The London Stage Database team will be retiring the Legacy Search on May 1, 2025. Please take a moment before that date to reproduce any pre-2021 searches and export any resulting datasets you may wish to preserve for future use. We are making this change in order to free up computational resources for new features and data, currently in development with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Watch this space for more updates and, coming soon, new ways to keep up with the latest project developments!
SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "English and Irish Stage"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "English and Irish Stage")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

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We found 2551 matches on Event Comments, 1762 matches on Performance Comments, 1632 matches on Performance Title, 0 matches on Author, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.
Event Comment: GGreat Theatrical Booth, Bowling Green. By Permission. Benefit of Legar and Boaman. A Concert, etc. At the particular Desire of several of the Subscribers. Stage 5s. Tickets for the Orphan will be taken

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Busy Body

Performance Comment: Busy Body-Woodward; Airy-Gibson; Charles-Ridout; Gripe-Arthur; Traffick-Dunstall; Whisper-Vaughan; Miranda-Mrs Mullart; Isabinda-Mrs Dunstall; Patch-Mrs Yeates; Scentwell-Miss Ferguson.
Cast
Role: Miranda Actor: Mrs Mullart

Afterpiece Title: Flora; or, Hob in the Well

Event Comment: Benefit Garrick. By Command of Prince and Princess of Wales. [Winston MS. from Dyer MS.: A prodigious audience] Farce never acted there. Seven rows of the Pit will be rail'd into the Boxes. Stage to be form'd into side boxes where servants may keep places. Tickets of Mr Valliant, Bookseller, Strand; or at Garrick's, Bow St., Covent Garden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Performance Comment: Hastings-Garrick, 1st time; Dumont-Delane; Belmour-Mills; Jane Shore-Mrs Pritchard; Alicia-Mrs Woffington (Daily Advertiser), Mrs Roberts (London Daily Post and General Advertiser); Duke of Gloster-Macklin; Catesby-Winstone; Ratcliff-Blakes.

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Performance Comment: Sharp-Garrick; Kitty-Mrs Clive; with a New Epilogue written and-Garrick.

Song: IV: Beard

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Tickets to be had at Delane's Lodgings, in Queen's Court, King St., Covent Garden; Places to be taken for Boxes of Hobson at the stage door of the theatre

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Venice Preserved; Or, A Plot Discovered

Afterpiece Title: The Virgin Unmasked

Song: II: Beard; III: The Noontide Air from Comus-Miss Edward; IV: Lowe

Event Comment: It is Humbly desir'd that Ladies who have taken Places, will please to send for their Tickets to Mrs Cibber's Lodgings, at Mr Salt's, at Henrietta St., Covent Garden. Benefit Mrs Cibber. By Command of their Royal Highness the Prince and Princess of Wales. Stage formed into an amphitheatre, and to prevent the ladies's catching cold ciel'd after the manner of the Oratorios. Tickets sold at the door will not be admitted

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Penitent

Dance: DDutch Skipper, as17421025; Characters of Dancing, as17421025; Grand Ballet, as17421108

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

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Constant Couple

Cast
Role: Col Standard Actor: Delane
Role: Tom Errand Actor: Leigh

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Dance: I: The Sicilian Peasant, as17430310 III: La Mascarade de Florana-Checo, Chiaretta; V: Italian Gardeners, as17421231

Event Comment: Benefit Macklin. Stage form'd into Front and Side Boxes. N.B. As Mr Macklin has reason to believe that several of his tickets are counterfeited, and will be offer'd for sale in the streets and passages leading to the theatre, he begs leave to give this publick caution of the fraud; and humbly desires that Gentlemen and Ladies who have taken places, to send for tickets to the Theatre, or to Mr Macklin at his House in Bow Street.--Daily Advertiser. Winston MS.: In 1743 Macklin, Mrs Woffington, and Garrick took house No. 6 Bow St.--a joint establishment

