in Her Teens in which he may be able to perform.--General Advertiser. Receipts: #70 13s. 6d

Event Comment: Free Benefit for Ryan.] Receipts: #134 0s. 6d., plus #122 10s. in tickets. Total profits to Ryan #256 10s. 6d. (Account Books, Egerton 2268). [Note of 23 March about amphitheatre repeated. Garrick's first performance after his long illness, from 26 Feb. to 30 March.] Tickets for Venice Preserv'd will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit Jones. Wrote by Lord Landsdown and set to Music by Boyce [actually a part of The Jew of Venice]. (General Advertiser, Daily Advertiser.

Event Comment: We hear that the play Venice Preserv'd is in Rehearsal at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, and is to be perform'd on Friday next; and that the part of Pierre will be attempted by a Gentleman who never appear'd on any stage before (General Advertiser). [This month was published A Letter to a certain Patentee, in which the Conduct of Managers is impartially considered, and a few Periods bestowed on those darlings of the Publick, Mr G k, Mr F te, Mrs P d, &c." Addressed to Rich it is criticism of his personnel policies as manager, with side comments on his morals, and some on his performances: of his Orpheus and Eurydice, the author agrees that three flaming scenes of Hell, now left out, should have been omitted from the beginning. The Serpent, however, generally behaves himself so well, that "I have had more real pleasure in his appearance than if he had been a living one." Dislikes his replacing Ryan with Hallam, dislikes his abuse of Mrs Pritchard, criticizes his casting Hippisley as Polonius, since Polonius requires more than Hippisley can give, the latter being able to act only in the comic way.

Event Comment: Monday next Venice Preserved, for the Benefit of Mrs Cibber. N.B.: As many inconveniencies have arisen, from receiving Box Tickets in the Galleries, no Tickets will be admitted but in the Boxes, Pit and upon the Stage (General Advertiser). [The inconveniencies would seem to be connected with an overflow into the galleries of gentlemen with an animus towards The Foundling. Garrick was making an early managerial effort to control the house and render it quiet.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #169 2s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: Benefit for a Citizen in Distress. Benefit for Mr Buss. Cash #47 1s. 6d. plus tickets #46 19s. Total income #94 6s. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets to be had at Pinchbeck's Toy Shop, in the Haymarket; the Mitre, Union St., Westminster; The Rummer, Charing Cross, the Gentleman and Porter, Fleet St.; Mr Dickenson, Printseller, Fleet St., Doctor's Commons Coffee House; the Dog Tavern, Garlick Hill; the Three Tuns Aldgate; and of Hobson at the stage door. Tomorrow, the Merchant of Venice, for the Benefit of a Young Gentlewoman under misfortunes, by the bankruptcy of her Guardian (General Advertiser). Receipts: #93 (Cross); charges, #80 (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: This day publish'd at 1s. the first number of the Dramatic Censor, being remarks on the tragedy of Venice Preserv'd, with observations on the principal performers, by Mr Derrick. This pamphlet is a specimen of criticism intended to be made on our most celebrated dramatic pieces. By several hands. Wherein, should the publick approve by encouraging this first essay, not the beauties and Inaccuracies of the poet, but of the several performers will be considered...To this number is added Proposals for printing by Subscription a New Tragedy call'd Osman by Mr Gentleman

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Falkner. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Tickets for the Merchant of Venice will be taken. Mr Lowe being incapable of performing by a cold, obliges Miss Falkner to change the Farce [Pyramus and Thisbe had been advertised]

Event Comment: To begin exactly at 6:00 o'clock. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage door. [Repeated throughout the season.] Ye Naturalizing Bill having made some Noise against the Jews, some people call'd out for ye Merchant of Venice, & a Letter was thrown upon ye Stage desiring that play instead of the Opera, but we took no Notice of it, some little hissing but it dy'd away (Cross). [Sometime in the calendar year 1753, Lacy and Garrick drew up a mortgage on the Drury Lane property for #10,000, to be amortized to James Clutterbuck over a period of twenty-one years at the rate of #4 per acting night, and permission to grant free seats in any part of the theatre (except the stage, scenes and orchestra) to forty persons. These latter to be named and seats assigned ten days prior to the opening of any season. This thirteen-page document, which describes accurately the bounds of the 13,134 square feet of land on which the ten buildings comprising Drury Lane Theatre stood, contains protective clauses for Clutterbuck, to the effect that Garrick and Lacy will exhibit nowhere else in London without the #4 nightly payment and for Garrick and Lacy, to the effect that arrears in payment could be collected solely from Drury Lane property, and not from the individual incomes of the mortgagees. It was not signed, so apprently was not executed. (See Havard, Collection of Documents dealing with affairs of Drury Lane, No 2, fMS, Thr 12.)] Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: An Italian Comic Opera by some performers just arriv'd from Paris. Went off pretty well, -a Girl greatly admir'd (Cross). [The girl seems to have been Sga Spiletta.] She plays off with inexhaustible spirits all muscular evolutions of the face and brows; while in her eye wantons a studied archness, and pleasing malignity. Her voice has strength and scope sufficient; has neither too much of the feminine, nor an inclining to the male. Her gestures are ever varying; her transitions quick and easy. Some over-nice critics, forgetting, or not knowing the meaning of the word Burletta, cry that her manner is outre. Wou'd she not be faulty were it otherwise? The thing chargeable to her is (perhaps) too great a luxurience of comic tricks; which (an austere censor would say) border on unlaced lasciviousness, and extravagant petulance of action (Paul Hiffernan, The Tuner, No 1). [Spiletta was the name of the character to whom Sga Nicolina Giordani gave such life that the name stuck to her. See Saxe Wyndham, Annals of Covent Garden Theatre.] [A Comic Opera by G. Giordani, Music by G. Cocchi-Nicoll, English Drama, III, p. 349.] Nothing less than the full price will be taken during the Performance. Printed books of the opera sold at the theatre. Tomorrow, Venice Preserved. [Murphy commented in Gray's Inn Journal (22 Dec.): "A great deal of whatever humour this production may contain, is certainly lost to an English audience; and the manner of acting, being a burlesque upon what people here are not very well acquainted with, is not universally felt. But notwithstanding these disadvantages, there is one among them, Sga Nicolina Giordani, who displayed such lively traces of Humour in her countenance, and such pleasing variety of action, and such variety of graceful deportment, that she is generally acknowledged to be, in that Cast of playing, an excellent comic actress."

Event Comment: The Burletta designed to be performed this evening is oblig'd to be deferr'd. Tomorrow (by Desire) Venice Preserv'd

Event Comment: The Oratorio is publish'd this evening and will be sold at the theatre. We can assure the Public, that Mrs Cibber is very much recovered from her late indisposition; and will certainly appear tomorrow night in the character of Belvidera in Venice Preserved for the benefit of Mossop. This day publish'd at 4s. Songs in the New English Opera call'd The Fairies. Composed by Mr Smith. Printed for J. Walsh

Event Comment: As the performance greatly depends upon the Music and Machinery, No Gentlemen can possibly be admitted into the Orchestra or behind the Scenes. Venice Preserved is oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Mossop's indisposition. Receipts: #100 (Cross)