Event Comment: A Grand Concert. 6 p.m. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Gallery 1s. 6d. Afterwards will be given Gratis...Daily Advertiser, 20 Jan.: Last Night the Musical Entertainment call'd The Queen of Spain, was receiv'd by a numerous Audience with great Approbation. The Artificial Scene hereafter will be omitted, it not being connected with the rest, not any way answering what was promised by the Projector who offered it. Music by J. F. Lampe; words by James Ayres

Event Comment: Afterpiece an Operetta never perform'd before. The Words by Mr Ayre [James Ayres], and the Musick by Mr Lampe. Benefit Sullivan

Event Comment: Benefit Hale and Mrs Hale. Mainpiece Written by Shakespear, reviv'd by particular desire. Containing the Memorable Battle of Agincourtv, with the total overthrow of the French Army, and many other Historical Passages. In order to preserve a proper decorum, and that this play may not be interrupted in its performance, the Publick may be assured there will not be any building on the stage.-General Advertiser. [In advance bill Nancy; or, The Parting Lovers had been advertised; Tom True Blue-$Beard; Father-$Leveridge; Captain of Press Gang-$Bencraft; Nancy-$Mrs Clive.

Event Comment: Having for a Series of Years received the greatest Obligations from the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation, I have always retained a deep Impression of their Goodness. As I perceived, that joining good Sense and Significant Words of Musick, was the best Method of recommending this to an English Audience; I have directed my Studies that way, and endeavour'd to shew, that the English Language, which is so expressive of the sublimest Sentiments, is the best adapted of any to the full and solemn Kind of Musick. I have the Mortification now to find, that my Labours to please are become ineffectual, when my Expences are considerably greater. To what Cause I must impute the Loss of the Publick Favour, I am ignorant, but the Loss itself I shall always lament. In the mean time, I am assur'd that a Nation, whose Characteristic is good Nature, would be affected with the Ruin of any Man, which was owing to his Endeavours to entertain them. I am likewise persuaded, that I shall have the forgiveness of those noble Persons, who have honour'd me with their Patronage, and their Subscription this Winter, if I beg them Permission to stop short, before my Losses are too great to support, if I proceed no farther in my Undertaking; and if I intreat them to withdraw three Fourths of their Subscription, one Fourth part only of my Proposal having been perform'd. I am, etc. G. F. Handel. Attendance will be given at Mr Handel's House in Brook's St., Hanover Square, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next, in order to pay back the Subscription money. [Two poems in honor of Handel in the 21 Jan. issue of the Daily Advertiser. A letter in the 25 Jan. issue indicates that the subscribers would not accept the proferred refund; Handel announced he would resume performances in view of this response.

Event Comment: By Command of their Highnesses Prince George, Prince Edward, and the Lady Augusta, By A Company of Dutch children, join'd with the English, German and Italians. A Pantomime Entertainment. Boxes and Pit 5s. Gallery 2s. 6 p.m. We hear the Company of Dutch/Children join'd with the English, Germans and Italians, will perform this day, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday next, and will exhibit something new every night, and some people of Quality have engag'd Boxes for each night.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: Mainpiece: As written by Shakespear, Containing the Memorable Battle of Agincourtv, with the total Overthrow of the French Armyv, and many other historical passages

Event Comment: Benefit Woodward. Mainpiece: An Historical Play, never acted there before [see 20 March 1738]. At the Particular Desire of several Persons of Quality. As written by Shakespear. Containing the wars of Cymbeline with the Romansr, in the reign of Augustus Caesar; the various distresses and Adventures of Imogen the King's Daughter; the noble repulse the Romans met with, on their invading Britain; their defeat, and many other historical passages. Ladies are desired to send their servants early to prevent mistakes. To be Lett, and enter'd upon on Monday next, the 7th instant Commodious Places in the Front and Upper Boxes...for the excellent reviv'd play of Shakespear... For further Particulars enquire of Mr Woodward, at his house near the theatre [in advance bills]