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Alchemist

Afterpiece Title: The School Boy

Dance: II: Sicilian Peasant, as17430310 IV: Italian Gardeners, as17421231

Song: III: Beard

Event Comment: Benefit Hippisley. Mainpiece: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. Amphitheatre on stage where servants may keep places. Ladies desired to send servants by three o'clock

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merry Wives Of Windsor

Afterpiece Title: The Virgin Unmask'd

Dance: CCharacters of Dancing, as17421025; Tambourine-Cooke; Les Boufons du Cour, as17430305

Event Comment: Benefit Cooke. At the desire of several persons of Quality. Amphitheatre on stage. Ladies send servants by 3 o'clock to keep places. Tickets to be had and places to be taken of Cooke Sen., at his house in Great Ormond St., near Queen Square

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Conscious Lovers

Cast
Role: Mrs Sealand Actor: Mrs Woodward.
Role: Sealand Actor: Rosco

Dance: I: Les Matelots-Cooke; III: A French Peasant-Cooke; IV: Grand Ballet, as17421108; V: a Ball Dance call'd the Louvre, concluding with a Minuet-Cooke, Anne Auretti

Event Comment: Benefit a Family in Distress. [Concert formula.] Great Theatrical Booth, Bowling Green. Boxes and Stage 3s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. By the Company of Comedians from the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, & who perform gratis. To begin positively at Six and conclude about Nine. By Permission

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Music: Solo on German Flute-Mr Thumoth

Event Comment: Benefit Shepard. Tickets of Hobson at the stage Door. Mr Shepard humbly hopes his friends will not be offended at the Alteration of the play, he being oblig'd to change it on account of the Indisposition of a Principal Performer. The Tickets deliver'd for Henry VIII will be taken this night (London Daily Post and General Advertiser). Shepard belonged for many years to the House. Fleetwood dismissed him. Let him have a benefit for the money accrued to him. Beard ill and did not act. (Winston MS. from Dyer MS.)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Song: End of Farce:By Particular Desire, Bumper Squire Jones-Beard

Event Comment: Benefit Michael Lally. Two Rows of the Pits will be laid into the Boxes. And for the better accommodation of the ladies, the stage will be form'd into side boxes, where servants will be allow'd to keep places. Ladies desired to send servants by three

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love's Last Shift

Cast
Role: Amanda's Woman Actor: Mrs Hale
Role: Amanda Actor: Mrs Cibber.

Dance: I: Dutch Skipper, as17421025; II: Characters of Dancing, as17421025; III: Grand Ballet, as17421108; IV: Grand Comic Ballet, as17430407 V: (By particular Desire) a Louvre, Minuet-Lally, Mlle Anne Auretti

Event Comment: Benefit Leveridge. Tickets and places to be had of Page at the stage door, or at Leveridge's Lodgings, the third door on the right hand in Hanover St., turning out of Long Acre

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Provok'd Wife

Dance: I: Peasants, as17421230; III: Grand Ballet, as17421108; V: Les Boufons du Cour, as17430305

Song: II: The Contented Man-Leveridge; IV: The Miser's Passport-Leveridge; V: An Epilogue in Music, address'd to the Town,-Leveridge: What I have said before I still recite, All shall be over about Nine at Night

Event Comment: Benefit Havard. Tickets to be had at Mr Hobson's (Stage Door-Keeper); at the King's Arms in Russel Street; at Gregg's Coffee House in York Street; and at the Bedford Coffee-House, Covent Garden. Tickets delivered out by Winstone and Leigh will be taken this day

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Penitent

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Song: As17430413

Music: As17430416

Event Comment: Benefit Cashell. Mainpiece At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality. Tickets and places to be had of Cashell at his lodgings, at the Dial in Little Wild St; or of Page at the stage Door. No Tickets will be admitted that are sold about the playhouse Passage. Mr Cashell begs the favour of those Ladies who have taken Boxes of Places to send for tickets, and likewise to send their servants by four o'clock to keep their places

