Event Comment: Daily Post, 30 Nov.: Harlequin Doctor Faustus...meets with universal Approbation. The Incidents are taken from the old History of the doctor and several Tricks supposed to be done by the Power of the Black Art, art executed in a very surprising Manner, and the last Grand Scene is superior in Magnificence to any thing that has ever yet appeared on the British Stage

Event Comment: [By John Gay.] True Briton, 22 Jan.: I was a Spectator, the first Night, at...The Captives; when I was Witness to a Ceremony, which I can never judge to be either beneficial to the Author, or contribute much to the Entertainment of the Town. There were large Quantities of Brandy distributed amongst the Footmen in the Boxes, and that in so plentiful a manner, that several of them were carried out of the House dead drunk. This, it seems, is call'd, Christening a Play

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam, Rob. William, and Miss Tynte. Written by Shakespear. Th. Cibber (Lives and Characters, pp. 49-49): I remember, some Years ago, on Mr Giffard's coming from Ireland (then a young Actor) Mr Booth performed the Character of Hotspur one Night, when Mr Giffard played the Part of the Prince of Wales ; Mr Booth knowing Mr Giffard must be naturally prejudiced in favour of Mr Thomas Elrington, to whose Performance in Hotspur he had many times attended with no small Admiration-Mr Booth, piqued on this Occasion, exerted himself in a particular Manner, and played the whole Part with such Fire, and Engergy of Spirit, as rouzed his Auditors to an Extravagance of Applause, and made Mr Giffard confess (as he has often done in my Hearing) that, notwithstanding his Prepossession in favour of Mr Elrington,-Mr Booth, in Power, Spirit, and Judgment, went far beyond him in this Part; as he afterwards, with Admiration confessed,-he did in every other

Event Comment: With the Ceremonial of her Coronation in the same Manner as it was Perform'd in the Play of King Henry the Eighth

Event Comment: Benefit Walker. Written by Farquhar. Receipts: money #80 1s.; tickets #87 15s. Probable attendance: boxes, 100 by money and 202 by tickets; stage, 32 by money; pitt, 115 by money and 147 by tickets; slips, 30 by money; first gallery, 160 by money and 152 by tickets; second gallery, 114 by money

Event Comment: UUniversal Spectator, 11 Jan.: Last Sunday Night [5 Jan.] Mrs Baker, the Actress of Drury-Lane Theatre, was buried in a very handsome Manner at St. Clement's Danes, the Master of the House and most of the Actors attending the same

Event Comment: Benefit Kontzen, a Youth of Seven Years old, who plays on the Harpsichord in a surpizing manner. Boxes half a guinea. Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6d. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 10 June; The Beggar's Wedding...is very entertaining; but the Part of Hunter , in particular, is perform'd by a Person, who, altho his Voice is but indifferent, sings, in the Opinion of all Judges, with a Manner almost as agreeable as Senesino

Event Comment: [By Ebenezer Forrest.] By Command of His Royal Highness. After the Manner of the Beggar's Opera. All the Habits and Scenes entirely New. Receipts: #161 18s. 6d. [For a comment on this performance, see Thomas Edwards to John Clerke, "Unrecorded Comments on John Gay, Henry Travers, and Others", N & Q (August 1953), p. 338.

Event Comment: There will be no Action on the Stage, but the Scene will represent, in a Picturesque Manner, a Rural Prospect, with Rocks, Groves, Fountains and Grotto's, amongst which will be disposed a Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds, the Habits and every other Decorations suited to the Subject

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. For the Benefit of the Famous Signora Violante, who is just arriv'd with a new extraordinary fine Company....After the Irish Manner, Which was perform'd 96 Times in Dublin with great Applause. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. [For performances at the Fairs in September, see season of 1731-1732.

Event Comment: Formerly Compos'd by Mr Handel, and now again Revis'd by him. With several Additions, to be perform'd by a great Number of the best Voices and Instruments. There will be no Action on the Stage, but the Scenes will represent (in a Picturesque Manner) a Rural Prospect, with Rocks, Groves, Fountains, and Grottos, amongst which will be disposed a Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds. The Habits and every other Decoration suited to the Subject. [Prince of Wales and Princess Royal present. See letter from Hill to Handel, in Hill, Works, I, 174-75, and in Deutsch, Handel, p. 299.

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 18 Dec.: We hear from Southwark, that a Theatre will be ready to open there the 26th Day of this Month, on the Bowling Green, by a new Company of Comedians, who intend to play the remaining part of the Winter; and that Preparations are making in a handsome Manner for the Reception of the Gentry

Event Comment: Benefit the Author. By Her Majesty's Command. Preface to edition of 1734: The Third Night it went off in the same Manner, to the most numerous and splendid Audience that could be seen

Event Comment: Benefit Butler. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Quality and Distinction. 7 P.M. N.B. The Reason of the Play being deferred from Tuesday the 20th of August . . . was on Account of the Absence of one of the principal Performers; so that Mr Butler humbly hopes his Friends will excuse it, and honour him with their Company; and to prevent any Disorder, Guards will attend at the Doors, every thing being to be perform'd in the same exact Manner as at the Theatres Royal

