Event Comment: Read the principal parts of Much Ado About Nothing. Dined at St Clements Chop House, entered into a political conversation with a young gentleman, which prevented me from getting into the Pit till 5 o'clock. Was so squeez'd I could scarcely use my glass. [Lists parts.] The play was concluded by Comic Dance by the characters. How well and with what Agility Garrick dances (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: [The following day Garrick received a letter from L. A. Ein Schweitzer: "As you spare nothing in adding new characters etc. to the Masquerade...I hope you will introduce in it the dress as described hereunder, being the first, perhaps, that ever appeared in this country. It is that of a country maid of the Cantoon of Bern; and as the Allemande is really a Swiss Dance, nobody could with more propriety wear it than Sga Vidini who would greatly shine in it." The hairdo is described in detail--ringlets, with cap and small feather, and no powder. The jacket, skirt, and socks (red jacket with black trim, black skirt, red stockings) are described in detail. "N.B. The dress in my opinion would also do very well for a Colombine. The man's dress is not suitable to a dance." Folger Library Copy, Garrick Correspondence, Vol. IV, MS Letter 42.

Event Comment: The Jubilee consists of Dialogue Singing & Dancing. This Entertainment was written & compil'd by Mr G.-and it was receiv'd with bursts of Applause the Procession of Shakespear's Characters &c. is the most Superb that ever was Exhibited or I believe ever will. There never was an Entertainment produc'd that gave so much pleasure to all Degrees Boxes pit and Gallery (Hopkins Diary). The Music by Dibdin. With New Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. [On all subsequent bills, though some are shortened, the PAGEANT is advertised in large capitals. Larpent MS 298, includes descriptive notes and stage directions, p. 24: "Here follows the Pageant, with Bells ringing, Fifes playing, Drums beating, and Cannons firing. In The Procession every scene in the different plays represents some capital part of it in action...The last Scene is a magnificent Transparent one in which the Capital characters of Shakespeare are exhibited at full length with Shakespeare's Statue in the middle crowned by Tragedy and Comedy, fairies and Cupids surrounding him and all the banners waving at the upper end. Then enter the dancers." The Pageant appeared at the top of the stage and came forward, Reviewed in Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.

Event Comment: The Afterpiece a New Pantomime [by Henry Woodward, satirizing Garrick's Jubilee] with New Music by Fisher. New Scenes painted by Messrs Dahl and Richards. Nothing under Full Prices will be taken. [Full Prices notice throughout the run of the pantomime this season. Town and Country Magazine (from Theatre No XIII) comments: "In the Pageant scene several of the characters that walk at Drury Lane are highly ridiculed, particularly Mark Antony and Cleopatra, who dance off with their black retinue to the playing of casquets." The scene closes with the descent of the statue of the late Mr Rich under the name of Lun, and the Harlequins all pay him honour.] Receipts: #250 6s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A Tragedy [by Hugh Kelly] never perform'd. The performance of Mrs Yates alone could have counteracted, for nine nights, its natural tendency towards damnation....A gentleman being asked, after one of the representations of this play, if he did not hiss it, replied "How could I? A Man can't hiss and yawn at the same time." (Biographia Dramatica.) [The advertisement to the 1771 edition thanks Mrs Yates, Bensley, Wroughton, "for their great good nature in undertaking their respective characters at the short notice of a week, when Mr Ross unexpectedly returned the part of Anselmo, which had been in his possession above a fortnight." This circumstance, continues the advertisement oblig'd Mr Bensley, cast for Palermo to undertake Mr Savigny's part, orginally Granville, Savigny taking Anselmo, and Wroughton Palermo." The play was brought on anonymously to avoid political repercussions associated with the name of the author.

Event Comment: [The 1st appearance note seems to apply only to Miss Macklin and Mrs Melmoth.] The Characters dressed in the Habits of the Times

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Principal Characters new dressed. Receipts: #180 15s. 6d. (178.19.0; 1.16.6)

Event Comment: "The appearance of Mrs Abington in the two characters of the Capricious Lady and Lady Bab Lardoon cannot fail of being considered as a high Treat ... as the first exhibits the coy, formal Manners of the last Age, and the latter the free degagee Breeding of the present" (Public Advertiser, 13 Feb.). Receipts: #227 12s. 6d. (211/10/0; 16/2/6)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Miss Woollery. [Author and speaker of Prologue unknown.] The characters to be new dressed, in the habits of the times. Tickets to be had of Miss Woollery, No. 5, Delahay-street, Westminster. The Doors be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Jordan. Afterpiece [1st time; F 2, by Simon, based partly on La Bonne Mere, by Jean Pierre Claris deFlorian; incidental music by Johann Gottlieb Nicolai. Larpent MS 940; not published]: To conclude with a Rural Breakfast [a representation of that given by the Countess of Buckinghamshire for the Prince of Wales at her villa near London (Genest, VII, 53)], and a Dance by the Characters. Morning Herald, 31 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Jordan, No. 14, Somerset-street, Portman-square. Receipts: #548 9s. 6d. (216.8.6; 30.2.0; 5.9.0; tickets: 296.10.0) (charge: #153 5s. 10d.)

Event Comment: [For the naming of the characters in mainpiece, as they were called originally, see 23 Feb. 1792.] Afterpiece: By permission of the Proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Hay Market. Receipts: #272 17s. (181.9.6; 87.9.6; 3.18.0)

Event Comment: "In many instances [C. Kemble] mistook rant for animation" (True Briton, 11 Jan. 1799). [For the naming of the characters in mainpiece, as they were called originally, see 23 Feb. 1792.] Receipts: #228 4s. 6d. (185.3.0; 42.16.6; 0.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit Lacy. Afterpiece: A new Satyrical, Allegorical, Political, Philosophical Farce, [Apparently by Lacy.] Daily Advertiser, 30 April: Yesterday I accidentally call'd in at the Theatre in the Hay-Market, and saw the Rehearsal of a new Farce call'd Fame...Which is to be acted there on Wednesday next...for the Benefit of Mr Lacy the Author. As I am neither acquainted with him, nor the Master of the Playhouse, I cannot be accus'd of Partiality, in affirming, that I think this the best Farce this Age has produc'd. It seems to be writ in Imitation of Shakespear, and entirely calculated for the present Taste. The Characters are strong, lively, majestic, and just; the incidents natural and moving; the Conduct regular; the Distresses extremely affecting; the Stile sublime; the Sentiments grand, full of Patriotism; and the Catastrophe so masterly wrought up, that, I am persuaded, no Farce whatsoever, now acting, will draw more Tears than this. But what affected me beyond all, was, the Zeal, the exemplary Zeal of a worthy Magistrate, who so strictly adheres to the very Letter of the Law, as to send a rich and honest Merchant, and Freeholder, to the House of Correction, as a sturdy Beggar, or Loiterer. I could enlarg in its Praise, but fear I may do the Author wrong, in raising your Expectations too high. See it, and I am convinc'd you will entertain the same Sentiments of it, as does Your Humble Servant, James Lacy. Alias Fustian, alias Sour-Wit, alias--But hold:--If I should be arraign'd for the Murder of this Farce, so many Alias's will half condemn me before I am heard