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Venice Preserved

Afterpiece Title: The Toyshop

Dance: I: Dutch Skipper, as17421025; III: Peasants, as17421230; V: Le Rendezvous Gallant, as17421217

Event Comment: Benefit Whittingham. This Gentleman had acted Hotspur (10 Feb.) very ill (Winston MS. from Dyer MS). Failed in Pyrrhus (Genest, IV, 37). Tickets to be had of Hobson at the Stage Door, and at Batson's and Tom's Coffee Houses in Cornhill. Tickets deliver'd out for Whittingham for Henry IV will be taken

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Distressed Mother

Performance Comment: Orestes-Delane; Pyrrhus-Whittingham; Andromache-Mrs Roberts; Pylades-Havard; Phoenix-Winstone; Cephisa-Mrs Cross; Cleone-Mrs Ridout; Hermione-Mrs Bennet.
Cast
Role: Andromache Actor: Mrs Roberts

Afterpiece Title: The Virgin Unmask'd

Song: As17430427

Music: V: Concerto-Burk Thumoth

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Walter and Miss Bennett. Tickets to be had of Mrs Walter at the Three Queens in New-Street, Covent Garden, and places for the boxes of Mr Hobson at the stage door of the theatre. Tickets of Miss Bennett opposite Salisbury St., Strand. Tickets deliver'd out by Rector and Mlle Gondou will be taken

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Careless Husband

Afterpiece Title: The Lying Valet

Dance: I: A French Peasant-Froment, Mlle Gondeau; III: A New Serious Dance-Desse, Mrs Walter; V: La Florana, as17430408

Song: II: Stella and Flavia-Beard; IV: Bumper Squire Jones-Beard, Lowe

Event Comment: YYeates, Warner, and Rosoman's Great Theatrical Booth, Upper End of Little Brookfield. At the Desire of Several Persons of Quality will be presented the Droll. Begin at Noon and end at 10 p.m. The Booth founded after the Manner of an Amphitheatre, with Boxes on the Stage

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love His Own Rival

Afterpiece Title: Trick Upon Trick

Dance: The Humours of Mayfair-

Event Comment: Benefit Fenn (Stage-Door-Keeper), Fuller, Fullwood, and Walker (Numberer)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: As You Like It

Cast
Role: Orlando Actor: Mills

Afterpiece Title: The King and Miller of Mansfield

Dance: I: New Ballet, as17430502; IV: A New Hussar Dance, as17430425

Music: II: New Concerto on German Flute-Burk Thumoth; V: Concerto on Violin-Piantanida

Song: III: The Noontide Air-Sullivan

Event Comment: At Common Prices. Places for Boxes to be taken at the Stage Door. [A customary note for the season. Further notice will be made only when a significant change occurs.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Performance Comment: Capt Plume-Giffard; Brazen-Cross; Balance-Bridges; Kite-Carr; Bullock-Taswell; Worthy-W. Giffard; Melinda-Mrs Cross; Rose-Miss Scott; Lucy-Mrs Bennett; Sylvia-Mrs Ridout; Recruits-Neale, Anderson.
Cast
Role: Recruits Actor: Neale, Anderson.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Royal Merchant; Or, The Beggar's Bush

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay; or, the Wives Metamorphosed

Performance Comment: Loverule-Hayman; Jobson-Dunstall; Nell-Mrs Dunstall (Being the first time of their appearing on that stage).

Dance: As17431003

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Stratagem

Performance Comment: Archer-Ryan; Aimwell-Hale; Scrub-Hippisley; Sullen-Bridgwater; Sir Charles-Gibson; Bonniface-Marten; Foigard-Rosco; Gibbet-Chapman; Mrs Sullen-Mrs Horton; Lady Bountiful-Mrs Martin; Cherry-Mrs Vincent; Gipsy-Miss Ferguson; Dorinda-Mrs Rowley (who never appeared on any stage before).