Event Comment: [Full column in Daily Advertiser describing Barry's and Mrs Macklin's acting techniques.] Barry from the Theatre in Dublin, perform'd the part of Othello, at Drury Lane, before a numerous and polite audience; and met with as great Applause as could be express'd.--General Advertiser, 6 Oct. Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole: You have probably been there since I left you, and consequently have seen the Mr Barry you desired some account of; yet as I am not certain of this and should be glad to know whether we agree about him, I will nevertheless tell you what he is, and the impression he made upon me. He is upwards of six feet in height; wdll and prortionably made, treads well and knows what to do with his limbs; in short a noble graceful figure. I can say nothing of his face but that it was all black, with a wide mough and good eyes. His voice is of a clear and pleasing tone, something like Delane's, but not so deep-mouthed, not so like a passing bell. When high strain'd it is apt to crack a little and be hoarse, but in its common pitch, and when it sinks into any softer passion, particularly expressive and touching. In the first scene, especially when he recounts to the Senate the progress of his love and the means he used to win Desdemona, he was quite mistaken, and I took a pique against him; instead of a cool narration he flew into a rant of voice and action, as though he were relating the circumstance of a battle that was fought yesterday. I expected nothing more from him, but was deceiv'd: in the scenes of rage and jealousy he was seldom inferior to Quin in the parts of tenderness and sorrow far above him. These latter seem to be his peculiarly; his action is not very various, but rarely improper, or without dignity, and some of his attitudes are really fine. He is not perfect to be sure, but I think may make a better player than any now on the stage in a little while. However, to see a man in one character, and but once, is not sufficient, so I rather ask your opinion by this, than give you mine.--Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Thomas Gray, II, 6-7

Event Comment: WWalpole to Sir Horace Mann: We have operas but no company at them; the Prince and Lord Middlesex Impresarii. Plays only are in fashion; at one house the best company that perhaps ever were together, Quin, Garrick, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Cibber: at the other Barry, a favorite young actor and the Violette, whose dancing our friends don't like: I scold them, but all the answer is "Lord! you are so English."-Horace Walpole's Correspondence with Sir Horace Mann, II, 42

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Mainpiece: As written by Shakespear. Tickets deliver'd for Monday the 9th will be taken. Tickets to be had of Delane at his lodgings at the Unicorn in New Exchange Row in the Strand. Places of Hobson at the stage door. There is now in rehearsal at the Theatre Royal [dl] and speedily will be acted, a new Petit Piece in imitation of that species of writing on the French Theatre call'd The Suspicious Husband Criticiz'd; or the Plague of Envy (General Advertiser). [A Folger edition of 1750 entitled Chorus for Shakespear's Tragedy of King John lists songs by Sullivan, Mrs Lampe, Mrs Storer, and Mrs Mozeen; the play had no other performance at a London theatre in the interim between 1747 and 1750.

Event Comment: Mainpiece Never Acted there before. The Characters to be New Dress'd after the Manner of the Old English Comedy. And the Pieces of Music before the Play, and between the Acts, will be selected from the Old English Masters. Cross: The play went off with 'toll: success. [See contemporary comments in D@@ry L@@ne P@@yh@@se Broke Open. In a letter to Mr G@@@@(London, 1748) pp. 17-18.] Receipts: #150 (Cross); #152 19s. 6d. (Powel)

Event Comment: [See 27 May.] Benefit of a Grammar School Master. Terence's Andria in the original Language, with a New Latin Prologue, and an Occasional English Epilogue. After which will be spoken in English an allegorical Eulogy called Mimus. It is hoped the late disappointment (as it was in all its circumstances unaviodable) will be no detriment to the performance

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. Containing the Memorable battle of Agincourtv, with the total overthrow of the French Armyv, and many other historical passages. [Customary comment it will not be restated.] Receipts: #85 3s

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A Musical Entertainment in two Interludes. Someday this week, Mr Ross, will perform the part of Young Bevil in the Conscious Lovers, at Drury Lane, being the first time of his appearance on the English Stage. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMr Ross from Ireland play'd Y. Bevil & was receiv'd with great applause (Cross). Person engaging; voice musical; countenance expressive; judgment correct in general, but he lacks a certain easiness of carriage, and gracefulness of deportment...appeared better his second night than his first (Inspector No 184, in Daily Advertiser and Literary Gazette). Receipts: #100 (Cross)

Event Comment: This Day is Publish'd at 2s. sew'd The British Theatre. Containing the lives of the English Dramatic Poets, with an Account of all their plays. Together with the Lives of all of most of the principal Actors, as well as Poets. To which is prefix'd a short view of the Rise and Progress of the English Stage. Printed for R. Baldwin

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: Printed books of the opera will be sold at the theatre. Published this day at 1s. Lo Studente A La Moda, dramma comicogiocoso, as it is acted at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. With an English Translation. Sold by H. Woodfall...Where may be had Gli Amanti Gelosi, with an English translation. [Opera in there acts in Italian and French. Larpent MS 103. Altered from A. Polomba La Violante. Music by G. B. Pergolesi. Rich applied to the Duke of Grafton (9 Jan.) for license to perform it.