Event Comment: Benefit Carlo Broschi Farinello. With several Alterations and Additions. Pit and Boxes, Places on the Stage, at Half a Guinea. N.B. Signor Farinello humbly hopes, that the Subscribers will not make use of their Tickets on this Occasion. The Stage will be in the same Manner as in the Assembly with a great Number of Benches. Mrs Pendarves to Mrs Granville, 15 March: Tonight is Farinelli's benefit; all the polite world will flock there, and go at four o'clock, for fear they should not be time enough. I don't love mobbing, and so I shall leave them to themselves. Daily Advertiser, 13 March: 'Tis expected that Signor Farinelli will have the greatest Appearance on Saturday that has been known. We hear that a Contrivance will be made to accommodate 2000 People. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been pleas'd to give him 200 Guineas, the Spanish Ambassador 100, the Emperor's Ambassador 50, his Grace the Duke of Leeds 50, the Countess of Portmore 50, Lord Burlington 50, his Grace the Duke of Richmond 50, the Hon. Col. Paget 30, Lady Rich 20, and most of the other Nobility 50, 30 or 20 Guineas each; so that 'tis believ'd his Benefit will be worth to him upwards of 2000l

Event Comment: As 19 Feb. For the better Reception of the Ladies, the Pit will be floor'd over, and laid into the Boxes, and the Orchestre plac'd in a Manner more commodious to the Audience. [Their Majesties and the Princesses Amelia and Caroline present.]

Event Comment: Benefit Arne, Composer to DL. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. The Choruses will be perform'd by a great Number of Voices, the Stage illuminated, and the performers rang'd in a particular Manner. N.B. Tho' this Entertainment is perform'd at an extraordinary Expence, no more will be demanded than the common Price of a Benefit Play: Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Galleries 2s. and 1s. 6:30 P.M. [Tickets at Arne's House in Great Queen Street.]

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 1 May: Last Night The Conscious Lovers was perform'd [at GF] in Honour of the Royal Marriage, when there was a very splendid Appearance of Ladies and Gentlemen, to whom Mr Giffard had distributed Tickets. The Stage was decorated in a particular Manner with several Glass Lustres. And the Outside of the House illuminated with a great Number of Candles, a large Quantity of Liquor given to the Populace. [The Prologue is in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 1 May; in London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 26 April, an announcement had been made that no money would be received on this night.]

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh. Daily Advertiser, 4 Oct.: Yesterday Morning Mr James Todd, who represented the Miller's Man on Friday Night...and fell in one of the flying Machines from the very top of the Stage by the breaking of the Wires, by which accident his Skull was fractur'd, died in a miserable manner. Susan Warwick, who represented the Miller's Wife, lies at the point of Death at the Infirmary at Hyde-Park Corner: The two other Persons who fell in the same Machine are like to recover, [In London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 2 Oct.: All these unhappy People were Servants belonging to the Theatre, and only Representatives in the different Characters of Mr Lun, Mr Nivelon, Mr Salway, and Mrs Moreau.

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 7 Jan.: We are inform'd, that a certain Author, Tir'd With the vain Attempts he has often made in the Political Way, has taken it into his Head, as unwilling to lay down the Character of a Reformer, to explode the reigning Taste for dumb Shew and Machinery, and has declar'd open War against Harlequin, Punch, Pierot, and all the Modern Poets, viz. Joiners, Dancing-Masters, and Scene-Painters. 'Tis said, that he has dispos'd every Thing in such a manner, and is so forward in his Preparations, that he will open the Campaign next Week, having three new Pieces in Rehearsal on the Stage of the little Theatre in the Hay-Market. The Design is, no doubt, laudable, but the Chance of War is doubtful; he makes head against a powerful Alliance; and we do not hear that he is strengthen'd by any of the Auxiliaries of Parnassus

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 19 Feb.: To the Author, &c. Sir, In a late Paragraph in one of your Papers [4 Feb.] it was insinuated, that there was a Design on foot for erecting a New Theatre, which by some Wise Heads was suppos'd to come from a certain Manager, in order to revive the Playhouse Bill this Session of Parliament; I think it proper therefore, in Justice to the Gentleman levell'd at, to inform the Publick, that it is actually intended for a Company of Comedians every Day expected here, late Servants to their Majesties Kouli Kan and Theodore, who in the mean time will entertain the Town in the true Eastern manner, at the New Theatre in the Hay-Market, with a celebrated Piece call'd A Rehearsal of Kings. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. Agent for the Company

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Alter'd from Shakespear. Afterpiece: Written by the Author of the Toy Shop. Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 26 Feb.: On Monday Night last a great Disturbance happened at Drury-lane Play-house, occasioned by a great Number of Footmen, who assembled themselves in a riotous and tumultuous Manner, with great Outcries of burning the House, unless they were immediately admitted into what they call their Gallery; and in order to strike a Terror, they began to hew down the Door of the Passage which leads to the said Gallery, of which Col. Deveil, who was then in the House, had immediate Notice, and thereupon came out where they were thus assembled, and notwithstanding they threatened to knock his Brains out, he read the Proclamation to them, admonish'd them to retire, and desist from so unlawful an undertaking. [The footmen soon withdrew.

Event Comment: In Imitation of Shakespear [By William Havard]. The Characters Dress'd After the Manner of the Time