Afterpiece Title: The Mock Doctor

Cast
Role: Leander Actor: Hayman
Role: James Actor: Anderson

Dance: As17431029

Event Comment: The Usual Diversion. By Boyce as it was performed at Ruckholt House by Lowe and Brett, being the first time it was performed on any stage. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit and Gallery 1s. 6d. The Books of Solomon will be given gratis at the Wells Door

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Solomon

Event Comment: Benefit the Widow and Four Small Children of the late Henry Carey. Tickets at the stage door, or at the Widow Carey's in Cross St., Hatton-Garden; at Langbourn-Ward Coffee House; and of Mrs Suertt, at the Apple Tree in Cold Bath Fields. N.B. The Unfortunate Widow humbly hopes that the Good Nature and Humanity of her Friends will admit her melancholy circumstances, and the shortness of time, as a sufficient excuse for not waiting on them, and continue the favours, formerly shown to her late Husband, to her and her Distress'd Family, being left entirely destitute of any provision

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Miser

Afterpiece Title: n% Old Man Taught Wisdom; or, The Virgin Unmask'd

Cast
Role: Thomas Actor: Anderson.
Event Comment: Sir, As there have been many reports to my prejudice, I desire you will publish the true and only Reason why I have not yet appear'd upon the stage this winter. Many of the Persons concerned in the late struggle with the Manager, might have been left destitute had I deserted them, therefore I thought it incumbent on me to endeavor at this reconciliation with my own, upon reasonable terms; this I have accomplish'd, and hope I am excusable for not playing 'til it is determin'd. Tho I am sensible my affairs are too inconsiderable to be laid before the Publick, yet as I am their servants, and have been so much favour'd with their Indulgence, I thought it my Duty to convince 'em that it is neither Obstinacy, or Exorbitancy, but a quite different motive, that detains me so long from doing my utmost to contribtte to their Entertainment. I am, Sir your Humble Servant, D. Garrick.--London Daily Post and General Advertiser

Performances

Event Comment: No Money will be taken behind the scenes, nor any money to be return'd after the Curtain is drawn up. The following Letter, signed A By-Stander was inserted in the London Daily Post and General Advertiser: As I am absolutely unconcerned in all the now subsiding Theatrical Disputes, I hope the following observations upon what happened last Tuesday Night at Drury Lane will not be thought unworthy the Publick attention. The Manager of a theatre is to regard the General sense of the Town, and not any Faction form'd thru pique or resentment; Such a Faction may be Noisy, it may be Insolent, but never can be Considerable enough to force either the Manager or the Publick into their terms. Their outrages are equally insults upon the Understanding of the Town, as they are injuries to the Property of the Manager. Therefore if the Manager shall at any time give way to such proceedings, Then and not till Then, the Publick has a right ot find fault with him. The stage Then becomes a property to the insolence of a few misled people; and all theatrical diversions, which in this and other countries used to be directed by Decency and Publick Approbation are sacrificed to a pitiful Personal Resentment. If the above propositions are undeniable, the following Queries are submitted to the Publick, and the answer to them will determine the Reasonableness of the Tuesday Night Riot: I. Whether the Rioters were not Inconsiderable in their numbers and Circumstances? II: Whether any Gentleman can answer to himself, for doing in a Body, a thing which no Gentleman can justify for doing by himself? III. Whether the Rioters can justify their breaking into the Boxes, and taking possession of the seats, which were taken by many persons of Quality and Distinction, at the same time refusing to pay anything; thereby robbing the Manager of all the money of the Boxes, and most part of the Pit? IV. Whether the Manager ought to suffer in his property for the private quarrel between any two actors, as was the case...? V: Whether if such insolences are not discountenanced in the most effectual manner by the Town, any publick diversion can continue longer than a noisy inconsiderable Cabal pleases? VI. Whether any other motive than a regard to Public Decency would have hindered the Manager and Mr. Garrick's friends (who were treble the number) from treating the rioters as they deserved? I should be glad to see the above questions fairly and impartially answered

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rehearsal